BUSINESS
Everything you want to know about Market America
FACT: UPDATE — Market America Featured in The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area
An article about ma's incredible ma Cashback program is once again making headlines! This time Market America was featured in the June 21 issue of The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area.
Click here to view the article on triad.bizjournals.com
FACT: UPDATE — Market America Profiled as
Trusted Better Business Bureau Partner
Internet retailer, Market America, Inc. was recently profiled by the Better Business Bureau and featured in one of their television spots as a site they trusted.
FACT: UPDATE — Market America Ranked #1
Most Improved Online Retail Site
In addition to jumping 12 spots to place 54th on Internet Retailer's Top 100 list, Market America has made another incredible ranking — this time it's the top spot! Market America was rated the number one Most Improved of Top 100 Online Retail Sites for 2010 by ForeSee Online Retail Satisfaction Index.
The publication notes, " …as we emerge from the economic downturn, top retailers are once again investing aggressively in the online customer experience and recognizing the future value of a satisfied web shopper." This has been Market America's mission all along, and, as JR Ridinger says, "the proof is in the pudding." We are built on product and powered by people — and we are powerful indeed!
FACT: UPDATE — Marketamerica.com
Number 54
on
Internet Retailer
In 2008, marketamerica.com made the Internet Retailer's Top 100 for the very first time, placing 66th. With tremendous growth in 2009, in part due to the launch of the ma Cashback program, where you get paid for making purchases online and for referring others, marketamerica.com leaped 12 spots to #54!
Click here to check out a terrific article discussing online sales (and where they're headed)!
FACT: UPDATE — Market America Files Lawsuit Against Google
and LTech Consulting over Enterprise Search
On Tuesday July 7, Market America filed a lawsuit against Google, Inc. and LTech Consulting LLC (a Google partner and member of the Google Enterprise Professional program). The suit arises from Google and LTech overpromising the enterprise search capabilities they could deliver to Market America. Through Google and LTech, Market America sought to offer visitors to its site the ability to search for millions of products available for purchase on marketamerica.com, including Market America branded products and those from partner and affiliate stores. Google and LTech asserted they could offer a solution (based on the “Google Search Appliance” or “GSA”) that would enable searches of 30 million products within three months of implementation and 45 million products within six months, all with sub second response times. Market America is seeking compensatory damages from Google and LTech through the lawsuit.
Market America originally contacted Google in November of 2007. After months of trials and tribulations it became clear that Google and LTech could not provide a search platform with the power and speed they had promised — a search capacity essential to Market America’s continued business growth. More than 11 months after starting to work with Google and LTech; Market America determined they were not going to be able to provide an acceptable long-term solution.
Market America has since partnered with Microsoft FAST to provide site search on marketamerica.com, and the site has been running superbly and providing the necessary sub- second response times since its implementation. Internet Retailer and Network World have both praised the implementation of Microsoft FAST since it was launched in June and improvements are made daily to ensure marketamerica.com utilizes the very best search technology available on the Internet.
FACT: UPDATE — Market America has an A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Market America, an accredited BBB company since 2004 has an A+ rating from the BBB, the highest score available. BBB’s mission is to create an ethical business environment where buyers and sellers can trust each other. They assign grades from A to F with an A+ representing the highest grade and F the lowest. According to their website, the grade represents BBB’s degree of confidence that the business is operating in a trustworthy manner and will make a good faith effort to resolve any customer concerns. To view the BBB’s full report on Market America go to bbb.org.
FACT: UPDATE — Former Independent Distributor Dustin Mitchell
It has come to our attention that former Independent Distributor Dustin Mitchell is circulating a letter that he purports to have sent to Market America regarding Market America's recent communications to its Independent Distributors. Please note that this letter is nothing more than a "hoax". Instead, the letter appears to be no more than a carbon copy of a sample letter that can be found on the internet, and is not applicable to Market America's recent communication regarding Dustin Mitchell.
We appreciate the vigilance of our Independent Distributors. Please direct any inquiries or additional information to internetcompliance@marketamerica.com.
FACT: UPDATE — Former Independent Distributor Dustin Mitchell
Market America has received inquiries from the Field regarding former Independent Distributor Dustin Mitchell.
Dustin Mitchell has not been a Market America Independent Distributor since November 2008. He is not affiliated in any way with Market America, and may not represent himself as a Market America Independent Distributor.
Accordingly, please be advised that any communications from Mr. Mitchell that relate to Market America are not authorized by Market America, including but not limited to, websites, e-mails, or social network pages relating to (1) Market America, (2) nutraMetrix®, (3) Market America or nutraMetrix products or services, (4) Market America's directors, officers, or employees, or (5) Market America-related events.
Mr. Mitchell's extensive network on social networking sites continues to give the appearance that he is affiliated with Market America. You may want to consider removing him from your "friends" list.
Market America will maintain updated information regarding Mr. Mitchell's status on marketamericafacts.com.
FACT: UPDATE — MARKET AMERICA PREVAILS IN STEVE SAWYER APPEAL.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (June 4, 2008) —The North Carolina Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of Market America in Steve Sawyer’s appeal. On April 24, 2007 Superior Court Judge John O. Craig, III ruled in favor of Market America on Sawyer's claim under the North Carolina Wage & Hour Act contending that he was an employee rather than an independent contractor as stated in his agreement with Market America. On June 3, 2008 the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled that “the trial court did not err and that its order granting partial summary judgment for Defendant on Plaintiff's North Carolina North Carolina Wage and Hour Act claim should be Affirmed.”
To read the full ruling go to www.aoc.state.nc.us
FACT: UPDATE — JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR OF MARKET AMERICA IN LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY FORMER CONSULTANT.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 29, 2007) — A court ruled in favor of Market America in a lawsuit brought against the company by a former consultant. Superior Court Judge John O. Craig, III, granted partial summary judgment on April 24, 2007 in favor of Market America on Steve Sawyer's claim under the North Carolina Wage & Hour Act contending that he was an employee rather than an independent contractor as stated in his agreement with Market America. Sawyer immediately appealed the ruling rather than proceed with trial on his remaining claim.
FACT: UPDATE — A DISGRUNTLED FORMER CONSULTANT IS ATTEMPTING TO USE A LAWSUIT FOR PROFIT AND TO EMBARRASS MARKET AMERICA.
On April 24, 2007, Market America prevailed in a lawsuit brought against the company by a disgruntled former consultant, Steve Sawyer. The trial court granted partial summary judgment in favor of Market America on Sawyer’s claim under the North Carolina Wage & Hour Act contending that he was an employee rather than an independent contractor as explicitly stated in his agreement with Market America. Sawyer decided to immediately appeal the adverse ruling rather than proceed with trial on his only remaining claim.
The case arose out of Market America’s termination of Sawyer’s consulting agreement in 2006 after Sawyer made an unjustified demand for bonus compensation and refused to perform his contractual duties until Market America paid him. On March 3, 2006, Sawyer filed the action against Market America alleging breach of contract and a violation of the Wage & Hour Act. Sawyer’s consulting agreement with Market America stated that he was an independent contractor. In his complaint, however, Sawyer claimed he was, in fact, an employee and sought to obtain potential liquidated damages and attorneys’ fees on that ground.
The court ruled that Sawyer could not bring that claim.
Sawyer’s actions in the lawsuit are part of a continuing campaign by him against the company. After he filed his lawsuit, he began sending email to a confidential list of Market America distributors that he obtained while under contract with the company. In his emails, Sawyer reported that he “left” the company and not that his contract had been terminated. After Market America contacted his attorney regarding the misappropriation of confidential information, Sawyer stopped sending such email.
Thereafter, he posted a copy of his complaint on his Web site, which also made unauthorized use of Market America’s trade dress in the form of an eagle and a flag. Market America again contacted Sawyer’s lawyer to stop the use of his lawsuit as a method to drive traffic to his Web site and Sawyer was forced to remove the Market America trade dress elements. Nevertheless, Sawyer has continued to post information concerning the lawsuit, but has not posted Market America’s Answer to the complaint nor a copy of the judge’s recent ruling in Market America’s favor.
It is unfortunate that Sawyer has chosen to file a lawsuit and use it as a tool to promote himself and his business and to denigrate Market America. However, Market America remains confident that it will continue to prevail on all claims.
FACT: MARKET AMERICA IS A PRODUCT BROKERAGE AND INTERNET MARKETING COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN ONE-TO-ONE MARKETING AND MASS CUSTOMIZATION.
The company uses advanced technology that allows customers to design products that fit their personal needs. Independent distributors around the world sell these products through the UnFranchise® business system.
Product Brokerage – By operating as a product brokerage, Market America is able to operate without the burdens and restrictions of huge manufacturing facilities. The company seeks suppliers to fulfill customers’ high product expectations. Without the expense normally associated with re-tooling manufacturing, the company is able to easily adapt to the market and ever-changing customer needs.
One-to-One Marketing – In order to fully serve customers, a company must understand their needs and wants, which requires an intimate relationship. One-to-One Marketing establishes that relationship and uses it to collect and analyze massive amounts of data that help predict market shifts.
Mass Customization - Mass Customization is the mass production of individually customized goods and services. Mass Customization is the cost-efficient assembly of a product from preconfigured modules or components, in much the same way as Legos® components can be used to assemble various finished products. Do not confuse Mass Customization with customization, which involves production from scratch to a customized specification.
FACT: MARKET AMERICA HAS MAINTAINED SOLID GROWTH DESPITE LAGGING ECONOMIES WORLDWIDE AND STAGNANT JOB GROWTH.
Since its founding in Greensboro, NC in 1992, the company has grown into an international one-to-one marketing phenomenon with operations around the globe.
Despite fluctuating economies Market America has posted solid growth every quarter. The company publishes an annual report detailing every aspect of its business.
Click here to view the company’s annual report income statements.
FACT: MARKET AMERICA IS A PRIVATELY OWNED COMPANY.
In 2002, JR Ridinger took the company private by performing a stock buy-back. JR’s belief was that he could have better control and more effectively lead the company without the burdens of costly SEC filings and investor relations.
Though the company is privately-held, Market America continues to publish an audited annual report.
FACT: MARKET AMERICA PURSUES PHILANTHROPIC AND CHARITABLE AVENUES TO FURTHER ITS MISSION TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
Every year, Market America and it s employees give money and time to organizations such as the Red Cross, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Salvation Army, SPCA, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The company has also endowed business curriculum programs at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro to help foster entrepreneurial spirit and spur business growth.
About Market America, Inc.
Market America is a product brokerage and Internet marketing company that specializes in One-One-Marketing. With more than three million preferred customers and over 180,000 Customer Managers worldwide, the company has generated over $2.7 billion in accumulated retail sales. Headquartered in Greensboro, NC — the company was founded in 1992 by current president and CEO James Ridinger and employs over 500 people globally with international operations in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Australia. Through its revolutionary One-to-One Marketing concept, Market America combines the Internet with the power of people — creating the ultimate online shopping destination. More information is available at marketamerica.com.
