BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Multi-Level Marketing not so attractive anymore]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/13/multi-level-marketing-not-so-attractive-anymore/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/13/multi-level-marketing-not-so-attractive-anymore/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/13/multi-level-marketing-not-so-attractive-anymore/#commentsLate last week, analyst Douglas Lane at Jeffries & Co. told investors that "direct selling companies" were going to be a good investment in the coming year. His rationale? The industry's ability to penetrate new consumer markets with disposable income, particularly in countries like China, Russia and India.

The news report explained that the "direct selling" industry distributes products by demonstrating them in homes and with product parties.

What the news story left out is the fact that "direct selling" is really a misleading term for what is now more commonly known as multi-level marketing (MLM), or network marketing.

Here's the problem with MLM from a consumer standpoint: The MLM industry has been around for decades, and still fails to be a real player in the retail marketplace. The economy functions by real retail sales from real retailers online and in brick-and-mortar stores. MLM could completely go away and almost no retail consumers would even notice.

Continue reading Multi-Level Marketing not so attractive anymore

Multi-Level Marketing not so attractive anymore originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredmlmmulti-level marketingMulti-levelMarketingmultilevel marketingMultilevelMarketingnetwork marketingNetworkMarketingpyramid schemePyramidSchemeThu, 13 Dec 2007 13:11:00 EST<![CDATA[BloggingStocks Exclusive: Ex-Con Barry Minkow responds to USANA lawsuit]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/03/17/bloggingstocks-exclusive-ex-con-barry-minkow-responds-to-usna-l/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/03/17/bloggingstocks-exclusive-ex-con-barry-minkow-responds-to-usna-l/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/03/17/bloggingstocks-exclusive-ex-con-barry-minkow-responds-to-usna-l/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

On Thursday, BloggingStocks writer Kevin Kelly wrote about former stock fraudster turned private investigator, Barry Minkow's scathing report on USANA Health Sciences, a multi-level marketing company. When the Wall Street Journal picked up Minkow's research, the stock tumbled 15% in one day. At 9:03 that night, USANA Health Sciences (NASDAQ: USNA) reported that it had filed a lawsuit against Barry Minkow and his Fraud Discovery Institute, accusing him of defamation. The company issued a statement that begins:

"USANA believes Mr. Minkow's statements are part of a coordinated public relations program financed by a paying client and from which Mr. Minkow will profit personally. According to reporting in the March 15, 2007 edition of The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Minkow , '...has bought 'put' options on USANA's shares in a bet the price will fall.' Mr. Minkow admits that he has been paid to conduct his 'investigation' against USANA. Further, he has engaged a public relations firm to propagate his false and misleading statements about USANA to the media."

Continue reading BloggingStocks Exclusive: Ex-Con Barry Minkow responds to USANA lawsuit

BloggingStocks Exclusive: Ex-Con Barry Minkow responds to USANA lawsuit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 17 Mar 2007 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Barry MinkowBarryMinkowFraud Discovery InstituteFraudDiscoveryInstituteMutli-Level MarketingMutli-levelMarketingPyramid SchemePyramidSchemeUSANAUSNASat, 17 Mar 2007 09:47:00 EST