OpTree

XanGo just announced that they’ve named Robert S. Conlee as the company’s newest Chief Executive Offer. In addition, A. Craig Hale has been promoted from Chief Legal Counsel to President of XanGo.

Prior to joining XanGo, Conlee served in various roles at other major network marketing companies including Nu Skin and Pharmanex, where he held various roles including Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Chief Operating officer. In total, Conlee has over 18 years of executive experience within the network marketing industry.

Aaron Garrity, Founder and Chairman of the Board of XanGo expressed his feeling on the importance of having Conlee and Hale join the XanGo team, “Six years after our founding, we’re at an historic and critical point in our growth, having just surpassed the milestone of our millionth distributor as we operate in 23 countries.” Today’s announcement will enable XanGo to maintain our position as the most successful company of its kind in the history of our industry. The recruitment of world class executives, such as Robert and Craig, will ensure that the global vision and strategy for our company is fulfilled.”

Hale has been a part of the XanGo team for three years and his responsibilities in the past have included overseeing all legal affairs both in domestic markets as well as international markets where XanGo operates. Hale has served as Chair of XanG’s senior executive team for the past year where he and Garrity worked closely together.

Garrity is pleased at the announcement of his Hale’s promotion, “We are confident that Craig has the experience and knowledge to ensure our legendary service in every market in which we operate,” said Garrity. “His passion for the direct sales industry and XanGo’s brand is exactly what we want in a senior executive who will direct XanGo’s day-to-day operations and execute on our strategies and initiatives.”

Popularity: 4% [?]

ConsumerLab.com, one of the most respected independent labs in the US has just finished testing Omega-3 fish oil supplements from several major companies to test the supplements for levels of mercury, lead and PCB’s. Among the 50 companies who’s products were tested, were several direct sales companies, who’s products held their own against the big companies (OpTree News - Eniva, OpTree News - USANA, OpTree News - Isagenix).

The products studied had Omega -3- Fatty acids that ranged from 16 mg to over 1,000mg per serving. All of the products studied were found to have the accurate amount of fatty acids they claimed to have without any signs of spoilage. With the exception of one product, that released the oil to soon, the supplements were found to be effective, and live up to the claims made by the manufacturing company.

Among the brands studied were sever direct selling nutritional companies including, Eniva, USANA, Shaklee, and Pharmanex.

Sales of fish oil supplements have grown almost 500% percent since 2000 when the FDA allowed those products to claim that the omega-3 oils EPA and DHA may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Sales reached almost $500 million in 2008.

“Because of how they are made, fish oil supplements are a great alternative to fish as a source of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. You can easily get a month’s supply of a good supplement for less than the price of a pound of fish – and without contaminants,” said Tod Cooperman, M.D.,

ConsumerLab.com’s president. Dr. William Obermeyer, ConsumerLab.com’s Vice President of Research, explained that contaminants are unlikely in properly made fish oil products because, “The species of fish used to make oil supplements are typically smaller and not as likely to accumulate toxins, and the oils are distilled — which removes contaminants.”

The report done by ConsumerLab included fifty products that were either selected by the Lab or tested at the request of the product’s company.

Results are available on the ConsumerLab website. In the next few months look for more reviews of products containing melatonin, Vitamin A, D, and K as well as menopause supplements and nutrition bars. I’m sure the reviews will include many products manufactured and sold by various direct sales companies. These products have done a great job holding their own against many of the bigger companies, and the test results help add to their legitimacy as effective and safe products.

Popularity: 2% [?]

The Council for Responsible Nutrition - a trade company dedicated to upholding and maintaining the integrity of the dietary supplement industry - has decided to revamp its membership dues structure for all voting member, effective January of 2009. The move to change the fee structure was made in an effort to make the CRN more appealing to smaller companies in the industry.

The association was founded to help its member companies responsibly market their products. The CRN also regulates supplements to ensure their safety and effectiveness.

The CRN currently counts several Network Marketing companies as members, including Shaklee, Mannatech, Herbalife, and Pharmanex. Other larger companies include Novartis, Bayer, Dow Chemical Company and GlaxoSmithKlyne. Needless to say, membership is a privilege and adds a good deal of legitimacy to any company and its products.

Marjorie Fine, CRN Chair and Exec VP and General Counsel and Shaklee explained the move, saying, “Our goal in revising our dues structure is to make membership in CRN more accessible across all sectors of the responsible industry. Whether a company is large, medium or small, membership in CRN comes with benefits, including access to: an aggressive, science-based agenda; regulatory and government relations expertise; and proactive public relations programs—all designed to improve the climate for responsible companies. We wanted to create a more equitable dues structure across the board that would still allow us to maintain the high level of membership benefits and service and also enhance the association’s ability to attract more companies to take advantage of our strategic initiatives.”

Dues for voting members are based on sales of the products in the US - which is similar to the way the Direct Selling Association works (DSA). The new dues structure will maintain lower dues for small companies who’s sales are less than $5 million a year as well as mid-size companies with annual sales less than $150 million. In exchange, larger companies have agreed to a slight increase in dues which will be based on a sliding scale based on the size of the company.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Summer is creeping up on us and we all know what that means…..bathing suit time! It’s time to shed the bulky sweaters and long johns and trade them in for shorts and tees. If you’re like me, you’ve put on a couple pounds this winter and now with the temperature rising, its time to take it off!! There are so many weight loss products on the market, all making promises to burn fat, speed up your metabolism, burn carbs…..but do they work? Maybe, maybe not, but most are not natural and not healthy and the side effects far outweigh any results you might see.

Pharmanex has a great new solution for safe, natural, effective weight loss. Pharmanex has introduced The MY VICTORY Weight Loss PLAN. The word PLAN is important. The Victory Weight loss system is not one product claiming to burn fat and speed your metabolism, it is a full plan for slimming down and getting healthy.

The PLAN including Shakes that control appetite and burns calories, Metabotrim and Duolean, two supplements that keep you healthy while helping suppress your appetite and burn calories naturally and safely, as well as a simple 1-2-3- eating plan.

The biggest advantage this system has over others is the GoWear Armband. The My Victory plan includes the GoWear Fit Armband which is to be worn daily. The armband is the result of a strategic partnership between BodyMedia and Pharmanex. The armband can be integrated into the My Victory website and keeps track of calorie burn and calorie intake. The armband take much of the guesswork out of dieting, by telling you how much you’ve consumed and burned, and what you should do to burn the optimum amount of weight. The armband is similar to the one worn by this season’s contestants on Biggest Loser.

The system is available now through Pharmanex, and there is still plenty of time to get in shape. Memorial Day, the somewhat “official” start of summer is still a month away. Whether you’re in a rush for swimsuit season or not, the Pharmanex My Victory Plan, is a really well balanced, safe way to lose weight. The armband gives this program a huge advantage over other systems and makes it so easy to keep track of progress.

Popularity: 2% [?]