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Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) announced their fourth quarter and full years 2008 sales and profit numbers. Despite the faltering economy, the news and numbers were not all bad.

While sales increased in the fourth quarter, the company said that sales were negatively impacted by poor foreign exchange rates. This caused a sales decreased of 10% percent compared to 2007.

 its profit for the fourth quarter ending Dec. 27 reached $65.8 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, up from $54.9 million, or 88 cents per diluted share, from the same period in 2007, helped by the disposal of assets.

The increased profit came as sales dropped 10 percent year over year. It had sales of $521.7 million during quarter, down from $576.9 million the year before.

For the full year, the Kissimmee-based company (NYSE: TUP) had a net income of $161.4 million, or $2.56 per share, compared to a net income of $116.9 million, or $1.87 per share. Sales for the year were $2.16 billion, up from $1.98 billion in 2007.

Chairman and CEO, Rick Goings commented, “We were pleased to hold our own in the fourth quarter in light of the difficult external environment. Sales in our emerging market businesses increased 11% in local currency and our established market businesses were down 4% in local currency in the quarter. Among our established markets, France was a stand out on the positive side and we were pleased to have a 5% local currency increase in company sales by Tupperware United States and Canada. We were also pleased to be able to reduce our outstanding debt in 2008, while continuing to support our 88 cent per share annual dividend, which reflected the strong cash flow that our business generates.”

Tupperware held its conference call on February 4th and is now archived for all of you who would like to listen in to it on www.tupperwarebrands.com

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With the United States having some major economic problems, and a record number of people losing their jobs, it’s no wonder that some direct sales companies are seeing sales and profit rise as those who need jobs and extra income are flocking to a variety of work-at-home opportunities

One company that is seeing record profits is Amway Global.  The Ada, Michigan based direct sales company says that they will see sales in excess of $8.2 billion dollars in 2008. At a recent ceremony at Helen DeVos Hospital, Co- Founder Rick DeVos made the announcement that the company will see record sales this year.

The $8.2 billion dollar figure is a 15% jump from sales in 2007, and that’s during what many are calling a nation-wide depression. While Amway Global is privately held and therefore does not release profitability figures they will make an official statement in the next week or so in regards to sales numbers.

One major reason for the huge jump in sales is the marketing blitz that the company went on during the last year. Commercials, print ads, and major concert sponsorships have put the brand on the global radar. Just in the last year, Amway has partnered with Tina Turner, John Tesh and soccer superstar Ronaldinho among others in promoting Amway products. Amway has also retired the Quixtar brand used in the U.S. and Canada and promoted the re-invention of Amway Global in those regions through high profile spots on major television networks and in print ads.

It will be interesting in the next few weeks to hear from Amway Global leaders give more detail about sales figures, marketing campaigns and future plans to promote the brand.

Amway is one of the few companies that have been smart enough to up their advertising and marketing spending during an economic downturn. Amway understands the benefit of reaching people during these turbulent times to offer products the people want and educate the people about the opportunity that becoming part of the Amway Global family can provide.

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USANA Health Sciences gave their investors a look at some preliminary financials last week after the company received some news that had an effect on its fourth quarter. Usana said they expected to report a profit of 56 cents a share before one time adjustments when they release fourth quarter results next month. Those profits will likely fall to around 16 cents a share after the company is forced to fork over a hefty sum as a result of a tax audit by the IRS.

Because Usana is publicly traded company (NasdaqGS: USNA), they are required to keep its shareholders in the loop about events that could have an impact on the value of their investments. The company didn’t want to wait until next month to release the news but we did provide a sneak peak of their promise a few months back.

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Yates said “We are trying to fulfill that obligation by communicating as openly and as timely as it is possible to be.”

The IRS audit of tax statements for the years of 2003-2006 found that Usana owed more taxes to the government than they had paid. Usana has subtracted $1.8 million from quarterly profits to account for the ruling, but the final impact of the ruling could be much greater and could reach as much as $10 million dollars after Usana exhausts its appeals. And that wasn’t the only bad financial news the company received this year……

The company just recently lost a battle against a distributor who was fired in 2003 after allegedly breaching a contract with the company. An arbitrator found in favor of the distributor and ruled that he is entitled to approximately $7million dollars in lost compensation.

Usana will announce full fourth quarter results next month although early reports suggest that net sales will be down quite a bit from last year along with profit, revenue and share price.

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In the latest development in the YTB case, a judge has ruled that the two class action suits brought against the company last year will be consolidated.

U.S. District Judge G. Patrick Murphy made the ruling last week after hearing from all involved in the case. As we told you a few weeks ago, Judge Murphy was adamant that the two sides find a way to consolidate the case. Judge Murphy told each of the sides last month that he would not hear two parallel cases simultaneously. “We’re not going to be hearing two cases at one time, the judgw said. It makes a lot of sense to file one complaint.” Lawyers in both cases agreed that consolidation of the two suits was appropriate in the case.

YTB, the internet based travel company is being sued by former independent consultants who claim that the company operates an illegal pyramid sales scheme and utilizes an illegal referral sales technique.

Lawyers from each of the two cases will continue to represent clients in individual suits, but will also agree to work jointly as co-counsel on the main class action suit.

No word yet on when exactly the case will be brought back to court but I am sure the company wants to get this resolved already.  With their stock trading at below 50 cents, there doesnt seem to be a lot of good news facing the company.

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