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Zurvita And Spurilla Approved By The DSA

by Ted Nuyten • December 15, 2014 • 0 Comments

The Board of Directors of the Direct Selling Association recently approved the membership application of two direct selling companies. The companies are:

SAS SPURILLA, LLC
Zurvita

Each of these companies completed the minimum one-year pending period required for full membership in the association. During this time, the company’s marketing and business plan were reviewed to ensure compliance with all provisions of DSA’s Code of Ethics.
“The members of the Direct Selling Association pride themselves in their commitment to the highest standards in business ethics,” said DSA’s President Joseph Mariano. “By applying for membership in the association and going through a rigorous approval process, these companies are demonstrating that they take their ethical obligations to their field salesforce and to the ultimate customer seriously and are willing to make a public pledge to that effect.”
DSA’s Code of Ethics gives the direct selling industry one of the strongest self-regulatory codes in business today. All member companies are not only required to comply with the Code to be admitted to the association, but must also continue to uphold and promote the Code as a condition of continuing membership in the association. DSA’s Code is enforced by an independent code administrator who investigates and prescribes remedies in response

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DSA Endorses 13 Candidates In House And Senate For Support In Direct Selling

by Tina Williams • October 20, 2014 • 0 Comments

Direct Selling Association (DSA) today announced that it has endorsed 13 congressional candidates in recognition of their commitment to direct selling and the entrepreneurialism and opportunity it creates for millions of Americans.
The endorsements, appearing in newspaper ads across the country, support the following incumbents:
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.)
U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.)
U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas)
U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.)
U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wisc.)
U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.)
U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas)
U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.)
U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.)
DSA is also supporting, with similar ads, U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and congressional challengers Mia Love (R-Utah) and Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.). A representative ad from DSA’s national campaign is available here.

“We want elected officials to understand that economic opportunity comes in many shapes and sizes,” said Joseph Mariano, President of DSA. “The candidates we’re supporting this election cycle stand with direct sellers. That’s why we’re standing with them.”

Direct selling – which involves the sale of products and services person-to-person, through home parties or online through distributor websites – provides independent consultants personal flexibility, the opportunity to own their own businesses and the chance to achieve a variety of personal and professional goals. In 2013,

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DSA Responds To Avon Withdrawal, Speculation From Politico

by Tina Williams • September 17, 2014 • 0 Comments

Politico has speculated that the reason for Avon withdrawing from the DSA is due to the Herbalife/Ackman battle:
The cosmetics company Avon has withdrawn from the Direct Selling Association trade group, making some thinly veiled, indirect references to the Herbalife fight unfolding in Washington, D.C., and beyond.

“We believe the association’s agenda in the U.S. is overly focused on the issues of a few specific brands rather than industry-wide challenges,” the company said in a letter to other members explaining its departure. “We believe that the U.S. DSA Code of Ethics requires updating to better reflect the current state of the industry in the U.S. … As the U.S. DSA is currently operating, we do not believe that either of these issues will be addressed.”

The nutritional supplements company Herbalife has been embroiled in a fight with hedge funder and billionaire William Ackman over the company’s business practices. Ackman and his firmPershing Square Capital have made a massive short bet that Herbalife will fail — and have been working regulators to investigate the company’s business practices.
The DSA — of which Herbalife is a major member — has recently embarked on a major public affairs and PR campaign in support of the direct-selling industry. That push happened to coincide with Herbalife’s

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MLM Attorney, Kevin Thompson, Responds To Avon DSA Withdrawal

by Tina Williams • September 17, 2014 • 0 Comments

Recently, Kevin Thompson, THe MLM Attorney, covered in an article that Avon withdrew from the DSA because they’re dissatisfied with the direction the organization is heading.
Now, Kevin Thompson responds to the withdrawal and what it could mean.
Letter from Avon:
To our U.S. direct selling colleagues,
At Avon, we strongly believe in the power of direct selling to enhance people’s lives. Our entire business model is based on our commitment to helping women build better lives for themselves and their families. And we know that multi-level marketing, in some markets and with the appropriate guardrails, is a robust and effective channel for distributing products to consumers.
As you may be aware, this week Avon made the decision to exit the U.S. DSA. This decision came after careful consideration and more than a year of thoughtful discussion. This decision was driven by two key issues:
• We believe the association’s agenda in the U.S. is overly focused on the issues of a few specific brands rather than industry-wide challenges.

• We believe that the U.S. DSA Code of Ethics requires updating to better reflect the current state of the industry in the U.S.
As the U.S. DSA is currently operating, we do not believe that either of these issues will be addressed.
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Avon, Dissatisfied, Withdraws From DSA

by Tina Williams • September 14, 2014 • 0 Comments

In a press release dated September 12th, Avon stated they were withdrawing from the DSA because of their dissatisfaction with the organizations direction. They sent a letter, addressed to “U.S. direct selling colleagues”, which shares their decision was driven by two key issues:
1. They believe the DSA’s agenda in the U.S. is overly focused on issues of a few specific brands rather than industry-wide challenges.
2. They believe that the U.S. DSA Code of Ethics requires updating to better reflect the current state of the industry in the U.S.
Avon is not exiting the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations, local market DSAs, or other direct selling trade organization outside of the United States (many of which they are founding members of). They believe these associations play an important role for Avon. Avon continued to share that there are three major aspects of their business model that they believe further safeguards their representatives and consumers.
1. The Avon business model does not rely on nor does it encourage sales of inventory, training or business support materials between representatives. The core of their model is retailing.
2. Avon has reasonable return policies and representatives are not left holding excess inventory.
3. Avon limits earnings to three generations. They do

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Americans Go To Capitol Hill To Share Direct Selling Stories With Congress

by Tina Williams • September 10, 2014 • 0 Comments

More than 400 independent direct selling consultants representing 28 companies, 30 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia met with members of Congress today during Direct Selling Associations (DSAs) second annual Direct Selling Day on Capitol Hill. Participants shared personal stories about how direct selling has helped them achieve business and personal goals to create a better life.

Direct selling empowers entrepreneurs who are building the American economy community by community, said Joseph Mariano, president of DSA. Our industry has a positive story to tell, and Direct Selling Day on Capitol Hill is a great way to explain that our people are the industrys greatest asset.

Participants from all corners of the country related how direct selling which involves the direct sale of products and services person-to-person, through home parties or online through distributor websites has provided them with personal flexibility, the opportunity to own their own businesses and the chance to achieve a variety of personal and professional goals including supplementing their income, receiving recognition for successes and promoting a product or service they stand behind.

Mariano continued, Direct sellers live and work in every state and Congressional district in the country. Its critical that policymakers understand the value that direct

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Jeunesse Is No. 1 Fastest Growing DSA Company On The INC. 500

by Tina Williams • September 3, 2014 • 0 Comments

Jeunesse Global ranked at 258 on the prestigious Inc. 500 List, officially classifying it as the fastest growing Direct Selling Association company in America. Inc. 500|5000 is an exclusive list that gives a comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America’s independent entrepreneurs.
This list measures the three year revenue growth of 5,000 companies in the country, the first 500 being in the top ten percent. The 2014 Inc. 500 is the most competitive crop of companies in the list’s history. Jeunesse is currently in the top five percent of rankings in America.

“Jeunesse has been narrowed down as one of the top 500 companies in America—and it is a tremendous milestone to be recognized in this category,” says Co-Founder, Randy Ray, “Our goal has always been to double the company’s annual sales with each coming year—a feat which is almost impossible—but it’s something Jeunesse has achieved since its inception. Now that we’re opening new markets in Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe, I see us exceeding the considerable targets we’ve set for this year.”

Jeunesse has delivered remarkable results. The company closed 2013 with a reported $224 million dollars in sales revenue.* Sales are up 125% year-to-date and over 38,000

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Paul Southworth Of Direct Selling Association Named In Queens Birthday Honours List

by Tina Williams • July 1, 2014 • 0 Comments

Paul Southworth, outgoing Director General of the U.K. Direct Selling Association, has been named an Officer in the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
As part of the celebration honoring Queen Elizabeth II’s 88th birthday, the royal honors recognize individuals for their achievements in public life and their service to Britain. Southworth will receive the award “for services to Business, Arts and the community in Northamptonshire” from her majesty during a special investiture at Buckingham Palace.
“The award came as a complete surprise and I feel both honoured and humble to receive such recognition,” Southworth told DSN. “As always it could only have happened because of the incredible team of people I have the privilege to work with, and it is as much their recognition as mine.”
Southworth’s career in direct selling has included the role of President and CEO of Northampton-based Avon U.K. He has also chaired the Trustees Board at Northampton Theatres and sat on the Board of the Northamptonshire Arts and Management Trust. For nearly 10 years, Southworth was Chairman of the Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP), previously Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited (NEL), where he helped secure millions of dollars in support of local economic development.
Southworth will continue

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