THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
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Amway waits for Trump policies to play out Leaders see uncertainty, but they have dealt with turbulent times before. Shandra Martinez smartinez@mlive.com A D A — So how will a globa l company
like Amway fare under President Trump’s “America First” approach to economics? The leaders of one of Michigan’s largest family-owned companies say they aren’t sure. “There’s a lot of stuff being said on the campaign, a lot of stuff being said now,” President Doug DeVos said. “There’s a lot of activity, but where it really lands finally, at the end of the day, from a policy perspective, is still a bit of a question.” DeVos says he expects change, but also good working relationships with markets around the world. “We appreciate the role the government has. The more it can be steady and predictable, the better it is.” There are mounting fears that Trump’s promises of tariffs on foreign goods could create a U.S. trade war with China, where many U.S. consumer goods are made. China is Amway’s biggest market, accounting for about one-third of its $8.8 billion revenues in 2016. The Ada-headquartered Amway isn’t as vulnerable as other U.S. manufacturers that have their production done overseas, or depend on imported parts to produce their products stateside. The company’s export to import ratio is 14-to-1. All but three of its 15 manufactur-
ing facilities are in the U.S. Nine are in Michigan, two are in California and one is in Washington. “We’re a huge exporter,” CEO Steve Van Andel said. “We need to make sure we have policies that are good for trade, or it hurts our exporter business.” Most of what Amway exports overseas are supplements and beauty products made in its Ada plants. Ingredients are grown on the company’s certified organic farms in Washington and processed at a nearby facility that opened in 2015. The direct sales giant also operates production facilities in China, India and Vietnam. The vast majority of products manufactured in those facilities are sold in the nation where they were manufactured. “I think there is a lot of talk and angst because we just had an election, but from our perspective this isn’t really new,” DeVos said. “We have dealt with this, whether it is changes in government in the U.S. or changes in the governments in other markets around the world.” UPHEAVAL IS NOTHING NEW
With operations in 100 countries, the 60-year-old company is seasoned in dealing with economic upheaval that comes with the pendulum swing of politics. “It’s not just one administration or one set of changes,” DeVos said. “It happens throughout history, if you will. There’s always some sort of back and forth. You just have to figure out how to deal with it.” What may be more surprising about the leaders’ wait-and-see attitude is that they are seen as insiders in the Trump Administration. DeVos’ sister-in-law, Betsy, officially
Amway President Doug DeVos, left, and Chairman Steve VanAndel talk about the state of their company and what the economic future may hold. Neil Blake, MLive.com
joined President Trump’s cabinet this week as the U.S. Education Secretary. The DeVos and Van Andel families have long been Republican mega donors. Doug DeVos gave $35,000 to the Trump Victory Fund. (His father, Amway co-founder Rich, brother, Dan, and sister, Cheri, each donated $70,000.) Like many business leaders, DeVos and Van Andel want to see Trump keep his promise to roll back federal regulations blamed for putting companies at a competitive disadvantage globally. Amway — which this week reported its third consecutive year of declining sales —
is vulnerable to global issues such as fluctuating exchange rates, rising duties and border issues that could make moving products between countries more difficult. Still, Van Andel points out Amway has weathered many trade battles. “There was one country that was getting into a trade dispute, so one country put a big duty on one industry, and the other country put a big duty on another — which happened to be the beauty industry, which we are in, so all of sudden we have to adjust to that,” said Van Andel, giving an example of how a trade war snarled his company. “So, those sort of things have happened.”
Formula maker Mead Johnson sold Jim Harger jharger@mlive.com Z E E L A N D — Reckitt Benckiser Group, the
world’s largest maker of consumer health and hygiene products, is buying Mead Johnson Nutrition Co., which makes infant formula and nutritional products at a plant in Zeeland. Mead Johnson employs about 350 at its plant in Zeeland — one of the company’s two U.S. plants and 12 plants worldwide.
The deal, which will pay $90 per share to Mead Johnson shareholders, is valued at an estimated $17.9 million. The deal is expected to close by the end of the third quarter. Reckitt Benckiser, which makes Lysol cleaners, Durex condoms and Mucinex cold medicine, employs 37,000 people worldwide. The compa ny ’s consumer product lines also include Scholl, Clearasil, Finish, Vanish, Calgon, Air Wick, Woolite and French’s.
8-gallon donors: Ellen Hekman, Alto; Daniel Alt, Comstock Park; Joseph Parzych, Grand Rapids; William Eastman, Hastings; Louise Bakker, Sparta 9-gallon donors: Linda Hirdes, Zeeland 12-gallon donors: Larry Clouse, Grand Rapids; Judy Wabeke, Jenison 13-gallon donors: Evelyn Cavner, Belmont 14-gallon donors: Evelyn
4-gallon donors: Brent Peterson, Grand Rapids 5-gallon donors: Marc Daneman, Grand Rapids 6-gallon donors: Douglas Burleson, Belmont; Mark Bennink, Arthur Deemter, Jenison; Peter Land, Lowell 7-gallon donors: David Lantz, Ada; Karen Koetje, Grand Rapids
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Stursma, Jenison 17-gallon donors: Bruce Bacon, Rockford 22-gallon donors: Robert Holwerda, Grandville; Glen Richardson, Jenison 26-gallon donors: Beth Reynolds, Grand Rapids 27-gallon donors: Kris Taylor, Grand Rapids 32-gallon donors: Richard Hert, Ada
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ALL FINE GOLD, SILVER, DIAMOND & GEMSTONE JEWELRY* *10K gold unless otherwise specified.
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2-gallon donors: Dawn Urbanski, Comstock Park; Margaret Gasper, Grandville; Barbara VanWylen, Jenison; Eric Cross, Middleville; Thomas Pett, Rockford; Chelly Heeringa, Walker 3-gallon donors: Betty Ames, Byron Center Jeffrey Huyck, Susan Huyck, Grand Rapids; Marvin Miller, Holton; Bruce Harder, Hudsonville; Bruce Harder, Jenison; Christopher Cruickshank, Rockford
One Woodland Mall 3099 28th Street SE
CITY COMMISSION CITY OF KENTWOOD KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN ORDINANCE NO. 2-17 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY OF KENTWOOD ZONING ORDINANCE TO SPECIFY CITY COMMISSION REVIEW AUTHORITY OVER NEW WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY; SPECIFY ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICE DEFINITION EXCLUSIONS; CLARIFY ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICES GENERAL PROVISIONS; AND MODIFY SPECIAL LAND USE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS TOWERS. THE CITY OF KENTWOOD ORDAINS: In summary, this ordinance is adopted to amend the City of Kentwood Zoning Ordinance, Section 1.07.F to add allowance for installation of wireless antenna equipment in public right-of-way when authorized by issuance of a City license; Section 2.02.E to modify definition of Essential Public Services noting exclusion of wireless communications equipment; Section 3.02 to modify the term “essential public services”; Section 15.04.U to modify site design standards for wireless communication towers: to define distinctions between wireless communications equipment placed outside of or within public rights-of-way, to make general clarifications in terms, to include provisions for support structures and accessory equipment, to include provisions for disguising the appearance of wireless towers and support structures, to require a performance guarantee for abandoned tower removal, and to expand allowance for equipment structures while adding provisions for landscaping and screening those structures. This Ordinance shall be effective ten (10) days following its publication. At a regular meeting held on February 7, 2017, a motion was offered by Commissioner Artz, with support from Commissioner DeMaagd to approve the foregoing Ordinance No. 2-17. YEAS: Commissioners Artz, Brown, Coughlin, DeMaagd, Haas and Mayor Kepley.
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STORE FIXTURES, FURNITURE & EQUIPMENT FOR SALE NOW! ALL SALES FINAL, NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES. OPEN DAILY REGULAR HOURS. WE ACCEPT VISA, MASTERCARD, DISCOVER, AMERICAN EXPRESS AND SEARS CARD. WE ACCEPT SEARS GIFT CARDS. DISCOUNTS DO NOT APPLY TO PREPAID GIFT CARDS AND PHONE CARDS. INVENTORY IS LIMITED TO STOCK ON HAND. THIS STORE IS NOT PARTICIPATING IN CURRENT SEARS CIRCULARS. THIS EVENT EXCLUDES ELECTROLUX.
NAYS: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Redmond. ORDINANCE NO. 2-17 ADOPTED. A complete copy of the ordinance is available for public inspection at the Office of the City Clerk, 4900 Breton Avenue, SE, Kentwood during regular business hours. Dan Kasunic, City Clerk
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Donor Gallon List Feb. 1 to Feb. 7 1-gallon donors: Wendy Ham, Comstock Park; Kathryn Caliendo, Phillip Nicholson, Joel VanDyke, Laura Wright, Mary Zawacki, Grand Rapids; Christina Harrington, Greenville; Melvin Miller, Holton; Jayne Tibbets, Hudsonville; Samuel DeVito, Brandon Haehnel, Clayton Launer, Lowell; Steven Riley, Mears; Susan Vuyst, Muskegon; Peter Roskam, New Era
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MICHIGAN BLOOD Michigan Blood handles most of the blood collection for Kent County. The Press lists donors as they reach milestones.
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