my comments

Who hasn’t shopped online or been approach about a network marketing program of some kind.

I think you will agree that both have become weaved into the fabric of our culture, but I believe they both are fighting for their very survival in a behind the scenes drama that is unfolding right now. Ecommerce generated over 150 billion dollars in the U.S. last year. Direct marketing generated over 100 billion dollars in sales of products globally last year. Obviously, two extremely powerful forces in our economy that have been able to grow north of 20%, year over year, even in these very difficult economic times. However, that may not be sustainable without a new and more consumer friendly model that actually shares the wealth in a more equitable way.

I believe these 2 economic powerhouses, online shopping and network marketing, are about to be re-aligned because it was only a matter of time before they had to in order to be able to continue their growth. The online shopping model was conceived and designed to make money for the Amazon.coms of the world and that is not working so well anymore. The network marketing model was designed and implemented to generate income for average folks, but to this point, has only really made money for those at the highest levels of direct marketing. I believe both models are about to be reconfigured in such a way as to push down the income stream from both models into the hands of the shopping consumer.

In my opinion, network marketing has become predatory, overly hyped and shamelessly promoted by relentlessly stretching the truth. Is it any wonder people are now having to be “sold” on the idea of getting involved in a more arm-twisting promotional program that has yet another exotic product to be pitched? The industry has morphed into something that clearly goes against the core principles that made the concept so appealing when it was first introduced over 40 years ago. That idea was to promote a product by truthfully sharing your own honest opinion, which in turn serves others in a way that allows them to better themselves by learning to help others, help others. I really don’t believe a model that has progressively worked more from the “corral, capture and coerce” mind set has any reasonable chance of continued success in the long run. Who among us is not tired of that way of doing business? In my opinion, this model is in the last days of its usefulness. It is either change or be ignored. The present model has only served to ostracize itself from the very people it so desperately wants to attract into its business.

In the last 10 years online shopping has exploded in popularity. Now it finds itself in a vicious cycle of price reductions in an effort to expand and/or even just maintain market share. There are so many online sites promoting products at ever cheaper prices that it is next to impossible to generate enough loyalty to get the consumer to stick. The affiliate model was introduced to help drive sales and promote customer loyalty. However, it has not worked because the payback to the consumer has just clearly not been enough. The expertise required to market an affiliate site in a way that captures enough sales is unattainable to the average person, and just too costly without expertise in this area. The same problem has been uncovered in the affiliate marketing program that haunts the online shopping model. Too many wallets chasing the same dollar, and it is too expensive to separate from that crowd to be noticed by a consumer who does not have a reason to be loyal. And we all know it is very crowded out there. Who among us feels any particular loyalty to a company?

The only consumer segment company I see effectively working within the present system, is Apple. They have done it with a unique value proposition on cutting edge products delivered with outstanding customer support. Is it any wonder they are having the success they are?

That is why a new model for both industries is necessary and crying out for the change I believe has already begun to shift the consumer product sales and promotion landscape. There is a way for you to benefit from both the needed change and being able to actually help cause this change to happen. Something actually unique and so different that people are attracted to it without having to be sold into it. A new model that does not require purchasing something new or exotic. Simply applying those same consumer dollars that are spent anyway, in a way that benefits you and ultimately others that you choose to help.

I have watched as a couple of guys built something from absolutely nothing into something pretty remarkable over the past 9 months. I’m impressed with what they have been able to accomplish and very excited about the change they may be able to bring about with this extraordinary program as they now start to roll it out to the public.

The two guys that are behind this are both very accomplished and experienced in their fields. Ron Loveless of WalMart and Sam’s Club fame. Plus Bob McNulty who started the whole internet shopping revolution with shopping.com.

It is a new ecommerce shopping platform unlike anything else out there. It combines online shopping with a simplified network marketing program in a way that nobody else has done before. Both models have been tweaked and combined into one powerful value proposition for the consumer who would like to shop and earn money online. I believe if this is done right, it has the potential to change the way we shop and make money online.

decide to be part of the change.