Bangkok--19 Feb--VERVE
Amway’s parent company, Alticor Inc., announced record sales of more than US$8.2 billion for the year ended December 2008, posting a 15% increase from 2007. Two-thirds of the company’s 58 affiliates recorded sales increases in 2008, including strong growth in the China, Russia, and India markets. In Thailand, the company achieved an outstanding sales volume of Bt11,550 million so much that it clearly strengthens that ‘Amway Business Opportunity’ is the effective armor against the current global economic downturn.
Mr. Steve Van Andel, Chairman of Alticor Inc., Amway parent, reveals that “Amway enters its 50th anniversary year in a strong position. In 2008, more consumers than ever before responded positively to the appeal of the Amway business opportunity and our outstanding product brands.”
Mr. Doug DeVos, President of Amway parent, adds that “The hard work of our talented distributors, and the committed effort of our employees, helped Amway record a terrific year in a tough global economy. We are making changes to stay in tune with the marketplace, and the results are very encouraging.”
Van Andel and DeVos acknowledged that Amway bucked downward economic trends in 2008, but cautioned that current global economic forecasts would challenge all companies in 2009. “We’re looking to grow this year,” Van Andel said, “but there is some rough weather out there for the business community around the world.”
The co-CEOs said that 2008 was marked by a renewed focus on communicating with consumers. Many top markets increased their outreach through advertising, social media and other means, while maintaining a steady pipeline of appealing products to be sold through the company’s person-to-person approach. Said DeVos, “Amway is more visible and up to date in the eyes of many around the world, and this helps our distributors persuade consumers to choose Amway.”
Amway affiliates worldwide will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the company’s 1959 founding with a wide array of local events, as well as global gatherings in Grand Rapids and Las Vegas in May 2009.
Amway’s flagship product brands include Nutrilite? nutrition and wellness products, which attained a new milestone in 2008 of US$3 billion in annual sales, and Artistry? skin care and cosmetics, increased its global market share from thirteenth to ninth in 2008.
Mr. Kittawat Ritteerawee, General Manager — Business Relations and Marketing of Amway (Thailand) Limited, says that “In 2008, Amway Thailand successfully has managed to steer the performance in course with an outstanding sales volume of Bt11,550 million, posting a 14% growth and breaking a new record for Thai Direct Selling industry. This is such a significant achievement given the bleak economic situations throughout the year. We have our staff and distributors to thank; they trust our products and help boosting ‘Amway’ to become the top brand among consumers. So, this is our great mutual success, especially all Amway Business Owners (ABOs) who have been very committed and determined in strengthening the ‘Amway Team’ to be one of the strongest, and that have propelled us to become the champion of Thai Direct Selling industry.”
“The strong performances of both Alticor Inc., and Amway Thailand clearly reflect the fact that Amway is a sustainable and stable business that can be achieved both locally and internationally. Amway Business Owner is then an excellent choice for those looking to boost their incomes, or even make it a major business that can even be passed on, as a personal wealth, to the families. And even in such a gloomy economic outlook, we still believe that we will solidly keep growing hand in hand with all ABOs. We plan to achieve about 7% sales growth this year,” says Mr.Kittawat
Mr.Kittawat further explains that in 2009 Amway Thailand will continue operating suitably to the global trend by focusing on the service quality and delivering consumers with premium health and beauty products. Also, the company will maintain the existing strategies of 1. Consumer Focus, 2. Performance Driven, and 3. Innovation and will also improve the performance of all ABOs in all areas. Amway Thailand now maintain about 300,000 active ABOs nationwide.
Mrs. Ratana Channara, Marketing Director of Amway (Thailand) Limited, says that “Our last year’s achievement was driven by our strong product research and development that can suitably answered the demands of all consumers. The health and beauty products still dominated the sales income with over 60% share of all our products available. This year, we plan to launch more variety of products that suit even more to segmented groups of consumers. Soon, we will launch the new ‘NUTRILITE? ClearComplex’ which is the nutrition supplement made from Cinnamon Extract, Picao Preto Powder, and Acerola Concentrate Blend and new ‘Artistry Spring Collection’ — the new colouring pack for this summer.”
“Throughout this year, we have allocated about Bt750 million for the promotion programs, advertisement and public relations works in which we will focus on targeted commercials and special promotions that would allow the ABOs to expand their existing market bases throughout this sluggish time,” says Mrs. Ratana.
Mrs. Ratana adds that “Amway Thailand will also focus on Amway Member, the end-user subscriptions. Last year, Amway was very successful with the launch of Amway Member that boosted the membership subscription up for another 60%. Since Amway Member needs to be annually renewed, the subscription figures can clearly reflect the movement of Amway product users, thus playing a strong role in stabilizing the company’s growth in the long run. To beef up the activities of these members, Amway Thailand will pay attention to the ‘Reactivation’ of the existing Members and with the increased membership, the company plans to effectively employ the ‘Relationship Management’ program which has already been developed and set up to analyze and manage the continuous marketing activities between the Members and the company. Also, the company plans to strengthen the existing users with the ‘Penetration’ plan where Amway Members who use only a certain segment of Amway products will be exposed to more product choices that Amway has to offer. With our stronghold in premium quality, we are confident that Members will trust and repurchase our products, allowing us to expand the consumer base in the end.”
“Also, we will modernize the services and look of all Amway Shops to support and strengthen the business opportunities of the ABOs who can use the space to effectively serve their consumers. Also, there will be more business opportunities available for those interested. They can now have easier access to our products and business opportunities through our newly developed communication channels where marketing tools and news can be most effectively employed,” concludes Mrs. Ratana
For more information please contact
Woraya Maneewan
0-2204-8229