The multi-level marketing (MLM) business model has undergone significant transformation in recent years, shaped by economic shifts, regulatory scrutiny, technological advancements, and changing consumer behaviors.

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a major inflection point, accelerating both the rise and fall of various MLM companies and prompting widespread adaptation across the industry .

**Company Examples and Financial Performance** Prominent MLM companies include **Herbalife**, **Amway**, **Mary Kay**, **Avon**, and **Tupperware**.

Each has experienced distinct trajectories in recent years.

Herbalife, specializing in nutritional supplements, saw increased sales during the pandemic as consumers focused on health products, but its stock value declined by 64% year-to-date in the post-pandemic period, reflecting broader industry challenges .

Amway, with a diverse product portfolio, has maintained market presence but faces ongoing legal and reputational challenges .

Mary Kay, focused on cosmetics, has experienced sales fluctuations, particularly during economic downturns when discretionary spending contracts .

Avon and Tupperware, once icons of direct selling, have suffered dramatic declines: Avon's stock price fell from over $30 to just above $3, and Tupperware's stock value dropped by more than 90% in five years, with warnings of potential bankruptcy .

**Trends During the COVID-19 Pandemic** The pandemic initially boosted MLM participation as job losses and economic uncertainty drove individuals to seek alternative income sources .

Health and wellness MLMs, such as Herbalife and Amway, benefited from increased demand for their products .

The Educational Development Corporation (EDUC), which uses an MLM model to sell children’s books, saw its number of active consultants rise from 33,000 to 60,000 during the pandemic, capitalizing on the surge in home-based learning and gig economy opportunities .

However, this growth was often short-lived, as many new recruits failed to achieve financial success, and the sustainability of such surges remains questionable .

**Digitalization and Market Adaptation** Lockdowns and social distancing forced MLMs to pivot from in-person recruitment and sales to digital platforms .

Companies that quickly adopted online sales, virtual meetings, and cloud-based tools generally retained more distributors and maintained engagement .

The shift to e-commerce and social selling, especially via social media, enabled MLMs to reach younger demographics such as Gen Z and Millennials, who prefer mobile and app-based purchasing .

This digital transformation became essential for survival and is now a defining feature of successful MLMs .

**Post-Pandemic Challenges and Shifts** As pandemic restrictions eased, many MLMs struggled to sustain the momentum gained during the crisis.

The return to traditional, in-person methods proved difficult, and companies unable to maintain digital engagement lost market share .

Market saturation, high turnover rates among salespeople, and increased competition—especially in health and personal care sectors—further eroded profitability .

The majority of MLM participants, estimated at 90-99%, continued to lose money, with most earnings concentrated at the top of the recruitment hierarchy .

**Regulatory Scrutiny and Ethical Concerns** MLMs have faced mounting regulatory scrutiny due to their structural similarities to pyramid schemes and the high rate of participant losses .

Regulatory bodies have considered reclassifying MLM consultants as employees, which would significantly increase operational costs and disrupt business models .

The industry’s reliance on recruitment-driven revenue, rather than genuine product sales, has drawn criticism and led to legal challenges, prompting some companies to reconsider their strategies .

**Closures and Transitions to Direct Sales** Several traditional MLM companies have either closed, warned of bankruptcy, or transitioned away from recruitment-heavy models.

Avon, for example, shifted its focus to direct product sales, moving away from aggressive recruitment after years of revenue decline and the sale of its North American business to LG Household & Health Care .

Tupperware attempted to adapt by selling through retail stores but continued to struggle financially .

The overall trend suggests that companies unable to adapt to digitalization, regulatory demands, and changing consumer preferences are at risk of closure or forced to pivot to simpler direct sales models .

**Emergence of Hybrid and Product-Focused Models** Some companies, such as Suntech (a partner of SUIC), have shifted towards enhancing product value and customer engagement, estimating a quadrupling of profits by focusing on customized offerings for VIP MLM customers .

The Educational Development Corporation (EDUC) demonstrated resilience by aligning its MLM strategy with pandemic-driven market demands, increasing its salesforce and sales volume .

These examples indicate a move towards hybrid models that balance recruitment with direct product sales, aiming for sustainable profitability and improved participant retention .

**Technology and Professionalization** The adoption of MLM software and cloud-based platforms has become a notable trend, streamlining operations and improving profitability .

Companies are leveraging data analytics to better understand consumer preferences and optimize sales strategies, further supporting the transition to direct sales and hybrid models .

This professionalization is designed to appeal to recruits seeking systematic and scalable business opportunities .

**Vulnerable Groups and Recruitment Dynamics** MLMs continue to attract vulnerable demographics, including stay-at-home parents, young adults, recent graduates, and individuals in financial distress .

These groups are drawn by promises of financial independence, flexible work hours, and community support, despite the overwhelming likelihood of financial loss .

The pandemic amplified this trend, as economic uncertainty made MLM opportunities appear more attractive, even as the risks remained high .

**Cultural Perceptions and Stigma** MLMs are often culturally perceived as "commercial cults," with skepticism and criticism directed at their recruitment strategies and hierarchical structures .

The stigma is reinforced by the high failure rates and the tendency to blame individuals for their lack of success, paralleling broader societal attitudes towards financial hardship .

Despite this, the sense of community and the promise of personal growth continue to attract new participants .

**Summary of Recent Trends** - The MLM industry experienced a temporary surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in health and wellness sectors, but this was followed by widespread declines in profitability and participation as market conditions normalized .

- Major companies like Herbalife, Avon, and Tupperware have faced significant financial challenges, with some transitioning away from recruitment-based models or warning of bankruptcy .

- Digital transformation, e-commerce, and social selling have become essential for survival, with companies investing in technology to reach younger, digitally native consumers .

- Regulatory scrutiny and ethical concerns over recruitment-driven revenue models have prompted some companies to shift towards direct sales and hybrid models that emphasize product value and customer engagement .

- Vulnerable groups remain the primary targets for MLM recruitment, perpetuating high rates of financial loss among participants .

- The future of MLMs likely involves further integration of technology, a focus on ethical practices, and the development of hybrid models that balance recruitment with genuine product sales [f86db15b_

The multi-level marketing (MLM) business model has undergone significant transformation in recent years, shaped by economic shifts, regulatory scrutiny, technological advancements, and changing consumer behaviors.

The multi-level marketing (MLM) business model has undergone significant transformation in recent years, shaped by economic shifts, regulatory scrutiny, technological advancements, and changing consumer behaviors.

The multi-level marketing (MLM) business model has undergone significant transformation in recent years, shaped by economic shifts, regulatory scrutiny, technological advancements, and changing consumer behaviors.

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a major inflection point, accelerating both the rise and fall of various MLM companies and prompting widespread adaptation across the industry .

Title:

Content: 'Direct Selling' - Avon, Tupperware - Is Extinct

Nov. 18, 2022 11:25 AM ETHLF, MED, NTCO, NUS, PRI, TUP, USNA3 Comments
Robert FitzPatrick
394 Followers

Summary

  • Direct Selling became obsolete generations ago. So how is it that millions today get recruited for "income opportunity" in "direct selling" and billions are traded on "direct selling" stocks?
  • Avon and Tupperware are cited by "multi-level marketing," or MLM, promoters as "proof" that MLM, e.g., Amway, Herbalife, is "direct selling."
  • Usable data on actual income and churn rates of MLM "direct sellers," market saturation, and retail sales to actual customers are not provided.
  • In fact, Avon and Tupperware for years have been walking dinosaurs, still trying to do "person-to-person" sales to end-users with commodity products, while MLMs hype "unlimited" income.
  • The shrunken and devolved state of Avon and Tupperware today reveals that direct selling is extinct. MLM is not, and never was, direct selling.

It is generally accepted that "direct selling" was killed off generations ago by mass merchandising, big box stores, mail-order and then the internet, among other societal changes. The "Fuller Brush man" is long gone. No one's at home. No one wants or needs or has time for a "personal" salesperson. Everything's in stores or online. And, even when "direct selling" still lived, no one ever went into that tough line of work thinking they would get rich from it.

Yet, each year, millions are recruited, and pay thousands, for the "opportunity" to work as "direct sellers," with promises and expectations of "unlimited" income. The number involved today is many, many times greater than ever worked in that "extinct" field decades ago. Billions are being traded on Wall Street for shares of "direct selling" companies. How can this be?

In my book, Ponzinomics, the Untold Story of Multi-Level Marketing, I document the death of "direct selling" and the 1945 invention of "multi-level marketing," or MLM. I describe how "MLM" falsely assumed direct selling's revered old identity. I trace MLM from its Adam, a little California-based company called "Nutrilite," to today's "industry" led by Amway, Herbalife (HLF) down 64% YTD, Nuskin (NUS) down 31%, USANA Health Sciences (USNA) down 49%, Primerica, Inc. (PRI) down 13%, and Medifast (MED) down 45%. MLM's financial solicitations for consumers to become "direct sellers" have reached into – and led to losses for – virtually every household in America.

In the newly invented "MLM," the main source of revenue shifted from end-user customers to the salespeople themselves who are incentivized to "be their own customer" by buying their own products. Obviously, no one makes money purchasing their own inventory, but MLM offered a unique reason to do so – "unlimited" income potential.

No More Need to Knock on Doors

All MLM "direct sellers" can potentially gain "unlimited" income by recruiting an "endless" chain of other "direct sellers." No need to pound the pavement and get rudely rejected at front doors any more. Each "direct seller" on the chain has to meet a quota to "qualify" for future rewards from their recruits who, in turn, are their "own customers" and recruiters too, ad infinitum. The chain can grow without continuous personal effort. The qualifying quota can usually be met by just making a personal monthly purchase of inventory. "Commissions" on all these transactions, all the way down to the "last ones in," flow up the chain. In the MLM pay plan, most of the total commissions go to the top 1%. So, all new "direct sellers" try mightily to recruit (and buy) their way to those top ranks. Of course, only a tiny few can ever be at the top.

Some people argued this is a pyramid recruiting scheme, inherently unfair and deceptive, and a counterfeit of direct selling. In the design and the pay plan, bottom ranks – the vast majority – will inevitably lose. They said constantly adding salespeople in any area destroys profitable retail selling potential, if any exists to start with. They cited data on 90-99% loss rates and huge churn rates among new "recruits" and asked, where are the retail "customers"?

While offering no data on retail customers or salespeople losses or market saturation, MLM promoters offered "proof" that MLM is direct selling by pointing to two long-established and respected direct selling companies in their ranks, Avon and Tupperware (TUP). Both companies were members of the Direct Selling Association, DSA, and both were "direct selling" icons, Avon for its "ladies" and Tupperware for its "parties." To any pyramid scheme accusations, MLM promoters indignantly countered: "Are you calling Avon and Tupperware pyramid schemes?"

Walking Dinosaurs

The truth for both companies is very different from the MLM-spin. Avon and Tupperware used to have differentiated products and real consumer demand. Their salespeople made money from their own retail sales. But moving into the 21st Century, Avon and Tupperware became walking dinosaurs, vestiges of the extinct era of "direct selling." They were still trying to base their businesses on their historical brands and on person-to-person retail sales to real customers, as direct selling companies always used to do.

Despite MLM's citing Avon and Tupperware, and thereby bestowing legitimacy on the "MLM" members of the Direct Selling Association, deep differences between those icons of the old era and MLM burst into public view in 2013-14. The two companies publicly quit the Direct Selling Association, charging ethics violations and DSA-member connections to pyramid schemes.

Avon's Long Good-Bye

Avon had been a true direct seller for decades before MLM was invented. But as the door-to-door model faded, Avon began a long decline. In 2000, Avon began shifting its focus to "incentivizing" salespeople to recruit more salespeople and getting them to buy inventory, MLM-style. In 2009, during the Great Recession, Avon ran its most expensive ad in history, on television during the Super Bowl. The ad never mentioned any Avon products! It only solicited "salespeople." Still, global revenue dropped continuously over the next 10 years. Avon stock value fell from over $30 to just over $3.

Finally, Avon split off its faltering North American business and sold it to the Korean company, LG Household & Health Care. Avon claimed to have 250,000 sales representatives in North America. The remaining global business was later sold to the Brazilian MLM, Natura (NTCO) down 50% YTD, which also owns the retailer, Body Shop. Though Avon global was much larger, Avon shareholders traded 3 shares of Avon for just one in Natura.

The Korean-owned segment of Avon in North America is now classic MLM, selling the proverbial MLM "income opportunity" along with "health" supplements, make-up, jewelry, clothing, scented candles, even toothpaste.

On the Canadian Avon website, Avon promotes the "income opportunity," urging prospects in large bold black type: "Think big. Sell Avon part-time, full-time, you decide how much! It’s your business, your way!"

A disclosure (legally required in Canada, but not in the USA) appears midway down a long webpage in tiny, barely visible gray lettering: "The 2020 earnings of a typical Avon Leadership Representative was between $0 and $2,620 in commissions and bonuses." That's $0 to $50 a week, before subtracting all costs! And the "disclosure" does not break out how much of that tiny return comes from personal sales or the "downline."

Avon quietly rejoined the Direct Selling Association. The Brazilian company, Natura, which took over Avon's global business in 2020, has lost over 60% of its stock value in the last year.

Tupperware on the Brink

Tupperware was one of the first "party plan" companies, which are technically a small subset of MLM. They employ an "endless" recruiting chain, but are more rooted in retail sales transacted at "parties." Tupperware used to have a popular brand with innovative, differentiated products. But, as true direct selling began to disappear, Tupperware went into decline. It added MLM-type "health and beauty" commodities to bolster recruiting appeal but then deleted them. This year, it began also selling its products in Target department stores. Its kitchen-related goods are generally not distinct from other brands. A 10-months "Income disclosure" for Canada (not published in the USA) showed that half the "party planners" were classified "inactive," earning less than $30 for the period on average. 94% of the "active" ones reportedly received about $12 a week on average, before expenses.

In the last 5 years, the stock value of Tupperware has dropped over 90%. Its latest financials warned investors the company may violate loan agreements, setting off speculation Tupperware might declare bankruptcy.

The shrunken and devolved state of Avon and Tupperware, the most famous brand-icons of "direct selling," makes citing them as a defense of "multi-level marketing" as extinct as their old business model.

This article was written by

394 Followers
Robert L. FitzPatrick is the author of the new book, Ponzinomics, the Untold Story of Multi-Level Marketing (2020),the first comprehensive history and analysis of the "MLM" phenomenon, addressing its political influence, propaganda techniques and use of cult persuasion. FitzPatrick is an expert in examining and revealing deception and fraud in Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes and bogus home-based businesses. He served as expert or consultant in more than 30 court cases involving pyramid schemes and multi-level marketing. He is co-author of False Profits (1997), an examination of the values and beliefs that support the delusions of pyramid schemes. He was featured on NBC Dateline, ABC World News, and CBS 60 Minutes, the documentary film, Betting on Zero and the podcast, The Dream.He has been quoted in many newspapers around the world, including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. His booklet, Pyramid Nation, has been translated to Chinese and used by government regulators in writing China's first laws on pyramid schemes. His booklet, "The 10 Big Lies of Multi-Level Marketing", has been translated into four languages and posted on numerous websites. His White Paper, "The Main Street Bubble", which details the extensive influence-buying of the direct selling industry was featured in a CNBC Documentary, Selling the American Dream. In 2005, he delivered a seminar to in Colombo, Sri Lanka to central banking representatives from that country as well as India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal. Robert FitzPatrick has developed informational resources for consumers, journalists, academics and regulators including a multi-media PowerPoint presentation and a statistical analysis of the losses suffered by participants in pyramid selling schemes. He also published a widely read booklet on the landmark federal case brought against the Amway Corporation. He is a expert network member of GLG Research, and Coleman Research Group, as well as other networks of experts who are referred to clients for consultation, speaking and report writing. In this capacity, he has provided expert consultation to financial many analysts who sought information about multi-level marketing companies and pyramid and Ponzi schemes. Robert FitzPatrick co-founded and serves as president of Pyramid Scheme Alert, the first international organization to expose and prevent pyramid scheme fraud. He personally responds to hundreds of consumer and news media inquiries each year. He has served as consultant and expert witness for Attorney General or State Attorney offices in four states, the US Dept. of Justice, and in numerous cases involving distributor fraud and pyramid schemes. Robert FitzPatrick is not an investor in multi-level marketing companies. He has never owned and never plans to own stocks of multi-level marketing companies. He has never been compensated based on any stock's performance. He does not offer investment advice and he is not an attorney.

Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Additional disclosure: This article is for educational purposes only. It discusses fundamentals of the "direct selling" business model and the evolution of "multi-level marketing."

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Title:

Content: Educational Development Corp.: Growth Risk Might Be Overblown

Moat Investing
1.46K Followers

Summary

  • EDUC is the exclusive US co-publisher of educational children's books produced by famous Usborne Publishing by leveraging multilevel marketing (MLM) strategy.
  • It has strong fundamentals, fair valuation, and a compelling growth story that is being ignored by the market.
  • We arrived at a target price of $12.4 to $14.6 without incorporating any future growth and expansion in operating margins.

Investment Idea

Educational Development Corporation (NASDAQ:EDUC) has an attractive value proposition, strong financials, and optionality of significant growth ahead due to structural changes caused by COVID. On top of that, the valuation is reasonable, and management has skin in the game (owns 23% of shares outstanding). For these reasons, we remain bullish.

Business Overview

EDUC is the exclusive US co-publisher of educational children's books produced in the UK by Usborne Publishing, and EDUC also exclusively publishes books through their ownership of Kane Miller.

The business operates in two segments:

Home Business Division (Usborne Books & More or "UBAM") -(95% of revenues) - This segment sells books through consultants directly to consumers using a multilevel marketing model (MLM). Consultants sell books by hosting home parties, social media, and hosting book fairs with schools and public libraries.

Publishing Division – (5% of revenues) - Sells books to bookstores, toy stores, and other retail outlets.

If you would like to get the gist of our thesis, you can watch our YouTube video below.

Value Proposition

The children's books market is very competitive and fragmented. There are more than 135 publishers of children's books in the US. EDUC is competing with Scholastic and Pearson, which have extensive resources to run marketing campaigns and are well-positioned in both online and offline distribution channels. Although EDUC has a little moat, they have some strengths to their business model that will allow long-term value creation.

They have an exclusive and long-term relationship with Usborne. Therefore, clients of the Usborne in the US must acquire their books via EDUC. Also, there is a consensus that Usborne books are high quality and among the industry's best.

Their sales are a function of the number of active sales consultants. Commissions paid to consultants are a variable cost, and they are only paid when sales are made. Although this makes SG&A grow as the top line grows, since it's not a fixed cost to the business, it allows EDUC to achieve significant operating leverage. Also, it allows them to scale quickly and have flexibility.

Direct sales strategies like multilevel marketing are commonly referred to as pyramid and Ponzi schemes. However, the table below shows that it does work sustainably and increases revenue growth over the long run despite the negative press.

Source: S&P Capital IQ

Why might EDUC be mispriced?

There are multiple factors. Firstly, it's a micro-cap. This usually means there is limited analyst coverage, and due to the stock's illiquidity, there is low institutional interest. These factors, coupled with others, leave the company under the market radar despite its business is doing well and has promising perspectives.

Second, there is negative press around the MLM business models. The MLM model deployed by EDUC is vastly different from dodgy tactics used by other players. For example, many MLM models require the seller to purchase the inventory from the company before selling. However, this reduces the risk for the company and puts extra pressure on the seller, which can be left with expensive inventory that cannot be sold or returned. In the case of EDUC, there is no requirement to hold inventory.

Third, markets might be believing that the business's tailwinds are temporary due to COVID. Amidst Covid, schools were closed, and parents were working from home; this drove home-based learning and benefited EDUC. Additionally, unemployment rates soared, and many were left looking for work. This allowed EDUC almost to double its consultant count from 33 to 60 thousand. We believe the post-pandemic work from home trend will persist, supporting their sales. Furthermore, the active consultant might not fall back to the pre-pandemic level as these roles are usually part-time work which fits nicely with the trending gig economy.

The evidence speaks louder than words

There are also some clues from the management that revenue generated amidst pandemics might be sticky.

Management increased its dividend per share from $0.20 to $0.32. A dividend increase should be seen as a signal that a business is in solid financial shape and management is confident about its future.

Management increased capital expenditures to $4.15 million from $0.64 in 2020. This expenditure was primarily associated with equipment purchases to increase daily shipping capacity. These are some early signs that management is expecting positive growth going ahead. Additionally, this also improves their margins as amidst Covid they paid a premium for extra shifts.

EDUC has increased its inventory; the inventory build-up is approximately 60% of its total assets. This has been in anticipation of an increase in the sales, as it takes a four to six-month lead-time to have a title printed and delivered to them.

Source: Koyfin

Value Investing Approach: Asset Value

To calculate the actual asset value of the company, we tried to replicate the business from scratch. Therefore, below you will find the last reported balance sheet, where we have made some adjustments.

The value of the land recorded on books was $4.1 million. They own a 40-acre complex at 5402 South 122nd East Ave, Tulsa, with 400,000 square feet of office and warehouse space. They also own a facility located at 10302 East 55th Place, Tulsa, that has 105,000 square feet of usable space. According to our channel checks with realtors, the average price per square foot of their land lies between the range of $100 to $115. To remain conservative, we took the average price square feet to be $85. Therefore, we estimate the value of its land to be $42.9 million.

They also have a network of around 55,000 active consultants. To construct such a network from scratch is both costly and time-consuming. We estimate the replication cost of this network to be around $27.5 million ($500 per consultant). This is also roughly five months of sales commission cost incurred by EDUC in the fiscal year 2021.

The rest of the items are taken on book value.

Based on the above adjustment, we arrive at the total asset value of 106.7, and the fair value per share to be $12.4

Source: Moat Investing

Value Investing Approach: Earnings Power Value

This approach allows us to value EDUC without incorporating any growth. Here, we consider the business's historical figures (last five years) to get the normalized earnings and operating margin. To calculate the sustainable earnings, we smoothed out the company revenues for the previous five years to $131 million and then calculated the firm's average operating margin (6.5%) to arrive at the sustainable Operating Income of $8.5 million.

We add back the expenses typically spent on growth, and we estimate around 4.5% of sales is spent on growth marketing, i.e., promotion, advertisement, and discounts. Hence, we add this back as this expense is not required if the firm was not aiming to achieve growth.

We assume the normalized tax rate to be 26% and the estimated cost of equity at 9%. Therefore, we estimate Earning Power Value of the operating business to be $134 million. To that, we add the non-operational cash ($1.8 million), and we subtract long-term debt (10.8); we arrive at an implied market cap of $125.6 million or $14.6 price per share, with 12.3% upside potential, without incorporating any growth or expansion in operating margins.

Source: Moat Investing

Risks to Our Investment Case

  • Stringent regulation regarding MLM companies. For instance, the requirement to treat consultants as employees. This could have implication when it comes to taxation, wages paid and welfare concerns for workers. This could, in turn, shrink the bottom line or, worse, business model tatters.
  • The most straightforward risk is consultants quitting or switching to find other employment as the US economy improves. However, within our valuation model, we have smoothed the growth of revenue in the last five years, which is a function of l consultants recruited. Even if there is some mean reversion in terms of consultants working with EDUC due to the COVID base effect, our thesis would be less impacted.
  • As highlighted earlier EDUC’s inventory level is a significant portion of its asset. Whatever reason they become unsalable (i.e., change in taste or controversy in terms of published content) could impact our valuation.
  • Oil prices have increased significantly since last year (see below). Shipping costs are amongst the most significant component of its COGS; further rise in oil prices (consequently increasing shipping cost) could make it difficult for EDUC to remain profitable.

Source: Trading Economics

Conclusion

EDUC has an attractive value proposition, strong financials, and optionality of significant growth ahead due to structural changes caused by COVID. On top of that, the valuation is reasonable, management has skin in the game (owns 23% of shares outstanding), and investors are not even paying for any future growth at current prices. For these reasons, we remain bullish.

This article was written by

1.46K Followers
We are a group of experienced investors that like to dig deeper into stocks to find growth stories at a reasonable price with strong economic moats. We also aim to conduct high-quality analysis by deep diving into valuations, key business drivers, risk/reward, and different future scenarios.
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Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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**Company Examples and Financial Performance** Prominent MLM companies include **Herbalife**, **Amway**, **Mary Kay**, **Avon**, and **Tupperware**.

**Company Examples and Financial Performance** Prominent MLM companies include **Herbalife**, **Amway**, **Mary Kay**, **Avon**, and **Tupperware**.

Each has experienced distinct trajectories in recent years.

Each has experienced distinct trajectories in recent years.

Each has experienced distinct trajectories in recent years.

Herbalife, specializing in nutritional supplements, saw increased sales during the pandemic as consumers focused on health products, but its stock value declined by 64% year-to-date in the post-pandemic period, reflecting broader industry challenges .

Amway, with a diverse product portfolio, has maintained market presence but faces ongoing legal and reputational challenges .

Mary Kay, focused on cosmetics, has experienced sales fluctuations, particularly during economic downturns when discretionary spending contracts .

Avon and Tupperware, once icons of direct selling, have suffered dramatic declines: Avon's stock price fell from over $30 to just above $3, and Tupperware's stock value dropped by more than 90% in five years, with warnings of potential bankruptcy .

**Trends During the COVID-19 Pandemic** The pandemic initially boosted MLM participation as job losses and economic uncertainty drove individuals to seek alternative income sources .

Health and wellness MLMs, such as Herbalife and Amway, benefited from increased demand for their products .

The Educational Development Corporation (EDUC), which uses an MLM model to sell children’s books, saw its number of active consultants rise from 33,000 to 60,000 during the pandemic, capitalizing on the surge in home-based learning and gig economy opportunities .

Title:

Content: Terrible Things People Do For Money: What You NEED To Learn

0

You can laugh if you want. But, growing up, I was into professional wrestling. It was something that my dad was a fan of. So, naturally, this is what we did to bond.

Anyway, there was this wrestler named Ted DiBiase whose gimmick was “The Million Dollar” man. And, he had an amazing catchphrase; “Everybody’s got a price.”

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Q4 2021 hedge fund letters, conferences and more

This Hedge Fund Thinks Nintendo Is The Next Apple

Apple's influence over the stock market and tech world appears to be waning, at least in terms of mindshare. While it's true that Apple stock has soared alongside other tech favorites over the last couple of years, tech news sites are no longer overflowing with daily headlines about the iPhone. Apple Stock Is Surging, And Read More

For some of us. That actually might be true.

Questionable Acts People Would Do For Money

A survey of 1,000 conducted by OnePoll.com found that 6% of people would commit murder for $1 billion. Treason, armed robbery, mugging with a weapon, or assisting in suicide are some of the crimes committed by one in ten people.

What about a million bucks? In addition to credit card fraud, one in ten would smuggle drugs over the border or even star in an amateur pornographic video. In exchange for $100,000,000, a quarter of people would steal a bike, forge a signature, lie to police and donate sperm or eggs without their partner’s knowledge. Meanwhile, a demented one in ten would kick a kitten or puppy. And, that same figure would take performance-enhancing drugs to win a sporting event or beat up a stranger.

For $100,000? 25% of people would steal a street sign. It’s also enough for one in five people to forge a signature or take from a restaurant or hotel. One in ten say they would enter into a sham marriage, perform a sexual act on a stranger, falsify tax returns, or snatch a purse for the same amount.

In exchange for $10,000, one in five will steal a street sign, shoplift or flash a stranger. On the other hand, one out of ten people would lie under oath, steal a bike or spend counterfeit cash for the same price.

What would people do for a thousand bucks? 15% of people were willing to shoplift or bet on a fixed sporting event.

Why Do Good People Do Bad Things?

Some people may not have much in terms of a moral compass. I would actually think that most of us are the opposite. Committing a heinous crime not only cheapens life. What’s more, there are additional costs that far outweigh the monetary value.

For serious crimes, you have legal expenses, as well as the probability of going to prison. Also, even if you aren’t charged with a crime, that money can be seized.

And, let’s be real here. Would really trust someone to offer you a large sum of money to commit a crime? There’s a good chance it’s a scam or set it up, such as the fake website Rent-A-Hitman. Even if the offer was real, that’s definitely someone you do not want to associate with.

Still, even decent and law-abiding citizens may do bad things.

Researchers from the University of Utah and Harvard found that even the prospect of money encourages unethical behavior.

“Were were interested in why good people would do bad behavior,” Kristin Smith-Crowe, a management professor and co-author of the study told CNBC.

“We certainly found that the love of money is corrupting and just the mere exposure to it makes people do bad things,” Smith-Crowe said.

“The study didn’t ask people to do horrible acts, there were more mundane like stealing office supplies,” Smith-Crowe added. For example, taking home a ream of paper from work when your printer at home is empty.

The Worst Ways to Make Money

So, with all that being said, that got me thinking. What are the worst ways to make money? And, no. I’m not talking about unspeakable acts like murder or hurting an animal. My focus is on seemingly legit, yet risky, illegal, dangerous, and unprofitable ways to make some extra cash.

Taking online surveys.

There is no shortage of online surveys. With some surveys, you’re asked your opinion on current events or to perform an act of kindness. Most often, however, surveys want your feedback on a product or service.

However, whenever you see a survey that promises decent money in hardly any time, buyer beware. While these surveys do pay, the cost is minimal. I’m taking from a couple of cents to a couple of dollars. Is it really worth your time to make that little amount of money?

A better option would be picking up a second job, even if it’s a minimum wage job you do on the weekend. If that’s not an option, consider a focus group or qualitative research study if you want a well-paying survey.

I should also add that online surveys aren’t the worst idea for certain demographics. For example, a stay-at-parent could do these surveys while their kid(s) are napping.

Medical testing and selling bodily fluids.

“Paid medical testing is neither a scam nor a low-reward opportunity; it’s possible to make actual money if you devote yourself to being a full-time pincushion for science,” writes Jon Skindzier for Ask Men. “No, this idea comes with its own unique set of drawbacks like vomiting, chills, seizure, death — stuff like that.”

“Six subjects in London, for example, suffered organ damage and life-threatening complications while testing an arthritis treatment in 2006,” he adds. “The real question isn’t whether or not you can make money this way; it’s how much bodily harm you’re willing to risk in the process.”

Stying in the “ick” zone, this is also true of selling bodily fluids. Processes are long, complex, and time-consuming, but the pay is low.

It’s possible for women to sell their eggs too. In addition to taking up time, this procedure can also be rather painful since fertility shots are often necessary. It is true that donations are not a dependable way of making money, and very often they are restricted by time constraints.

Multilevel marketing companies (MLMs).

If you haven’t personally been invited, I guarantee someone you know has been. Invited to what? Those “parties” where a friend or acquaintance is selling essential oils, pet care products, jewelry, children’s books, etc.

It turns out, that this is a MLM program.

As the FTC notes, “Most people who join legitimate MLMs make little or no money. Some of them lose money. In some cases, people believe they’ve joined a legitimate MLM, but it turns out to be an illegal pyramid scheme that steals everything they invest and leaves them deeply in debt.”

The FTC has also reported that 99% of people who take part in multiple-level marketing lose money. Why? Because MLM companies require their members to purchase products in advance with the hope of reselling them at a profit.

While there are some legit MLMs, Avon springs to mind, if you aren’t a salesperson or have the upfront costs you might want to consider alternatives. Freelancing, affiliate marketing, or drop shipping might be some viable options that are better suited to your budget and/or skills.

Using click-bait to sell links.

The majority of bloggers earn their living from advertising, affiliate sales, and more. Click-bait links, those that lead nowhere, to the wrong site, or make your browser a mess, aren’t sold or bought by them. Overall, there is little money to be made from these bottom-feeding methods.

How can you make money from a blog then? Partner with trusted affiliate programs such as ClickBank, ShareASale, or Commission. From there, you can set up ads with Google AdSense.

Those fake links will eventually get noticed by your readers, and they will stop reading your articles.

Sign spinning.

We’ve all seen them on the sidewalks holding signs advertising particular businesses. No matter the weather, at least one is always trying to attract customers. Because you are required to stand all day long, the job is extremely tiring as well.

Additionally, the pay is usually low. And, the practice has been criticized for causing distractions among drivers.

If you’re looking for part-time or a side hustle, you might want to explore more fulfilling options. If you’re a dog person, then consider dog walking or sitting. Do you like cruising around town? Maybe deliver food or rideshare.

Day trading.

Unless you have a lot of experience in investing, day trading in the stock market is highly risky. As a new investor, you should stick with mutual funds until you gain more experience.

While it isn’t as exciting or profitable, at least you’ll be able to make money as you learn the ropes.

Selling pirated materials.

Many pirated electronic books or digital copies of Hollywood blockbusters can be found and downloaded online either for free or for a small fee. Sound appealing, right? After all, it’s cheaper than going to the theater or buying an original copy. And, these are major corporations that can take the hit.

Well, it’s not as harmless you may have assumed. In 2022, it’s expected that the movie and TV industry will lose $51.6 billion to online piracy. Additionally, piracy can land you in trouble with local, state, and national authorities as well as your Internet provider.

Online gambling.

I know a couple of people who boast about the money they made gambling — either in-person or online. My first question? “Yeah, but how much did you lose to win that money?”

Trying to make money with gambling of any kind is always a bad move. In addition, online gambling is more accessible 24/7, making it easier to become addicted to it than in-person gambling. If not treated, you can literally lose everything.

If you have a gambling addiction, please got professional help. And, even if you don’t, look for other alternatives to make money where the societal and financial cost isn’t as high.

Work-from-home scams.

Online money-making offers that seem too good to be true probably are. The scammer capitalizes on your desperation to obtain your personal information so that they can steal your identity or use the money to set up a job for you. In cases where something seems fishy, such as poor spelling or grammar in an advertisement or on a website or a request for you to send money, you should be cautious.

That’s not to say that there aren’t legit work-from-home opportunities. In fact, here are 12 work-from-home jobs that will help you earn a million dollars in less than 10 years.

Recycling.

Once again, we are seeing an extremely time-consuming effort for very little result. In addition, lots of recycling must be done before profits can be made. It is usually necessary to obtain recyclables from others before profits can be made. It simply does not make sense to move and clean substantial quantities of items unless you have the storage space and means to accomplish this.

I can personally attest to this. I thought years ago that instead of just recycling my cans, why not make some money off of them. For months I crushed and stored cans until I had several big bags. I took them to the scrap yard and got like $20. It wasn’t even worth the gas going back and forth.

Final Words of Advice

You have to know which opportunities are worthwhile and which ones aren’t if you’re looking to start a new side hustle or just make money online. You can find better alternatives to all these bad ideas on our list of 101 passive business and income ideas.

Article by John Rampton, Due

About the Author

John Rampton is an entrepreneur and connector. When he was 23 years old while attending the University of Utah he was hurt in a construction accident. His leg was snapped in half. He was told by 13 doctors he would never walk again. Over the next 12 months he had several surgeries, stem cell injections and learned how to walk again. During this time he studied and mastered how to make money work for you, not against you. He has since taught thousands through books, courses and written over 5000 articles online about finance, entrepreneurship and productivity. He has been recognized as the Top Online Influencers in the World by Entrepreneur Magazine, Finance Expert by Time and Annuity Expert by Nasdaq. He is the Founder and CEO of Due.

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However, this growth was often short-lived, as many new recruits failed to achieve financial success, and the sustainability of such surges remains questionable .

**Digitalization and Market Adaptation** Lockdowns and social distancing forced MLMs to pivot from in-person recruitment and sales to digital platforms .

Companies that quickly adopted online sales, virtual meetings, and cloud-based tools generally retained more distributors and maintained engagement .

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July 7, 2023

Why revenue teams need to be empowered through data optimisation

Organisations are increasingly looking to embed emerging AI and machine learning technologies across all aspects of operations. Philip Cooper, group VP of product at Clari, shares how generative AI has the potential to revolutionise the revenue function.

AI and machine learning technologies are disrupting nearly every sector, and enterprises are reshaping their processes and strategies accordingly. Now, with the step change of generative AI, which is capable of generating complex textual and visual outputs from minimal prompts, those boundaries have been pushed even further to transform marketing and sales, alongside rapid technological transformation and shifting consumer demands.

With 90% of commercial leaders looking to utilise generative AI solutions, revenue teams are increasingly learning how to harness the new possibilities of these emerging technologies. From streamlining processes and workflows to revenue retention and forecasting, generative AI has helped to liberate human talent and secure organisational resources. Philip Cooper, group VP of product at revenue platform Clari, stands on the front line of these changes.

How do you think the ways in which enterprises are looking at the potential impact of integrating AI are changing?

Generative AI exploded with ChatGPT over the last year, but this is just a continuation of where we already were. We’ve had another step change with generative AI, with a bunch of emerging use cases and opportunities. We’re just starting to scratch the surface of how we can drive productivity in the workplace. Revenue teams are being asked to do more things – to be empathetic with customers, forecast accuracy, maintain hygiene in their CRM, use their sales enablement tools, and put the right information in the customer’s hands – all while winning, retaining and growing business. Generative AI can be applied to workflows to minimise tasks, particularly to automate mundane things where some balls get dropped or things fall through the cracks. That’s where you start to find revenue leak, where revenue is being inevitably lost somewhere through the process.

Why does automating the mundane make such an impact?

The macro environment is pretty tough. We’re overloading teams with tasks, particularly revenue people, all while dealing with constraints like limited resources. By automating tasks like email analysis rather than trawling through emails, salespeople can focus more on their customers and sales strategies while removing tedious work. We’re constantly looking at what processes we can optimise next.

And that optimisation has a direct impact on revenue?

The most important question in business is, am I going to meet, beat or miss on revenue? Clari is all about answering that question, as a revenue platform that helps customers bring predictability, visibility and efficiency to revenue processes, to maximise revenue, or predict where they will capture it. Clari helps to find revenue leak all the way from the C-suite, in some cases down to the individual contributor, helping them bring repeatability, stop revenue leak and get precision in how they’re running their revenue workflows.

How has Clari’s use of AI evolved as the technology has matured?

Clari has used AI for a decade, but what’s exciting is our recent utilisation of generative AI for prediction, such as projecting how a sales deal might unfold or whether it will close. We launched RevGPT in March 2023, which allows us to gather and connect crucial signals from various sources, including CRM data, meeting engagements, email interactions, and participant details. Generative AI has unlocked the capability to do summarisation, which saves so much time and provides a ready-to-share summary for clients and customers. It can help to generate the right prompts and highlight the pertinent piece of conversation that will give me relevant insight for a customer or prospect. The critical ingredient to that is the underlying data and metadata, which is consolidated in a specific data model that our customers can manage.

So you can use prompts to easily extract insights from the model by specifying what you need from certain data?

Absolutely. We’re still in the early stages of this journey, focusing on use cases that offer quick wins and drive productivity by utilising generative AI as if it were your revenue operations person or chief of staff, to ensure that tasks are completed promptly and nothing falls through the cracks. The AI handles follow-ups, sends summaries, assigns tasks, and takes care of mundane but essential activities. Humans typically dislike repetitive tasks, and that’s where AI shines. It can handle vast amounts of data, identify valuable insights and compose information efficiently, which is super valuable for businesses.

And does such an approach differentiate you from what else is out there?

Clari is probably the only player that lives, breathes and dreams revenue. We’re very tailored in what we do. We help to focus time on the right leads, accounts and deals. The immense value lies in the revenue data we manage. It’s not just about collecting; it’s about connecting and enriching it to make it usable in applications, which accelerates time-to-revenue. RevGPT is a huge differentiator. Sellers and revenue-critical employees are spending a lot of time gathering information, shaping it and figuring out the next step. We want to shrink that, which all rolls up to pulling revenue forward.

How exactly does a customer benefit from that?

We integrate CRM, a system of record to store some level of revenue data around contacts, leads and accounts opportunities. We integrate extremely tightly with it. We pull data from Salesforce, stitch it together and create a whole history, then we keep it up to date. Squaring those two things is quite difficult. We offer auto-capture functionality, which updates the CRM with relevant customer interactions, such as meetings and content shared. Approximately 30% of our customers’ engaged contacts are captured in the CRM through this automation. We also streamline the process of updating deals, accounts, notes and pipelines within the CRM, directly in Clari, and our end users love that efficiency.

Could you give an example where those newfound capabilities have directly contributed to a customer’s growth?

We’ve got lots of great accounts like Pearson, Snow Software, Access Group, Elsevier and others. ComplyAdvantage is a regtech company that provides compliance software solutions. It emphasises the value of clarity and accountability in a couple of key areas that really resonate with me, highlighting the importance of a seamless revenue process, where everyone has a unified view of the same data. Our platform provides this connected, end-to-end visibility, rather than a fragmented approach of CRM, spreadsheets and business intelligence. ComplyAdvantage estimates that it saves two days per rep per month, showcasing substantial productivity gains for sellers. It’s about connecting across all revenue-critical employees, making revenue generation a team sport.

What would your message be to companies still hesitant about the digital transformation they perceive integrating such capabilities to require?

I think with generative AI, you’ve got to get started and take advantage of it. Software companies are embedding it. Take advantage of them. If you have data science resources and data, you can start to experiment, without having to build your own thing. If you don’t start, you won’t compete with those who have. Those using generative AI will be more productive and efficient. They will have better answers from the system, which will yield better decision making and stronger outcomes. The barrier to getting started is low. Macro-wise, we need to drive productivity growth. Every CEO is asking about this. I say get started.

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The shift to e-commerce and social selling, especially via social media, enabled MLMs to reach younger demographics such as Gen Z and Millennials, who prefer mobile and app-based purchasing .

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Content: Multi-level marketing tasks can be done with careful analysis and proceeding with through reliable sources of action plans. MLM Software is designed for multi-level marketing and boosts up the ranking and profits online. Grow your business with an authentic and reliable source of action plans and approaches from smart choices according to the priorities and interest levels. Financial and investment issues can also be done careful analysis and to proceed with careful steps and according to the priorities and the inspirational levels to follow the useful guidelines. There are varieties of ideas and useful strategies that can be assistive and fast result printed to find the best and perfect possible solutions according to the needs and inspirational levels.

MLM software has become one of the ideal choices to get benefits and explore unique ideas for small-scale and large-scale business setups. People who are interested in multilevel marketing have the best option to contact a flexible cloud platform for MLM companies that have Atlantic and genuine resources regarding your business needs. Cloud platforms always facilitate the people through their MLM software that can be assistive and helpful for business communities to get instant benefits according to their desired goals there are different package plans regarding monthly subscriptions customers on regular basis success stories successful projects and regarding business concerns.

There is no doubt that Cloud Platform has a great future and great aspects that have some values and that can be chosen according to the needs and priorities levels of the people. To provide scalable and flexible cloud solution is the main priority to use the best opportunity to proceed with a simple and reliable source of action plans. To manage their network relationship, there are different strategies and useful inspirations that have some values and that can be considered important to get instant benefits with easy and quick accessibility resources through genuine resources.

MLM business scenarios are of different types that can be assistive and have versatile feature plans to get ideas and useful inspirations to approach from easy and smart choices. Proceed with careful steps and make sure which type of strategies and the parameters are the best to approach from easy and smart choices. Your MLM enterprise and landscape can be set according to the priorities and the interests levels of the people. Show your best confidence and interest levels to precede with easy and simple accessibility resources according to the needs and priorities levels.

Get the best chance and useful ideas that have some values and can be approached easily with smart choices according to the needs and inspirational values. There is an opportunity to use the most modern and flexible cloud platform through easy and simple accessibility plans with genuine resources according to the needs and inspirational levels. Show your best competencies and the skills that have some values and that can be helpful to approach from instant responding resources through fast and quick accessibility plans. Find the best and perfect possible solution according to the needs and priorities levels of the people.

Enjoy multitasking and multimode Marketing software that can be helpful to enable the business communities to achieve their objectives start. There are different types of Strategies and useful in inspirations that can be helpful for business communities to set their targets and to market their plans with the help of a can take and reliable sources proceeding through simple and online accessibility resources regarding business sales and volume can be helpful to take right time decisions and to implement strategies that can be helpful to get instant benefits.

Approach your network marketing sources through easy and simple accessibility of MLM software that has a user-friendly interface. Powerful cloud platforms have real-time value and have the ability to grow your business as per your needs. There are no hard and fast rules applied to assess the software because it's user-friendly and has an easy setup to quickly start configuration regarding your business needs. There is a payment integration plan which is easy and has an open architecture Concept for others.

MLM Software features explore the ideas and useful inspirations that have some values to access from easy and smart choices. Powerful management platforms have user-friendly platforms to get benefits from easy and simple accessibility resources with the easy and simple sources of acknowledgment. Grow your business and set your targets that can be helpful for you to proceed through genuine sources and that can be helpful to take full initiatives regarding online accessibility source of action plans.

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Content: Unlocking The Social Funnel: Meet The Social Selling Strategies Of The Future

The e-commerce landscape still proceeds to prosper in 2022. Two years on from Covid-19’s digital shift, e-commerce based sales have all but doubled online, as both companies and consumers adapt to new forms of digital selling.

From a mobile commerce boom to app based selling, there are now a number of ways to interact with the e-commerce landscape from the comfort of your own home. On the back of a high street decline, mobile commerce for example was up by 72% in 2021, remaining the most popular vessel for online shopping.

With a spike in mobile and app based purchasing, comes a spike in social media shopping. With over 4.62 billion mobile users also logged into at least one social platform, social selling has begun to take off in a post-pandemic playing field.

As consumers browse TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, looking for their next purchase inspiration, smart marketers need to be on top of their social selling game. From improving conversational content creation to introducing new social listening techniques into the sales process, the outbound selling funnel of the future is social.

Read on as we discuss the changing consumer attitudes of a post-pandemic demographic and divulge our best kept social selling secrets, that will leave you monopolising the social platforms of tomorrow.

Addressing Changing Consumer Attitudes In 2022

It’s no secret that consumer attitudes are changing in the wake of the digital shift. With a significant focus on mobile based e-commerce, digitally native consumers demand a more interactive, personalised shopping experience.

Today’s e-commerce demographic expects a brand to find them, hook them and pledge an alliance to their values. In fact, according to a recent report from Mckinsey, 80% of Gen Z and Millenial consumers demand a completely personalised experience from a company, or they will simply jump to a competitor.

In a fiercely competitive e-commerce playing field, social commerce has begun to prosper in response, as brands have access to a global platform audience, can blend in organically with niche demographic content and connect with their potential leads on a personal level.

Alongside this, consumers are also finding new ways to utilise social media for their e-commerce needs. For example, over half of all platform users, utilise social applications for shopping inspiration, to shop from influencer recommendations and interact with branded content.

With TikTok dominating as a front runner for social commerce success in 2022, consumer content demands have also transformed in the wake of the video-based app’s lockdown triumph.

E-commerce retailers need to be revamping their content game in 2022 in order to address an increasing consumer demand for more video based content. On the back of TikTok’s 30-second snippet format, 86% of e-commerce companies incorporated video content into their strategy in 2021. While phone and email selling may have prospered a decade ago, consumer capturing content now needs to be fresh, gripping and digitally immersive if sales reps and smart marketers want consumers to connect.

Is Social Selling The Key To Success?

If you dont want to take our word for it, let’s look at the stats. Social selling has been ranked as one of the best strategies for selling success since the onset of the pandemic after a Hootsuite study deemed business leaders who utilised social selling tactics, 45% more likely to see higher sales lead conversions.

Better still, the same study revealed that just under 80% of companies that use just one form of social selling, would completely outsell their competitors in a 2022 landscape.

Alongside this, we must address the post-covid social selling boom. In the last quarter of 2020 alone, over a quarter of US shoppers stated that they had made at least a single purchase off of a social platform, with consumers between the ages of 18-34 leading the trend forward.

Since then, the social selling strategy has continued to generate a number of benefits for e-commerce sales reps. Not only does it allow a sales team to make a real connection with their demographic, but gathering more insights on what consumers are interacting and engaging with across their social platforms, can aid strategy planning for the future, and help companies predict the next consumer trend.

Meet The Social Selling Strategies Of The Future

The art of social selling can be tricky within a competitive landscape. Sales reps who want to bask in the success, need to know their audience inside and out, and most importantly understand how social content creation works and what makes it go viral.

While social selling can appear similar to content marketing, the techniques differ. While content marketing reels a consumer onto a brand’s social page, social selling is all about creating a connection and keeping your potential leads interested.

Social sellers need to know how to keep a conversation flowing over social media and be actively searching for new content trends that they can incorporate into their brand strategy. Social sellers are the voice of the brand and can be the difference between a browse and a link follow.

Here are some of the best tactics to incorporate into your strategy for ultimate success.

Do Your Audience Research

No sales strategy is complete without audience research. The key to monopolising your social channels is to know your demographic inside and out. It’s time to start taking audits of your current buyers and the audience you are aiming to target with your social selling.

Using analytic tools such as Google Analytics and Finteza offers a quick window into what makes your audience tick and click, what content is providing the highest level of engagement and of course your demographic’s characteristics, such as age, location and preferred platform.

With consumer insights in mind, social sellers are much more likely to create meaningful, personalised connections with a social platform audience, and put out content that matches a lead target’s values.

Switch Up Those Cross Platform Tactics

The key to achieving a strong social selling strategy is diversifying your cross-platform tactics. While interactive video based content may work on TikTok, the same tactic may fall flat on more professional platforms such as Linkedin.

After gathering insights into your cross-platform targets, start playing with your tone of voice in order to keep conversations flowing across the board. The key here is to review your content writing skills and adapt your voice to appeal to the desired platform.

Switching up your tactics to address platform trends, will allow you to blend into consumers’ feed organically.

Prioritise Customer Retention

Last but not least, it’s important to keep your customers coming back to you on social media. It is six times more expensive to win over a new sales lead than retain an existing one.

You want existing customers to keep coming back to your social channels as they will be more likely to share your content on their own platforms, in return improving brand awareness.

It’s important to nurture a sales based relationship on social media. Ask your existing consumers questions that relate directly to their personal experience, offer discounts and incentives and gather insight into their own platform bio’s. Striving to keep existing customers engaged will make them more likely to interact with the brand on a regular basis and repurchase.

This digital transformation became essential for survival and is now a defining feature of successful MLMs .

**Post-Pandemic Challenges and Shifts** As pandemic restrictions eased, many MLMs struggled to sustain the momentum gained during the crisis.

**Post-Pandemic Challenges and Shifts** As pandemic restrictions eased, many MLMs struggled to sustain the momentum gained during the crisis.

**Post-Pandemic Challenges and Shifts** As pandemic restrictions eased, many MLMs struggled to sustain the momentum gained during the crisis.

The return to traditional, in-person methods proved difficult, and companies unable to maintain digital engagement lost market share .

Market saturation, high turnover rates among salespeople, and increased competition—especially in health and personal care sectors—further eroded profitability .

Title:

Content: SUIC, Midas's Partner Suntech Has Successfully Introduced Customized Products and Services To Its VIP Multiple Level Marketing Companies. Suntech Estimates To Quadruple Profits to $8 Million. SUIC Midas Will Partner With 20 Global PSP Partners in 2022 To

Autor: Accesswire
21.09.2021, 12:00  |   |   |

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 21, 2021 / Sino United Worldwide Consolidated Ltd. (OTC PINK:SUIC) and Midas Touch's PSP partner in Taiwan, Suntech, has successfully introduced the four products and services to its existing VIP MLM customers. …

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 21, 2021 / Sino United Worldwide Consolidated Ltd. (OTC PINK:SUIC) and Midas Touch's PSP partner in Taiwan, Suntech, has successfully introduced the four products and services to its existing VIP MLM customers. Suntech estimates To quadruple profits to $8 Million. SUIC Midas Touch will partner with 20 global PSP partners in 2022 to promote these products and services.

Suntech Taiwan is the largest Taiwan O2O Company, with over 50,000 Merchants and 15 Million users. Suntech Taiwan is going to lead these VIP MLM companies' enterprise-wide business transformation and design exclusive product and service packages. These MLM companies include: PM-International, Taiwan, which is a branch of PM-International AG, Luxembourg. It has more than 30 subsidiaries in more than 40 countries. It provides high-quality nutritious and fitness foods and beauty care products carried through its own brands. PM-International has been recognized as one the Top 100 Direct Sales companies worldwide and is currently ranked 10th in 2021; and the Tsingshan Group of Companies has ten major business groups with a global scope covering more than 30 countries around the world. The holding group has captured the focus of major international media. Among the accolades it has gathered over the decades, its biotechnology company has received high recognition and won, among others, the Taiwan Biotechnology Award, the Taiwan's No. 1 Brand Award, and the Taiwan Golden Quality Award.

"Thanks to the breakthrough innovations and products of SUIC, Midas Touch, Suntech is estimating an increase in net profits to four-fold, expected to reach $8 million on its $1 billion sales turnover. Midas Touch products and services provide instant, emergency funds for our partner merchants and customers. This has been a big success especially during this critical period of pandemic. We are set to increase customer lifetime value with our advanced DeFi business models and strategies," says Joa Chen, Suntech's General Manager.

SUIC Midas is now finalizing and identifying additional 20 PSP partners this year through 2022, with over two million merchants that will bring an aggregate sales turnover of $20 billion, generating $8 million profits for each of the PSP partners as a result. SUIC Midas Touch will fully support these 20 PSP's to earn a total of $160 million in net profits and achieve a total $20 billion in aggregate sales turnover.

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SUIC, Midas's Partner Suntech Has Successfully Introduced Customized Products and Services To Its VIP Multiple Level Marketing Companies. Suntech Estimates To Quadruple Profits to $8 Million. SUIC Midas Will Partner With 20 Global PSP Partners in 2022 To NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 21, 2021 / Sino United Worldwide Consolidated Ltd. (OTC PINK:SUIC) and Midas Touch's PSP partner in Taiwan, Suntech, has successfully introduced the four products and services to its existing VIP MLM customers. …

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Content: NEWS

Purell maker GOJO lays off staff as it announces it will stay in Akron, no longer for sale

Betty Lin-Fisher
Akron Beacon Journal

Akron-based GOJO Industries is eliminating some salaried positions as the company also announced to its employees that it is staying in Akron and no longer for sale.

A company spokeswoman for the maker of Purell confirmed that GOJO was eliminating roles for “less than 10%” of its workforce. The spokeswoman did not provide an exact number for those who would be laid off, but said the positions were mostly salaried positions. Effects to the company’s manufacturing and distribution would be limited, she said.

A company spokeswoman said in April that GOJO had 2,300 team members worldwide. The company doesn't break employment down by region, but the spokeswoman said there are about 1,800 team members in Ohio.

Employees were notified today of the layoffs.

In a statement provided to the media, GOJO President and CEO Carey Jaros said the company is committed to remaining independently owned and based in Akron.

“We remain deeply committed to our GOJO purpose of saving lives and making life better as an independent family enterprise headquartered in Akron, Ohio, which has brought innovative solutions to the world for nearly 80 years, and we are confident in our future," she said.

Those impacted by the workforce restructuring are getting severance, benefits continuation and career counseling, along with other supports, Jaros said.

GOJO was founded in Akron by the late Jerry Lippman and his wife, Goldie, in 1946 to create a cleaner to replace tire workers having to wash their hands with kerosene and benzene to remove carbon black and graphite. Marcella Kanfer Rolnick, the third generation of the Lippman-Kanfer family, is the company's executive chair, taking over in 2018 for her father, Joe Kanfer, who remains involved with the company.

In April, the Wall Street Journal reported that family-owned GOJO had hired JP Morgan Chase to run an auction.

The Wall Street Journal said the company could be valued at around $3 billion with about $1 billion of annual sales, citing anonymous sources saying the process is at an early stage.

COVID-19 pandemic and aftermath affecting GOJO, CEO says

In an email to employees, Jaros said the COVID-19 pandemic affected GOJO and other businesses.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of GOJO's sales came from business-to-business, such as sales to the health care industry, rather than directly to consumers through retail, Jaros said in her email.

Demand for the hand sanitizer Purell grew at unprecedented levels at the beginning of the pandemic, but competitors quickly jumped into the retail market with their own products, she said.

"We started a journey in 2018 to increase profitability to fund future growth and unlock the full potential of our business — and we were making good progress," she said.

“In 2020, a once-in-a-100-year pandemic created an unprecedented need for our Purell products. We did everything we could to produce and ship as much hand sanitizer as possible – but demand felt infinite. We ordered equipment and opened additional facilities, expanding our capacity and capabilities. We invested ahead, as we had when we bought our Lippman Campus in 1980 and Wooster Campus in 2015, knowing we’d be much better prepared for future surges, and would grow into the facilities over time.

But then “hundreds of new manufacturers flooded in with off-brand sanitizer and wipes," Jaros said. "As inventory clogged the market, orders fell sharply across the industry. Even though individual usage of hand sanitizer remained significantly elevated — and does still today — hand sanitizer orders stayed depressed through 2021 and 2022, as surge inventory was slow to clear. At the same time, staffing shortages and a choppy return to public life kept traffic below pre-pandemic levels, which depressed demand for soap.”

In her email, Jaros acknowledged that she, Marcella Kanfer Rolnick and Joe Kanfer and the board “explored a wide range of options to restore financial strength. These options included a sale of the business, as well as different financing solutions with our banks and other lenders. Today, we can share that we have found a path that enables GOJO to remain an independent Family Enterprise and Purpose-driven market leader. We need to restructure the business and right-size our cost structure to move forward on this path.”

April 2023:GOJO, Akron-based maker of Purell, is up for sale, Wall Street Journal reports

Jaros said the company will “focus on the projects and work that most directly grow sales and serve our customers in the near term. This will enable us to protect and extend our market leadership and will also put us back in a position to make longer-term investments."

Chamber CEO: Layoffs are short-term pain, will help long-term health

Steve Millard, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber, said while no one wants to see layoffs, which will be "short-term pain," many companies have had to make changes in this economy.

“There’s been a lot of speculation about GOJO for a little while now,” said Millard in a phone interview. “To me, this is a really positive resolution for the company and the fact that they’re going to stay family owned, they’re going to stay in Akron, that’s exciting.”

But that excitement comes at a cost, he said.

“Like every other company that we’re dealing with right now, they’re trying to adjust to sort of what the new realities are post-COVID with questions about the economy, etc.

“GOJO’s business...did some huge growth over the last few years, so this is tough for the people who are going to be affected,” said Millard.

“For the company long-term, I think it’s good for Akron and good for the company. Overall, we’re going to do all we can to help GOJO and help place people and get people out there because we want people to stay in our community,” he said.

While Millard acknowledged that the majority of the layoffs are likely at the Akron headquarters, company officials have also told him that they will be adapting their hybrid structure of work and employees will be returning two to three days to the office.

“That allows them to connect with each other more but also supports our downtown,” bringing more workers back during the day, he said.

Akron's next mayor reacts to GOJO news

Akron's next presumptive mayor, Shammas Malik, who won a Democratic primary in May and faces no competition in November, released a statement Thursday regarding GOJO's news:

"Today’s announcement that GOJO will remain in Akron provides a stable future for a family-owned business with a proud legacy in our community. I recognize the uncertainty ahead for employees affected by today’s layoffs, and I appreciate that GOJO will provide severance and other career supports to those impacted.

"As we work to transition between mayoral administrations at the end of the year, I look forward to working with small and large businesses alike. We must ensure good jobs are readily available for all, particularly by reducing obstacles like childcare and transportation, and prioritizing safety and education for our residents and workforce."

This is a developing story.

Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com

The majority of MLM participants, estimated at 90-99%, continued to lose money, with most earnings concentrated at the top of the recruitment hierarchy .

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Is The “Bury Your Gays” Trope Finally Dying Out?

It often seems that there are only two queer narratives the entertainment industry is interested in: coming out or going through immense pain. Pop culture is brimming with queer tragedies — from TV’s first lesbian couple Tara and Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Degrassi killing off trans character Adam and Jack in Brokeback Mountain. The overindulgence in the ‘bury your gays’ trope has befallen many iconic queer love stories. And if queer people are not met with misfortune, they are going through interpersonal trauma relating to coming out and their queer identities (as seen in Love, Simon, Moonlight and Glee).
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However, we’re recently starting to see more mainstream queer content that’s not exclusively concerned with coming out or the trials and tribulations of queer life. Queer joy is finally being represented on screen — and it's about time.
Queer films have historically been rooted in tragedy instead of liberation. This is, in part, due to homophobia in the entertainment industry, as seen in the now-overturned Hays Code, which stated that homosexuality could not be presented positively on screen. Entertainment executives looked unfavourably at narratives that explored queer joy, and so, queerness was shown to be arduous in the hopes of minimising public queerness.
But the Hays Code was overturned in 1968, so why are so many films with queer characters still entrenched in disaster and heartache? In my opinion, experiencing uninhibited queer joy is still so new for queer people and until recent times, many queer writers would not have been able to portray a wholly joyous queer narrative as that was not their lived reality.
Rom-coms have always been a very heterosexual genre, with very few queer rom-coms in existence (let alone from major studios). But through recent releases like Red, White and Royal Blue and Bottoms, it's becoming apparent that the world is ready for queer stories that allow for the characters to simply exist and experience life as their authentic queer selves.
Men loving men (MLM) focused pieces of media over the past few months have been immensely successful. Prime Video’s film adaptation of bestselling novel Red, White and Royal Blue was the most popular movie on Letterboxd for a few days (surpassing both Barbie and Oppenheimer) and sparked discourse surrounding the representation of queer love in movies. Since the beginning of cinema, straight couples have been afforded the right to have saccharine, cheesy and gooey love stories with heightened and near-farcical plot elements. So, if straight people can have both Chasing Liberty and The First Daughter that explore the political ramifications of the first daughters of The United States falling in love with men, then we deserve Red, White and Royal Blue
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Pop culture commentator Evan Ross Katz had this to say of the film: “Here's the thing: I did like it, yes, but I also thought it wasn't just good... I thought it was outstanding. Not just as an entry in gay cinema but as a worthy entry in the canon of great romantic comedies”. The importance of being able to witness a celebration of queer love in a fluffy rom-com cannot be overstated. Media is a representation of the real world and its values and beliefs, so having such a successful, respectful and charming MLM film see such mainstream success will hopefully open the door for lighter queer representation that queer folk can see themselves in.
Meanwhile, Bottoms is the newest addition to the women loving women (WLW) cinematic Hall of Fame. (It was released in the US earlier this month but is dropping onto Australian streaming services later this year.) This is particularly notable because it showcases queer women in the 21st century, which is refreshing in 2023 as most female queer narratives are period pieces — see: Carol, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Dickinson. The propensity for queer women’s narratives to be created as period pieces is undoubtedly a means to distance themselves from the male gaze and innate hyper-sexualisation that stems from misogyny. This objectification of queer women in modern stories can be seen in the mismarketing of cult classic Jennifer’s Body. But due to the era that period pieces are set in, they are mostly relegated to the aforementioned queer narratives of tragedy and coming out.
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Refreshingly, Bottoms is a boisterous and bloody riot that comedically explores the realities of queer young women today. It is extremely rare that women are placed at the centre of major comedies, and films centring queer women are even more scarce. For Bottoms to exist means that the entertainment industry might just be taking further steps towards more light-hearted content surrounding women who love women.
But this is just the beginning. We need more queer love stories that speak to and reflect the vast array of queerness in the world. We need more stories featuring people of colour, and interracial queer relationships that don’t default to centring a white person with a person of colour, but instead, include people of many different ethnicities. Give us more stories about trans love and joy, and exploring love through the asexual spectrum.
For every When Harry Met Sally, queer people deserve fluffy heart-warming stories about being queer that less closely resemble emotional torture porn, as has been the norm thus far. It is uncommon in films for queer people to just love one another and have that be the plot, despite that being a mainstay of entertainment for heterosexual couples for aeons. Love should be the norm, not tragedy and loss — and if these past few months of media are any indication, we are on our way to achieving this dream.
Want more? Get Refinery29 Australia’s best stories delivered to your inbox each week. Sign up here!

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**Regulatory Scrutiny and Ethical Concerns** MLMs have faced mounting regulatory scrutiny due to their structural similarities to pyramid schemes and the high rate of participant losses .

Regulatory bodies have considered reclassifying MLM consultants as employees, which would significantly increase operational costs and disrupt business models .

The industry’s reliance on recruitment-driven revenue, rather than genuine product sales, has drawn criticism and led to legal challenges, prompting some companies to reconsider their strategies .

**Closures and Transitions to Direct Sales** Several traditional MLM companies have either closed, warned of bankruptcy, or transitioned away from recruitment-heavy models.

**Closures and Transitions to Direct Sales** Several traditional MLM companies have either closed, warned of bankruptcy, or transitioned away from recruitment-heavy models.

**Closures and Transitions to Direct Sales** Several traditional MLM companies have either closed, warned of bankruptcy, or transitioned away from recruitment-heavy models.

Avon, for example, shifted its focus to direct product sales, moving away from aggressive recruitment after years of revenue decline and the sale of its North American business to LG Household & Health Care .

Tupperware attempted to adapt by selling through retail stores but continued to struggle financially .

The overall trend suggests that companies unable to adapt to digitalization, regulatory demands, and changing consumer preferences are at risk of closure or forced to pivot to simpler direct sales models .

**Emergence of Hybrid and Product-Focused Models** Some companies, such as Suntech (a partner of SUIC), have shifted towards enhancing product value and customer engagement, estimating a quadrupling of profits by focusing on customized offerings for VIP MLM customers .

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Content: Consent Management Services Market to Witness Huge Growth by 2030 | OneTrust, Quantcast, Cookiebot, iubenda, Trunomi, TrustArc

Consent Management Services Market Detail Analysis focusing on Application, Types and Regional Outlook 2032

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The report also highlights the global production and sales strategies adopted by leading players. At the same time, the most significant changes taking place in the global Consent Management Services market impacting positively or negatively to the market are detailed in the report. The report describes the global Consent Management Services market structure and characteristic. The report analyses the position of the global Consent Management Services market in emerging countries. The report provides the overview of the Consent Management Services industry market conditions taking into consideration the key economic indicators. The report studies the globally competitive countries, regions, sectors, and sub-sectors of the global Consent Management Services market.

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The Educational Development Corporation (EDUC) demonstrated resilience by aligning its MLM strategy with pandemic-driven market demands, increasing its salesforce and sales volume .

These examples indicate a move towards hybrid models that balance recruitment with direct product sales, aiming for sustainable profitability and improved participant retention .

**Technology and Professionalization** The adoption of MLM software and cloud-based platforms has become a notable trend, streamlining operations and improving profitability .

Title:

Content: ‘This is God’s way of telling you that you’ve done bad things in this or a former life. You’re being punished for your sins.’

These were a family member’s words when my mum told them that I had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).

They could have asked how I was, how were we all coping, or what impact this was having on us all. But they didn’t.

One of the so-called ‘sins’ was mum and dad having a love marriage that was outside of caste, in an era when arranged marriages were the acceptable thing to do.

During a time that was already incredibly hard, that conversation made us feel completely unsupported and stigmatised. And for this response to have come from a family member made it even worse, as they’re the very people we most needed to be positive and supportive.

But instead, we were made to feel that the diagnosis was somehow our own fault. This experience isn’t unusual. Misunderstanding and ignorance of disability is common in the South Asian community.

Over 130,000 people live with MS in the UK. It’s a neurological condition causing damage to the coating that protects our nerves.

No one knows for sure why people get it. It’s likely to be a mix of genes, things in your environment – like vitamin D levels, and lifestyle factors like smoking – something I’ve never done.

Like many people, I was diagnosed in my late 20s, after experiencing symptoms that included going completely numb down one side of my body, extreme fatigue, muscle spasms and other sensory issues like pins and needles.

Initially I dismissed the symptoms, thinking it would be something simple, like a pinched nerve. I eventually went to my GP thinking they would say my symptoms would disappear on their own and that would be the end of it.

My cousin had been diagnosed with the condition the previous year, which prompted my GP to quickly refer me to a neurologist. So MS came into the conversation very early, but I worried that it might have been a brain or spinal tumour.

When the diagnosis was finally confirmed, I felt relief that I was no longer in limbo.

I knew what we were dealing with and I could start to do something about it, but I was scared for the future. I asked my neurologist for a prognosis and he couldn’t give me one.

There was no way to predict what it would do or how it would affect me. I found that really difficult to come to terms with because I like to know what’s happening.

On top of this, I thought I would play a part in looking after my parents as they grew older, which is expected in my culture. But as my parents started to age, I was coping with this new diagnosis and everything that came along with it.

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An anonymous writer shares the moment that he realised he was groomed as a 14-year-old by a man in his 30s.

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And Heidi Crowter describes her perfect first date to her now-husband, James. The couple, who both have Down's syndrome, instantly realised the other was their soulmate.

I had to adapt how I worked – I started working from home and had more flexible working hours, to manage my fatigue. This meant my career options became more limited, which in turn affected my finances. I became more reliant on my parents for support, not just financially, but also practically – when travelling and doing things around the house.

They continued to work well into their 70s, putting off retirement for much longer than any of us anticipated, because they were concerned about the possible financial burden that might come with my increased disability in the future.

I was living with them (and I still do, in my early 40s) and had to rely on them with tasks such as DIY around the house, managing the household paperwork, doing all the everyday chores like cleaning, shopping and laundry. .

I felt like I was becoming a burden, even though I’ve never experienced stigma from my immediate family – they never saw me this way.

Not everyone in my life has been like this though, with some extended family members, family friends and members of the community reinforcing the idea that somehow I was ‘failing’ for being unable to live up to some of these cultural ideals.

Because, on top of my own feelings of guilt of becoming more dependent on my family, among South Asians I’ve experienced a blame culture around illness. Being told that it’s karma, and my family’s done something bad in a former life, is distressing.

I’ve had people tell me that I shouldn’t discuss my condition openly because it will affect relationship prospects and my family’s reputation. They’ve told me they’re scared of ‘catching MS’ because they think it’s contagious. Conversely, other people have brushed it off as ‘nothing’ and said that I’m making a big deal out of something ‘they had at Christmas and were cured with some antibiotics.’

The lack of awareness still astounds me.

About a year or so after my diagnosis, while attending an MS Society event I was told by a staff member about the support group: Asian MS. My mum and I decided to go along to a session they were running, and we had this instant feeling of ‘oh my goodness, these people just get it!’

With Asian MS, there were cultural references beyond my disability that I could talk and laugh about – like Bollywood movies. Being part of the group really helped me process everything that was going on. I felt like I finally had a network of people who understood me.

I now volunteer with Asian MS. The group, which is completely free to join, provides culturally sensitive support, which addresses the particular nuances to being Asian and having the condition.

We can direct people to information in different languages, and help people explain their condition to family members.

This might include explaining the mechanics of MS – that it affects the brain but isn’t a mental health condition, for instance.

Some of the main issues we hear regularly include being able to explain it to family members who don’t speak English, trying to improve understanding of what causes the condition and the specific symptoms, and requests to connect with other Asians within the MS community.

I’d like to see greater visibility in the Asian media for the South Asian disabled community, so that disability becomes more normalised and we can open up these conversations more.

Representation and inclusion are also really important when it comes to research, which ultimately breaks down barriers.

The MS Society has committed to raise funds for the ADAMS study, which is investigating how genes impact the chances of getting MS in people from different ethnic backgrounds. It’s a study that I’m participating in and supporting as it will hopefully lead to more research with underrepresented groups.

For me personally, life has become inextricably intertwined with advocacy and patient engagement. So I will continue to do all that I can to advocate for better care, treatment and awareness for people affected by MS generally.

More specifically, I will continue to raise the profile of the condition within the Asian community so that we can break down barriers and improve support.

You can find out more about Asian MS and contact the group here.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk

Share your views in the comments below.

MORE : My culture can be so ignorant about disability – I’m here to smash the stigma

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MORE : As a gay Asian man with an invisible disability, I’m always having to come out twice

Companies are leveraging data analytics to better understand consumer preferences and optimize sales strategies, further supporting the transition to direct sales and hybrid models .

This professionalization is designed to appeal to recruits seeking systematic and scalable business opportunities .

**Vulnerable Groups and Recruitment Dynamics** MLMs continue to attract vulnerable demographics, including stay-at-home parents, young adults, recent graduates, and individuals in financial distress .

Title:

Content: In the post-pandemic new normal, flexibility, adaptability and enterprise resilience are important in ensuring MSMEs can operate more efficiently in a highly competitive business environment. It is also necessary for small businesses to invest in the right office technology solutions that are cost-effective and scalable according to their unique needs.

Investing in technology solutions is no longer a choice but an imperative. MSMEs that fail to undertake the digital transformation journey run the risk of losing relevance and market competitiveness. As a result, both big and small companies are now deploying powerful AI-enabled algorithms to improve daily operations, gain better operational insights and drive more efficient use of their resources.

Cloud and IoT-enabled smart solutions

Herein, it is essential to deploy cloud-based tools for data storage as well as to facilitate remote work and a more collaborative working environment. Cloud computing can be particularly useful for driving enterprise growth and resilience by enabling collaborations despite geographical constraints. Cloud computing also helps MSMEs avoid the upfront cost of physical IT infrastructure while assisting them to expand their presence in new and unpenetrated markets.

AI-driven tools can also assist small entities in areas such as CRM (customer relationship management) and ERP (enterprise resource planning) as well as sales and marketing initiatives. For example, chatbots can be useful in improving customer service functions by responding to routine sales queries. Besides integrating digital technology into office systems, MSMEs must promote workspace flexibility. This could be achieved through various means and different office layout models. In this context, tech innovations could be instrumental in altering workspace interiors, promoting greater efficiencies and higher productivity.

Today, office furniture enabled by IoT (Internet of Things) is the smart way forward. Statistics indicate there will be more than 75 billion IoT-connected devices worldwide by 2025. Small enterprises should optimise their operations by creating a conducive and more productive work environment with smart chairs, adjustable desks and connected devices.

Then there are smart lighting solutions, an often-ignored aspect in offices. Smart lighting can lead to a 20 per cent increase in productivity since it reduces eyestrain while enhancing employees’ energy and alertness levels by providing proper illumination across the workspace.2 By mimicking natural daylight patterns, it also promotes better work-life balance and improves employee well-being.

Shared workspaces, co-working options, hot desking and more

Smart technology apart, shared office spaces and co-working options are an excellent means to curb overhead costs and operate a hybrid work model backed by flexible office attendance for employees. Flexible office layouts can also accommodate varied working styles and functions.

Shared workspaces are those where multiple employees can use the same space, which is beneficial for offices having hybrid work schedules. Shared workspaces include individual or secluded areas reserved as required or open collaborative zones where staff work alongside each other.

Hot desking, a popular trend, entails sharing one desk among multiple workers, fostering effective shared workspaces. While it may pose scheduling and logistical challenges, the use of scheduling software can streamline availability. This approach minimises required square footage for each employee, offering a cost-saving option for MSMEs.

Coming to flexible office spaces, this layout supports employee and enterprise flexibility. Here, people enjoy the freedom to select their preferred workspace depending on what they want to do. So, they could book desks on the go or reserve an impromptu space for meeting a colleague. While traditional offices come with assigned desks and fixed meeting rooms, with flexible office spaces employees can choose the area that is best for the allocated task.

Best of all, dynamic workspaces may be altered easily based on changing business needs, economic conditions or dynamic return-to-office policies. This flexibility accommodates various working styles, such as hybrid work, optimising space and resource utilisation efficiently.

Benefits of agile workplaces and modular furniture

Additionally, an agile, flexible workspace acts as an adaptable environment facilitating more creativity, collaboration and innovation. It is designed to accommodate the fluctuating needs of employees and the changing nature of present-day work. Such workplaces are defined by technology-enabled spaces, open floor plans and movable fixtures. This fosters an ambience of clear communication, transparency and teamwork.  Finally, modular furniture is one more viable option to maximise the utilisation of office space. While movable desks or lounge seating that can be rearranged to provide additional seating space come to mind immediately, modular furniture also includes partitions and storage solutions. Given the ever-evolving office requirements of many MSMEs, some or all of the above solutions should come in handy for small and medium enterprises.

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These groups are drawn by promises of financial independence, flexible work hours, and community support, despite the overwhelming likelihood of financial loss .

The pandemic amplified this trend, as economic uncertainty made MLM opportunities appear more attractive, even as the risks remained high .

**Cultural Perceptions and Stigma** MLMs are often culturally perceived as "commercial cults," with skepticism and criticism directed at their recruitment strategies and hierarchical structures .

The stigma is reinforced by the high failure rates and the tendency to blame individuals for their lack of success, paralleling broader societal attitudes towards financial hardship .

Despite this, the sense of community and the promise of personal growth continue to attract new participants .

**Summary of Recent Trends** - The MLM industry experienced a temporary surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in health and wellness sectors, but this was followed by widespread declines in profitability and participation as market conditions normalized .

- Major companies like Herbalife, Avon, and Tupperware have faced significant financial challenges, with some transitioning away from recruitment-based models or warning of bankruptcy .

- Digital transformation, e-commerce, and social selling have become essential for survival, with companies investing in technology to reach younger, digitally native consumers .

Title:

Content: Multi-level marketing tasks can be done with careful analysis and proceeding with through reliable sources of action plans. MLM Software is designed for multi-level marketing and boosts up the ranking and profits online. Grow your business with an authentic and reliable source of action plans and approaches from smart choices according to the priorities and interest levels. Financial and investment issues can also be done careful analysis and to proceed with careful steps and according to the priorities and the inspirational levels to follow the useful guidelines. There are varieties of ideas and useful strategies that can be assistive and fast result printed to find the best and perfect possible solutions according to the needs and inspirational levels.

MLM software has become one of the ideal choices to get benefits and explore unique ideas for small-scale and large-scale business setups. People who are interested in multilevel marketing have the best option to contact a flexible cloud platform for MLM companies that have Atlantic and genuine resources regarding your business needs. Cloud platforms always facilitate the people through their MLM software that can be assistive and helpful for business communities to get instant benefits according to their desired goals there are different package plans regarding monthly subscriptions customers on regular basis success stories successful projects and regarding business concerns.

There is no doubt that Cloud Platform has a great future and great aspects that have some values and that can be chosen according to the needs and priorities levels of the people. To provide scalable and flexible cloud solution is the main priority to use the best opportunity to proceed with a simple and reliable source of action plans. To manage their network relationship, there are different strategies and useful inspirations that have some values and that can be considered important to get instant benefits with easy and quick accessibility resources through genuine resources.

MLM business scenarios are of different types that can be assistive and have versatile feature plans to get ideas and useful inspirations to approach from easy and smart choices. Proceed with careful steps and make sure which type of strategies and the parameters are the best to approach from easy and smart choices. Your MLM enterprise and landscape can be set according to the priorities and the interests levels of the people. Show your best confidence and interest levels to precede with easy and simple accessibility resources according to the needs and priorities levels.

Get the best chance and useful ideas that have some values and can be approached easily with smart choices according to the needs and inspirational values. There is an opportunity to use the most modern and flexible cloud platform through easy and simple accessibility plans with genuine resources according to the needs and inspirational levels. Show your best competencies and the skills that have some values and that can be helpful to approach from instant responding resources through fast and quick accessibility plans. Find the best and perfect possible solution according to the needs and priorities levels of the people.

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- Regulatory scrutiny and ethical concerns over recruitment-driven revenue models have prompted some companies to shift towards direct sales and hybrid models that emphasize product value and customer engagement .

- Vulnerable groups remain the primary targets for MLM recruitment, perpetuating high rates of financial loss among participants .

- The future of MLMs likely involves further integration of technology, a focus on ethical practices, and the development of hybrid models that balance recruitment with genuine product sales [f86db15b_

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Companies have adapted and leaned on digital strategies to connect internally and externally since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The most well-laid marketing plans have had to shift drastically, and we've all had to embrace digitization to connect—and survive—as businesses.

If you're lucky enough to be part of a company that already had digital practices and a digital infrastructure in place, perhaps the industry shift didn't feel as jarring. Maybe you were able to continue your strategy without missing a beat and kept engaging with your customers.

However, as the last year and a half has starkly highlighted, not all companies start from the same place of digital savviness and technology support.

That's where marketing maturity comes into play. By taking an honest look at that starting point, we can better understand and plan for fully optimized digital operations while creating internal alignment.

To thrive in a post-COVID marketing environment, each business must evaluate where it stands in the marketing maturity model, then take steps to improve its position.

Defining Marketing Maturity

In its simplest definition, marketing maturity is the move from a seller-centric to a buyer-centric approach. Marketers who are lower on the maturity spectrum tend to be more project-focused, whereas those at the higher end of the maturity spectrum are drivers of strategic growth.

Increasing levels of maturity correspond with increasing levels of digital marketing sophistication and expertise.

Marketing maturity frameworks look at the processes, tactics, technology, data, and outcomes of an organization to understand where the company falls on that spectrum. Marketing maturity is not based on company revenue size, employee count, company age, or how many emails are being sent.

The reasons an organization might choose to employ the marketing maturity model vary widely, but for many it's simple: It helps educate and align internal teams and management and inform the long-term budget, and it creates an expectation of growth.

Where Your Company Lands

The marketing maturity journey has four stages: emerging, aligned, unified, and optimized. In each of those, you will find varying degrees of sophistication in marketing strategy and tactics, as well as adoption of marketing technologies.

Although the marketing maturity journey is fluid, there are definitive indicators and pain points for each stage:

  • Emerging. In this stage, a company has no digital strategy or tool integration. An example could be sending one-off email blasts for basic communications with name personalization and conducting one-off data reporting in the email send tool.
  • Aligned. This stage takes advantage of additional marketing technology, such as automated campaigns to segmented lists and scheduling social posts. Some customer profile data is used for personalizing emails, but the data might not be integrated into a CRM. Data reporting is still siloed and typically done only by email campaign.
  • Unified. In this stage, email marketing is integrated into a CRM with email analytics and other coordinated social content. Organizations in the unified stage often send targeted multistep email campaigns that lead to a specific action on their website, and they take advantage of real-time analytics—albeit still siloed by source.
  • Optimized. Here, digital marketing efforts include targeted campaigns and personalized interactions (via chatbot, for example). Brand experience and messaging are consistent across all digital channels, including email, website, e-commerce, and social media. Data insights from all channels are pulled into one holistic view.

Moving Toward Optimization and Maturity

At this point in the article, you might have realized that your company and marketing strategy aren't where you want them to be. You might also be asking yourself what the next steps are in moving toward optimization.

Ultimately, optimized companies have made significant investments in digital marketing as a way to scale their go-to-market strategy with prospects and customers.

If you're not in the optimized stage of marketing maturity, but would like to be, consider the following to help inform your marketing strategy.

1. Focus on personalization

Personalization should be used to align marketing across personas and customer journey stages. Perhaps even more important in the COVID-19 environment, personalization ensures messages cut through all the other noise consumers are bombarded with.

People, including B2B decision-makers, spend more time on social media and email than ever before, so deep personalization is the key to meeting them where they are with impactful and engaging experiences.

2. Create consistent brand experiences

Companies that want to optimize their marketing processes should confirm consistent brand experiences and messaging across all digital channels, including email, website, e-commerce, and social media. That consistency boosts brand credibility and bolsters customer confidence.

3. Make data-informed decisions

Businesses with optimized marketing maturity regularly use data insights to inform strategy and tactics.

Organizations can do two things to use data effectively:

  1. Enrich and cleanse the data
  2. Pull it into one holistic view

Cleansing and enriching ensure the data is accurate and actionable, whereas compiling it into one holistic view shows the "big picture" of the marketing strategy, including things that are working well and things that could be improved.

Today's Landscape

The pandemic has forced organizations to be adaptable. As a result, many businesses have developed newfound responsiveness and resiliency. In today's landscape, that means evaluating marketing strategies to find areas that can be optimized for the benefit of the customer and the bottom line.

Because no business is the same and we're all starting at different points in the marketing maturity journey, marketers face a unique challenge. Rather than simply survive the pandemic environment, marketers who take active steps toward an optimized digital strategy will prove the most successful long after the pandemic wanes.

More Resources on Marketing Maturity

Determine Your Digital Marketing Maturity Stage, and Then Level-Up

Approaching Digital Transformation With a Marketing Mindset

The Personalization Maturity Ladder [Infographic]

Continue reading "Why Marketing Maturity Needs to Be Top-of-Mind in Today's Digital Landscape" ... Read the full article

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Margaret Wise is chief growth officer at ClickDimensions, a marketing automation software company.

LinkedIn: Margaret Wise