OpTree

ViSalus is counting down the days until their Vitality Las Vegas Event, the health and wellness company’s annual convention. This year, the event will be held October 17th, 18th and 19th at the Riviera Hotel and Casino.

ViSalus is best known for their weight loss and weight management products. On hand for the event will be winners from the company’s recent “Biggest Loser” Challenge during which VisSalus consumers were asked to use the company’s patented weight loss products to help them lose the pounds.

Among the products that will be featured at the convention will be the Slim Trim Shape Program and the patent pending ViSalus Neuro Smart Energy and the patented Vi-PAK, which are anti aging supplements.

During the conference, guest will have the chance to hear from Coach Dale Borwn, former LSU coach and mentor to NBA greats such as Shaquille O’Neal. Attendees will also be treated to specialty work-shops, and talks from certified trainers who will speak about the importance of supplements and give ViSalus distributors training and insight into the benefits of the ViSalus products.

ViSalus founders Blake Mallen, Nick Samicola and Ryan Blair will welcome guests as will members of the Blyth Management Team.  Blyth purchased ViSalus last year, and added them to their direct sales family which includes Partylite and Two Sisters Gourmet. Blyth is a direct sales, retail, and wholesale company that oversees a wide variety of products from home goods to nutritional supplements.

You can still register for the ViSalus conference- all the info you need can be found on their website.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Blyth (NYSE: BTH), the parent Co. of Two Sisters Gourmet and Partylite has just announced that they have signed an agreement to purchase ViSalus Holdings, a direct seller of nutritional supplements and energy drinks.

As part of the agreement, Blyth will complete the purchase of ViSalus through a series of investments for the next four years, to be completed in 2012. Visalus sells their products only in the US by independent distributors. Half of their sales force consists of men, which is a bit odd for this industry.

Blyth currently has two direct selling companies in their control, Two Sisters Gourmet which sells food related products, and Partylite, a home décor and household good company. Both of these companies operate under a direct sales/ home party plan company.

Robert Goergen, The CEO and Chairman of the Board of Blyth is excited to add another company to their direct sales family. “Today’s commitment builds further on Blyth’s long-term focus on direct-to-consumer sales opportunities. Now, we are entering the health and wellness category. Importantly, we are able to diversify within the direct selling channel with products that appeal to different consumer segments and do not compete with our core PartyLite business.”

ViSalus Holdings LLC was founded only 3 short years again. The founders and management team of ViSalus will retain their roles with the company.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Blyth Inc., the parent company of Partylite, have just announced quarterly results for the first quarter 08 and said that while international sales are strong, overall earnings are down slightly.

Blythe, the household products company said that first quarter earning dropped and sales fell slightly. Earnings for the quarter fell significantly to $1.2 million or 3 cents per share from $11.7million or 30 cents per year for the same quarterly last year.

The company said that the results are reflective of costs that went along with the relocation of a distribution center as well as an over $5 million dollar charge related to the write off of its investment in RedEnvelope, which had filed for bankruptcy back in April of this year.

“The continued deterioration of the macroeconomic environment and its impact on consumer spending had an immediate and decisive impact on sales across Blyth’s U.S. businesses,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Robert B. Goergen. “Moreover, cost increases for commodities such as wax and increased paper, postage and freight expenses made achieving our first quarter profit targets very challenging.”

The news was not all bad however as international sales continue to grow and now comprise over 40% of total sales for the company. Partylite, the direct sales division of Blythe, a company that sells scented candles, is the one positive point this year for Blythe as sales continue to grow overseas. The Partylite European market has seen a great surge in growth especially in its French and Nordic markets.

Popularity: 3% [?]