Interleukin Genetics Enters into New Clinical Research Collaboration with Alticor

Calibre Macro*World

Interleukin Genetics, Inc. reported today that it has executed a new research agreement with Access Business Group International LLC , a subsidiary of Alticor Inc. The research agreement encompasses four main areas; osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, nutrigenomics, and dermagenomics. Interleukin Genetics will be conducting various clinical studies, which shall be fully funded by Alticor. Studies will look to correlate single nucleotide polymorphic (SNPs) gene variations to the risk of osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease in Asian populations. Other studies will seek to identify genetic factors that influence athletic performance and skin appearance (wrinkles, elasticity, aging) for the purpose of developing products to enhance healthy aging.

Under the terms of the agreement, ABG will pay Interleukin Genetics $1.2 million during 2008 for the research. Approximately $800,000 of unspent funding from prior research agreements with Alticor shall also be credited against the costs incurred under this new agreement.

"This is our eighth research agreement with Alticor and we are pleased to continue to work with our partner on the development of genetic risk assessment tests in the field of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease in new populations as well as innovative research in exercise performance and skin health," said Lewis H. Bender, Chief Executive Officer of Interleukin Genetics. "The areas in which we are collaborating with Alticor represent attractive, important and large markets. Alticor's continued investment and commitment is an important endorsement in the development of risk assessment tests and personalized wellness products using our proprietary methods and intellectual property."

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Reliv International Reports Fourth-Quarter Results

CNN Money

Reliv International, Inc., a wellness and direct selling company, today reported net sales for the fourth quarter of $24.6 million, compared to $28.6 million in the same quarter of 2006.

Net income for the fourth quarter equaled $697,000 or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.0 million or $0.12 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Reliv reported U.S. sales of $21.1 million for the fourth quarter, compared to $25.4 million for the same quarter in 2006. International net sales (sales outside of the U.S.) equaled $3.5 million compared to $3.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2006.

Net sales for 2007 equaled $111.1 million compared to $117.5 million for 2006. Net income for 2007 was $5.0 million or $0.31 per diluted share, compared to net income of $7.9 million or $0.47 per diluted share in 2006. International net sales for the year rose approximately 9 percent to $12.7 million due primarily to the weakening U.S. dollar.

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Herbalife CEO Sells 89,839 Shares

Houston Chronicle

The chairman and chief executive of Herbalife Ltd., which makes nutrition and weight-management products, exercised options for and sold 89,839 shares of stock, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Tuesday.

In a Form 4 filed with the SEC, Michael Johnson reported he exercised options at $3.52 apiece and sold the shares for $43 apiece to $43.02 apiece on Monday and Tuesday.

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Amway India sales up 9 p.c.

The Hindu

Amway India Enterprises, a leading FMCG company in the direct sales channel has reported a turnover of Rs. 800 crore in 2007 against Rs. 738 crore in the previous year, a growth of 9 per cent. Products under nutrition and wellness category contributed over 55 per cent of overall business.

The company, which has commenced its tenth year of operations in India, aims to achieve a 20 per cent growth in turnover at Rs. 950 crore in 2008.

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Company Profile: Zurvita

Zurvita Corporate Web

Mark Jarvis, Founder and President of Zurvita, has 26 years of experience in the direct marketing industry and has successfully built a 7- figure personal income. Although he had achieved great personal success with good companies and good products, he still felt something was missing. He was constantly confronted with the reality that others with more ability were not able to accomplish the same. It was this heartfelt desire and commitment to the success of others that caused him to set out on a mission to build Zurvita, a company that would truly help people win at every level.

Zurvita is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Amacore Group Inc., a provider of cutting edge products and benefits in healthcare and other niche benefit markets. Amacore Group is backed by Vicis, a hedge fund with over 4.5 Billion Dollars in assets. We have aligned ourselves with consultants that have worked with some of the top companies in the industry and who bring decades of practical experience to our executive team. We've partnered with one of the top IT providers in the country presently serving Billion dollar companies in the Network Marketing industry. Zurvita's management team is comprised of individuals and companies that will take us to great heights in becoming a giant in the industry.

Ronaldinho joins Team Nutrilite

Get The Facts

I've known about this for a while but thought I'd be nice and withhold it until Nutrilite made the official announcement on Thursday, February 28. However, as pointed out by aliveone, it's already made the papers nearly 2 months ago!

Brazil and Barcelona footballer Ronaldinho is the new spokesperson for Nutrilite and Nutriway, joining world class athletes Asafa Powell, Sanya Richards, Liu Xiang, and Jenn Stuczinsky.

While perhaps not so well known to American audiences, Ronaldinho is a superstar in much of the rest of the world, widely regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation. Ronaldinho first came to public attention as a 13 year old, when he scored all 23 goals in a 23-0 drubbing of a local team in his hometown! Since then he has won all of the major awards football has to offer.

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XELR8 secures $0.5 million in private placement -

Pharmaceutical Business Review

XELR8 Holdings, a provider of functional foods, beverages and nutritional supplements has raised $0.5 million in gross proceeds through a private placement sale of common stock and warrants.

XELR8 will issue 500,000 unregistered common shares at $1 per share and 300,000 new warrants exercisable at $1.50 per share. In addition, as part of the new funding, the warrant terms of the company's May 2007 raise have been modified such that the strike price on certain previously issued warrants has been reduced and certain callable warrant terms have been modified.

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Congressman Cannon supports supplement companies in many ways

Salt Lake Tribune

Chris Cannon's throat would get sore every time fall gave way to winter and then again when winter melted into spring.

Twice a year, every year.

His doctor suggested a supplement called L-lysine.

"It was like 'There is no data on this, but . . . ' " said Cannon, a congressman representing Utah's 3rd District.
He gave the pills a try, the sore throats vanished and a fascination with the dietary supplement industry was born.

That was back in the early 1980s, long before Cannon was elected to represent the district that may be home to more supplement companies than anywhere else in the nation.

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ForeverGreen Expects Record First Quarter Growth

PR Inside

January sales are trending towards a record month as a result of the increased activity. Nearly 75,000 bottles have been sold to date with the company expecting its energy drink sales to continue growing for the foreseeable future as customers experience the product and its benefits for themselves.

Expanding its global efforts, ForeverGreen officials will also be in Australia and New Zealand during February as the company expands its distribution network throughout the region. Sales from these markets continue to show growth and are expected to increase with the introduction of the energy drink slated for this April. Mexico, where revenues have doubled since October, should have the new drink by the end of the first quarter.

The company has also announced the date of its global convention to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah April 3rd-5th ForeverGreen will announce details as the date gets closer to the event, but more information can be found on the company's website.

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BioNovix, Inc.: Management Team Confirmed; Communication Policies; Brokerage Talks Underway

The Earth Times

BioNovix, Inc., a Delaware corporation, announced confirmation of the revised Management structure, establishment of a new communications policy, including commencement of formal press releases, and ongoing brokerage discussions.

Background

In its first year, BioNovix produced exponential growth with revenues, while awaiting profitability on the horizon. In just one year, the Company has approximately 9,000 distributors and has expanded with a foot into Mexico, the Philippines and Korea, each at different stages of progress. In order to better serve its Independent Business Consultants and Investors, BioNovix, Inc. announces the following information.

Management Team

According to Mark Labertew, CEO, CFO, "I am motivated and focused to move us into a worldwide concern with growth and profitability through a balance of financial minded controls and systematic growth here and overseas."

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New MLM Company: ReishiGo

HBE (Home Business Everything)

Tapping into the $6.7 billion coffee industry, the $10 billion energy drink market, the $1 trillion wellness industry and the $427 billion home-based/network marketing market, ReishiGo believes it has created “the perfect storm” convergence of success factors that will propel it to the kind of earnings that will have everyone in the network marketing industry talking about it for decades to come. Irvine, Calif.-based ReishiGo originally started out with “healthy,” reishi-based coffee and teas but has grown and is continuing to grow its product line, including an energy drink and more.

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Your Upline: What Is The Value?

eZine Articles

Are you involved in an MLM program? If so, you have surely learned, or rather it has likely been drilled in that your ultimate success will lie in a large and hardworking downline. Indeed, it is a fact that MLM programs are structured in such a way that a large percentage of your long-term profits will ultimately be derived from a large and active downline.

However, what about your upline? To a large majority of MLM participants, their upline members and leaders most unfortunately, remain utter strangers. Why does this phenomenon occur? Many MLM participants are operating solely with dollar signs shimmering in their eyes, and in those eyes dollars will be derived from soliciting a growing downline and inspiring them to work.

Therefore, they are often likely thinking: what is the point in interacting with my upline if there is nothing in it for me? This logic is flawed, so much so, that it can absolutely damage one’s downline and stunt its success.

The vast majority of newcomers to an MLM business have NO prior experience in being self-employed. They read a few simple instructions about their program and go about the business of building their downline in an independent manner. However, unless they have highly trained themselves in the methods their downline should employ to make their business a success, they could easily lead their downline astray through disseminating misinformation and downright falsehoods to their downline. If your downline receives misleading, confusing, or erroneous information from you they will immediately lose their confidence in you and you will likely lose them as an Affiliate.

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Helping Americans Naturally Lose Weight, Quixtar Introduces Nutrilite Slimmetry

PR Web

The struggle to shed pounds through diet and exercise alone is a losing battle for many Americans, yet dietary supplements designed to help fight the battle of the bulge often over promise and under deliver. Quixtar Inc. and its sister company, Amway Corporation, are launching an all-natural dietary supplement that was shown in a human clinical trial to deliver statistically significant weight loss when used in conjunction with regular physical activity and a low calorie diet.

Quixtar is offering NUTRILITE® SLIMMETRY™ dietary supplement as part of the NUTRILITE product line. NUTRILITE is the world's leading brand of vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements*. It's the only global vitamin and mineral brand to grow, harvest, and process plants on its own certified organic farms**. Quixtar chose SLIMMETRY because it is all-natural and clinically tested, further supporting NUTRILITE's commitment to promoting optimal health through natural methods.

"NUTRILITE is excited to include SLIMMETRY in its product line as it is a clinically tested and patent-pending formula demonstrating statistically significant weight loss, and more importantly, significant fat loss, in a well-controlled human study," says Robin Dykhouse, Vice-President, Health & Beauty Research and Product Development for Access Business Group, a sister company to Amway and Quixtar, and manufacturer of NUTRILITE products.

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Shaklee Introduces New Cinch(TM) Meal-in-a-Bars

PR Newswire

Shaklee Corporation, the number one natural nutrition company in the U.S. and pioneer of one of the first green household cleaners, introduced three new tasty food products to its Cinch Inch Loss Plan line -- Cinch Meal-in-a-Bars in two delicious flavors and the delectable new meal replacement, Cinch(TM) Strawberry Shake Mix.

Shaklee's Cinch Meal-in-a-Bars are crunchy, satisfying and complete on-the-go meal replacements and are available in two new flavors -- Berry Almond Crunch and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. The Cinch Berry Almond Crunch Meal-in-a-Bar marries tangy fruit flavor with rich nutty almonds while the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip is a divine dose of decadent dark chocolate chips, paired with roasted peanuts and real peanut butter. Both bars are packed with 20 grams of high quality soy protein, enhanced with leucine to help preserve muscle while on a weight loss program. Each bar contains just 260 - 270 calories, depending on flavor, and is high in fiber with six grams of dietary fiber. Both Cinch Meal-in-a-Bars are low glycemic and kosher certified. As with all Shaklee Cinch products, these bars contain no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners and of course, no trans fats.

Ideal for lunch, breakfast, or both, Cinch Shake Mix is now available in a new strawberry flavor. The Cinch Strawberry Shake tastes of bodacious berries and is luxurious and velvety with a burst of sweetness. Even better, made as directed, the shake boasts 24 grams of protein including Cinch(TM) Pro leucine-enhanced protein blend, 35 percent of the daily value for 21 vitamins and minerals, and six grams of dietary fiber. Cinch(TM) Shake Mixes are healthy, delicious and satisfying meal replacements, and are easy to prepare. Other Cinch Shake Mix flavors include vanilla, chocolate, cafe latte and a vanilla whey protein alternative. Cinch Shake Mixes are low glycemic, lactose free, and contain no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners.

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OceanGrown International (OGI) Supports Consumer Interest for Innovative Marine Bioactive, Fucoxanthin

PR Web

OceanGrown™ International (OGI) has a sole focus on the ocean and remains committed to educating the marketplace on emerging marine bioactives. Consumer interest in Fucoxanthin, an extract from brown algae is developing as companies launch products based on this promising nutraceutical. Attention is stemming from recent metabolic and nutritional studies on Fucoxanthin's ability to promote thermogenin and OGI will expand its product lines in 2008 as the market leader of ocean based natural products.

OceanGrown™ is committed to leading the marketplace with regards to innovative actives from our powerful ocean, such as Fucoxanthin
"OceanGrown™ is committed to leading the marketplace with regards to innovative actives from our powerful ocean, such as Fucoxanthin," said Kerry Brown, OGI President and Founding Partner. "We will identify suppliers who invest in the exciting research and science behind advancing marine based nutraceuticals."

A new and fresh natural products company, OceanGrown's product lines will focus on skincare, nutrition and weight management. Advancing consumer interest in Fucoxanthin will allow OGI to expand into the weight management marketplace and promote its philosophy of anti-aging through an active lifestyle. The company launched with a skincare line, OAVE™, which unites Astaxanthin, Icelandic Moss, Irish Seaweed and Antarctic Krill Oil, providing an inside/outside approach with topical and internal offerings.

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Why You Should Generate Your Own MLM Leads

NetMLMArticles

When it comes to Multi-Level Marketing (MLM), itís important to always put into mind that you need leads or contacts of people who are all about starting their own home-based endeavor! If you run your own MLM website, you may very well be on the way to generating your own leads, with the help of your gathering information of the visitors in your website. However, if your website is not getting enough hits or sufficient traffic to solicit information from potential affiliates, your MLM business is likely not taking flight the way it is meant to.

You may have very well considered purchasing leads from various websites that offer you their collection of very responsive leads. While some websites may be telling you the truth, there is greater benefit in your taking the time out to generate your own leads. It doesn't have to be really hard once you've made up your mind to do it.

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RBC Life Sciences Announces MPM Medical Partnership with Kroger

The Earth Times

RBC Life Sciences announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, MPM Medical, Inc., has entered into a new partnership with The Kroger Co., one of the nation’s largest grocery retailers. Through the new partnership, Kroger and MPM have agreed to work together to make MPM’s oncology products available to cancer patients.

Beginning March 1, 2008, Kroger will be placing in each of its 1,900 Kroger and affiliated company pharmacies two of MPM’s top oncology products: RadiaPlex Rx®, a hydrogel designed to protect a patient’s skin from radiation reactions and to assist in healing the skin if dermatitis occurs, and Regenecare HA®, a hydrogel containing lidocaine, collagen, aloe vera and hyaluronic acid to relieve pain and itching caused by chemotherapy drugs.

“We are delighted to announce this new partnership with Kroger to distribute two of our most important oncology products,” stated Paul R. Miller, President of MPM Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary of RBC Life Sciences. “This partnership is our first step to making our pain-relieving products more readily available to the patients who rely on them for healing and pain relief on a daily basis. It is our goal to ensure that any person who is in need of MPM’s oncology products will be able to obtain them in a convenient affordable manner.”

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Quixtar.com Details Fiscal 2007 Sales

Michigan Technology News

Quixtar.Com on Friday finally released more details for its fiscal 2007 sales - $1.072 billion, down from $1.12 billion in fiscal 2006. The Alticor eCommerce web site cracked the billion-dollar sales mark for the fifth year in a row. No net income figures were reported.

Results were affected minimally by actions the company took to terminate the business of a few Independent Business Owners in August of 2007 after they refused to change unacceptable practices.

Quixtar.Com doesn’t sell directly to consumers, rather through a multi-level marketing sales system. The middle men are called Independent Business Owners. The commissions earned by the IBO’s totaled $363 million, which also included $70.1 million in sales at Quixtar’s Partner stores.
Since 1999, IBOs have earned nearly $2.6 billion based on total Quixtar sales of more than $7.86 billion and Partner Store sales of more than $577 million.

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Healthy Coffee International sets up marketing arm

Drinks Business Review:

"Healthy Coffee International has established Healthy Coffee USA as its marketing arm to handle the distribution of Healthy Coffee drinks and wellness products through network marketing in North America and the world.

The company believes that Healthy Coffee USA adds the business opportunity component to Healthy Coffee by providing an opportunity for the average person to own a coffee distribution or coffee house business without the big capital and overhead and be able to market globally via the internet."

YTB International's 2008 Founders' Tour Reaches 30,000

PR Newswire:

"YTB International, Inc., a leading international provider of Internet-based travel booking services for home-based independent RTAs, announced today that Company founders, Lloyd 'Coach' Tomer and Scott Tomer, have just completed a widely-successful 16 state tour in which they visited 27 cities in 30 days.

'This is a momentous event that I look forward to every year,' said Coach Tomer. 'This year's tour was a tremendous success with more than 30,000 people in attendance. I really enjoy speaking to the thousands of people who are new to the opportunities associated with YTB.'

The Founders' Tour begins at the Coach's Birthday Bash, an annual event where YTB's top producers are invited to celebrate the previous year's accomplishments and plan for the upcoming year."

Court Rules That SISEL Can Recruit Neways' Distributors

Business Wire:

In May 2007, in an effort to prevent SISEL International (SISEL) from recruiting Neways distributors and from otherwise fairly competing in Japan, Neways filed a lawsuit against SISEL and some of its Japanese distributors. Yesterday, the United States District Court in Utah refused to grant Neways’ request for an order prohibiting SISEL from recruiting Neways distributors in Japan. In denying Neways’ motion for a preliminary injunction that sought to bar SISEL from recruiting Neways distributors, the court stated that there was no basis for any such restraint against SISEL. As a result of the ruling, SISEL intends to continue to promote its products and to invite anyone interested to become a SISEL distributor, including Neways’ distributors."

Phoenix Suns deal with Verve puts team in distributor role

The Business Journal of Phoenix:

"On its surface, the Phoenix Suns new partnership with the high-octane Verve energy drink looks like any other NBA deal, including the sponsorship of a swanky arena club and prerequisite signage. But that's where the similarity ends, because the deal also calls for the Suns to become a distributor of Verve and take a cut for every can sold.

It's the first arrangement of its type in the NBA and one that could potentially alter terms of future sponsorship deals throughout all sports leagues.

'The deal completely aligns our marketing assets with their desire to sell product,' said Suns President Rick Welts. 'And because Verve is distributed online as opposed to retail, there is real measurement opportunity. If we can drive someone to a Web site and they buy the product, we get credit.'"

Nature's Sunshine Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

Business Wire:

"Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc. , a leading manufacturer and marketer of encapsulated herbs and vitamins, today declared a 5 cents per common share quarterly cash dividend payable February 29, 2008 to shareholders of record on February 19, 2008.

The Company has declared consecutive quarterly cash dividends since 1988 pursuant to its cash dividend policy."

America’s Impending Recession Is Good News For MLM

iSnare.com Articles:

"When you go back in history, it is when there was a recession when some people got rich! This is the beginning of 2008, and after President George W Bush’s speech, markets are jittery due to fears of a recession in the US economy. America’s impending recession, however, brings that window of opportunity, yet again, for the American people - and thanks to the global village that this planet has become - for people around the world to cash-in on America’s sagging economy. And please don’t get the wrong end of the stick, I’m not rejoicing over this, in this article my intention is to state the obvious and to guide you as regards where, when and how to step-in-to-cash-in on a recession. My timing couldn’t have been better.

The United States’ Recession of 1937 -38 was a sharp economic downturn. In two months, unemployment rose from 5 million to over 9 million, reaching almost 12 million in early 1938. As unemployment rose, consumers’ expenditures declined, leading to further cutbacks in production."

International Expert Stephen Cherniske to Speak About Health, Aging and Wellness

StreetInsider.com :

"Stephen Cherniske, an internationally renowned biochemist, best-selling author of 'The Metabolic Plan' and an expert on healthy aging and wellness, will be addressing the topics of health, aging, wellness and health supplements at a Free Seminar in Toronto on Thursday, February 28th. As Chief Scientific Officer of Univera, a nutraceutical company that combines cutting edge technology with the healing powers of mother nature, Stephen Cherniske has helped create a line of natural, plant based products that can help people feel, look and perform better at every age.

Many Canadians recognize the need to supplement their diet, with a 2005 Health Canada poll revealing that 71% of Canadians have used alternative health products like herbal remedies, Echinacea and vitamins. However, the challenge with many of these 'natural' products is that not only is their effectiveness often unproven by solid scientific research, but with over 40,000 such products marketed in Canada, the world of alternative supplements is a minefield of bewildering options."

Noni juice may have killed man in Spain

Deseret Morning News:

"Residents of Spain were alerted last week to avoid consuming certain bottles of Tahitian Noni Juice while a health department there awaits toxicology reports for a man who died after drinking Noni juice.

According to reports in Spain, a 40-year-old man from Ogijares — located in the southernmost region of Spain— drank some Noni juice for breakfast and began to experience strange sensations in his mouth and blurred vision. He died shortly thereafter, and another family member, who also drank some juice, reported similar symptoms.

While investigators perform toxicology reports to determine the exact cause of death, Spanish health officials issued an alert to advise people to refrain from drinking Mexican-labeled bottles of Tahitian Noni juice."

Nitro: Case dismissed

Alticor Media Blog:

"Happy to report to you that the Nitro case in Missouri has been dismissed by a federal judge.

The ruling itself is under seal at this point, so we can’t discuss or quote the specific findings and conclusions—at least, not yet.

But the fact that the case has been dismissed is a matter of public record. So we decided to share the news because this was one of those cases where the trial lawyers on the other side made sliming us publicly part of their legal strategy. It’s a terribly cynical approach, designed to intimidate the company and shake the confidence of our business owners."

Company builds $1 billion juice business

Business Week:

"On stage at a sales convention, XanGo executive Joseph Morton said that when he first stumbled across mangosteen, a tropical fruit with purported curative powers, 'I didn't have to have it confirmed in the New England medical journal before I would listen.'

The multilevel marketing company has built a huge business around its mangosteen-based juice, which it promotes as an immunity booster. The company still hasn't proved its health benefits -- which it says could include a stronger immune system and improved joint function -- to skeptical experts. XanGo's Web site includes a disclaimer, noting the juice is not meant to treat or prevent disease. A lab test arranged by The Associated Press found its antioxidant power to be on par with other fruit juices.

Morton, a 37-year-old triathlete nicknamed Ironman Joe, was on a business trip in Malaysia when he saw mangosteen, a white delicacy wrapped in a blood-red leathery shell, on the dessert menu."

Abunza Becomes Leader As First Bi-lingual Direct Sales Opportunity

Web Wire:

"Focusing on the as yet largely untapped 100 million strong Spanish speaking online population, Abunza has introduced a revolutionary MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) business model which pays out 100% commission on every product sold to the retail customers.

In the rapidly growing but cluttered online multi-level marketing sector, Abunza.org’s unique bi-lingual business opportunity, which targets both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking people, is offering its members a high-potential and yet perfectly legal way to earn a steady stream of income."

ForeverGreen Announces 2008 Worldwide Convention

Business Wire:

"ForeverGreen Corp., a manufacturer and distributor of all natural whole foods, today announced preliminary details of its 2008 Annual Worldwide Convention.

From April 3rd through the 5th, thousands of distributors and customers are expected to pack the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah to experience the company’s expanded product lines, receive business training, and be inspired by modern heroes who have overcome great odds, while celebrating their personal successes as individuals and business owners.

The 2008 agenda includes the addition of new products, enhanced sales and support tools, in depth product education, as well as, marketing tips and training to assist distributors in building an even brighter future. ForeverGreen will also continue giving back to the community through planned local community service events during the weekend."

Nu Skin fourth-quarter earnings down 63 percent

Salt Lake Tribune :

"An extensive cost-cutting plan adopted by Provo-based Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. helped push its fourth-quarter earnings down 63 percent, but could put the Utah company on track for a solid year in 2008.

The drop in fourth-quarter earnings to $5.9 million came in great part because of a restructuring charge taken as part of a plan to cut costs and improve earnings. In November, Nu Skin said it would lay off an undisclosed number of people at its Provo headquarters and close 67 of 115 retail stores in China.

Although profits were down significantly in the quarter, revenue at the nutritional supplements and personal-care products provider rose 6 percent, to $306.1 million, compared with the same period last year, slightly above many analyst projections."

YTB International, Inc. Expands Travel Training Program

PR Newswire:

"YTB International, Inc., a leading provider of Internet- based travel websites and home-based independent representatives in the United States and the Bahamas, today announced the launch of the second course in its E-Campus Travel Training Program. This program is a part of YTB's ongoing education made available to its RTAs and Reps.

The new class, Course 102 -- Lodging, covers many of the finer points of lodging, business basics, and insider secrets, educating YTB's network of RTAs on how the lodging industry fits into the travel business. The course is a part of the overall training program being designed by Dr. Marc Mancini, one of the travel industry's most highly respected and best-known speakers, educators, and consultants. It is estimated that nearly 300,000 travel professionals worldwide have benefited from training programs that he has designed or delivered with his company, Marc Mancini Seminars and Consulting."

Usana posts hefty sales

Salt Lake Tribune:

"After reporting the company's sixth year of record sales and earnings, Usana Health Sciences' chief financial officer said the company will be looking for opportunities that could result from the deteriorating U.S. economy.
The company said Wednesday that sales for its fiscal year ended Dec. 29 reached $423.1 million, a 15.9 percent increase from sales of $365.2 million posted in its previous fiscal year.
Earnings per share for the year from continuing operations increased by 18.7 percent, to $2.67, compared with $2.25 per share for fiscal 2006.
'We continue to believe that our home-based business model offers us flexibility in both up and down markets,' CFO Gilbert Fuller said in a conference call with securities analysts."

Quixtar Cracks $1 Billion Sales Mark For Fifth Straight Year

Michigan Technology News:

"Quixtar, the online business site for Alticor, reported Wednesday that its sales fell slightly in 2007, but remained above the $1 billion-mark for the fifth consecutive year.

But the company did not provide any further financial guidance on the exact sales figure for Quixtar or net income.

Quixtar in North America will gradually transition to the Amway name by 2009.

Alticor and its subsidiaries, including Quixtar, reported record sales of more than $7.1 billion for the year ended Dec. 31, a 12-percent increase over the $6.3 billion recorded in 2006.

The Quixtar.Com site was substantially revised in 2007, allowing easier and simpler navigation and offering more product information to consumers. Training and support to Independent Business Owners (IBOs) is bolstered by the launch of Quixtar University, which will provide IBOs with Web-based sales and brand training."

Warning! Amway Warns of Bogus Internet Charity Scam

SunHerald.com :

"Amway Corporation (Quixtar in the U.S. and Canada) has discovered an internet scam that uses a bogus Amway charity as a lure. Amway cautions individuals to be on the lookout for e-mails from a group calling itself the 'Amway Children Charity Foundation'.

Please be advised that this is not an Amway-sanctioned program and the name, program and people indicated in the e-mails are not related to Amway in any way and do not have Amway's authority or support.

The goal of the scam is to trick people into sending money to the fraudulent charity. The bogus group sends an e-mail informing the recipient that he/she has been selected as a recipient of a grant to help establish a children's help center to assist poor children in the area."

E-commerce: Amway's Online Optimism

Warsaw Business Journal Online:

"Poland has vast potential for growth in e-commerce, but investment in infrastructure and logistics are imperative, says Marek Sodolski, general manager of Amway Polska

Konrad Kiedrzyński: We hear voices of optimism and enthusiasm in the e-commerce branch, but is the picture really so rosy? What challenges does the sector face, both worldwide and in Poland?

Marek Sodolski: I am generally optimistic about e-commerce, including in Poland. Given the 30 percent [broadband] penetration in Polish society, the share of online transactions in our sales in Poland reaches 80 percent - a higher ratio than in the US. In addition, many 'traditional' companies are increasing their percentage of e-business activity in their operations."

Getting MLM Sales requires Asking the Right Questions

MLM Multi Level Marketing and Network Marketing Information:

"…because Wrong Questions get the Wrong Answers.

The most important aspect of making a sale — is also a major weakness of every MLM’er I’ve ever met. Asking questions.

It’s absolutely puzzling to me. Questions are so critical, you’d think it would be the topic of MLM training every week. Yet most networkers have never taken one training program in the science of asking a question."

UPDATE 1-Usana Q4 profit flat, sees Q1 results below Street view

Reuters:

"Usana Health Sciences Inc posted a flat quarterly profit, forecast first-quarter results below Wall Street view hurt by tight consumer spending, and lowered its 2008 outlook, sending the shares down 18 percent in after-hours trade.

'During the fourth quarter, we experienced softer-than-expected sales and associate numbers in North America,' Usana's president Dave Wentz said in a statement.

'We attribute this decline primarily to the toll that various false allegations have taken on our associates during 2007,' he said."

New Image Reports $1.5 Million Profit

National Business Review:

"Health product maker New Image posted a first half net profit of $1.5 million, reversing the previous year's loss, but warned its previous annual sales forecast may be optimistic.

Turnover for the six months ended December rose 44 percent to $16.4m. Directors said that a previous annual sales forecast of $40m may not be achievable, but turnover should substantially improve on last year's $26m."

Natural Health Trends Corp. Celebrated Outstanding Sales Performance and DSA Membership in Taiwan

Marketwire:

"Natural Health Trends Corp., an international direct selling company, today announced that NHT Global (Taiwan), a wholly owned subsidiary, successfully held an annual recognition ceremony to celebrate outstanding sales performance in year of 2007.

This annual recognition and celebration ceremony was attended by about 600 members on January 12th, 2008. Over 100 members with distinguished sales performance were recognized and given the award of a free ski trip to Korea, which also included a visit to the Company's office in Seoul. In addition, the Company announced that NHT Global (Taiwan) recently became a member of the Direct Selling Association in Taiwan."

Doctor Creates a Chocolate that Encourages Mood Elevation and Weight Loss

MMD Newswire:

"Isagenix, a five year, $500 Million company has helped 250,000 cleanse, lose weight and inches and is introducing, IsaDelight, a new delicious, mood enhancing dark chocolate that has only 40 calories and 4 grams of fat. There is also a $100,000 contest split between 10 people who lose the most weight.

Dr. Paul Anderson, specialist in pain management, mood and depression took two years to create Isa Delight. He says, “Our amino acid blend includes diphenyalanine which encourages natural production of mood-elevating brain chemicals. In addition, these amino acids help: Support long-term brain health, help improves energy, curbs hunger, promote calm, supports mental focus, and may help you lose weight. The results have been astounding.”"

ForeverGreen Expects Record First Quarter Growth

Business Wire:

"ForeverGreen Corp., a manufacturer and distributor of all natural whole foods, announced today the company is seeing strong growth and increased enthusiasm from its distributor base following the recent launch of its patent pending energy drink.

The introduction of the new product has created an increase in business activity in ForeverGreen’s distribution network. There has been a marked increase in distributor enrollment, monthly meetings, weekly orders, auto ship orders, and same month repeat orders. Several large conferences are scheduled over the next few weeks including dates in Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Dallas, and Fort Lauderdale, which will be attended by corporate executives to introduce ForeverGreen and its product line. Several of these events are expected to attract over 300 attendees.

January sales are trending towards a record month as a result of the increased activity. Nearly 75,000 bottles have been sold to date with the company expecting its energy drink sales to continue growing for the foreseeable future as customers experience the product and its benefits for themselves."

YTB International, Inc. Anticipates Record Travel Sales in 2008

PR Newswire:

"YTB International, Inc., a leading provider of Internet- based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent RTAs in the United States, announced today that it anticipates that travel sales could exceed $1 billion in 2008, surpassing the total travel sold in the Company's first seven years of business."

"We began 2007 as a travel company few people outside of YTB had ever heard of. We ended the year as Travel Weekly's 35th largest travel agency in America (as reported for 2006), and we experienced a record setting day at YTB with more than 12,000 cruise passenger bookings on Carnival Cruise Lines. Also, YTB Travel Network's CEO J. Kim Sorensen was named one of the 33 most influential travel executives, along with the founders of Enterprise Rent-A- Car and Virgin Atlantic Airways," said YTB founder and CEO Scott Tomer. "These accolades, along with our ever-increasing business initiatives and growth rate, give me no doubt that 2008 will be another record-setting year for YTB, which means a year of new opportunities for Reps and RTAs."

New rule to help IBOs sell more products

Quixtar Ada-tudes:

"The change, effective March 1, 2008, will allow IBOs to sell some Quixtar exclusive brands at temporary health or beauty shows or expos and certain kinds of sporting events. Up 'til now, we have approved booths for IBOs who wanted to display and maybe let customers sample some products, but we've never allowed the actual sale of the products. Now, at many events, the display and sale will be allowed. Imagine that! The already existing Booth Rule will stay in effect for other kinds of events where we will continue to allow display-only.

The displays will need to be set up in accordance with Quixtar guidelines and with prior written authorization (we're asking for 30 days' notice) from Quixtar's rules department. We will provide supporting merchandising material on a CD, so IBOs can print off their own, pre-authorized signage or handouts."

This Super Bowl Reap the Benefits of Beer Without the Belly

Marketwire:

"Super Bowl Sunday could well be called 'National Beer Day.' In the weeks leading up to the annual football final, the sale of brew jumps 15 percent with an estimated $12 million spent on beer for consumption during the game. As fans enjoy the world's oldest and most popular alcoholic beverage, most would be surprised to learn that they may also be improving their health by drinking one of the most potent dietary antioxidants known to science -- Xanthohumol, a naturally occurring flavonoid found in hops.

Researchers at Oregon State University, working with micronutrients found in the flower of the hops plant, isolated this single molecule capable of dramatically reducing an individual's level of oxidative stress. More recent studies by scientists suggest that Xanthohumol may block enzymes that trigger harmful biochemical processes, resulting in a healthier life. Scientists have begun expanding their research, testing the effect of antioxidants such as Xanthohumol on different types of cells, and are seeing the benefits of antioxidants at a new level."