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”

AtHome America’s new president and CEO Joey Carter recently acquired controlling interest in the company. Co-founders Becky Wright and Lisa Brandau will stay on as executive vice presidents and board members.

Independent HomeStyle Specialists market the Illinois company’s home decor products through home parties, online, and other direct sales methods.

Find additional information about AtHome America and connect with an independent representative at HomeDecorBusiness.com.

Read the complete news release at AtHome.com.

Jafra Cosmetics International Inc.’s new CEO, Frank P. Mineo, has old plans for the company. He wants to refocus the company and its independent consultants on the marketing method that has helped the company achieve over 50 years of success – the home party. The company is also expanding into new markets and recently released a new skin care line.

Get more information about the company at MakeupBusiness.com.

Despite Alticor’s best efforts to rebrand it’s Amway division, the company has decided to discontinue using the Quixtar brand and refocus on the Amway brand in North America. Apparently the company has continued to market the Amway name internationally and cites uniting the “business opportunity under a single global brand” as the reason for the change.

Apparently the Quixtar name is still not as well known in the US and Canada. Despite eight years of attempting to build the Quixtar brand, the Amway brand continues to be better recognized.

Brand is a powerful marketing force that can be difficult to shake, even if you want to.

I just finished listening to an interview with Marlo Quinn’s founder, Marcee Townsend on WAHM Talk Radio. It’s a very candid and insightful look into how a small home candle making business ballooned into a direct sales company that was forced to close within a year of opening.

The interview offers many lessons to be learned, not just for work at home moms who are thinking of starting their own direct sales company, but for anyone considering joining a young start-up. Continue Reading

While the Tupperware Brands Corporation has sold cosmetics and skin care products under the BeautiControl name for 25 years, recent acquisitions and market expansions suggest that the company is turning its focus away from food storage and more towards the personal care market.

In late 2005 Tupperware acquired the direct selling division of Sara Lee which sells beauty and personal care products market in Latin America and Asia primarily. Continue Reading

In 2006 the Chinese goverenment lifted their eight-year ban on door-to-door sales of foreign-backed company products. Avon Products Inc., Amway Corp., and Mary Kay Inc. have all been granted direct-selling licenses in China.

With China’s 1.3 billion people, current economic growth and strong social networks, it could prove to be a major market for direct selling companies.

Earlier this month, Tupperware Corporation changed it’s name to Tupperware Brands Corporation. Rick Goings, Chairman and CEO said, “This name change will reinforce that we are a multi-brand, multi-category direct sales company.”

Tupperware expanded into the cosmetics industry in 2000 when it purchased BeautiContol and the company recently acquired the cosmetics division of the Sara Lee (more about the acquisition) .