After completing a year in Brazil, MonaVie is testing a new energy drink in that market with the launch of MonaVie EMV™ – the only one available in Brazil through direct sales.

A fusion of guaraná, taurine, açaí and the fruit juice of fourteen fruits, EMV is MonaVie’s bet to grow in the segment. The Brazilian Association of Direct Sales (ABEVD) recorded a significant growth of 18.6% in that segment during third quarter of 2009 compared to the same period last year, totaling revenues of R$2.146 billion.

The company’s flagship, MonaVie Original, reached accumulated sales of R$20 million in Brazil in one year and U$2 billion in the U.S. for the last four years along with other line of beverages.

This year the company debuted in Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia, England, Poland and the Netherlands. MonaVie Original offers a blend of 19 fruits such as açaí, acerola, cupuaçu, blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate, but the company does not reveal the exact formula.

The main ingredient is açaí fruit from the Amazon. “The company encourages sustainable harvesting of fruits and cooperative partnership” explains Mauricio Patrocínio, CEO of the company in Brazil.

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A federal judge in Houston tossed out a lawsuit Monday that alleged Dallas electricity retailer Stream Energy is operating a pyramid scheme.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt agreed with Stream in his ruling that the plaintiffs – former sales representatives for the company – are required to settle any disputes through arbitration rather than a lawsuit.

The two former sales representatives had claimed that Stream, a multilevel-marketing company that requires its sales associates to pay $329 to sell the product, was breaking the law because it didn’t provide anything tangible in return for the upfront payment.

Stream argued that its sales strategy is legal and is similar to that used by other direct sales companies such as Mary Kay Inc.

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HOW DOES THE TASTEFULLY SIMPLE DIRECT SALES BUSINESS MODEL WORK?

Our easy to prepare food products are sold by more than 28,000 independent Tastefully Simple consultants. They are selling primarily through home taste-testing parties nationwide. A client will invite friends and family into their home and the consultant will host the taste-testing party. These consultants may also hold fundraisers, participate in expos and have the opportunity to recruit others to begin their own Tastefully Simple business. Some of our top consultants have grown into leadership and have as many as 400 people on their team.

YOU’VE BEEN THERE FROM THE START WITH CO-FOUNDER AND CEO JILL BLASHACK STRAHAN. CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE COMPANY’S GROWTH?

With our rapid growth it has been exhilarating, rewarding and a lot of hard work. We have gone from 410 consultants in 1990 to over 28,000 today and from $4 million in sales to $114 million in sales. Our company grew incredibly fast, but we stayed true to the commitment of our core business model and have built a very solid team. We truly have an incredible group of talented people supporting us.

Continue reading.

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Sorry girls, but this home party is not for you. You won’t find Pampered Chef or Tupperware here. Or any fancy candles or jewelry, for that matter.

It’s a Man Cave MEATing, and it’s just for the guys.

Man Cave offers grilling tools and accessories, premium meats, wood chips and planks, grilling spices, rubs, marinades and even apparel. Plus, men will find stuff for every man’s personal cave, including poker products and home bar accessories.

Girls, don’t be too disappointed if you missed this party. If your man attends a Man Cave MEATing, check out the Web site beforehand. There are a few beauty items just for girls. “Call it old school charm,” says creator Kevin. “We thought it would be nice for a gentleman to bring something home for his wife.”

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My Vintage Baby, Inc. has recently unveiled its new Spring line. The Spring 2010 catalog is now available for viewing on the My Vintage Baby website.

The appealing new designs range from the romantic Vintage Rose collection to the fashion forward Leopard Limeade collection. Original designs for babies and boys and girls are featured, as well as matching accessories including hair bows, baby blankets, and diaper bags. Several new women`s tops are also included.

In addition to the online catalog, 848 color catalogs have been mailed to current My Vintage Baby retailers. Of these, 231 are direct sales catalogs with information to assist retailers who would like to become My Vintage Baby Direct Sales Representatives.

My Vintage Baby is also pleased to announce that, to date, 63 new Direct Representatives have joined the original 18 member My Vintage Baby Direct Sales team, bringing the total to 81 representatives in 25 states. Applications for additional Direct Representatives for the Spring 2010 season will be accepted through November 15, 2009.

Pre-selling of the Spring 2010 line will begin on December 1, 2009 and end on January 31, 2010. Customers will be offered free shipping for orders placed during this time. Shipping of orders for the Spring 2010 season is targeted to begin in February, 2010.

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With the holidays fast approaching, many consumers are looking for ways to make some extra money while others may be looking for a new career. Millions of people have found a way to be their own boss and make money on a flexible schedule through direct selling.

Success at direct selling does not require any special education or experience but it is not for everyone. Better Business Bureau suggests consumers ask themselves a few questions when considering a new venture in direct sales.

According to the most recent figures from the Direct Selling Association, approximately 15 million people in the U.S. sold an estimated $30.8 billion in products and services through direct selling in 2007.

Nearly one-third of the sales were for clothing and accessories such as cosmetics, jewelry and skin care. A quarter of the items sold were for home items, including cleaning products and cookware.

Understandably, many people get involved in direct sales with national companies to make extra money. Consumers just need to be careful of direct selling opportunities that are nothing more than a scam.

Photo by jenny-pics

Mary Kay, Inc., one of the largest direct selling skin care and cosmetic companies (it has a presence in 40 countries), has hipped up its brand colors to black and a vibrant pink and diversified its product line to add anti-aging products to a skincare line that is being marketed to women of all ages, and not just the expected target of women of mature years.

The TimeWise Miracle Set is a complete skincare regimen that claims to help women achieve an 83% reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, up to 25% improvement in skin elasticity, 46% improvement towards a more even skin tone, and 100% softer, more supple skin. The set includes a cleanser (P1,175), “age-fighting” moisturizer with SPF 15 (P1,280), SPF 25 sunscreen (P1,700), and a night solution (P1,700) — sold individually, or as a set for P5,560.

All of which are not exactly different from the claims of other beauty products out there, but the brand’s advantages include being a pledge member of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), and a streak of altruism that in 2008 compelled the company to donate just under $2 million from the worldwide sale of Beauty that Counts Mary Kay Crème Lipstick in Apple Berry to women and children’s charities — this year, for every purchase of the Mary Kay Crème Lipstick in Pink Passion and Apricot Glaze through May 12-Aug. 15 in the Philippines, a dollar was donated to Welcome House of Good Shepherd, a local shelter for abused women, through its program Project: Talent Share.

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When Tan Kai Hee rises to receive an award on behalf of Hai-O Enterprise Bhd from Forbes magazine in Singapore on Wednesday, the sprightly 72-year-old group managing director might actually do so with an extra spring in his step.

It is simply because of the elation that this is the third consecutive year that Hai-O Enterprise is cited for being among the best public-listed companies in the Asia-Pacific for profitability and growth of under US$1 billion.

The bubbly and enterprising founder of Hai-O Enterprise has been grinning from ear-to-ear in the last few weeks ever since he was informed that his company would be making a three-in-a-row strike, a special reason to be proud of since it was picked from among some 25,000 companies in the region.

“It’s all due to hard work from everybody associated with the company,” he said in an interview in his Klang office.

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It looks like some lawyers representing cosmetics giant Mary Kay have removed their figurative war paint. In early July, Mary Kay sued Yahoo, alleging trademark infringement, but not long ago, Yahoo was able to settle the case.

Mary Kay originally objected to Yahoo’s practice of adding links of its own choosing to certain emails. The links appeared in popups when people would position their cursors over the text, potentially creating confusion about the extra ads’ origin.

“Emails that advertise Mary Kay products are hijacked and manipulated by Yahoo and provide an unfair advantage for the unauthorized re-sellers and other competitors,” claimed Mary Kay’s suit, which was filed in the Northern District of Dallas.

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Herbalife Ltd., a seller of vitamins and nutrition supplements, said Wednesday that it has appointed the CEO of Wm. Bolthouse Farms to fill a vacant seat on its board.

Jeffrey T. Dunn has been CEO of the natural foods maker since 2008. He has also been CEO of Ubiquity Brands and chief operating officer of Coca-Cola Co.’s North American unit.

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