The assistant attorney general in charge of protecting the Utah Division of Consumer Protection from overly curious consumers says he believes in the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” Which, of course, he should.
But it might come as a surprise to the many other state and local prosecutors across Utah that Assistant A.G. Chè Arguello defines that principle as justifying a state law that keeps confidential all the consumer complaints the division receives, until and unless that agency actually takes some enforcement action against a company.
Were that the usual standard, there would be no public reporting of the names of, or evidence against, anyone accused of murder or theft until after they had been found guilty in court. Wouldn’t want to unfairly besmirch the name of anyone who hadn’t actually been convicted, now would we?
The State Records Committee last week upheld Arguello’s argument and allowed the Consumer Protection Division to continue to sit on any and all complaints lodged against a Provo-based multi-level marketing outfit called Wake Up Now. Because, apparently, state law on the matter is clear.
Which is why the Utah Legislature should change that law, and make such Consumer Protection Division records open to the public.
The matter was raised by a national nonprofit consumer watchdog called Truth in
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LIMU Donates $15,000 For Challenge Match To Aid The Orlando Union Rescue Mission
by Nicole Dunkley • • 0 Comments
LIMU recently donated $15,000 to the Orlando Union Rescue Mission – a community non-profit group focused on helping homeless families and individuals – as part of its ongoing support of the organization.
LIMU is privileged to be one of the largest financial contributors to OURM over the last 11 years, and the Rescue Mission will use the donation for a Challenge Match campaign that will help donors double the impact of their contributions throughout the month of December. A similar donation from LIMU in 2013 helped OURM increase its donations by +47% vs. the previous year.
Beyond donating funds to OURM, LIMU has also helped the organization upgrade their kitchen facilities and LIMU Corporate employees volunteer to help serve as many as 1,500 meals to homeless men, women and children at the Rescue Mission’s Annual Thanksgiving Banquet. Last week marked the 11th year of LIMU involvement in that hands-on effort, with LIMU staff representing the hundreds of thousands of LIMU Promoters through the company’s LIMU GIVES charitable initiative.
“LIMU is really an endless ‘pay it forward’ business model – which means an endless train of grace, thankfulness and compassion – and I’m proud to recognize that our LIMU Corporate staff embodies that
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WorldVentures Will Take Norway To Court
by Nicole Dunkley • • 0 Comments
This past Friday, WorldVentures received the unexpected decision of the Norwegian Gaming Board that requires the company to cease all business operations in Norway. WorldVentures will now seek an injunction, and have filed notice of this on Friday.
Needless to say, this outcome is disappointing. “As a global award-winning leader in the leisure travel industry and a responsible Inc 5000 direct sales company, we are dedicated to comply with all laws and regulations,” says Steinar Husby who is the Norwegian press contact for WorldVentures.
The Company took extensive legal advice and adjusted their business model and materials in line with that advice when they entered the Norwegian market. Legal advice and opinion was based on the case law and precedent available at that time. During the last 18 months, WorldVentures has focused on keeping an open and constructive dialogue with the Norwegian Gaming Authority and Gaming Board.
WorldVentures has co-operated with the authorities and Gaming Board in the investigation, providing all required documentation and information on business practices.
“It is therefore beyond our understanding how the Board could reach such a conclusion based on the material provided. Deeply disagreeing with the Board’s ruling, we will now take this to the Norwegian court room, where
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Talk Fusion Russian Associates Ring In 2015 With Global Event
by Nicole Dunkley • • 0 Comments
In 2015, Talk Fusion Russian Leaders are starting the year off right with the Diamond Lifestyle Event in Yekaterinburg, Russia, the country’s fourth largest city and capital of the Urals Region. This year they will be more motivated than ever to change lives and set high goals for their teams to climb the ranks and earn top incentives.
Associates from across Europe will flock to the “Ural” Culture Center on January 9 – 10 for two days of excitement, motivation, awards and recognition, plus the chance to energize their efforts for the coming year.
They will meet and network with a powerful array of special guests, including Grand Blue Diamond Cedric Penn, Blue Diamond Natalya Tarkhova, and Diamond Elite Anna Tsarnenko, along with an impressive group of Diamond, Double Diamond, and Triple Diamond Associates from throughout the area.
“Talk Fusion has such huge, endless potential for growth with development in more than 140 countries! It is a great opportunity to help anyone, from anywhere in the world, carry out their dreams,” said Natalya Tarkhova. “So much can happen when you follow the system and believe in your success.”
The event is hosted by Diamond Associates Elena Gilevich and Elvira Eleskhanova. Elena and Elvira
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LifeVantage Opens Corporate Office In Hong Kong
by Nicole Dunkley • • 0 Comments
LifeVantage Corporation, announced the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art office facility in the Empress Plaza, Hong Kong. This new facility was designed to provide a central location where Distributors can host business-building meetings and conduct training events.
We anticipate the office will also allow for a more expedited process for purchasing and receiving LifeVantage products in the Hong Kong region. The opening of the corporate office in Hong Kong coincides with the two-year anniversary of the company’s expansion into the Hong Kong market.
“We are making this significant investment in the Hong Kong market to facilitate the growth of the business in a sustainable manner,” said LifeVantage President and Chief Executive Officer Douglas C. Robinson.
“We continue to be excited about our presence in the Hong Kong market and remain committed to our pledge of providing world-class support to the Distributors in the market, and our Asia Pacific region at large.”
About LifeVantage Corporation
LifeVantage Corporation, is a science based network marketing company that is 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®, the Nrf2 Synergizer® patented dietary supplement, the TrueScience™ Anti-Aging Skin Care
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LIMU 1M Promoters Shannon And Rachetté Pardue Surpass $7 Million In Earnings At LIMU
by Nicole Dunkley • • 0 Comments
Industry veterans Shannon and Rachetté Pardue from Louisiana recently surpassed $7 Million in earnings – all at LIMU and the first to do so at the direct sales company. LIMU’s first ever 1M Promoters, the Pardues have been with LIMU since it was founded in 2004, and have become multi-millionaires through their efforts.
“In my 25+ years in the industry, I have seen just how rare it is for people to earn $7 Million in one company. That is particularly impressive given that this couple joined me with absolutely no previous experience,” says Gary J. Raser, Founder, President and CEO of LIMU. “I am tremendously proud of the Pardues and their success.”
The Pardues joined LIMU at its inception and have built a significant team all across the U.S. And they work closely with that team, crisscrossing the country on a regular basis to hold LIMU Experience parties and trainings. Always on the move, they continue to create strong momentum and say that’s the secret to their success.
“We were working in the construction industry and we were new to direct sales when we started, but the combination of amazing products that work and the LIMU Experience that appeals to everyone helped us
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4Life Announces New Manufacturing Facility
by Nicole Dunkley • • 0 Comments
4Life executives recently announced that the company has broken ground on a new manufacturing facility. Construction will take nine or ten months. A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for next year at this time.
The new plant will give 4Life start-to-finish control over every step of the manufacturing process—which will include the batching, blending, encapsulating and packaging of primary 4Life Transfer Factor© products, including 4Life© Transfer Factor Plus© Tri-Factor© Formula, 4Life Transfer Factor© Tri-Factor© Formula, and 4Life Transfer Factor Renuvo©.
President and CEO Steve Tew: “The facility will adhere to strict current Good Manufacturing Practices as outlined by the Food and Drug Administration and will include state-of- the-art packaging, encapsulation, and blending equipment to ensure the highest level of product quality.”
Raw materials and finished goods will continue to be tested by 4Life scientists in laboratories built for that purpose.
Founder and Chairman of the Board David Lisonbee: “Research remains integral to the products we manufacture. With sixteen years of experience, it makes sense that we control the manufacturing process for our distributors. This is how we guarantee quality and customer satisfaction.”
About 4Life
In 1998, 4Life Founders David and Bianca Lisonbee launched the company’s flagship immune system support product, 4Life Transfer Factor. As the first network marketing
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Direct Selling Jewelry Company, Lia Sophia, Shutting Down
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
It was announced on their company call today that Lia Sophia will be shutting down. This comes as a surprise as until a few days ago, distributors were heavily promoting the products and company. It is uncertain as to the reason or what will happen with pending transactions. The website is still active and future events remain on the calendar.
Lia Sophia is a family owned business that was founded by Victor Kiam under the name Lady Remington several decades ago. It is currently run by Elena and Tory Kiam.
Their website describes the company as:
Versatile style is the theme of our latest collection, but it’s true of lia sophia year after year. The beautiful jewelry we create works in every moment of a woman’s life, from the easy way our pieces coordinate to individual styles that transform into multiple looks. The designs are timeless, and so is the quality, with every piece backed by our unmatched Lifetime Replacement Guarantee. And this season, more than 60% of the collection is priced at less than $50.
Women are at the heart of lia sophia, sharing and connecting over our designs all around the country. We consider our Hostesses and Advisors extended family, and we’re proud of the
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SOZO Global Enhances Ignite® Product Line
by Nicole Dunkley • • 0 Comments
SOZO Global, an entrepreneurial direct selling company expands its Ignite® energy drink product line with the launch of a new natural drink mix in the United States and Canada.
Ignite® Natural contains no harmful chemicals, artificial colors, artificial flavors or artificial sweeteners. Powered by a high antioxidant superfruit, CoffeeBerry®, it also contains healthy vitamins C and D. The caffeine used in the formula is a naturally occurring source of caffeine – unlike many other products on the market that contain a synthetic source.
Ignite Natural was previewed at the SOZO 2014 National Empowerment Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, where co-founder / director Larry Cantrell announced, “This is a great-tasting and natural alternative to other unhealthy energy drinks on the market.” Mark Adams, CEO and co-founder of SOZO also commented, “Energy Drinks are over $12 billion in the United States alone. We plan on taking our product to a global audience.”
SOZO will engage its independent active distributors with an I IGNITE video contest to show how they are using the Ignite Natural energy drink to “ignite” their day.
About SOZO GLOBAL
SOZO Global is a healthy lifestyle company founded in 2009 with its headquarters in Austin, Texas. SOZO products are sold through independent Distributors
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Direct Selling Sales In India Up Just 4.3%, Policy Uncertainty Blamed
by Nicole Dunkley • • 0 Comments
The Indian direct selling industry grew 4.3 per cent in 2013-14 and achieved sales of Rs 7,472$ crore, a sharp decline from previous fiscals, according to the industry’s annual survey conducted by the Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) and the PHD Chamber of Commerce.
Sales grew at 12.2 per cent (Rs 7,164$ crore) in 2012-13 and 22 per cent (Rs 6,385$ crore) the year before. The survey estimates industry turnover at about Rs 24,000$ crore by 2019-20.
“The dip in sales is on account of lack of policy. There is no clarity and the industry faces much uncertainty. That’s what we’ve been asking the Government for over the last six or seven years,” said Chavi Hemanth, Secretary General, IDSA.
Reports indicate that the Finance Ministry is looking to make changes to the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Scheme (PCMCS) (Banning) Act of 1978 to prevent the spread of ponzi schemes. However, direct selling companies have often come under the scanner of the Act, evidenced by the arrest of Amway CEO William Pinckney and two company directors in Kerala last year.
“The Ministry of Consumer Affairs (MoCA) has also come forward to support the industry and frame a separate law. What shape it will take