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The Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, the DSWA, has just announced the dates of their annual DSWA Celebration. This year’s event will take place April 17th through the 19th at the Westin in Los Angeles, California.

The event will feature over 20 self made millionaires from some of the world’s leading direct selling companies. The speakers will share with attendees what it takes to succeed and how they themselves persevered to achieve their goals. The attendees will get business tips, learn new strategies and get some great motivational tips as well as learn how to grow their already existing businesses.

The 20 small business millionaires speaking at the conference include representatives from companies such as Avon, Mary Kay, Neways and Pre-Paid Legal, just to name a few. The 3 day event will give all in attendance the chance to learn, network and share experiences with colleges.

Some of the topics that will be covered by this year’s speakers include

• Best Booking Practices
• Approaching Coach Excellence
• Build it Big with Recruiting
• Creative Meetings People Want to Attend
• Build it Big with Internet Marketing

For more info on the event, or to register to attend you can visit, http://www.dswacelebration2009.com

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Verve Energy drink, dubbed the insanely healthy energy drink, has just made its way to the land of OZ. The drink, a healthy alternative to the sugar and caffeine laden drinks on the market today, was launched this week in Australia.

The drink was launched by Energy Cans, a Verve Independent Distributorship. Currently, the product is only available in Australia through a network of independent distributors. While in the U.S. that is the primary way it is sold, the parent company of Verve, Vemma, has formed several strategic alliances with professional sports teams who now promote and sell the product as well. No doubt in the near future, Energy Cans will follow that example.

Verve is now available to everyone in Australia in both the regular and sugar free varieties. Verve is now available in over 50 countries around the world.

Popularity: 3% [?]

A judge presiding over two competing class action suits against online travel company, YTB has asked lawyers in each of the two suits to find a way to consolidate the cases.

U.S. District Judge, G. Patrick Murphy told each of the sides last week that he would not hear two parallel cases simultaneously.”We’re not going to be hearing two cases at one time,” the judge said. “It makes a lot of sense to file one complaint.”

The lawyers in each case were given two weeks to come together to figure out a way to come together into one suit. If there is no agreement reached in that time, Judge Murphy will issue an order of his own choosing.

The two suits, one filed in California and one in Illinois are seeking a total of over $100 million dollars in damages stemming from claims that YTB was operating an illegal pyramid scheme and defrauded their independent consultants out of millions of dollars.

Now the lawyers from each case must come together and figure out a way to consolidate the two cases. Not only do they have to choose the fairest way to represent all of those involved, but they must also figure out who will represent the former YTB consultants. The lawyers have also begun to bicker over who will be lead counsel. Even when and if the suits are consolidated, the earliest the two cases will come to trial will be 2010.

YTB of course said that whether there is one suit or two, they will defend themselves vigorously against all charges Jonathan S. Quinn, just one of YTB’s lawyers, said, “The firm has done nothing wrong. The agents were trained to make money by working at home. They could sell travel-related services, such as airline fare, or recruit others to sell travel services. There were two different opportunities to earn money, both valid.”

Pre trial motions in the case will be heard just after the first of the year.

This has been a rough year for the embattled company that continues to try and put 2008 behind them. With recent horrible third quarter results and the sell off of assets, the year can’t end sooner.

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Home Interiors and Gifts, the Dallas Based home good company that has had its fair share of financial troubles lately, has just been purchased by Home and Garden Party.

We had first reported about Home and Garden’s problems back in September when the company sent out a warning to employees.

Home and Garden Party, founded in 1996 in Marshall, Texas, has become a leader in the direct sales industry over the last decade. The company, founded by Penny and Steven Carlile purchased the assets of the U.S., Canadian and Puerto Rican assets of Home Interiors and Gifts last Thursday.

Carlile was pleased with the acquisition and the potential for success the joining of the two companies will have in the future. “Home Interiors has a storied history in the direct sales business for the past 51 years and has been a leader in this business for much of that time,” said Steve Carlile. “We’re very pleased to join forces with them going forward.”

Home Interiors was forced to file Chapter 11 to reorganize the company’s business and restructure its debt. Robin Crossman, the high profile CEO who was brought in last year to save the company released a statement regarding the announcement saying, “I am so proud of the Home Interiors field and the dedication they have to the heritage of Mary Crowley” (the company’s founder).

Penny and Steve Carlile issued a joint statement regarding the future of the two companies, “With all the necessary funds in reserve to complete the transaction, we can quickly and effectively assure the consultants of Home Interior that we’re committed to protecting the legacy of Mary Crowley and Home Interiors by building on the solid foundation that Home and Garden Party has enjoyed.”

The company will remain headquartered in Marshall. All parties involved hope that the acquisition will result in more jobs in the community in the coming months.

No word on what happens to the company’s status as part of the Direct Selling Association now that the company has been taken over.

Popularity: 5% [?]