Market America

Market America was founded in 1992 by former Amway distributor James Howard Ridinger and his wife Loren Ridinger. The company is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina and employed over 800 employees as of 2016. Over the years, the company has sold items such as auto care, electronics, apparel, water filtration systems, flowers, coffee, and oral hygiene through affiliations with outside companies that advertise and offer these items on the firm's site.

In 2001, the company went private after James and Loren Ridinger purchased all of its outstanding shares. It had initially been publicly traded since 1994.{{cite web|title=Market America CEO looks to take company private|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2001/10/15/daily28.html?page=all|access-date=26 March 2012}}{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Elise |date=2021-04-30 |title=Sezzle (ASX:SZL) to register for U.S. IPO |url=https://themarketherald.com.au/sezzle-asxszl-to-register-for-u-s-ipo-2021-04-30/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=The Market Herald |language=en-US}}

In late 2010, the company bought shopping comparison firm Shop.com for an undisclosed amount.{{cite web |url=https://www.internetretailer.com/2011/04/04/market-america-plugs-technology-upgrade-shopcom |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505150531/https://www.internetretailer.com/2011/04/04/market-america-plugs-technology-upgrade-shopcom |archive-date=2016-05-05 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Shop.com finds a buyer |url=http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2010/12/shopcom-backed-by-bill-gates-and.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217071214/http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2010/12/shopcom-backed-by-bill-gates-and.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 December 2010 |access-date=26 March 2012}}

In July 2021, Market America announced its partnership with Verb Technology, Inc., a company that provides interactive video-based sales enablement applications, including interactive livestream ecommerce. Market America began to use Verb's services to provide its distributors with interactive, live-stream broadcasts that have a “click now” feature that is available to customers interested in purchasing products during the live broadcast. It was to be made available to all company distributors worldwide.{{cite web|date=2021-08-18|title=VERB to Showcase Interactive Video-based Sales Solutions at Sidoti August Microcap Conference|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/verb-showcase-interactive-video-based-123000863.html|access-date=2021-10-09|website=YAHOO|language=en-US}}

In August 2021, Market America announced its partnership with Sezzle, a financial technology and publicly-traded company with a “buy now, pay later” online payment provider, where shoppers can pay for their total purchase in four installments over six weeks with zero interest.{{cite web|date=2021-07-19|title=Market America Worldwide Launches Sezzle's Top-Rated Buy Now, Pay Later Online Payment Platform on Its Top 100 E-Commerce Site, SHOP.COM|url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/market-america-worldwide-launches-sezzle-s-top-rated-buy-now-pay-later-online-payment-platform-on-its-top-100-e-commerce-site-shop-com-1030621943|access-date=2021-10-09|website=markets.businessinsider.com|language=en}}

{{MOS|section|date=May 2020}}

Market America's product categories include health and nutrition (Isotonix), home and garden care (Snap), pet care (Pet Health), automotive care (Autoworks), weight management (TLS), personal care (Royal Spa, Fixx, Skintelligence), cosmetics (Motives by Loren Ridinger), jewelry (Loren Jewels, Yours by Loren Ridinger), and water filter systems (Pure H2O). Services include personal financial management (maCapital Resources) and Internet marketing services for small to medium-sized businesses (maWebCenters).

The firm's Isotonix line of dietary supplements was introduced in 1993, and came to include more than 20 products.{{cite web |title=Isotonix Delivery System |url=http://isotonix.marketamerica.com/Corporate/USA/Learn/Delivery |access-date=26 March 2012}} Its Prime line consists of 12 supplement formulations.{{cite web |title=Prime Anti Aging Nutraceuticals |url=http://www.marketamerica.com/brands-213/prime.htm# |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920212241/http://www.marketamerica.com/brands-213/prime.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 September 2010 |access-date=29 September 2011}} In 2004, the Transitions Lifestyle System (TLS) weight management program was introduced.{{cite press release |title=Market America 2010 International Convention: Looks to Social Media, Celebrity Partnerships & Technology Enhancements, Scottie Pippen & Kim Kardashian Partner with Market America |url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/08/prweb4377234.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813024112/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/08/prweb4377234.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 13, 2012 |date=11 August 2010 |access-date=1 August 2011}}

According to Market America, all of its products are manufactured by other firms and are exclusively marketed by Market America. The company refers to individual persons and business entities as independent distributors or "UnFranchise Business Owners" who may also operate online retail websites called "Partner Stores".{{cite web |title=Partner Stores |url=http://www.marketamerica.com/index.cfm?action=shopping.wpAddStoresSS |access-date=23 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823201756/http://www.marketamerica.com/index.cfm?action=shopping.wpAddStoresSS |archive-date=23 August 2011 |url-status=dead }} Individual distributors pay startup and monthly fees, and are expected to recruit others.{{cite book |author=Steven Gaines |title=Fool's Paradise: Players, Poseurs, and the Culture of Excess in South Beach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bw8rSSPg298C&pg=PA6 |date=27 January 2009 |publisher=Crown/Archetype |isbn=978-0-307-45221-4 |pages=6–}}

Market America distributors are eligible to earn money from product sales commissions and recruiting new members to their sales team. In June 2017, the startup fee to become a Market America distributor was reportedly $399 plus additional monthly payments of $129. Market America representatives operate as independent contractors, but are required to spend between $130 and $300 on Market America products and attend seminars and training events that are estimated to cost between $20 and $200 each.

Market America has been criticized as an "incarnation of multilevel marketing" whose products are "almost interchangeable with what you could find in your local CVS or Duane Reade for half the price" and as a business driven by "distributors finding customers, introducing them to Market America products, and then explaining to them that by selling this product, they can become as wealthy as, well, JR Ridinger."

In 2004, consumer awareness group president Robert FitzPatrick commented that based on available figures, the company's growth "could not go on forever" and disputed the claim that "distributors can achieve financial independence".{{cite news |last=Hoag |first=Christina |title=Direct Sales Company Allows Miami-Area Founders to Enjoy Extravagant Lifestyle |work=The Miami Herald Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News |date=16 February 2004 |access-date=2014-05-02 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-113313524.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611135126/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-113313524.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 June 2014 }}

In 2010, Market America began acquisition of Shop.com, a shopping comparison site on the Internet.{{cite web |title=Market America to buy Shop.com |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2010/12/15/market-america-to-buy-shopcom.html |date=15 December 2010 |access-date=March 26, 2012}} The acquisition combined shop.com's database technology with Market America's Cashback program and network of independent distributors ("Independent Shop Consultants"). Market America was to remain in Greensboro, N.C. and the previous shop.com staff were to remain in Monterey, California and London, UK. In September 2011, the two-step integration process was half-complete.{{cite web |title=Market America completes the heavy lifting of integrating Shop.com |url=http://www.internetretailer.com/2011/09/19/market-america-completes-heavy-lifting-integrating-shopc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923221415/http://www.internetretailer.com/2011/09/19/market-america-completes-heavy-lifting-integrating-shopc |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 23, 2011 |date=September 26, 2011 |access-date=March 26, 2012}}{{cite web |title=Market America's American Dream Machine |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_27/b4235068745806.htm |work=June 23, 2011 |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=1 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528193145/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_27/b4235068745806.htm |archive-date=28 May 2014 }}

In a 2017 federal lawsuit, two distributors accused the company of violating the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and California state law. The lawsuit calls Market America a pyramid scheme, noting Market America's claim that "the only way to fail under MarketAmerica’s business model is to quit." The suit claims the company targets Chinese-American immigrants to sell products to friends and relatives in Asia. The lawsuit characterizes Market America's business practice as "racketeering" and says that "while the executives tell distributors they can earn more than $560,000, only those at the top make that kind of money. Ninety percent of sellers do not receive a penny". In April 2019, the California case was transferred to a court in North Carolina and consolidated with another suit.{{cite web|title=MarketAmerica|url=https://www.truthinadvertising.org/marketamerica/|date=2019-05-09|website=Truth In Advertising|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-16}}{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Matt |title=Class Accuses Market America of Racketeering |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/class-accuses-market-america-racketeering/ |website=Courthouse News |publisher=Courthouse News Service |access-date=10 June 2017}}

In 2020, Truth In Advertising started an investigation into Market America. The investigation found that "in the first nine months of 2020, Market America published more than 450 deceptive income claims across its website, blog and social media pages". According to the organization, "As a 28-year veteran of the MLM industry with seasoned lawyers on staff, Market America should not have to be reminded of the rules. And the rules state that using atypical earnings claims to recruit distributors is not only deceptive, it's against FTC law". The investigation resulted in Market America removing approximately 750 marketing claims from various media.{{cite web |title=What You Should Know about Market America |url=https://www.truthinadvertising.org/what-you-should-know-about-market-america/ |website=TINA.org |publisher=Truth In Advertising |access-date=14 July 2021}}

In a 2016 episode of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver featured Market America in a segment on multi level marketing scams.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Mike |title=John Oliver: Herbalife and Amway are Pyramid Schemes |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/23316-john-oliver-last-week-tonight-herbalife-amway |website=inverse.com |date=7 November 2016 |publisher=Inverse magazine |access-date=1 June 2021}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.marketamerica.com/}}

{{Multi-level marketing}}

Category:Online retailers of the United States

Category:Retail companies established in 1992

Category:Marketing companies established in 1992

Category:Companies based in Greensboro, North Carolina

Category:Multi-level marketing companies