Daylight Savings Time – Fall Back | LocalGrunts.com Blog

Daylight Savings Time – Fall Back | LocalGrunts.com Blog

OnlineMLM.com problems

OnlineMLM.com got hit with a hacker attempt a few months back and has been a mess ever since. They finally got the forums working again.

http://www.onlinemlm.com/

MLM is crazy

MLM like any business requires work. Its simply nuts that so many people think they can pay $35 for a kit and get wealthy by attending meetings and reading rah rah material.

Who makes money in MLM? Those that frank bust their butts. Sure they can take it easy in a few years, but they put in a lot of work to get there. Too many focus on those that have "arrived" and have the sweet lifestle without seeing the many hours and years of effort that went in to make that happen.

Network Marketing is Not Dead

Despite recent claims, network marketing is not dead, its just changing.

More and more mlm companies are doing stuff online and letting distributors advertise online as well. The old companies still frown on online advertising. They will die out over time to be replaced by the forward thinking companies.

Heck I've had companies demand to be removed from the directory on OnlineMLM.com.
( http://www.onlinemlm.com/ )
How dumb is that? Free exposure and advertising, yet I get a letter from their attorney to remove their trademarked name from our site. Idiots.

Where did we go?

I've moved this blog to

http://www.onlinemlm.com/blog

Basically I wanted my own software so that I could tweak it more.

Come visit.

START A NEW HOBBY DURING NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING MONTH WITH TOP 10 TIPS

To Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month, Leading Scrapbook Company Will Give Away Scrapbook Kit Daily in May and a Grand Prize Scrapbook Starter Kit Worth Over $250


PLEASANT GROVE, UT – May 1, 2006 – Scrapbooking is one of the fastest-growing segments of the crafts industry. According to the Craft & Hobby Association scrapbooking is enjoyed by 25 million people and brings in over $2.5 billion a year. The hobby has become so popular that May was declared National Scrapbooking Month and May 6 is National Scrapbooking Day. To celebrate, Close To My Heart, a leader in the direct sales scrapbook industry, will give away one scrapbook kit daily during the month and one grand prize scrapbook starter kit worth over $250. The Get Started Scrapbooking Sweepstakes can be entered on the company website by going to www.closetomyheart.com.

Getting started in scrapbooking is often overwhelming to beginners. Close To My Heart Consultants offered the following tips to help beginners start celebrating relationships through the art of scrapbooking.

1) SIZE MATTERS: Decide what size scrapbook you would like to create. The most common are 12” x 12”. Smaller sizes are also becoming more popular, especially for making themed albums for special occasions, vacations, holidays, and more. Smaller albums are often found in 9” x 9”, 6” x 6”, and 3”x 3” sizes.

2) ORGANIZE PHOTOS: There are many ways to organize your album and photos, so find a system that works for you. A common approach is to store them in an acid-free box with categorized divider tabs. Another popular option is to group the photos you plan to scrapbook together and then store them in page protectors, making them easy to access when you have time to scrapbook. Using a photo-safe pen, write the date and other pertinent details on the back of your photos as soon as you get them. If you don’t have dates on the photos you have collected over the years, consider organizing them by theme or topic. Be selective about which photographs you choose to scrapbook, and pick favorites that ignite an emotion or have a compelling story behind them. The following are different organization methods to consider as you create each album. You may find yourself combining different approaches to get your message across effectively.

• 
  Chronological – Scrapbook the events of your life in order of occurrence.
• 
  Topical – Organize your album by topic including holidays, vacations, family members, etc.—those things that are most important and relevant to you.
• 
  Thematic – As you organize your thoughts and photos, is there one event or theme that stands out? This can be captured in a single album, emphasizing a meaningful part of life.

3) BASIC PRODUCTS: Stock up on basic supplies to get started including a ruler, a paper cutter, scissors, adhesives, cardstock, pens, markers, and page protectors. Be sure to use archival-quality products that are acid- and lignin-free to prolong the lifespan of your scrapbook to more than 200 years.

4) CHOOSE A THEME AND ESTABLISH A FOCAL POINT: Choose a theme, mood, or topic idea for your page. Having a particular concept in mind will help when you are coming up with the title, journaling, and layout. Your photos should be the stars of the layout—establishing a focal point will help those looking at your scrapbook know where to begin. Consider having favorite photos developed in a larger size or add matting behind the photo to help draw attention to your focal point.

5) SELECT A COLOR SCHEME: Pick a color out of your photo that you would like to “pull out” by choosing papers and cardstock that match or compliment that color. Generally 2–3 color combinations will help enhance your photograph. Have fun with it and step outside your comfort zone by trying colors you wouldn’t normally use.

6) WRITE JOURNAL ENTRY: Include a journal entry with each page. Use the “4 W Plus” system to get started: Who is in the picture? When did it happen? Where is it taken? What is happening? The “Plus” includes: How were you feeling at the time? Why was it important to you or those in the picture? Include things that someone just looking at the photo wouldn’t know. You may also consider including quotes or poetry that capture your thoughts on the topic.

7) COME UP WITH A PLAN: Sketch a template plan for your layout prior to adhering items to the page. Borrow ideas from scrapbook magazines, friends, and other resources. Close To My Heart Founder and CEO, Jeanette Lynton, recently released Cherish, a book with 50 two-page layout concepts that can be mixed and matched for endless possibilities. Look to non-traditional resources like a favorite shirt or store window display for inspiration.

8) EMBELLISH: Finish pages with special added embellishments like rubber stamps, stickers, ribbon, and other scrapbooking accessories. Use memorabilia to accent or embellish your page by including ticket stubs, brochures, maps, postcards, etc.

9) HAVE FUN: Make small, manageable goals. When you complete a page, remember that it’s one more page than you had yesterday. Don’t think about all the photos you would like to scrapbook or you might get overwhelmed; start with recent photos and work backwards. Scrapbooking is a fun and rewarding hobby that should never feel like a chore or a stress. Make projects one-of-a-kind, and don’t worry about mistakes—just get started.

10) USE A CONSULTANT: Close To My Heart has thousands of Consultants around the U.S. and Canada that can show you and your friends how to celebrate relationships through the art of scrapbooking, with a fast, simple, and easy approach in the comfort of your own home. You will receive personalized guidance and instruction, try out new tools and techniques, and learn to use time-tested, exclusive products not available in stores.

Close To My Heart® is an industry leader in innovative scrapbooking and stamping products, including the My Acrylix™ line of clear stamps, My Reflections™ Scrapbooking Kits, and several top-selling how-to programs, including the newest scrapbook layout volume, Cherish, available now. Headquartered in Pleasant Grove, Utah, the company distributes its products at Home Gatherings through thousands of Independent Consultants across the U.S. and Canada. For more information about ordering exclusive Close To My Heart products or becoming a Consultant, go to www.closetomyheart.com.

Natural Health Notified of Non-Compliance with NASDAQ Rule

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 26, 2006--Natural Health Trends Corp. (NASDAQ: BHIP), an international direct-selling company, announced today that on April 18, 2006 it received a letter from The NASDAQ Stock Market stating that the Company is not in compliance with Marketplace Rule 4310(c)(14), which obligates NASDAQ listed issuers to timely file those reports and other documents required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K was due on March 31, 2006. On May 8, 2006, the Company filed a Form 10-K that was incomplete, since it incorporated certain sections by reference from a proxy statement that has not been filed. The Company anticipates filing an amended Annual Report on Form 10-KA with the required information.

The Company timely requested a hearing with the NASDAQ Hearings Panel, and the hearing has been set for June 1, 2006. On May 23, 2006, the Company received a letter from NASDAQ stating that it had not received the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, and that this matter will be considered at the hearing on June 1, 2006, to determine the Company's continued listing. The Company will file this Form 10-Q late.
It is not anticipated that the Company's shares of common stock will be delisted before that hearing. However, if the Company fails to file its Amended Annual Report on Form 10-KA or its Form 10-Q, or fails to persuade the Hearings Panel to provide the Company with an exception to Marketplace Rule 4310(c) (14), the Company's shares of Common Stock may be subject to delisting by The NASDAQ Stock Market.

Natural Health Trends Corp. is an international direct-selling company operating in more than 15 markets throughout Asia, North America, and Latin America. The Company markets premium quality personal care, health and lifestyle products under the Lexxus brand and markets its nutritional supplement products under the Kaire brand. Additional information can be found on the Company's website, and management encourages interested parties to register for updated corporate information via e-mail on the Company's homepage, www.naturalhealthtrendscorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 -- Forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such statements may relate, among other things, to our relationship with our distributors; our need to continually recruit new distributors; our internal controls and accounting methods that may require further modification; regulatory matters governing our products and network marketing system; our ability to recruit and maintain key management; adverse publicity associated with our products or direct selling organizations; product liability claims; our reliance on outside manufacturers; risks associated with operating internationally, including foreign exchange risks; product concentration; dependence on increased penetration of existing markets; the competitive nature of our business; and our ability to generate sufficient cash to operate and expand our business. For a more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties of our business, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.

Keeping You Informed About BioPerformance

The following is a memo from BioPerformance today:

The Media

Don't expect a love fest with reporters anytime soon. It's a sad state of affairs, but true: negative news is easier to report. But as the media wears itself out on the negative, we expect a few reporters to begin asking positive questions: "Suppose these pills really work? Who would want to oppose that? Is there any company or agency who, knowing BioPerformance is effective, would continue to persecute the company? And if so, why?" We are the beginning of a revolution of conservation for fossil fuels! We are participating in breaking the addiction America has to oil!

Customer Service

We are proud of BioPerformance Customer Service which operates on a Fortune 500 model.
Communications to the Customer Service Help Desk are assigned a "ticket" so as to track the service requested and supplied. Since moving to this new Customer Service platform, we have processed more than 18,000 requests.

Cancellations, Refunds

We are deeply concerned about the hardship many of you have suffered,

• initially to our TREMENDOUS GROWTH which overwhelmed our manufacturers ability to produce product and therefore they had to enlarge their plant to increase production, and
  
• since then as the result of the TRO in the State of Texas.

Many of our seasoned MLM professionals have called to say they know: the greatest opportunity lies ahead, and they are staying the course for the even greater rewards. Nevertheless, IBOs who cannot or do not want to continue may cancel participation in the sales program at any time upon written, signed notice to BioPerformance. Cancellations cannot be accepted via e-mail, due to the potential for fraud. Upon notification or termination, the sponsoring IBO or BioPerformance will repurchase the unused and currently marketable inventory and sales aids purchased from BioPerformance within 30 days (or longer where required by State law) from the date of receipt of merchandise first ordered, at 90% of the IBO's net cost, less appropriate set-offs and legal claims. The term of the company IBO agreement is renewed every 90 days by the IBO buying or selling $150 BV (Business Volume). An IBO is renewed every 90 days on enrollment date if $150 BV (average of $50 BV per month) has been personally purchased or sold. All non-renewals will become INACTIVE and deleted if 90 days anniversary renewal is not met. All other requirements rehearsed in your back office apply. Requests for refund or cancellation should be sent via certified delivery to:

BioPerformance, Inc.
1300 West Walnut Hill Lane
Suite 100, Irving, TX 75038.

Rumors and Rumor Mongering

When Mark Twain read his own obituary misreported in in a daily newspaper, he quipped: "News of my death has been greatly exaggerated."So it is with BioPerformance: the rumors reported to us by our loyal IBOs are the stuff fiction is made of, not fact.One of the most comical denigrates our marketing channel, insinuating that if such an innovation as we have were found, it would be by a major chemical company. But BioPerformance isn't the first instance of a direct selling company that has had major impact on a single market. A few examples:

Shaklee helped popularize the importance of "biodegradable" detergents and a revolutionary product for the time: Multi-vitamins.

• At one time NSA sold nearly 1/3 of all water filters purchased in North America.
  
• PrePaid legal revolutionized access of common folks like us to legal services.
  
• AL Williams (now Primerica) taught America the benefit of term life insurance, and in the process grew to be largest insurance company in America.
  

Speaking of AL Williams, Art Williams once said of his early days going up against the insurance lobby: "Every morning, the first thing I asked for was copies of the negative newspaper stories. Virtually everyday someone was calling us a pyramid or saying our product was a fraud."Sound familiar?

That's right: BioPerformance is facing the same opposition AL Williams faced, and for many of the same reasons.

Thank You

I've received a huge amount of e-mails and letters wishing us well, asking what you can do. And again I want to thank every one of you who has stayed the course with me and with BioPerformance. I promise you: I will continue to represent your Company with every resource available to me.

Yours in Staying the Course,Lowell Mims

President of BioPerformance, Inc.