Ozarks residents embrace Arbonne International

The owner of Success Naturally Yoga & Image Center, 1317 E. Republic Road, had experienced an allergic reaction to mascara and was looking for products that wouldn’t cause irritation.

Freeman discovered Arbonne International Inc., a 25-year-old company based in Irvine, Calif., and was impressed by its skin care products and cosmetics.

Arbonne’s products are formulated in Switzerland and manufactured in the United States. The company manufactures botanically based skin care products for men, women and babies, cosmetics, aromatherapy, nutritional supplements and weight loss products.

Once Freeman learned of the potential for residual income based on sharing the opportunity with others, she was sold on the network marketing business, as well. She paid a $29 fee March 11 to become one of Arbonne’s 350,000 independent consultants.

“In 120 days I made what is called regional vice president and Arbonne sent me not only a nice, large check, but they sent me to pick out my new Mercedes-Benz,” Freeman said, adding that the feat is typically reached in 12 to 18 months.

Freeman has sponsored about 700 people who generate monthly retail sales of $40,000, qualifying Freeman as regional vice president. Monthly bonuses go toward the payment of the consultant’s choice of a white Mercedes – Arbonne’s alternative to the Mary Kay pink Cadillac. Mercedes bonuses range from $200 to $800 for regional vice presidents, based on the group’s monthly retail volume. Other sales bonuses also are attainable.

Springfieldian Maja Starner is another recently named Arbonne regional vice president, earning her a Mercedes. Starner was honored during a Nov. 5 ceremony and Arbonne training session at the Sheraton Hawthorn Park Hotel on North Glenstone.

Freeman and Starner join about 800 Mercedes drivers through the Arbonne program, according to Kirsten Aguilar, Arbonne’s marketing coordinator.

Arbonne membership

Joining the company requires a $29 membership fee, which Freeman compares to purchasing a membership at Sam’s Wholesale Club. While that fee is all that is necessary to join, consultants may spend more building their business.

“It’s a one-time fee which allows you 35 percent to 55 percent off” retail prices, Freeman said. “That seems really important to women who are busy. They want a discount, and they want it delivered to their front door. And they want things that are safe and beneficial to their family members.”

Freeman shifted her priorities for those 120 days so she could work her Arbonne business. “I’ve turned a few of my classes at Success Naturally over to other teachers, which was in the works anyway,” she said.

Thinking pink

Area Mary Kay consultants welcome the competition.

“(Arbonne has) been in business for 25 years, so it’s obviously doing something right. And if it’s gaining momentum, that’s great for them,” said Missy Houzenga, of Lebanon, an independent senior sales director with Mary Kay. “It wouldn’t be fun if there was only one company around. It’s fun to have choices.”

Houzenga joined Mary Kay six years ago and for the last two years the company has leased for her a Pontiac Grand Prix, a reward that’s one step away from the company’s signature pink Cadillac.

She works on Mary Kay 25 to 30 hours a week and leads about 65 independent consultants, including one sales director who has recruited her own team of consultants.

Mary Kay, founded in 1963, has more than 1.5 million consultants and requires the purchase of a $100 starter kit to join. Wholesale sales reached $1.8 billion in 2004.

Jennifer Steeley, of Ash Grove, has experienced both companies. She was an independent consultant with Mary Kay for six years but switched to Arbonne Aug. 1.

Building residual income with Mary Kay was difficult, she said, although she had recruited consultants. “My highest was 12 (recruits), but none of them ever ordered – not even once,” Steeley said.

She’s now shared the Arbonne business opportunity with 15 independent consultants who’ve signed up under her, making her title with Arbonne district manager. District managers are required to produce a minimum of $2,500 retail volume within their group a month, and they earn 8 percent of their recruits’ sales.

As with Freeman, Steeley said the majority of new customers join Arbonne as consultants in order to get discounts. “It ties them to you, otherwise there’s nothing to keep them from ordering from someone else after you’ve spent that time helping them figure out which products are best for them,” Steeley said.

Sherrie Brown, of Bois D’Arc, signed up under Steeley in October to earn extra income. “When I know something really works, I’ll tell my friends,” said Brown, a nurse with Crown Nursing Inc. “Might as well make money while I’m telling them.”

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