Update On MLM Regulations In China

"After an eight-year ban, the Beijing government's Commerce Ministry has okayed the resumption of direct sales. Such sales were banned in 1998 on ground that it was hard for consumers to tell the difference between legitimate sales networks and fraudulent pyramid schemes, which were common then.

Now that the government has issued rules to regulate direct sales, Avon and other companies such as cleaning products maker Amway are applying for licenses. The companies had been selling their products through retail outlets."

MLM Company USANA Health Sciences initiated with "hold" | newratings.com

USANA Health Sciences initiated with "hold" | newratings.com:

"Analysts at Wedbush Morgan initiate coverage of USANA Health Sciences (USNA.NAS) with a 'hold' rating. The 12-month target price is set to $44."

MLM Company Ignite Helps Growth Of Parent Stream Energy

Chron.com | (PRN) Stream Energy Announces Investment By Natural Gas Partners; Investment Firm to Provide Capital Support for Electricity Provider's Record-Setting Growth

Interesting article with comment about Texas based MLM company Ignite. The company operates in the electricity field, demonstrating an unusual application of the MLM business model.

Herbalife Family Foundation Establishes First Casa Herbalife Program in Malaysia

Herbalife Family Foundation Establishes First Casa Herbalife Program in Malaysia:

"The Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) has established its first Casa Herbalife in Malaysia at Rumah Bakti Hulu Kelang (RBHK) under the Pertubuhan Pendidikan Anak-Anak Yatim Selangor (PPAYS), a charitable organization started by the Selangor state government officials.

Through the Casa Herbalife program, which began in 2005, HFF provides funds to existing organizations serving children to help improve nutrition-related functions such as upgrading kitchens, appliances or the ability to provide healthier foods. The Casa Herbalife donation will enable RBHK to improve kitchen facilities and appliances for the 100 children who currently live there."

MLM Company Herbalife Shares Fall On Earnings Forecast

Stock Market News and Investment Information | Reuters.com:

"CHICAGO (Reuters) - Nutritional supplements marketer Herbalife Ltd.'s (HLF.N: Quote, Profile, Research) shares fell more than 10 percent on Wednesday, a day after the company forecast first-quarter profit below analysts' estimates.

Herbalife on Tuesday said it expected earnings of 37 cents to 41 cents a share in the first quarter. Analysts on average forecast 42 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates. Some estimates were revised on Wednesday."

MLM Insider Best Companies in Network Marketing

ClickPress | MLM Insider Best Companies in Network Marketing:

"The MLM Insider Online has just released its 12th Annual Selections of the BEst Companies in Network Marketing for 2005 - 2006

For over 15 years the MLM Insider has been considered the most definitive and reliable source of information on the network marketing industry. The MLM Insider web site is one of the most trafficked on the entire Internet dealing with network marketing providing distributors and prospects alike with invaluable information and education on this great business. "

MLM Company Herbalife Ltd. Announces Record Fourth-Quarter Net Sales of $409.0 Million; Record Full Year 2005 Net Sales of $1.6 Billion

Herbalife Ltd. Announces Record Fourth-Quarter Net Sales of $409.0 Million; Record Full Year 2005 Net Sales of $1.6 Billion:

"Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) today reported record fourth-quarter net sales of $409.0 million, an increase of 19.7 percent compared to the same period of 2004. The company's regions, the Americas and Asia Pacific, achieved net sales growth of 55.1 percent and 11.6 percent, respectively, versus the fourth quarter of 2004 and were partially offset by net sales declines in Europe and Japan, which decreased 5.1 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively. The company's chief executive officer, Michael O. Johnson, said, 'We finished the year with another record quarter with strong sales growth and momentum in our key markets, and in local currency, all of our regions reported sales growth increases versus the same period last year for two consecutive quarters.' "

MLM Company Herbalife Selects Velocity Sports & Entertainment to Spearhead Sponsorship Initiatives

Breaking News: Herbalife Selects Velocity Sports & Entertainment to Spearhead Sponsorship Initiatives:

"Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF), a global provider of weight-management, nutritional supplements and personal care products, today announced a partnership with Velocity Sports & Entertainment, a premier sponsorship and lifestyle marketing agency.

Herbalife has hired Velocity to maximize the value of its current and future sponsorship assets, as well as to provide an innovative approach to the emerging health and wellness category through sports, entertainment, and event marketing. Velocity will be supporting Herbalife's efforts to extend its overall brand strategy into sponsorship activation programs while leveraging Herbalife's global portfolio of sports and entertainment partnerships."

MLM Firm CNI To Start Mumbai Operations

"CNI Enterprise (India), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysian $300 million multi-level marketing company Creative Network International (CNI), is all set to expand operations in India. The three-year-old Indian venture is moving into the western market with its own office in Mumbai."

MLM Company Nussentials Retains New Company for Compensation Plan

"Nussentials Holdings Inc. (OTC: NSHG), a provider and distributor for a line of wellness and nutritional products based primarily on stabilized rice bran, announced the Company has entered into an agreement with New Century Communications, a consulting firm which specializes in the creation, development and implementation of MLM marketing and compensation plans."

MLM Company Herbalife Opens In Malaysia

"Herbalife Ltd, one of the largest network marketing companies in the world with focus on health products launched its operation here Saturday.

Malaysia is the 61st country where Herbalife's products are sold since its establishment in California in 1980 and its expansion in the Asia Pacific region in 1983."

Health Meeting Of Interest To Network Marketers

"A pair of experts in the field of chronic pain therapy will make presentations on the topic at an upcoming meeting in Whistler.
Dr. Peter Bennett, an internationally recognized naturopathic physician in Langley and the author of the 7-Day Detox Miracle, and Barbara Souther, a biologist and representative for USANA Health Services, will provide information about nutrition for inflammation and chronic pain therapy at the event, planned on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Millar Room of Myrtle Philip Community School."

Report On US Direct Sales Industry

DMNews.com test | News | Article: "Direct sales increased nearly 80 percent over the past 10 years, from $16.6 billion in 1994 to $29.7 billion in 2004, according to a social and economic impact study released yesterday by the Direct Selling Association.

The direct sales industry added $72 billion to the U.S. economy in 2004. This includes the direct, indirect and induced effects from the $27.8 billion in wages, commissions and bonuses earned by employees in the direct selling industry as well as the effect of sales to customers, production activities, capital investments and tax revenue.

The largest categories of product sales are personal care products, $9.1 billion; home/family care, $9.1 billion; and wellness products, $4.8 billion. The industry includes global companies like Avon, Tupperware and Herbalife."

Update On Direct Selling Industry In India

Return of FMCG fails to stir up weary direct sellers- The Economic Times:

"On the other hand, the Rs 2,700-crore direct selling industry has closed ’05 with a flat growth rate. The total turnover of the Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) member companies, including Amway, ModiCare, Oriflame, Avon and Tupperware, among others, stood at Rs 1,663.9 crore in ’04-05 (April-March), up from the last year’s total turnover of Rs 1,332 crore. The size of the non-IDSA companies is estimated at over Rs 1,047 crore.
"

Herbalife Rebounds From Founder's Death | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Herbalife Rebounds From Founder's Death | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle:

"Herbalife International thrived under founder Mark Hughes. Handsome, young and buoyed by his rags-to-riches story, Hughes built a billion-dollar business over two decades by inspiring legions of people around the world to buy and sell his nutritional supplements and other health products. But his death in 2000 from a drug and alcohol overdose sent the company reeling.

Sales lagged in the U.S., Herbalife's biggest market, as the company tried to manage without Hughes through a shuffle of top management that ultimately opted to sell the company.

Five years later, Herbalife is in the throes of a dramatic turnaround that has seen it post record sales, double its stock price and gear up to conquer what could be its largest market yet _ China."

Herbalife Appoints Ricardo Hollander as Country Director of Venezuela and Colombia

Herbalife Appoints Ricardo Hollander as Country Director of Venezuela and Colombia

Management appointment at MLM company Herbalife.

USANA - Earnings Report

"USANA Health Sciences, a multilevel marketer of dietary supplements and personal-care products, failed to open any new international markets in 2005. Even so, the Salt Lake City company achieved record sales and profits during the year, and Wall Street rewarded that success rate Wednesday with a 9.7 percent jump in USANA's stock. "

Editor's Note: Article also covers MLM company NuSkin

MLM Training News - Michael Oliver Voted #1 MLM Trainer For Second Year In A Row

MLM Training News - Michael Oliver Voted #1 MLM Trainer For Second Year In A Row:

"Michael Oliver, the founder and principal of Natural Selling Sales Training (www.NaturalSelling.com), has been voted the 'Best Trainer' in MLM and Network Marketing in a recent poll.

The result was announced recently by 'MLM Insider' magazine (www.mlminsider.com) when they released the details of the 2005 poll covering the MLM and Network Marketing industry.

This is the second year in a row that Michael Oliver has claimed top spot in the poll and been voted the '#1 MLM Trainer'. Oliver is the author of the best selling MLM and Network Marketing training book 'How To Sell Network Marketing Without Fear, Anxiety or Losing Your Friends!'"

Herbalife Promotes Paul Noack to New Post of Executive Vice President & Chief Strategic Officer :: Natural and Nutritional Products Industry Center ::

Herbalife Promotes Paul Noack to New Post of Executive Vice President & Chief Strategic Officer :: Natural and Nutritional Products Industry Center :: News:

"Herbalife Ltd. (HLF) announces the promotion of Paul Noack to the newly-created post of executive vice president and chief strategic officer with responsibility for global strategic and business planning, mergers and acquisitions, developing business in China, and a particular focus on international growth areas. Noack joined the company in January 2004 as senior vice president, corporate planning and strategy. He will now report to Chief Executive Officer Michael O. Johnson."

MLM Amway Expands In India

"Amway, one of the world's largest direct-selling companies, has entered Himachal Pradesh by opening its first office in the hill state today. Company officials also launched a health product, “salmon omega”, on the occasion.

'Himachal is one of the fastest-growing markets in the country, and with the opening of this office we will be able to process orders faster and hope to grow by 25 per cent every year,' said Stephen Beddoe, Amway's marketing director."

MLM Amway Malaysia to bolster promotional activity, launch more products this yr - Forbes.com

Amway Malaysia to bolster promotional activity, launch more products this yr - Forbes.com:

"Amway Malaysia Holdings Bhd will intensify promotional activities and launch more products this year to counter sluggish consumer demand, executive director Paul Yee said. "

Natural Products Industry Insider - Industry Leaders Explore Collaborative Opportunities, Common Goals at Focus on the Future

Natural Products Industry Insider - Industry Leaders Explore Collaborative Opportunities, Common Goals at Focus on the Future

Conference focusing on the consumer health industry. Attended by a number of MLM companies including Herbalife.

MLM USANA Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Year Results

USANA Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Year Results:

"USANA Health Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq: USNA) today announced record financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and for the fiscal year of 2005 (ended Dec. 31, 2005). Net sales in the fourth quarter increased 15.7% to $86.9 million, compared with $75.1 million in the fourth quarter of the prior year. Net sales growth for the fourth quarter of 2005 was driven by a 16.7% increase in the number of active Associates, compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year.

Earnings from operations in the fourth quarter of 2005 grew 26.4% to $15.4 million, or 17.8% of net sales, compared with $12.2 million, or 16.3% of net sales, in the fourth quarter of the prior year. The company achieved record net earnings in the fourth quarter of 2005 of $10.5 million, an increase of 14.5%, compared with net earnings of $9.2 million in the fourth quarter of the prior year. Earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2005 improved to $0.54 per share, an increase of 17.4%, compared with $0.46 per share in the fourth quarter of the prior year. Earnings per share in the quarter included an increase of approximately $0.01 per share due to a lower than expected effective tax rate."

MLM USANA Fourth Quarter Results

Stock Market News and Investment Information | Reuters.com

Fourth quarter results from USANA Health Sciences, one of the leading MLM nutritional companies.

New Program From MLM Trainer Mark Yarnell

Mark Yarnell, author of the #1 international bestseller YOUR FIRST YEAR IN NETWORK MARKETING, is seeking interesting stories from successful networkers of all kinds.:

"Mark Yarnell, author of the #1 international bestseller YOUR FIRST YEAR IN NETWORK MARKETING, announced today that he is seeking interesting stories from successful networkers of all kinds.

Yarnell says that people learn best through stories and that they are fundamental to his latest on-line training program called The High Road to Success.

The High Road to Success is an online resource and learning community for home-based and direct-selling business people who are serious about learning innovative big money strategies based on ethics, integrity, and solid core values. The program consists of 24 Learning Modules geared toward those interested in achieving breakthrough sales and organization-building strategies. "

New MLM Company "BurnLounge"

New York's Premier Alternative Newspaper. Arts, Music, Food, Movies and Opinion

Somewhat negative article about new MLM type company "BurnLounge" (the product is music downloads). Worth a read for background info on the MLM industry.

MLM Company Herbalife Announces Extension of Toray Pan Pacific Tennis Sponsorship

Herbalife Announces Extension of Toray Pan Pacific Tennis Sponsorship:

"Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) announced a three-year extension of its sponsorship of the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis Tournament in Japan. This tournament, which is the largest women's tennis tournament in Asia, is a Tier I category event."