Ralph Irizarry is the President and CEO of Irizarry & Irizarry Assoc., Inc, a commercial insurance agency founded in 1993. Working 60-70 Hours a week.

Ralph wanted a change but being in the industry for 21 years at the time felt like making a change would be difficult. in 2007, Paige Irizarry lost her position as a title abstractor and $40,000 per year left the household.

“We had just bought our home in 2006 and need to make some quick decision”.  Ralph Irizarry wanted to truly spend more time with his 3 son’s Caleb, Elijah and Jonathan.

Ralph Irizarry,  had the privilege of being exposed to Ambit Energy back on August 7th, 2007 by a New York City Police Officer. An elder in his church came up to him and was excited that his son had started a business and wanted Ralph to take a look at the opportunity. He gave him the time to come over to show him a product-less company that he said was ”recession proof”.

Ralph Irizarry was excited about the opportunity and the potential but did not have much support from my wife. Ambit Energy, a startup company  at the time had a $1,000,000 in revenue. The company was founded by Jere Thompson the grandson of the founder of 7-11 and Chris Chambless a former senior executive Excel Communication. That is all that was known about the company. The Ambit story had not yet been written.

Ralph Irizarry’s reputation was on the line but he knew that if the Thompson Family was a part of Ambit Energy, a start-up company, he wanted to give it a shot. Ralph quickly started inviting people to see the business plan at a local meeting hosted local leaders and a guest from one of the Top Income Earners in the company, Steve Thompson.

Ralph Irizarry became a Regional Consultant in 30 days enrolling 6 consultants and having each of them gather 3 customers, in 4 Months he became Senior consultant working the business once per week while operating an insurance brokerage.

As the checks came in the mail, Ralph had proven to Paige that the business could be achieved without taking much time away from the family. Ralph jokingly states “Direct Deposit became a preferred method from that point forward”. Paige Irizarry is now able to be a stay at home mom, a homeschooler and a business partner all in one. Paige, is truly a Proverb 31 wife.

The Irizarry Family

People often ask me, “How much did you earn at the beginning when you started with Ambit Energy?

I understand residual income, I understand that it takes time to build a business and that nothing happens overnight. I understood the timing and how Ambit Energy was only in the 5 boro’s of New York and Texas. I also know how to be transparent and real. People need this in the network marking business where people exaggerate their income and positions to impress people. Here it is, August 10, 2007-12/31/2007 I earned just over 10K, not bad considering I was working the business a few hours per week.

1/2008-2009 I earned an extra 24K. I was getting excited now. 2009-2010 I earned 32K and from 2010-2011 I earned 63K. Never quitting was key.  We also never turned back or blame people for our learning experiences. Keeping your yourself surrounded with like minded such as Executive Consultant Maria Sanchez, SC Shaun Marks and RC Sardel & Thida Win Love allowed us to become Top 50 Income earners in 2012 and 2013. Ralph & Paige Irizarry became top 50 income earners out of over 250,000 Consultants in Ambit Energy.

Ralph Irizarry works Ambit Energy 4-6 hours per week on a part time basis while receiving a full-time salary from Ambit Energy and  running his insurance brokerage. He no longer works 60 hours per week as an insurance broker and Ambit Energy has allowed him to be selective on the accounts he wants to handle.  Ambit Energy has bought back his time. The Lord has blessed our family with new friends. We look forward to new business partners in the future. We are excited about what the future holds for many.

Contact Details Ralph Irizarry:

https://www.facebook.com/securefuture

www.irizarrygroup.com

The American Red Cross Utah Region announced that members and employees of Lehi-based Young Living Essential Oils met a $50,000 company match bringing the combined corporate and member donation to $100,000 to support Red Cross relief efforts in Nepal.

“The response from our members and employees was astounding,” said Travis Ogden, Young Living Chief Operating Officer. “I am proud to represent a company whose members share the same core beliefs as our founders, and generously give to those in need.”

Heidi Ruster, Red Cross Utah Region CEO adds, “We are so grateful to Utahns and businesses like Young Living Essential Oils for supporting our efforts in Nepal to help so many that have been devastated by this disaster. The public can be reassured that 91 cents of every dollar donated will be spent on relief and recovery efforts.”

In light of the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit the already devastated region on Tuesday, May 12, Young Living is encouraging its members and employees to continue supporting the America Red Cross efforts. All donations made go directly to support the Red Cross and global relief efforts of the International Red Cross Committee.

About Young Living

Young Living Essential Oils is world renowned for its essential oils and oil blends, oil-infused nutritional supplements, bath and body products, skin-care solutions and natural preparations for the home. Its direct-selling system offers thousands of members a unique business model for sharing Young Living’s message of wellness, purpose, abundance and vitality.

Nature's Sunshine Products, a leading natural health and wellness company engaged in the manufacture and direct selling of nutritional and personal care products, was named one of the Healthiest Companies in America in 2014 by Interactive Health of Chicago, IL.

Interactive Health evaluates approximately 2,000 companies each year, and in 2014, only 158 companies nationwide earned this recognition. Nature's Sunshine Products was one of only two companies in America that has received this award for eight consecutive years.

Nature's Sunshine Products, a global leader in nutritional products, is focused on helping people live healthier lives. The Company's mission is to transform lives around the world by providing the most innovative and highest quality health solutions.

Part of that mission includes encouraging staff to adopt healthier lifestyles. NSP's "culture of health" encompasses a variety of programs throughout the year, including: a 12-week Fitness Challenge; an annual 5K Fun Run/Walk; a Veggie Challenge; a Walktober walking program; gym membership reimbursements; an annual health fair; complimentary company products and more. Employees are able to select the programs and activities they want to participate in and are rewarded for them.

"Our winners are perfect examples of how health outcomes can be improved throughout America," said Cathy Kenworthy, President and CEO of Interactive Health. "Preventive care programs are about much more than just losing weight or quitting smoking – they are a catalyst to transform the way people view health, well-being and their overall lives. The Healthiest Companies in America winners exemplify the long-term positive effects that comprehensive wellness programs can have on the health status of large populations."

"We're extremely proud to earn this award eight years in-a-row," said Gregory L. Probert, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NSP. "This unique recognition demonstrates our Company's ongoing and relentless commitment to health. Our employees are dedicated to maintaining their health through the wellness program and other tools and benefits we offer." This recognition is a tribute to the character of our workforce, the quality of our premium products and our company mission."

Each year, NSP employees see success through Company-sponsored programs with measureable health benefits in key areas, including lower blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides as well as improved blood glucose levels.

Christine Frazier, Manager of Insurance Benefits and Wellness at NSP, added, "We enjoy tremendous executive support for our wellness program and its many options which have contributed to an improved daily habit of health for all of our employees. Nature's Sunshine is truly part of an elite group to have achieved this status."

NSP believes that healthier employees create a stronger company and a more productive workforce. We strive to support this philosophy each day. Probert concluded, "As a health company, we are setting the example…we are walking the walk."

About Nature's Sunshine Products

Nature's Sunshine Products, a leading natural health and wellness company, markets and distributes nutritional and personal care products through a global direct sales force of over 640,000 independent Managers, Distributors and customers in more than 40 countries. Nature's Sunshine manufactures most of its products through its own state-of-the-art facilities to ensure its products continue to set the standard for the highest quality, safety and efficacy on the market today. The Company has four reportable business segments that are divided based on the characteristics of their Distributor base, similarities in compensation plans, as well as the internal organization of NSP's officers and their responsibilities (NSP Americas; NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe; Synergy WorldWide; and China and New Markets). The Company also supports health and wellness for children around the world through its partnership with the Sunshine Heroes Foundation. Additional information about the Company can be obtained at its website, www.naturessunshine.com.

LifeVantage Corporation  has announced the launch of the LifeVantage Sport Science Lab at Real Salt Lake. The LifeVantage Sports Science Lab is designed to measure and assess the player's response to training stress. This joint venture will be housed within Rio Tinto Stadium and all testing will be conducted by the Real Salt Lake Sports Science Department under the direction of Dan Barlow, Director of Sports Science and Performance for Real Salt Lake. 

"By monitoring the player's individual responses to training stress, the Sports Science Team at Real Salt Lake can more closely adjust workout and recovery regimens, cellular stress profiles, and nutrition and supplement interventions," said Shawn Talbott, PhD., Chief Science Office at LifeVantage Corporation. "Their ability to benchmark and measure oxidation, inflammation and biochemistry within the cellular stress profiles of their players will directly impact their on-field performance."

"We are very excited for our club to venture into this space, one occupied by only a handful of the biggest soccer franchises in the world," said Barlow, who has served as the club's Strength and Conditioning coach since 2007, noting that this program follows innovations currently in operation at Barcelona, Real Madrid, and select NFL teams. "The expansion of our performance baselines and the in-depth monitoring of our athletes would not be possible without the commitment and guidance of our LifeVantage partners."

LifeVantage and Real Salt Lake have cooperatively established baseline measurements and generated data on each player's nutritional makeup, strength and conditioning maintenance and growth, as well as recovery from games and practice regimens. The individual's response and progress will be continuously monitored, and each of the club's athletes will receive detailed oversight and instruction throughout the 10-month season, designed to achieve maximum performance and health, on and off the field.

About LifeVantage Corporation 
LifeVantage Corporation is a science based network marketing company dedicated to visionary science that looks to transform health, wellness and anti-aging internally and externally at the cellular level. The company is the maker of Protandim(R), the Nrf2 Synergizer(R) patented dietary supplement, the TrueScience(TM) Anti-Aging Skin Care Regimen, Canine Health, and the AXIO(TM) energy product line. LifeVantage was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

U.S. direct-selling company Amway has found further room for growth in Korea as per-head sales of its health supplement products topped other countries last year, the company founder's son said Sunday. 

In an interview with Korean journalists in Beijing, Sam Rehnborg, president of Nutrilite Health Institute, wholly owned by Amway, said as Korea was one of the world's fastest-aging societies, the demand for health supplements was set to rise in coming decades. 

"China is a huge market compared to Korea," he told The Korea Times after the group interview. "In terms of sales per capita, however, Korea is already a benchmark for our less-developed markets due to Amway Korea's powerful method of marketing, referred to in some U.S. universities as social marketing. It helped the market in Korea to another level." 

To explain what social marketing is, he said, "People buy a product from you not because of all you say about it, but because they look at you and they see something different. It's just like buying a golf club. If the golf club proves it hits 20 yards farther, it is a most powerful method of marketing. It is different from consumer marketing, which requires a lot of money on ads and sales staff to sell the products off the shelves." 

Amway Korea posted 1.023 trillion won ($937 billion) in sales last year, accounting for 8.8 percent of the U.S. direct seller's overall sales, worth 11.581 trillion won. Amway Korea's sales last year rose 3.5 percent from a year earlier, according to data from Amway Korea. 
Amway and its Korean operations earned more than 40 percent of their respective sales last year from health supplements, which are sold under the Nutrilite brand, the data showed. 

In accelerating its drive to expand in Asia, Amway is in the middle of building a botanical research center in Wuxi, Jiangsu. It will be Amway's first farming and research facility in Asia, the president said. 

Amway has a laboratory in Shanghai to study local herbal ingredients and a production facility in Gwangzhou, which processes herbal ingredients bought in China and the U.S. into Nutrilite products. But it does have a farm there. Its main factory for its flagship Nutrilite products is in the state of Washington. 

"We wanted to have a botanical research center in this part of the world to study traditional Chinese herbal products that have unique preventive properties," said Sam, who is the son of Nutrilite founder Carl Rehnborg.

Amway Product Development Director David Groh said the other reason they were in Wuxi is that they had plans for more than just China. 

"What we are trying to do is once we understand and identify a traditional medicine which has value, we figure out how to grow it, manufacture it and scale it up so we can produce traditional Chinese medicines or TCMs," Groh said. "We can just go and buy TCM raw materials from suppliers. We need to develop them to our farming practices and Nutrilite standards. Wuxi will help do that." 

Amway plans to complete its supply chain in China, from planting raw materials and manufacturing TCMs to their packaging, to meet the growing demand in local and global markets. But it did not provide a time frame. 

Amway has more than half its global sales in Asia. It began direct-sale operations in Korea in May 1991.

Back in the day, about the only people who even thought about drinking cactus juice were prospectors and pioneers who'd gotten lost in the desert. But times have changed and now you can order a whopping four-pack of 32-ounce bottles of Nopalea cactus juice from a company called TriVita.

Why would you want to do that?

Well, according to the company's website, its cactus juice from the blazing hot Sonora Desert of southern Arizona is downright anti-inflammatory. You know, sort of like it fights fire with fire.

Or as TriVita puts it: "Featuring the superfruit of the prickly pear (nopal) cactus, it contains a powerful class of nutrients called Bioflavonoids."

Checks being mailed

Could be but the Federal Trade Commission is mailing nearly 500,000 checks totaling about $3 million to consumers who actually ordered the stuff and, presumably, drank it based on TriVita's claims that the juice, sold under the name Nopalea, would treat a variety of health problems.

In July 2014, the FTC settled charges against TriVita Inc. for using unsupported product claims to deceive consumers, including infomercials with testimonials from consumers who received a commission for selling its products.

The stuff is still being sold but its promoters are, one hopes, being more circumspect in their claims. 

What to do

If you get one of the checks, from the FTC's administrator, Gilardi & Co. LLC, it should be deposited or cashed right away, no later than within 60 days of the mailing date. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or to provide information before refund checks can be cashed. The amount will vary based upon the amount of each consumer’s loss.

Talk Fusion continues to demonstrate international success in countries throughout the world. In the sovereign state of Gabon, Africa, Associate Judicael Obame was hard at work as a full time PhD student in biological sciences. In an effort to overcome mounting debt and help earn financial freedom for his family, he tried several personal business endeavors.

Unfortunately, each of them took up so much of his time that he had to abandon them. It appeared he would have to make a terrible choice: his higher education and the career of his dreams OR making enough money to get out of debt and help his family.

Fortunately Judicael was introduced to Talk Fusion by a friend before he had to make that critical decision. He didn’t need his PhD to realize he had found the opportunity that would help him achieve the financial freedom he desperately needed.

“I've never been so excited and enthusiastic in my life about doing something as I feel now!” he says. “Before being introduced to Talk Fusion I was in debt, but now I'm getting more and more debt free. I'm very determined to continue.”

Ironically, a year before joining Talk Fusion, a friend he hadn’t seen since high school sent Judicael a Talk Fusion Video Email. “It was very cool to see him again, talking to me through a video email after such a long period of silence,” he recalls. “Looking back, I realize it was a mistake for me to not have asked him how he did it. If I had, I would have joined Talk Fusion a year ago!”

Judicael approaches his Talk Fusion business with the same energy and dedication as he gives to his PhD studies; in fact, he is able to work part time at Talk Fusion while completing his degree. The key is expanding his business with a team of committed Associates. “The Talk Fusion business here is growing with powerful momentum. Associates here are very enthusiastic; the number of associates is growing all over the country. A great team of Talk Fusion Champions is born in Gabon.”

A huge inspiration for his team is Talk Fusion’s Instant Pay. However, given that Instant Pay is the only compensation plan in the world that pays just three minutes after the sale, some people have a difficult time believing at first. “I remember an Associate who was a little skeptical about that,” he remembers. “But I assure you that when she sponsored her first associate and got paid right away, she told me ‘Thank You, Judicael’ with a huge smile! Instant Pay definitely gives my team more motivation and commitment to continue their business.”

Even as he works toward finishing his PhD, Judicael plans to promote regional Talk Fusion events locally in his town and nationally across Gabon. “I think about the freedom to get all you need that you have never had the possibility to get before. I think about the possibility to travel around the world and live your dreams. I think about helping people through various initiatives because you have money to do that.”

Considering his college expenses and the need to help his family, Judicael has a final thought about how his successful Talk Fusion business will change his life forever. “I think about being debt free.”

ABOUT TALK FUSION

A trend-setting industry leader, Talk Fusion connects people around the world through cutting-edge video technology for social and business communication. Talk Fusion's innovative video products are marketed person-to-person by independent Associates in more than 140 countries, empowering them to earn the financial freedom to live their dreams.

Founded in 2007 by CEO Bob Reina, Talk Fusion introduced the world’s first Instant Pay Compensation Plan. Talk Fusion adheres to the highest ethical business practices and is a member of the prestigious Direct Selling Association (DSA). Reina firmly believes that “with great success comes greater responsibility.”

Talk Fusion fosters a strong commitment to giving back to friends, family, communities, and animal charities across the world to produce a positive global change. Learn more at www.TalkFusion.com and “Like” Talk Fusion at www.facebook.com/TalkFusion.

In just five and half years, Vector Marketing Sales Professional Seth Kinzer sold $1 million and qualified for the company hall of fame. He is the third fastest in Cutco history to reach this milestone, and he did so while finishing his college degree.

Kinzer is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he works at Vector Marketing as a Cutco Sales Professional and a Fair and Show Coordinator for its Northstar Division. Vector Marketing recruits representatives to sell Cutco kitchen cutlery, kitchen accessories, and sporting knives.

Kinzer started his career with Vector in 2009. For the first year and a half, he was a full-time college student at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He graduated in December 2010 with a bachelor's degree in economics. He has sold an average of some $200,000 a year, with a personal single-year record of $300,000 in 2014.

In February 2015, he reached the $1 million sales mark, qualifying for the Cutco Hall of Fame. He will be formally inducted at the company year-end banquet in Chicago in January 2016.

Now, Kinzer's new goal is to reach $500,000 in sales in a single year. He says his experience selling Cutco has allowed him lifestyle perks such as paying cash for a car and taking between three and six domestic and international vacations a year. But, most importantly, he said it has bolstered his confidence.

"I can't imagine how different my life would be right now if I had never found Vector and Cutco. I've always had a hard work ethic, but Vector gave me the tools and opportunities to live up to my full potential, to become the best version of myself," Kinzer said. "I used to think 'I could probably do this or that.' Now I know I can do anything I put my mind to."

About Vector Marketing

Vector Marketing is the sales arm for Cutco Cutlery, a 65-year-old company with headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Olean, New York. Vector sells Cutco through a national team of college students, who are trained to do in-home and virtual demonstrations on a pre-set basis. Vector Marketing has over 200 locations nationwide and works with students of all majors with little-to-no professional experience.

Four Oceans Global, LLC announced that the company is officially pre-launching in an additional 5 countries.  Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Four Oceans is the leading lifestyle and professional development learning and experiential social selling company focused on a positive, meaningful life defined and attained through “sustained happiness.”

Four Oceans launched on April 6, 2015 and in only its first 5 weeks of operations has already significantly surpassed business growth expectations projected for 1st quarter business operations in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

“Launching the company and getting past the starting gate of building a state-of-the-art (video driven) personal development and luxury travel rewards platform, which is powered by the MLM industry’s strongest wealth creation vehicle has been an epic task. Now add an accelerated timeline for pre-launching additional countries and we’ve taken the already high level of excitement surrounding Four Oceans to a whole new level.

Our business model is clearly resonating with both the personal development enthusiast and the professional network marketer.  We’re seeing some of the biggest names in the industry getting involved right now and it’s happening because of our unique product offering and unmatched wealth creation vehicle,” said Robert Oblon, Four Oceans Founder. “We couldn’t be happier about the overwhelmingly positive response we’ve received, especially with how well The Happiness Advantage content is affecting people.”

Four Oceans’ global expansion for its business model and curriculum have been fast-tracked sooner than initially projected due to the overwhelming demand. Language translations into non-English speaking countries are also underway as even more countries are being lined up for pre-launch by industry veterans.

“Having a self-improvement product and unique business opportunity has been previously attempted over the last 15 years, but never before have both been more needed and timely! New members can choose from three Happiness levels to improve themselves personally and professionally,” says Ken Eggleston, Four Oceans U.S. Leader.

“What we’re building over the next 12 months on a global yet localized scale and with new and fresh thought-leaders, authors and trainers, will undoubtedly become the benchmark for self-improvement around the world and a great business opportunity as well for those interested in earning income and being part of a community,” he added.

About Four OceansFour Oceans is a lifestyle brand that is disrupting the idea that hard work and sacrifice precedes happiness and success. The social selling company, based in Plano, Texas, is at the forefront of the happiness movement. Starting with the ’21 Days of Happiness Course’, Four Oceans’ learning and self-improvement programs are helping people around the world elevate their lives personally and professionally.

Four Oceans offers individuals two ways to get involved with the company. The first way is to sign up to be a Four Oceans customer and take advantage of “Happiness” self-improvement and life skills curriculum and experiential programs.  Alternatively, people can become a Four Oceans Partner, joining people worldwide currently enjoying the satisfaction and reward of owning their own business rewarding them for selling products and helping others. Partners earn income and other cash and business incentives based on personal and group performance.

Four Oceans is headquartered in Plano, Texas, serving the US and Asia. For more information about Four Oceans, visit FOUROCEANS.com and follow FOUROCEANS on Facebook and Twitter (@weareFOUROCEANS).

The Philippines Anti-Investment Scam Task Force, a multi-agency body composed of representatives from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, National Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, has discovered that at least 43 companies in the Cordillera region have used Ponzi schemes in luring victims to invest millions of pesos over the past several years.

SEC director for Baguio lawyer Annie Gonzales Tesoro said that 12 of the companies were registered with the commission as engaged in trading. The rest are listed with the Department of Trade and Industry; the rest are not registered at all. 

The task force has filed 19 multiple estafa charges against Three Angels General Merchandise manager Sukil-ap Pagaduan following complaints that the company collected P2 million from its investors and then closed its office for no known reason.

Thirteen complainants who collectively shelled out more than P4 million also filed syndicated estafa charges against Ely Morales and six employees of Stiforp Trading which also stopped operating after collecting the money.

Meanwhile, 22 estafa charges were filed against ADS-HUB.Com Ventures Inc. and 21 cases were filed against Infintewealth Touchtone.   

Tesoro said the concerned agencies are conducting information and education campaigns to warn people about such companies, but some just become too greedy.

Other companies involved in similar schemes, according to Tesoro, are Zoom Unlimited, Medra Direct Sales Corp., Medra Distribution International, Global Medra Resources, Inc., Winlife, Speed Cash, Mimshack, Mimshack Security Agency, Mimshack Trading Center, Mimshack Trading International, United Wellness Hub Co., Unlimited Wellness Hub, PC Wellness, Diamond Lifestyle Corporation, RJR DLC Diamond Trading, Inc., KFC International Trading, Inc., Supreme Unlimited Network, Swiss Golden Trading Co., Reciente International, Wisdom Expressweath Trading and Marketing, Greenwealthgold, Greenwealthgold Wellness, Greenwealthgold Automotive Services, Greenwealthgold Real Estate Services, Greenwealthgold Salon and Spa, Suncore Supreme Unlimited Network Corporation, ARL Marketing Wellness and Services, Inc., Keyworld International Ventures, Inc., General Revelation Ventures, Inc., HB Global Corp, HBC Global, Inc ., Buena Dinero, Satara Welness Marketing, Stara Investment Group.

About 4 million Filipinos are in direct selling. Some have found financial and personal freedom, while others have become victims of pyramiding scams. The Direct Selling Association of the Philippines (DSAP) has shared answers here to frequently asked questions about pyramiding companies and companies that are legitimate and with sustainable compensation plans.

Arbonne International is being sued by a woman in Indiana who claims in a lawsuit that the company’s products caused her acute liver failure.

In a complaint filed in the Allen County Superior Court on May 13, Vicki Swanson says she began using Arbonne's "30-Day Feeling Fit Kit" in March 2013. The kit consists of protein shakes, a "Daily Fiber Boost," "Fit Chews," "Energy Fizz Sticks" and an herbal detox tea.

According to the complaint, Arbonne claimed in its marketing material that using the kit would "take the guesswork out of getting fit" and "give you the right combination of essential nutrients to set you on the road to success".

But Swanson says six weeks after she began using the product as directed, she started to suffer from lethargy and jaundice, and was admitted to a local hospital, where she was diagnosed with acute liver failure. After her condition deteriorated, Swanson transferred to another hospital in Indianapolis, where the cause of her liver failure was determined to be toxic levels of green tea extracts, she claims in the complaint.

Swanson says she had no prior history of liver disease, and was therefore made sick by Arbonne's products, as they were her only source of green tea prior to her illness.

Defendant Arbonne, "failed to warn and instruct … Vicki and others of the '30-Day Feeling Fit Kit's' dangerous and defective characteristics, which defective characteristics where (sic) known to Arbonne", the lawsuit states.

Swanson further claims Arbonne breached its warranties, as its kit was unsafe and "unfit for its intended uses and purposes." She seeks unspecified damages on claims of product liability, breach of warranty and negligence. Representatives for Arbonne International could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday evening. 

Source: http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/05/21/woman-claims-fit-kit-destroyed-her-liver.htm

Austin-based RetailMeNot Inc. is using a free speech defense in a lawsuit filed by cosmetics maker Mary Kay Inc.

The digital coupon site filed its response Thursday saying Mary Kay attacked its free speech and its right to the use of publicly available information on the Internet.

Addison-based Mary Kay filed a lawsuit in March asking the court to bar RetailMeNot from using the Mary Kay name.

Mary Kay claimed in U.S. District Court in Dallas that it does not provide digital deals, offers and coupons for publication on RetailMeNot and hasn’t authorized or permitted the site to list deals, sales or codes using its name or likeness.

RetailMeNot said in a statement that it “rejects Mary Kay’s attack on the rights of Americans using its websites to freely exchange publicly available information over the Internet.”

The company, which bills itself as the largest source of online deals and coupons, believes it is protecting the interests of consumers in a case that could have a negative impact on online content and service providers.

“Mary Kay’s attempt to use trademark law in a manner that is inconsistent with fundamental principles of free speech should alarm consumers because it would deprive them of access to information about digital offers for their favorite retailers and brands,” RetailMeNot said.

The company is paid by listed retailers, but not all of them. It includes offers and listings for 70,000 retailers and brands. Shoppers use its website and app to research and download discounts and coupons. Here’s a link to RetailMeNot’s response.

Mary Kay charged RetailMeNot with trademark infringement, unfair competition, false advertisement, trademark dilution and unfair competition.

Mary Kay believes that by listing these coupons, RetailMeNot “misleads consumers” to believe that the two companies have a relationship to sell products at a reduced price. It claims this practice has only confused consumers of its products.

Malaysia-based multi-level marketing firm, Zhulian Corporation Bhd, is set to begin its Myanmar operations next month, Malaysian media reported. Group Managing Director Teoh Meng Keat said the firm has obtained an import licence from the Myanmar government for its consumer goods to enter the country.

Teoh Meng Keat said Myanmar is touted as the new frontier market amongst emerging countries in terms of the consumer segment and has appointed a local master agent to oversee the business there.

He said due to local laws limiting company ownership, the group will export its products directly to the master agent, who will then sell it to locals.

“We will continue to expand our overseas market to overcome escalating raw material prices, increasing operating costs, stiff market competition and reduced consumer confidence in spending,”

On Zhulian's performance for the financial year ending November 2015, Teoh said it would be challenging, amid uncertainty in the regional economic situation, currency fluctuations and spending behaviour domestically due to the Goods and Services Tax.

From dealing with only a small range of gold plated jewellery, Zhulian today has diversified its product lines into home care, food and beverages, nutritional supplements, personal care, cosmetics, air and water treatment, sleep enhancement and disposable hygiene products.

Currently, Zhulian has about 569,709 distributors and 326 agents in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.

Twenty Years to Pay Dirt in the MLM Business. This stay-at-home mom has never given up.  Can you imagine showing up to work every single day for twenty years and never earning a real paycheck? Well that’s been the story of self-employed networker Pam McCray.

For the past 20 years, she has joined business after business, gone to meeting after meeting, attended conference after conference and wore the badge of honor for every company she’s been connected to, but never found any consistent success.

“I have to admit, I’ve had a difficult time earning income and getting any acknowledgement of being a leader in the MLM industry. But I always had this belief that I would eventually win. I was one of those network-marketing babies who grew up with parents who believed in the industry from a young age.

I can still remember my parent’s meetings and the home parties they did! Their excitement and belief in the industry rubbed off on me, and created a hunger inside of me to also become a Network Marketing Professional,” explains McCray.

With a relentless drive to achieve in the industry, she has spent the past twenty years searching for the right opportunity that would position her to become a recognized leader in network marketing. She just didn’t know when this opportunity might arise and which company would be the vehicle; but she knew that this industry had a way of taking average people and turning them into extraordinary success stories

Six months ago, the vision that Pam has held in her heart for the past twenty years was finally manifested when she said one simple word, YES!  She nearly missed this opportunity while overlooking the simplicity of the product. McCray was approached by her friend and mentor, Global Director for Total Life Changes, Stormy Wellington. She introduced Pam to TLC’s hero product, Iaso™ Tea.

“I took the bag and tossed it in my purse not even giving it a second thought. It wasn’t until she came back to me and asked for it back that I remembered I had it, so in an effort to not give it back, I decided to give it a try,” recalls McCray. In the following thirty-one days, Pam McCray lost twenty pounds.

“Not only did I lose the weight, but it’s as if I lost all fears and resistance along with it.  That little black bag became a miracle in my life that made me bolder and more confident than ever before, which boosted my income and quickly positioned me near the top of the charts in Total Life Changes,” she adds.    

Many believe that success in the MLM industry is all a matter of luck. Pam McCray is living proof that perseverance is your power to change. Twenty years of chasing dreams and never giving up and never giving in to her peer’s negativity toward building a successful business in networking has finally paid off.

“I have been able to become a top earner with TLC, which is allowing me to empower others around the world to live the life of their dreams and experience financial freedom. As a Regional Diretor, I have essentially been able to compress what some dream to earn in a year into a five-figure weekly income,” explains McCray.

Pam McCray is a stay-at-home mother of four and wife of Nate McCray. Her family is thankful for the freedom that network marketing has provided. The McCray’s are now enjoying more financial freedom under the sunny skies of South Florida. Pam’s goal is to help 1,000 families earn a six-figure income by the end of 2015: “You need to know that it is possible for anyone to build a residual income, live a healthier lifestyle, own a home where you want to live; do what you want to do, go where you want, and get to bless so many people.

I would like to thank Jack Fallon, CEO & Founder of TLC, for his vision, the leadership that is paving the way, my team and of course my husband Nate who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. If you're serious, committed, coachable and teachable, now is the time to take action and begin to live the life of your dreams.” You may contact Pam McCray via email: joinPamtoday@gmail.com

About Total Life Changes

Total Life Changes offers an amazing line of health and beauty products along with a great business opportunity. TLC was created by CEO Jack Fallon over 15 years ago with a single product, Nutraburst, and has grown to include our Iaso™ brand of products like our popular Iaso™ Tea. 

Our hybrid binary system allows IBO’s of TLC to quickly be compensated for introducing new reps to our products and business opportunity. The opportunity for you to feel healthier and flourish financially is what TLC is all about! Join us in Atlanta this July to see it for yourself.

We have received many questions how we calculate the Direct Selling momentum ranks. As we do not want the many "Copy Cats" on the Internet to steal our setup, we do not disclose our algorithm.

What we will disclose with this article is a small part of our key indicators, the Facebook "Talking About", you find that on the company Facebook page – under likes.

This is the actual number of people who are 'engaged' and interacting with that Facebook Page. The people who actually come back to the page *after* liking the page. This include activities such as comments, likes to a post, shares, etc by visitors to the page.

A company can "Buy" Facebook likes and some companies do….. however "Talking About" is hard to influence. Rule of thumb of "Likes" vs "Talking About" numbers for a Facebook Page:

With LESS than 100,000 likes, a great "talking about" number is about 8% of the likes. With MORE than 100,000 likes, a great "talking about" number is 4% of the likes.

To explain below list, Avon has 13,6 million Facebook likes, however 24,800+ Talking About, so 0,18% is active. Nerium has 206,800+ Facebook likes and 25,000+ Talking About, so 12,34% is active.

Below are the Facebook "Talking About" ranks as of 22 May 2015, we have sorted the "Talking About" on absolute numbers, however you have to look to both numbers

China's direct sales market began with the entry of Avon in the 1990s. But the industry plunged into chaos with rampant pyramid schemes, prompting the government to ban the industry altogether in 1998. The ban was lifted in 2005.

Since the ban was lifted, direct marketing has expanded rapidly, with an average annual growth rate of 30 percent. China's direct sales market is likely the world's third or fourth biggest behind the United States, Japan and possibly South Korea, said Hu Yuanjiang, executive director for direct selling at China Health Care Association.

After 2005, the industry grew to employ 2.3 million salespeople within seven years. In 2012, the country had 32 licensed direct selling companies with combined sales of nearly 20 billion yuan ($3.2 billion), according to the Chinese Commerce Ministry.

The growth can be attributed to China's economic boom, a rising consumer culture and more favorable government policies, and also that direct selling provides low-threshold opportunities for people to start their own businesses, Hu said.

"It also fits into the Chinese culture, where kinships and personal relationships, such as being in the same class or from the same village, are highly valued. They help build trust quickly, which is important for direct selling," Hu said.

The Tianjin-based Tiens Group, which sells medicinal products, including via direct sales, sent 6000 distributors on a four-day, all-expenses-paid trip to France to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary. They formed the phrase "Tiens' dream is nice in the Côte d'Azur" on a waterfront in Nice. The French foreign minister met with the company president.

Infinitus is sending 12,700 sales associates to Thailand in shifts of two to three thousand for six-day trips to Bangkok and the beach resort of Pattaya. They are taking 110 flights and shuttling in 400 coach buses until Tuesday. Thai tourism officials expect $18 million in revenue.

The three mass tours have generated media buzz not only in host countries, but back home where some Chinese see them as part of their country's rise on the world stage. They relish the big spending and the warm welcome from host cities.

Yet another Chinese direct seller sent 7,000 people to California last year. Perfect China's tour of California last year reportedly generated $85 million in revenue for the local economy, and Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait wished them great memories.

"We are making history!" vice-chairman Xu Guowei of the Perfect China cosmetics company crowed in California during the retreat and package tour. "We have taken 86 flights, stayed in 26 hotels," he said. "Our group's attendees have spent $10,000 each this visit."

Hu Xingdou, an economics professor at Beijing Institute of Technology, said the mass tours reflect the desire of Chinese to show off wealth after decades of impoverishment, while the uniforms and shouting of slogans reveal the oddly militaristic corporate culture of China's direct marketing companies.

Zhang Xiaoyan, a senior business director at Infinitus who went on one of the Thailand trips, recalled local people "gaping" at the travelers who were wearing uniforms, lugging suitcases and carrying umbrellas — all with the company logo.

"I think it helped a lot to advertise our company's culture and image," Zhang said.

"Some local TV network reported on us and they called us the largest tourist group in history in Thailand."

DubLi, Inc. (OTC PINK: DUBL), a global Cashback E-commerce and marketing company that provides consumers around the world with a variety of innovative online shopping and travel opportunities, today reported fiscal 2015 financial results for the three months and six months ended March 31, 2015.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, revenues increased approximately 200% to $3.8 million over the $1.2 million reported in the same three month period of 2014.

The loss from continuing operations in the three months ended March 31, 2015 was approximately $2.0 million and was $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. 

At March 31, 2014, the Company had deferred fee revenues of approximately $13.5 million, substantially all of which will be recognized as revenues during fiscal years 2015 and 2016. 

For the six months ended March 31, 2015, revenues were approximately $8.6 million compared to approximately $2.4 million reported in the same period of fiscal 2014, an increase of approximately 250%. The loss from continuing operations in the first six months of fiscal 2015 was approximately $3.4 million resulting in a loss per share of $0.01 compared to a loss of $3.1 million in the same period of the prior year or a loss per share of $0.01. 

Commenting on today's announcement, Ivan Braiker, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "The significant growth in revenue is attributed to greater worldwide acceptance of our Cashback model ('Malls'), an increase in the sale of V.I.P. membership packages and growth of the DubLi Partner Program. 

Mall transactions, defined as the total transaction value passed through the Malls to our merchants totaled approximately $11.7 million in the second quarter and $22.1 million for the six month period.

We are experiencing growth in the worldwide adoption of our co-branded Partner Programs and we expect to see continued growth in this key area of our business."

About DubLi, Inc.:

DubLi provides Cashback rewards and value-based travel, shopping and entertainment portals to online customers all over the world through DubLi.com. DubLi is a consumer-focused company, where the customers' needs always come first.

At DubLi.com, we believe consumers shop at the same stores they shop normally, find the best deals and then earn Cashback with each purchase. DubLi features thousands of brand name stores, industry-leading travel companies from around the world along with insurance, financial services and telecommunications. DubLi, Inc. also offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to create their own distributor organizations by joining DubLi Network (Dublinetwork.com).

The global network of Business Associates who form DubLi Network, the sales and marketing engine for DubLi.com, generates traffic to DubLi.com by using direct selling to market a variety of memberships and packages. DubLi Partner (Dublipartner.com) offers a co-branded version of its DubLi.com platform that gives participating organizations a professional and reliable web presence while providing access to DubLi's global online Cashback travel, shopping and entertainment site for their customers and through purchases providing Cashback to the participating organization and to their customers. 

DubLi is emerging as a leading provider of innovative travel, shopping, and entertainment solutions to consumers in more than 120 countries. DubLi, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Hard on the heels of rapid growth in the several regional markets, including Europe, Latin America and North America, Jeunesse announces a new record for monthly sales revenue, posting over $78 million in global sales in April.

Jeunesse also added more than 90,000 new Distributors in April, an 11 percent increase over the previous record month in February.

These latest figures further confirm the company’s leading role in the direct selling industry and its status as one of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S. Jeunesse, a company that focuses on youth enhancement through its anti-aging skincare and nutritional product lines, continues to expand its operations into new countries around the world.

The company celebrated launches in the Japanese and Canadian markets last month.

“The beauty of our growth is that it is diversified in so many markets and regions around the world,” Chief Visionary Officer Scott Lewis said.

“Whereas we have received some attention lately, the reality is that we feel we are only scratching the surface of our true potential.

The future is very bright, as all of our esteemed leaders from around the world are locked in and focused on continuing to make Jeunesse one of the great legacy companies of network marketing.

We are also looking forward to boosting this global sales performance even more following the integration of our new MonaVie family.

About Jeunesse

Jeunesse is a leading direct selling company devoted to encouraging healthy living. Company research focuses on adult stem cell science, telomere support, DNA repair, fat loss technology and nutrigenomics. Products are made in the USA and are exclusively formulated for Jeunesse.

With a multilingual customer service, back office support team, global enrollment system and in-house programming already in place, the company is fully operational in 32 offices around the world. Its distribution channels extend to over 100 countries.

Jeunesse and the Jeunesse logo are registered trademarks of Jeunesse Global, LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. For more information, please visit: www.jeunesseglobal.com. Follow Jeunesse on Facebook or Twitter

The Better Business Bureau recently recognized Vemma Nutrition Company with its highest rating of A+ and also named it an accredited business with the organization.

To attain this status, Vemma had to show that it is committed to making “a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints.”

Businesses are not required to seek the BBB accreditation, which includes “monitoring for continued compliance and support of BBB services to the public,” according to the organization.

This rating by the BBB clearly indicates that Vemma is proactively and continually pursuing new ways to ensure our Customers get the answers and assistance they need with any product purchases or experiences with the Vemma affiliate marketing businesses.

“Vemma is all about people helping people and providing a world-class customer service experience. That’s why this recognition is so important to us,” says Vemma Founder & CEO BK Boreyko.

“We will always do everything in our power to ensure our Customers and Affiliates have the best experience and service possible with us. Being an accredited business is very important to us and we are grateful for our current A+ rating. We will continue to do everything we can to maintain it.”

Vemma recently released a new tutorial video to provide an additional resource to its business Affiliates, ensuring they understand how they are permitted to promote Vemma’s products and business opportunity.

Check out our “how to share Vemma S.A.F.E.-ly” below.

About Vemma

Founded in 2004 by BK Boreyko and his two sisters, Karen and Lauren, Vemma Nutrition Company has become known as one of the premier industry leaders specializing in premium liquid nutrition. Every month, thousands of new customers experience the positive difference of the clinically studied Vemma Formula.

The Vemma brands include the clinically studied Verve® healthy energy drink and Vemma Bod-e®, a transformational weight loss line. Vemma is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, and distributes its products in more than 50 countries through global affiliate marketing.

For more information, please visit Vemma.com

Vorwerk is looking back on an extremely successful fiscal year 2014. In the 131st year of the company’s history, the Vorwerk Group closed with a consolidated sales volume of 2.8 billion euros, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.8 percent – a new best result for the Wuppertal-based, family-owned company. The current year also got off to a promising start with sales at the end of the first three months of 2015 already up 19 percent on the corresponding period of the previous year.

The Vorwerk Group also generated a clear increase in its business volume, which also takes new akf group business into account, of 6.8 percent to 3.3 billion euros.

“2014 was an entirely successful year,” as Managing Partners Reiner Strecker and Frank van Oers announced today at the financial press conference. “In all of our segments, we are right where we belong with our high-ticket products: in people’s homes.”

With revenues totaling 2.3 billion euros, the Group’s core business – direct sales of premium products – once again proved to be a growth driver. Sales were up 5.9 percent in this segment. For the first time in the history of the company, the Thermomix Division was the highest-earning, direct-selling division with sales volume totaling 920 million euros, placing it ahead of Kobold (898 million euros), JAFRA Cosmetics (427 million euros) and Lux Asia Pacific (28 million euros). From Vorwerk’s point of view, the highlights of the year included the successful launch of the Thermomix TM5, the Kobold VG100 window cleaner and the Kobold VR200 robot vacuum cleaner.

As a family company, the Vorwerk Group pursues a long-term strategy focused clearly on sustainable and profitable growth.

“Our ten-year comparison illus-trates the consistent success of this strategy in recent years: We were able to increase our sales volume by a clear 75 percent between 2004 and 2014 – from 1.6 billion to 2.8 billion euros,” the Managing Partners explained.

In the fiscal year 2014, the Group’s investments were focused on further developing its business model, opening up additional sales markets, and developing and manufacturing new products. Investments in the company’s own production facilities took priority. The Executive Board also plans to continue developing its various divisions in the future. “The strong growth of the Thermomix and Kobold Divisions directly leads to a clear increase in invest-ments,” the Managing Partners explained at the financial press conference. 

Vorwerk has already earmarked investments to the tune of 128 million euros for major infrastructural measures, the expansion of production capacities and the design of innovative new products. The favorable trend also resulted in the creation of new jobs in the production plants of Vorwerk Engineering; nearly 100 new employees were recruited at the Wuppertal facility alone, the Vorwerk Group’s largest production plant.

ABOUT VORWERK

Vorwerk & Co. KG is a family-owned company that was established in 1883. The Holding Company is headquartered in Wuppertal, Germany. The Group is headed by Managing Partners Reiner Strecker and Frank van Oers. Vorwerk’s core business is the worldwide direct selling of premium household products (Kobold vacuum cleaners, the Thermomix kitchen appliance, Lux Asia Pacific products) and cosmetics (JAFRA Cosmetics).

The other members of the Vorwerk family are the akf group, Vorwerk flooring and the Vorwerk Group’s sister company, the HECTAS Group. More than 603,000 people around the world work for Vorwerk, some 591,000 as independent sales partners. Vorwerk generates consolidated revenues of 2.8 billion euros (2014) and operates in over 70 countries.