| Melaleuca (The Wellness Company) has become | | | | Melaleuca encourages their distributors to |
| one of the largest and well-known network | | | | purchase business opportunity leads (or bizop |
| marketing companies ever. They offer a | | | | leads) to grow your organization. The problem |
| variety of healthy self-care and home-care | | | | with opportunity-seeking leads is that most |
| products, as well as an income opportunity if | | | | of the time, they are not really looking for |
| a person becomes a distributor and sells | | | | an opportunity. The process works like this: |
| their products. | | | | you are out surfing the web, looking at |
| | | | different sites, and you suddenly see a |
| However, there are some very real concerns | | | | pop-up ad to win a free toaster is take a |
| and issues about starting or participating in | | | | quick survey. If you take that survey, you |
| a Melaleuca business. In this article, I will | | | | will be asked to submit your name and phone |
| provide and unbiased review of the pros and | | | | number to get your free toaster. The minute |
| cons of developing a Melaleuca business, and | | | | you fill out that form, you actually become |
| see if we can find out whether Melaleuca is a | | | | an opportunity-seeking lead! |
| great opportunity...or a great scam. | | | | |
| | | | This is why that if someone were to use |
| Melaleuca - The Good | | | | opportunity-seeking leads, they find that |
| | | | most of the leads had no idea how they got |
| The company began under the name "Melaleuca | | | | listed. These lists are constantly re-sold, |
| Oil" with the offering of a single product | | | | so that by the time the average distributor |
| called "T36-C5 Melaleuca Oil" which was | | | | goes through the list, four other |
| formulated from extract of the melaleuca | | | | distributors have already gone through it. |
| tree, commonly known as tea tree oil. A | | | | |
| previous Melaleuca-based company by the name | | | | Melaleuca - The Ugly |
| of "Oil of Melaleuca" operated as a standard | | | | |
| multi-level marketing company whose | | | | The sad thing about growing a Melaleuca |
| literature made health claims the FDA would | | | | business is that if the distributor does not |
| not approve. The company sold products whose | | | | want to use opportunity leads, they are |
| uses and benefits were not verifiably | | | | encouraged to go after their "warm market" or |
| documented. There were also exaggerated | | | | their friends and family. They are told to |
| claims of the efficacy of the active | | | | hand out free product samples, business |
| ingredient, tea tree oil, and claims that the | | | | cards, brochures and flyers, and if the |
| company was a sole source of the same, | | | | distributor ever becomes discouraged, they |
| creating an impression of privileged access | | | | are simply told to "stay motivated". |
| to a unique product. | | | | |
| | | | The fact is, someone could absolutely make |
| In 1985, the company was taken over by Frank | | | | tons of money marketing healthy household |
| L. VanderSloot who dissolved the previous | | | | products - if they know how to market |
| company, created a new marketing plan to | | | | effectively. Trying to build a six-figure |
| support consumers, immediately launched an | | | | income on the backs of friends, family, and |
| initiative to bring the company's product | | | | work associates is more than just a tough |
| line into compliance with FDA regulations, | | | | sell - it is irresponsible of the trust and |
| and started this new company under the name | | | | respect that are a part of those |
| of "Melaleuca, Inc.". | | | | relationships. Trying to "sell" and convince |
| | | | people on the legitimacy of your product and |
| The original message that Melaleuca used to | | | | opportunity is much less fun and much less |
| build their name was that they could make | | | | lucrative than talking to people that have |
| your home safe for your family. The chemicals | | | | already expressed a direct interest in what |
| and household cleaning items found in the | | | | you offer. |
| average home count for the bulk of reported | | | | |
| deaths of infants and toddlers, and their | | | | In closing, I would say that starting and |
| products offer a safer alternative for | | | | developing a Melaleuca business is lucrative |
| parents that want peace of mind. | | | | if someone knows how to market effectively. |
| | | | It is not a scam, but like any business, |
| Melaleuca - The Bad | | | | success will be determined by the skill-set |
| | | | of the marketer. Melaleuca is definitely not |
| For distributors that start a Melaleuca | | | | a lottery ticket or a stock option - meaning, |
| business, they will find they are paid out | | | | you do not just buy in and wait for a payout. |
| with a residual income compensation plan. The | | | | |
| primary way to generate revenue is to find | | | | If someone does not have the first clue on |
| other distributors and build a downline with | | | | how to market effectively, then I would |
| Melaleuca. | | | | suggest they either learn how to be an |
| | | | effective marketer, or else just use the |
| The first flag that we noted was that | | | | products and leave it at that. |