Click here to order the June 2014 issue in which this article appeared.
IN THIS ISSUE:
• The BIG HISTORY of Direct Selling • 10 Things to Know • The List
• Topping the Charts • Profiles • Celebration
BRAVO AWARDS:
• Leadership • Growth Based on Percentage • Growth Based on Revenue • Humanitarian
Direct Selling News celebrated the DSN Global 100 ranking on April 23 with a dinner and awards ceremony at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas. The event marked the fifth consecutive year that DSN has recognized the achievements of the top direct selling companies in the world.
The event was hosted by DSN Publisher and Editor in Chief John Fleming and DSN General Manager Lauren Lawley Head. More than 300 direct selling executives from North America, South America, Europe and Asia attended the event.
The Bravo Awards
The evening began with the presentation of two DSN Bravo Awards for excellence. Origami Owl, which placed 50th in its first year in the ranking, was presented with the Bravo Growth Award Based on Percentage. The Chandler, Arizona-based jewelry company achieved 870 percent growth, from $24 million in 2012 to $233 million in 2013.
Nu Skin Enterprises, which placed 7th in the ranking, was presented with the Bravo Growth Award Based on Revenue. The company achieved $977 million over the prior year, bringing its 2013 total to $3.18 billion.
Later in the evening, Avon accepted the Bravo Humanitarian Award for its decades-long support in the fight against breast cancer and domestic violence.
The last award of the evening, the Bravo Leadership Award, was presented to Nu Skin CEO Truman Hunt for guiding the Provo, Utah-based wellness company through its record-breaking growth.
“His vision has shaped the company’s direction and further established it as a global leader,” said Fleming. “He is focused on helping the company be a force for good throughout the world. He himself is a force for good through his service to our industry.”
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The Global 100
The DSN Global 100 companies achieved $74.5 billion in net sales in 2013, up from $72 billion one year ago. The total number of salespeople was 37 million.
The Top 10 companies, which collectively represented 635 years of direct selling business across the globe, achieved $46.8 billion in revenue, up from $44.4 billion in 2012.
By region, there were 56 companies from North America, three from South America, 11 from Europe/Africa and 30 from the Asia-Pacific area. A total of 16 countries were represented on the list—Brazil, Canada, China, Cyprus, France, Germany, India, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The New Companies
Companies appearing in the ranking for the first time included Forbes Lux Group, which was formed by former DSN Global 100 participants Lux International of Switzerland and Eureka Forbes of India (No. 24); Yofoto, a wellness company from China (No. 31); Origami Owl (No. 50); Naris Cosmetics, from Japan (No. 57); Heim & Haus, a German company offering home-care products (No. 61); Plexus Worldwide, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based wellness company (No. 76); Energetix, a German jewelry and wellness company (No. 93); SEACRET Direct, a personal-care company from Arizona (No. 95); CVSL Inc., the parent company of Longaberger and Agel (No. 99); and Zurvita, a wellness company from Houston, Texas (No. 100).
The $100M Achievers
Eighteen companies within the DSN Global 100 had their businesses grow by more than $100 million in 2013, including No. 1 Amway ($500M), No. 3 Herbalife ($700M), No. 4 Vorwerk ($400M), No. 5 Mary Kay ($500M), No. 7 Nu Skin ($977M), No. 12 Ambit Energy ($270M), No. 13 Telecom Plus ($193M), No. 20 ACN ($118M), No. 26 AdvoCare ($205M), No. 27 It Works! Global ($256M), No. 28 Noevir Co. Ltd. ($129M), No. 29 Isagenix ($114M), No. 39 Team Beachbody ($110M), No. 46 Jeunesse Global ($131M), No. 50 Origami Owl ($209M), No. 53 Vemma ($104M), No. 54 Nerium ($119M), and No. 76 Plexus Worldwide ($123M).
Ambit Energy from Dallas, Texas, and Telecom Plus from London, England, became the newest members of the Billion Dollar Club, reaching $1.20 billion and $1.10 billion in revenues, respectively.
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Top 10 Attendees and Acceptance
After Lawley Head announced the Global 100 companies in descending order from 100 through 11, Fleming returned to the podium to announce the Top 10 direct selling companies in the world.
Luxembourg-based cosmetics company Oriflame placed 10th with $1.95 billion. Senior Vice President Michael Cervell accepted for the company, saying, “On behalf of our 3 million consultants around the world, we are very proud to accept this award.”
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Douglas Franco, General Manager of Belcorp USA, accepted for Peru-based Belcorp, which placed 9th with $1.96 billion. He said, “Just three weeks ago I was talking to this amazing woman in Gainesville, Georgia, and she said to me, ‘I have so much confidence in myself right now. I truly believe that anything I set my mind to I can achieve, and therefore, my passion and my dreams are within reach.’ That’s such a powerful thing. That’s what we do. Belcorp has been in business 45 years doing that, improving lives through our business model, which not only touches women but their communities. So this is just recognition for those courageous women who dare to pursue their dreams and make us a part of it.”
Truman Hunt, President and CEO of Nu Skin, accepted for his company, which placed 7th with $3.18 billion.
São Paolo, Brazil-based Natura placed 6th on the list with $3.20 billion. CEO Alessandro Carlucci, who was unable to attend the event, sent a message to Fleming thanking Direct Selling News for the award. “Our results are due to the commitment of more than 1.6 million Natura consultants, our employees, our suppliers and all those who help build our company in this industry. We work at this company not having all the answers, but permanently asking questions, especially the most uncomfortable ones. Challenges inspire us to innovate and create solutions for sustainable development.”
No. 5 Mary Kay, which achieved $3.60 billion in 2013, was represented by Senior Vice President Nathan Moore. “We’re so appreciative of what DSN does for our industry. You’re such a big fan of our industry, and we’re very appreciative of that. Congratulations to all the honorees here tonight. Mary Kay has been honored to be a part of the DSN countdown since the very beginning. It is an honor, and we are humbled to be part of this wonderful, wonderful industry. We’re 50 years young, and we are just getting started.”
Germany-based Vorwerk, the No. 4 direct seller with $3.70 billion, was also unable to attend the event. General Managing Partner Walter Muyres sent a message to the Global 100 attendees. “I would like to express my regret that my partners and I are unable to be with you tonight. However, we are happy and not a little proud to be one of the most successful companies in direct sales again this year. More than 600,000 people worldwide are part of the great Vorwerk family, including JAFRA Cosmetics. They all contributed to this success, and thus a part of our mission becomes fulfilled each and every day. We will continue to work with enthusiasm and do everything in our power in order to put life into this mission on a daily basis.”
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Herbalife, the No. 3 direct seller in the world with $4.80 billion, was represented by Regional Sales Manager Virginia Rico. “First, I want to thank DSN for this great celebration. It makes it so memorable to be recognized. I want to congratulate all the other companies. The direct selling industry is growing and is changing people’s lives, and we need to be responsible in sharing the value and opportunity that has been brought to communities everywhere.”
Teresa Ficara, Avon’s Director of U.S. Sales Development, accepted for the No. 2 direct seller, which achieved $9.95 billion. “Thank you to Direct Selling News for this award. It’s great to be back up here to accept it in honor of those 36,000 dedicated employees and 6 million representatives around the world who sell our products every day in their communities, share this amazing opportunity with others, and then show others how to do what somebody showed them how to do. Congratulations to all the achievers tonight.”
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The No. 1 direct seller in the world for the second year in a row was Ada, Michigan-based Amway, with $11.80 billion. John Parker, Chief Sales Officer, accepted for the company. “On behalf of Steve Van Andel and Doug DeVos and the whole Amway family around the world, we are humbled and honored to receive this award. Certainly sales is a good measure of the impact our businesses have, but it’s really about the people we are touching and the lives we are impacting through our businesses, through our charitable contributions and through our products as well. Congratulations to all of you on the lives that you’ve touched and the impact you’ve made in your communities and the countries in which you do business around the world.”
The DSN Global 100 Celebration was sponsored by SUCCESS Partners, formerly VideoPlus.
