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BEST PLACES TO WORK IN D IREC T S ELLING 2022
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FOUNDER AND CEO
Stuart P. Johnson PUBLISHER
Shelley Rojas EDITOR
Lisa Robertson editor@directsellingnews.com C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R
Susan Douglass
CONTENTS 4 Story of the 2022 Best Places to Work 6 LifeVantage
PRODUC TION M ANAGER
Virginia Le COPY EDITOR
8 Plexus Worldwide
Peter Tepp
10 USANA
BUSINES S DEVELOPMENT M ANAGER
12 MONAT
Jerilyn Taylor advertising@directsellingnews.com
14 Scentsy TO SUBMIT PRES S RELE ASES:
pr@directsellingnews.com
16 Total Life Changes
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18 Neora 20 Best Places to Work FAQ
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Direct Selling News 5800 Democracy Drive, Suite 100 Plano, Texas 75024 www.directsellingnews.com ©2022 Direct Selling News All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without written permission. w w w. d i r e c t s e l l i n g n e w s . c o m 3
THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN DIRECT SELLING 2022 HONOREES!
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ONGRATULATIONS to all of our 2022 Best Places to Work in Direct Selling Honorees!
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LifeVantage Corporation
research and compiled the results for this program (please see page 20 for more information about Quantum and the contest). The Best Places to Work in Direct Selling contest was designed by Direct Selling News with several goals in mind: u
To spotlight the channel as a positive job-creating engine.
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To recognize and honor companies that have created
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Plexus Worldwide
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USANA
positive work environments and become employers of choice.
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MONAT
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Scentsy, Inc.
To identify and share best practices with the wider direct
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selling community.
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Total Life Changes
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Neora
Each company above is profiled in this supplement, with employees and executives sharing why they believe their company is a Best Place to Work in Direct Selling. All profiles are based on questions presented by DSN to companies. Quantum Workplace, our third-party vendor, conducted the
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u
To provide valuable feedback and data to participating companies that will assist them in measuring levels of employee satisfaction and engagement.
We all know that direct selling is a people business. Measuring field engagement is critical to any company’s success, and consistently delivering on that is a hallmark of the channel. But the field is only part of the people equation. Best Places to Work in Direct Selling celebrates the important role companies play as employers in the marketplace and highlights those companies that are setting the bar for establishing and nurturing work experiences and environments that bring out the very best in people.
Our 2022 contest was open to direct selling companies with at least 40 fulltime employees based in North America. Any employer or employee could have nominated their company during the open period last fall, which ended on October 25, 2021. Each nomination included a contact person who received all of the communications from Quantum. After the nomination period ended, Quantum sent out an official invitation to each company to begin the survey process. Employees were invited to complete an anonymous and confidential survey. A certain percentage of employees at each company, based on size, had to complete the survey in order for the company to reach the threshold to be included. After the survey period was over, the team at Quantum calculated the responses to determine overall scoring and ranking. Only companies who met the threshold determined by Quantum as the baseline for a Best Places to Work environment were announced as Honorees for 2022.
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LIFEVANTAGE COMPANY
/ LifeVantage Corporation
HEADQUARTERS
/ Lehi, Utah
NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES YEAR FOUNDED
/ 195
/ 2009
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HAT SETS YOUR COMPANY APART AS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN DIRECT SELLING?
LifeVantage isn’t a family business, but there’s a family feel and undercurrent that pervades all levels of our company and that is manifested in many ways. We don’t just respect and admire each other as co-workers, but also as friends and an extension of family. When that’s the case, amazing things happen in the workplace
HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY BRING THE SAME RED-CARPET TREATMENT TO YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT YOU GIVE TO YOUR DISTRIBUTORS?
Working for a global company like LifeVantage provides so many opportunities to engage with diverse groups of distributors and consumers. I love strategizing with team members to provide localized experiences to delight and surprise every person who comes in contact with LifeVantage. Working here has allowed me to interact and learn about so many cultures, while still sharing a common desire to improve our health and wellness. — H EATH E R KI NG / DI RECTOR MARKETI NG AN D COM MUN ICATION S
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We view them not just as employees, but as people first and foremost. As a company, we’re only as good as our people. A key part of that is understanding that our people have lives and priorities outside of the workplace. Not only do we understand that, but we put our money where our mouth is. We don’t just talk about work-life balance—it’s inherent in our company. We have an unlimited PTO policy. We have a generous benefits program that employees are eligible for on Day 1 of their employment and that we strive to improve every year. We offer a discounted employee stock purchase plan. Each month, employees receive an allotment of free product for their
families. As a jersey-front sponsor of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake, our employees and their families have the opportunity to attend professional soccer matches. As we invest in our people and their families, we become stronger as a company. WHAT’S THE “DEFINITIVE ELEVATOR PITCH” THAT YOU WOULD OFFER TO A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE ABOUT WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY? CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CULTURE IN JUST A FEW SENTENCES?
We work hard because we are making a difference in the lives of our communities—for both distributors and consumers. We are also forging a new and different path in our industry—one we are proud of. We care. We believe that people matter. And we’re passionate about making a difference in their lives—both internally and externally. As a health and wellness company, that’s why we’re in business. But it goes beyond health and wellness. We’re a global company with a global investment. During this year of uncertainty, we teamed up with Primary Children’s to distribute fleece blankets and partnered with a local refugee organization to help those who may need an extra hand. Our employees and distributors feel strongly about helping others. We believe in leaving people and places better than how we found them. And it’s one of the reasons people love working at LifeVantage.
We question the status quo. This year more than others we found it important to keep in touch frequently with our employees, even if the message is sometimes: “We are doing this for now but will continue monitoring the situation.” This has been essential as we moved several in-person events to virtual events, which impacts the way almost every employee performs their work. HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS IN THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT?
LifeVantage is committed to not only our employees’ professional development, but to their personal development as well. We recently started offering all our employees a membership to Jhana. Because we value our employees as talented people, we want to help them progress. When we have openings, we look at our own talent first. We love providing opportunities for growth to our very own team.
WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING A GREAT WORK ENVIRONMENT? HOW HAS THAT CHANGED AS PEOPLE BALANCE WORKING IN THE OFFICE AND WORKING FROM HOME? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR COMPANY?
THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IN 2021 WAS CHANGE. HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED THE CONSTANT PIVOTS REQUIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC? HOW ARE YOU MAINTAINING AND BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY?
Transparency. As a publicly held company, transparency comes with the territory at a certain level, but it’s also one of the hallmarks of our company. One of our mantras is we shoot each other straight.
We were able to leverage the good relationships our employees enjoy with their supervisors and transparency across the organization to keep everyone focused, motivated and feeling safe. n w w w. d i r e c t s e l l i n g n e w s . c o m 7
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PLEXUS WORLDWIDE COMPANY
/ Plexus Worldwide
HEADQUARTERS
/ Scottsdale, Arizona
NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES YEAR FOUNDED
/ 325
/ 2008
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HAT SETS YOUR COMPANY APART AS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN DIRECT SELLING?
The entire Plexus team shares a common vision of hope, health and happiness, and we are 100 percent committed to the field’s success. Our Founders exemplify humility and believe in an open-door policy where all input is welcome. HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY BRING THE SAME RED-CARPET TREATMENT TO YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT YOU GIVE TO YOUR DISTRIBUTORS?
I really love the fun culture at Plexus. It’s a great working environment that prides itself on working hard for a great cause while finding time to have fun. One example of this culture is the weekly Friday raffle where the company gathers as one community to celebrate, build camaraderie and give out cash! At Plexus, respect is given across all levels of the organization. We have an open-door policy where your voice is heard, and you can freely share your ideas. The company also offers great benefits with thoughtful consideration to employees’ families and finances. Lastly, career opportunities at Plexus are abundant for personal and professional growth. We regularly see team members moving into new, exciting roles, and it’s very motivating for those who want to further their careers. — B E N HU RST / DI RECTOR , PROJECT MANAGEM ENT OFFICE
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From monthly product stipends and lots of fun swag to employee recognition and team events, the company has prioritized creating a rewarding work environment that celebrates people and their success. Employees are also invited to attend and participate in many field events, and we provide team members with special access to keynote speakers and other influencers. WHAT’S THE “DEFINITIVE ELEVATOR PITCH” THAT YOU WOULD OFFER TO A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE ABOUT WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY? CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CULTURE IN JUST A FEW SENTENCES?
Plexus is a place where respect and kindness are the norm and where people genuinely care about helping our Brand Ambassadors find success in their businesses. The phrase “One Plexus” was conceived as a convention theme but was soon embraced so fully by all members of the Plexus community that it came to be the definition of our culture: Belief in our shared values, partnerships across the company, a commitment to action and for making a difference in our communities.
WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING A GREAT WORK ENVIRONMENT? HOW HAS THAT CHANGED AS PEOPLE BALANCE WORKING IN THE OFFICE AND WORKING FROM HOME? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR COMPANY?
Maintaining our great culture is a priority for the company, and we do that by taking the time to recognize, reward and celebrate our teams. We are also focused on ensuring people have access to information they need to do their jobs successfully in this hybrid work environment. This requires a multichannel approach to disseminating information and connecting with teams both in person and virtually. HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS IN THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT?
Plexus provides leadership training, personal development courses and many other opportunities for self-development. Leadership training in areas such as communication, team building and new software skills is regularly offered. Plexus also presents personal enhancement courses on fitness, health and financial planning. Tuition reimbursement is another great benefit for employees looking to pursue formal education outside of the workplace.
international team members who could now participate in training with their peers at headquarters in ways they hadn’t done so before. Additionally, we pivoted to virtual volunteering which meant that we could continue to support our community partners at a time when many companies and individuals weren’t focused on volunteering. Now that we have returned to the office three days a week, our focus is on engagement and culture. Friday has been designated as our culture day, so everyone is asked to be in the office. On these days, we host team gatherings, spirit days and lunches. We are also preparing to host our 5th Annual Community Walk to benefit three local children’s charities. In addition to walking for a great cause, our staff, sponsors and community can enjoy food trucks, fun games and special guest appearances from local team mascots! n
THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IN 2021 WAS CHANGE. HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED THE CONSTANT PIVOTS REQUIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC? HOW ARE YOU MAINTAINING AND BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY?
We implemented a formal telecommuting policy, adapting to the needs and new demands that our team members faced during challenging times. We also redesigned our Learning & Development programs to support virtual learning. An unintended (and positive) consequence of this was to our w w w. d i r e c t s e l l i n g n e w s . c o m 9
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USANA COMPANY
/ USANA
HEADQUARTERS
/ Salt Lake City, Utah
NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES YEAR FOUNDED
/ U.S. 924, Globally 1,977
/ 1992
In my 10-plus years working for USANA I’ve grown personally and professionally. Professionally, the management team, and specifically my direct managers, have allowed me to flourish no matter my role. Personally, our health and wellness program has helped me to get and stay healthy. This robust program assists employees at every fitness level to achieve their goals. Working at USANA, I have not only the positive motivation of my peers, but the encouragement of all those around me. I’m grateful for USANA—there’s no other company like it. I love what I do; who I work for; and the people I work with. USANA employees are some of the hardest working, caring and smartest people I’ve encountered. And I’m so lucky to be part of this family. — M I S SY B I RD / MANAGER , I NTERNAL COM MUN ICATION S
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Exceptional employment opportunities, workplace initiatives and strategic partnerships make USANA a truly amazing place to work. USANA strives to give its more than 900 Utah employees an unbeatable workplace and culture. The company offers impressive benefits, including: An onsite health clinic for employees and their families; free onsite workout facilities and a personal fitness trainer; onsite CrossFit, yoga and boot camp classes; a generous annual profit-sharing program; health and wellness training courses; employee recognition programs; free company products; leading parental leave policies; excellent health and life insurance packages; annual health fairs; and voluntary fitness contests. Through the USANA Foundation and USANA Kids Eat employees also have the opportunity to volunteer and support their communities, along with making a global impact for those in need. HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY BRING THE SAME RED-CARPET TREATMENT TO YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT YOU GIVE TO YOUR DISTRIBUTORS?
USANA is known for rolling out the red carpet for its distributors, and treats employees with the same enthusiasm. At its annual employee recognition banquet, USANA pulls out all the stops to honor employees who have embodied the company’s core values during the year. They are generously rewarded with a dinner, cash prize and trophy. Employees are also treated to an appreciation event after its USANA Live Convention, free massages and chiropractor appointments, summer and holiday parties, personal and professional seminars, an onsite café and opportunities to travel with the USANA Foundation on global philanthropic missions.
WHAT’S THE “DEFINITIVE ELEVATOR PITCH” THAT YOU WOULD OFFER TO A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE ABOUT WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY? CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CULTURE IN JUST A FEW SENTENCES?
USANA is a company that is dedicated to providing its Associates with the highest-quality products possible while delivering an elite company culture and work experience for its employees. It’s about creating the healthiest family on earth, starting with its thousands of employees around the world. USANA’s core values of health, excellence, integrity and community impeccably define its company culture. Its employees are part of a global community who strive for excellence; operate with integrity; put their health first and are passionate to volunteer to help those in their community who need it most. WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING A GREAT WORK ENVIRONMENT? HOW HAS THAT CHANGED AS PEOPLE BALANCE WORKING IN THE OFFICE AND WORKING FROM HOME? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR COMPANY?
USANA prides itself on cultivating an open and caring culture, supportive management and numerous opportunities to make a difference in the world. Employees feel safe and comfortable at work and are inspired to share their ideas with executives. Where executives at other companies may tend to stay arm’s length away from their employees, USANA’s executives form bonds with employees at all levels. This allows them to better understand roles, challenges and changes they can apply to make their jobs easier. Employees have more formal avenues to ask questions as well, including the company’s quarterly employee meetings— where employees are recognized for personal and professional achievements;
receive updates on the company’s progress and goals; and are encouraged to ask the management team any question. While most USANA employees are now on a hybrid schedule, working both from home and in the office, USANA has done a great job to make sure employees feel included and cared for, no matter where they are. From the start of the pandemic, USANA was ready to give employees the technology needed to work from home with no lags in productivity, along with the ability to seamlessly communicate with their team members. USANA executives also stressed the importance of managers checking on the well-being of employees as they work from home—sending them occasional gifts and/ or treats to thank them for all their work and let them know they are appreciated. HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS IN THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT?
Along with an amazing workout facility and basketball court, USANA employees are given a monthly allotment to spend on USANA supplements and skincare offered to them at heavily discounted prices. A yearly wellness challenge encourages employees to attend onsite trainings focused on health and professional development, track workouts and participate in the annual 5k run and other activities to earn cash. USANA also offers professional training and a tuition reimbursement program to help pay for undergraduate and graduate school for employees, provided the coursework/degree is related to the employee’s job and/ or career path or is in a field related to or of interest to USANA. THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IN 2021 WAS CHANGE. HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED THE CONSTANT PIVOTS REQUIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC? HOW ARE YOU MAINTAINING AND BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY?
While constant change is never easy, USANA handled the curveballs of the past couple of years quite well, thanks in large part to the culture and community-building USANA has created throughout the years. USANA has always put its people first and made community one of its core values. This greatly helped in the transition to at-home work, keeping employees satisfied and healthy when the world seemed bleak. Now that most employees are on a hybrid schedule, USANA continues to find new ways to engage employees and maintain a sense of community. Through initiatives like its goal for employees to reach 1,000 volunteer hours in 2021, to hybrid town halls, and a drive-thru profit-sharing day where employees were greeted in the parking garage, given their profit-sharing checks, and thanked for all their hard work by USANA executives. n w w w. d i r e c t s e l l i n g n e w s . c o m 1 1
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MONAT COMPANY
/ MONAT
HEADQUARTERS
/ Doral, Florida
NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES YEAR FOUNDED
/ 499
/ 2014
— VICTORIA MUÑ IZ / OFFICE MANAGER
SELLING NEWS
HAT SETS YOUR COMPANY APART AS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN DIRECT SELLING?
MONAT is a family-focused company, and every employee is a key part of the MONAT family tree and shares the value of Gratitude. Being part of the MONAT family means supporting one another through the joys and sorrows. We teach one another, respect each other and support one another. MONAT’s family culture is our source of strength, Gratitude is such a fundamental pillar for our business because it is value that keeps us grounded and keeps us coming together!
I have been with MONAT for four years and I am extremely excited for what is to come. I love the fastpaced environment; MONAT is constantly growing and flourishing which brings more responsibility, knowledge, experience and personal development! There is no glass ceiling except the one you create for yourself. There is a lot of opportunity! It’s up to you to discover what MONAT has in store for you!
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HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY BRING THE SAME RED-CARPET TREATMENT TO YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT YOU GIVE TO YOUR DISTRIBUTORS?
MONAT has two major events for its employees, during which we make sure to roll out the red carpet for our staff. These events, our annual employee picnic and holiday party, share a common denominator which is to celebrate and recognize all the hard work and dedication of MONAT’s staff. During these events we celebrate in a big way the accomplishments and achievements of all our employees. We recognize our top performers with special awards and celebrate our tenured employees with service awards. In addition to our larger events we appreciate and recognize our employees on holidays with coffee carts on Valentine’s Day; gifts on Mother’s Day; ice cream on Father’s Day; our annual Halloween costume contest; and Ugly Sweater Day. We also roll out the red carpet with our Annual Operations Barbeque, where our leaders prepare and serve barbeque for Operations Team members. Our employees give purpose to who we are as an organization, and their value is immeasurable. They are the key to MONAT’s success, and we make a conscious effort to focus on making their experience a great one.
WHAT’S THE “DEFINITIVE ELEVATOR PITCH” THAT YOU WOULD OFFER TO A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE ABOUT WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY? CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CULTURE IN JUST A FEW SENTENCES?
At MONAT we dream big and rise together. Our purpose is clear, we strive to build beautiful lives. Our family culture may describe us, but service, respect and most of all gratitude define MONAT. WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING A GREAT WORK ENVIRONMENT? HOW HAS THAT CHANGED AS PEOPLE BALANCE WORKING IN THE OFFICE AND WORKING FROM HOME? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR COMPANY?
MONAT is fast paced but fun environment. Over the last few years, we have really focused on maintaining our culture by hearing from our people and addressing their needs. We use Gratitude, one of our fundamental pillars, to connect with our employees and leave a positive mark. MONAT’s service days allow us to come together and keep the spirit of Gratitude alive within us all.
THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IN 2021 WAS CHANGE. HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED THE CONSTANT PIVOTS REQUIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC? HOW ARE YOU MAINTAINING AND BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY?
This pandemic has urged us to focus more on wellness, and at MONAT we are doing our part to ensure our employees are supported during these trying times. MONAT invested in a program that offers virtual medical and mental health visits at no cost to our employees. We also share tips on Mental Health and Mindfulness, have on-site vaccine clinics, have accessible COVID Testing kits, on-site massages and offer other population health activities to our employees. n
HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS IN THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT?
MONAT has created multiple employee programs including the Manager Experience, LEAD Program, uGrow and one-on-one coaching programs. Additionally, MONAT invested in an engagement platform, which allows our leaders to develop action plans on how to create a better people experience for their teams. MONAT will continue to expand its learning opportunities and resources for our employees. We want our employees to feel excited to be part of an organization that not only challenges you but gives you the tools you need to succeed. w w w. d i r e c t s e l l i n g n e w s . c o m 13
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SCENTSY COMPANY
/ Scentsy, Inc.
HEADQUARTERS
/ Meridian, Idaho
NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES YEAR FOUNDED
/ 1,700
/ 2004
I love Scentsy and the people I work for. Scentsy gives opportunities for employees to learn and develop within the company, even when they don’t have experience. I started as a basic Manufacturing Operator and have been able to grow and develop into a Master Certified Operator. Scentsy is so generous with their employees and provides us with great benefits. I am so thankful for this opportunity. This was my first job in the United States. I moved to the United States in 2008 from Argentina. I joined the Scentsy Family in 2010. I have learned so much during my time at Scentsy and I am forever thankful for this opportunity. — RAMONA (ROM I) QUI ROS / MANUFACTURI NG MASTER CERTI FI ED OPERATOR
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That’s easy—our people! We care about each other, and we care about doing things right for our Consultants and customers. We have a large, unique support center where we focus on our Consultants and treat them like family. We don’t have scripts; we have conversations. Co-owners, Heidi and Orville Thompson consider themselves caretakers of this business. They help us to put our focus on being the best we can be and helping others (our Consultants) to be their best. We get to work in an inspiring 770,000 square-foot office, manufacturing, warehouse and distribution space on a stunning 73-acre campus. Every inch of it was designed with employees in mind: Three miles of fragrant walking paths, bright working spaces and a “family kitchen” as a central gathering place. Our family atmosphere extends to our distribution centers in Texas and South Carolina, our call center in Poland, a regional office in Canada and our employees in Australia and the UK. HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY BRING THE SAME RED-CARPET TREATMENT TO YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT YOU GIVE TO YOUR DISTRIBUTORS?
The Thompsons believe in “contributing more than you take,” and that generous philosophy is infused in everything they do for employees. In 2021, our revenue reached an incredible benchmark! As we achieved monthly and annual revenue milestones, we thanked employees for their hard work by providing bonus paid time off at the end of the year. This resulted in employees receiving up to 17 additional days of pay! Another bonus we provide to employees to recognize their dedication to Scentsy is our Long-Term Contribution Bonus which generously rewards employees for their service to Scentsy. Each year we host an all-day employee “convention,” called Employee Culture Day. On this day, the entire
HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS IN THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT?
company shuts down to celebrate with learning from keynote speakers; attending workshops; participating in a health and wellness expo; enjoying team-building activities; and receiving product giveaways. Class offerings range from personal development to professional development and include a wide range of interests, from gardening to project management. WHAT’S THE “DEFINITIVE ELEVATOR PITCH” THAT YOU WOULD OFFER TO A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE ABOUT WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY? CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CULTURE IN JUST A FEW SENTENCES?
Our business philosophy comes from a quote by Albert Einstein, “Try not to become a man of success. Rather, become a man of value. A successful man takes out of life more than he puts in. A man of value will give more than he receives.” This philosophy, combined with our values of authenticity, simplicity and generosity, has provided a solid foundation for Scentsy’s culture, and we feel the strength of our culture is one of the primary things that sets us apart as a company. By continuing to be our true selves, and embracing our differences and diversity, we never have to “sell” our company culture. It’s on full display naturally by sharing who we are and what we do. WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING A GREAT WORK ENVIRONMENT? HOW HAS THAT CHANGED AS PEOPLE BALANCE WORKING IN THE OFFICE AND WORKING FROM HOME? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR COMPANY?
When you walk into Scentsy’s main lobby, you are greeted with our company’s values, posted for all to see: Simplicity, Authenticity and Generosity. We strive to make this a workplace where every employee has an opportunity to come as they are as well as learn and grow. We want employees to bring their whole self to work. We are hyper aware of keeping the “Scentsy spirit” alive and we continue to learn how to keep our culture in balance. One great tool we have to help employees feel connected is called Scentral. This is our internal social and communication platform. It is an incredible way for employees all over the world to engage. Whether employees are sharing pictures of their furry friends on National Love Your Pet Day, posting about team building events or sharing photos of new babies, they can see what everyone is doing and share in their experiences.
We place a high value on opportunities for employees to learn, grow and thrive. We provide tuition reimbursement for degree-seeking employees, and we provide development funds for employees seeking certifications or skill-building in their specific profession. Through our “Scentsy U,” we offer personal and professional development opportunities for groups and individuals on everything from fragrance to team communication. Scentsy U also partners with vendors for world-class content including Franklin Covey, Crucial Learning, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Gallup (CliftonStrengths). We also offer formal leadership development opportunities to help leaders develop and enhance their leadership skills while networking with leaders from all departments. One highly-successful program we offer is Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. This helps employees build their financial acumen and gives them the tools to move towards financial freedom. In 2021, employees who took the course paid off $128,148 in debt! Our Career Exploration program allows employees to explore other career opportunities at Scentsy through formal meetings and job shadow experiences. THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IN 2021 WAS CHANGE. HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED THE CONSTANT PIVOTS REQUIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC? HOW ARE YOU MAINTAINING AND BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY?
Like all companies worldwide, we continue to navigate the ongoing pandemic, responding to unique challenges as they arise. Scentsy has always prided itself on agility and being able to adjust to changing business climates, but in the past two years, it’s been imperative that we stay nimble enough to respond to the new normal—whatever that may be. In the early stages of the pandemic, we leaned heavily on our culture and our values to guide our decisions as we did everything we could to keep employees safe and to allow our Consultants to continue to operate their businesses online. In response, our Consultants, our employees and our customers rallied to lift Scentsy to new heights. In 2021, we reached our highest revenue in the company’s history, reaching a historic $1 billion milestone. Hope is contagious, and we’re so grateful that Scentsy is a place that provides hope during uncertain times. Our response to the challenges of the global pandemic has reinforced our values and strengthened our culture and our business. n w w w. d i r e c t s e l l i n g n e w s . c o m 1 5
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TOTAL LIFE CHANGES COMPANY
/ Total Life Changes
HEADQUARTERS
/ Fair Haven, Michigan
NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES YEAR FOUNDED /
/ 339
1999
Total Life Changes isn’t just a company, it’s a family, and it’s gravitational. We don’t just have jobs; we have a place where everybody works together and lives under the company’s core values. When you join TLC, they see where you are at in life and fit you into the family, and it’s the best feeling. Here, it’s about having a big heart and bringing about good things not just for yourself but for others as well. This place has good vibrations, and I love the family atmosphere of Total Life Changes. — B RION MATH I S / WAREHOU S E AS SOCIATE
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HAT SETS YOUR COMPANY APART AS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN DIRECT SELLING?
Our culture, rooted in love, is what sets us apart. At Total Life Changes (TLC), our employees are not mere numbers or resources; they are a part of our work family. Ours is a safe environment where people are encouraged to rise to the pinnacle of their potential. They are empowered and encouraged to do this using state-of-the-art tools and constant encouragement to achieve their dreams and live with authenticity. HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY BRING THE SAME RED-CARPET TREATMENT TO YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT YOU GIVE TO YOUR DISTRIBUTORS?
Every day John Licari, our COO, walks around to every department and delivers an insightful speech to inspire, encourage and cause reflection for our work family. We are known for our parties, and we bring them home through annual events like our Memorial Day cookout, founder’s birthday celebration, Thanksgiving feast and holiday party. Our events are a time for our employees to celebrate and relax together. We also encourage our departments to participate in teambuilding events throughout the year. WHAT’S THE “DEFINITIVE ELEVATOR PITCH” THAT YOU WOULD OFFER TO A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE ABOUT WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY? CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CULTURE IN JUST A FEW SENTENCES?
There are many companies around the world, and they create some of the greatest products in the world, but here at TLC, we engineer an amazing culture that
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produces the greatest people in the world. We lend value to people that lend value to life. That’s how we change lives…One cup of tea at a time. WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING A GREAT WORK ENVIRONMENT? HOW HAS THAT CHANGED AS PEOPLE BALANCE WORKING IN THE OFFICE AND WORKING FROM HOME? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR COMPANY?
Life Changers to generate income by selling products from our extensive portfolio. We also expanded our social media live broadcasts to reach our community and team members in their homes, to connect with them and have some fun to alleviate the isolation many of us were experiencing. n
Our culture is built around a love for our work family and our community. Because of our relationship with each other, we prioritize working in the office. But we also know that there are times when it makes more sense to work remotely, especially when the health and safety of our work family are at risk. When we work remotely, we find creative ways to have fun together, like our relaxed group chats and our popular social media live streams. We are a work family, and like any family, the key to cohesiveness is effective communication, and through this, we find ways to remain close, even when we are apart. HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS IN THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT?
We actively scout talent and promote from within. We also connect our work family with certified training programs specific to their jobs; provide advanced training for new tools; and encourage and support our team members to attend seminars and other external training resources. THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IN 2021 WAS CHANGE. HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED THE CONSTANT PIVOTS REQUIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC? HOW ARE YOU MAINTAINING AND BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY?
As the pandemic spread around the world and many people found themselves unemployed at home, we grew our company and created opportunities for our w w w. d i r e c t s e l l i n g n e w s . c o m 17
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WINNER
NEORA COMPANY NAME
/ Neora
HEADQUARTERS
/ Dallas, Texas
NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES YEAR FOUNDED
/ 96
/ 2011
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HAT SETS YOUR COMPANY APART AS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN DIRECT SELLING?
The culture. It is one of trust and respect. HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY BRING THE SAME RED-CARPET TREATMENT TO YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT YOU GIVE TO YOUR DISTRIBUTORS?
We have weekly All Staff calls which include moments for individual and group recognition.
I have been fortunate to work for Neora going on 9 years. I’ve been in the corporate world for many years, but feel so grateful that I’ve been blessed with employment with Neora. What is most gratifying for me is our culture and our Leadership. I have never worked for an individual or company where I felt more appreciated. The Olsons truly care about the people that work for them, as well as our field. They strive to ‘Make People Better.’ I come to work every day knowing this to be true as I see it firsthand. — M E LAN I E M ITC H E LL / S EN IOR DI RECTOR , M EETI NGS AN D EVENTS
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WHAT’S THE “DEFINITIVE ELEVATOR PITCH” THAT YOU WOULD OFFER TO A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE ABOUT WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY? CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CULTURE IN JUST A FEW SENTENCES?
It is a casual work environment where everyone works hard, and we put a strong emphasis on collaboration. WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING A GREAT WORK ENVIRONMENT? HOW HAS THAT CHANGED AS PEOPLE BALANCE WORKING IN THE OFFICE AND WORKING FROM HOME? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR COMPANY?
We place a strong emphasis on collaboration. We allow employees to express their differences, but at the end of the day we understand that we are all on the same team. We have a hybrid work schedule where we ask employees to be in the office at least two days a week.
HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS IN THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT?
We have a very competitive tuition reimbursement policy. We strongly encourage our employees to get involved with volunteer activities. During the past year we have held canned food drives as well as participated in the “Toys for Tots” Christmas campaign. Neora is also one of the largest corporate contributors to Big Brothers and Big Sisters. THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IN 2021 WAS CHANGE. HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED THE CONSTANT PIVOTS REQUIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC? HOW ARE YOU MAINTAINING AND BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY?
Since the beginning of the pandemic we have had weekly All Staff zoom calls. The calls include both individual and team recognition. In addition, we have had virtual Halloween costume judging calls, as well as a virtual show-us-your-pet call. n
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FAQ HOW ARE THE HONOREES SELECTED? Direct Selling News has partnered with Quantum Workplace, an HR technology company that has been collecting Best Places to Work data for more than a decade and currently supports 50 programs across North America. Their software enables companies to discover the strength of their employees, culture and leadership. For the Best Places to Work in Direct Selling program, Quantum Workplace asked employees of nominated companies to complete an online survey designed to measure workplace engagement. Next, Quantum Workplace compiled and evaluated the responses, ranking the participating companies based on their overall engagement score. Honorees were selected based on the results of this survey. WHAT IS THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SURVEY? Quantum Workplace’s survey was developed by a panel of thought leaders in the field of employee engagement and is validated annually against more than 1.5 million responses across 8,000 companies to continuously recognize trends in the evolution of engagement. IS THE SURVEY CONFIDENTIAL? The employee survey is always strictly confidential. Each company has access to survey results at the aggregate level to help them understand and build engagement. However, the individual identities of employees are never revealed. In fact, companies are not even able to see who has or has not completed the survey. All full-time, part-time, permanent, corporate headquartered employees are eligible to take the survey. DO ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES AT MY COMPANY NEED TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY? All eligible employees must be invited to take the survey. To reach a 95 percent confidence level with a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent, a company will need to achieve employee participation based on the following percentages per size of organization to be considered as an honoree: u
50 employees or fewer = 85%
u
51 to 150 = 70%
u
151 to 500 = 50%
u
501 to 1,000 = 30%
WILL MY COMPANY RECEIVE THE SURVEY RESULTS? Yes, all participating companies receive a free Overview report showing the company’s overall score compared to the finalists, summary of the engagement category scores, demographic information and some comments from the open-ended questions. Surveys can also be customized for varying fees. Customizations do not affect the way results are scored for the purpose of the competition. Custom questions are excluded from the calculations. WHAT IF MY COMPANY DOES NOT MAKE THE BEST PLACES TO WORK LIST? All companies that participate receive access to a free Overview report and have the opportunity to purchase reports to help improve employee engagement, but the company name is not placed on any list and is not printed in the special publication. There is NO RISK to participate. All companies that have reached their participation goal will be contacted as to their status as a finalist or non-finalist.
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