Yesterday marked the official launch of Willow House a home decor party plan company that resulted from combining Southern Living at Home (SLAH) and Entertaining at Home. The making of the company started back in 2009 when Entertaining at Home purchased SLAH from Time Inc.

Consultants seem to be very enthusiastic about the new company which offers decorating, entertaining, and organizing products.

Learn more about the company and contact an independent representative by visiting the Willow House company page in the Internet Based Moms Direct Sales Directory.

Image courtesy of Patrick Hoesly.

I came across several bits of news about a few cosmetic party plan companies.

Affordable Mineral Makeup has a new owner, Arlene Sherman. According to the announcement, customers will be receiving the “same great product and service.” There was no mention of whether or not the consultant opportunity will change, but the sign-up options are still available on the website.

Although I have no idea when it happened, Mineral Girlz also has “new” owners and doesn’t seem to be accepting new consultants at this time.

Again, I don’t know when it happened, but Beautiful Diva seems to be out of business – their website is gone.

In other cosmetic company news, Kay Napier is coming up on her one year anniversary as Arbonne International LLC’s CEO. Having recently emerged from bankruptcy reorganization the company is looking to build success by supporting its consultants and producing new products.

In their recent release of the “DSN Global 100″ Direct Selling News listed the top companies based on 2009 wholesale revenue. The top five companies all sell makeup. They are Avon, Alticor Inc. (Amway), Vorwerk & Co KG (JAFRA), Mary Kay and Natura Cosmeticos. There are probably more than another two dozen cosmetics companies on the list, including Arbonne International LLC and Tupperware (which owns BeautiControl).

It seems makeup continues to be a popular product for direct sales consultants and customers.

If you’re thinking about joining a direct sales party plan company and you love chocolate, the Dove Chocolate Discoveries opportunity is very tempting. It tempts me and I’m not considering direct sales!

Here are some of the reasons it might be the right choice for you:

• While the direct sales consultant opportunity is fairly new (it launched in 2007) the parent company, Mars Inc. has been in business since 1911.
• The brand is well-known and has a very good reputation.
• Chocolate is a $16 billion a year industry in the United States. Americans eat an average of 10-12 pounds of chocolate per year.
• Since it’s a consumable product you will have repeat customers.
• Earn 25-40% sales commission.
• Sell products at fun tasting parties.
• It’s chocolate. Need I say more?

With increased evidence of and interest in the health benefits of chocolate, the trend towards using it more often in savory dishes, and our love of it as a sweet treat, a chocolate business is likely to be increasingly successful.

For more information and to contact an independent consultant to start your own home business, visit the Dove Chocolate Discoveries page in the InternetBasedMoms.com direct sales directory.

The summer of 2009 marked Scentsy’s fifth anniversary and the company celebrated by giving their employees and their local business community a huge gift. Their gift was so well received and effective that they’re reaching out to the entire country with a simple idea that can have a big impact on local economies.

The goal of Scentsy’s “Contribute 2009″ campaign is “to inspire 100,000 people to pledge to spend an extra $50 at locally owned small businesses on October 12, 2009.” And they expect a ripple effect that will multiply the benefit. According to the American Independent Business Alliance, when you purchase from a locally owned business rather than a national chain, more of that money goes back into your local community.

Participate and show your support for your local small businesses. Learn more and sign the “Contribute 2009″ pledge at http://www.scentsycontribute.org/. Spread the word and encourage others to join in.

—————
Idaho based Scentsy Inc. independent consultants sell scented, wickless (flameless) candles at home parties and through other direct sales methods. Learn more about the company and home business opportunity by contacting one of the consultants listed in the InternetBasedMoms.com direct sales directory.

Entertaining at Home Inc. recently announced their acquisition of Southern Living at Home from Time Inc.

Entertaining at Home is itself a new company that got its start last year when founders Bill and Robin Shaw and a group of investors purchased the company from the Reader’s Digest Association. The Shaws are highly respected in the industry and bring years of experience to their company roles.

Edited 8/18/09 to add: While not from an official source, I found information suggesting that the companies won’t be combined into one, but will continue to operate as separate entities.

Find more information about both companies in our home decor company directory.

Touchstone Crystal, Inc., recently announced the acquisition of Little Black Dress® and will include their line of sterling silver jewelry in their 2009 fall catalog. Touchstone offers fashion jewelry made with Swarovski Crystals and personalized with a Touchstone charm.

Little Black Dress’s founders Robert McCannel and Erich Yost have joined Touchstone’s corporate team.

For more information about the company and to find out how to become a jewelry consultant, visit the Touchstone Crystal information page in the InternetBasedMoms.com direct sales directory.

Earlier this year two well-known home decor companies merged (see Two Big Names in Home Decor Become One) and Two Sisters Gourmet was acquired by Partylite (read more about Partylite in our Candle Company Directory.

Image courtesy of ellievanhoutte.

Image courtesy of Lori-B.

If you are in the know about jewelry you probably already know about dichroic glass gems. I just learned about them while writing up a directory listing for a new jewelry direct sales party plan, Allura Designs.

Using a process that was developed by NASA to protect satellites, Allura’s artists produce unique, brilliantly colored gems for their jewelry.

Independent consultants sell the dichroic glass jewelry at home parties and through other direct sales methods, earning up to 45% commission on sales. Consultants can earn additional income by building a team and there is a new consultant bonus program.

To learn more about the Allura Designs consultant opportunity, visit the InternetBasedMoms.com direct sales directory.

Home & Garden Party recently acquired Home Interiors to create Celebrating Home, the largest home decor party plan company in the United States. More than 125,000 independent consultants will continue to market home decor and home entertaining products.

Home & Garden Party was founded in 1996 and headquartered in Marshall, Texas, now the home of Celebrating Home. Dallas Based Home Interiors & Gifts began in 1957.

Learn more about Celebrating home at HomeDecorBusiness.com

Many people think that if a company files bankruptcy it means they are going out of business. Often that is not the case. If fact, certain types of bankruptcy filings serve the opposite purpose – to keep a company in business.

On April 29, 2008, Home Interiors voluntarily filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States bankruptcy code. The Texas based direct sales party plan company has been selling home decor products for more than 50 years. They currently operate in the United States, Canada, and Mexico and the bankruptcy filing involves only their US operations.

This type of filing allows the company to continue to operate the business in much the same way as they did before the filing. In public information on their website, Home Interiors states that their intention is to “use the protections afforded by Chapter 11 to restructure our debt and restore our financial health and profitability.” In their FAQ for consultants they ask their representatives to continue to sell product and recruit new consultants.

The company clearly has a plan to come out financially secure and with a successful future. In my opinion, their willingness to publicly address some of the many questions consultants have is an indication of their confidence in the restructuring plan. And most important for consultants who may be making decisions about their future with the company, it provides accurate information on which to base decisions rather than forcing them to try and determine whether outside sources have all the facts.

Update: In 2009 Home Interiors and Home & Garden Party merged to become Celebrating Home.

For more information about the Home Interiors consultant opportunity, visit HomeDecorBusiness.com’s Home Interiors information page.

Avon Products, Inc. has partnered with well-known financial expert Suze Orman to provide advice to it’s US consultants. Orman will speak at events and provide webcasts and offer personal advice through email.

Source: FoxBusiness.com’s article “Avon Products, Inc. Partners with Acclaimed Financial Expert Suze Orman to Educate and Empower Women”