Industry News
September 2009
Guten Tag Germany - get ready for VIE at home
From left to right -Henrieke Buijvoets (National Sales Director, Germany), Britta Walter (National Sales and Training Manager, Germany)
SINCE it was launched 12 years ago, VIE at home, now one of the UKs largest party plan companies, has gone from strength to strength.
This year has been a particularly fortuitous year and one set to go down in the company’s history books. The year began with a successful management buyout from the Virgin Group by founders, Ros Simmons and Ratan Daryani; quickly followed by the acquisition of aromatherapy party plan company, Likisma, in April; May saw success at the DSA Industry Awards, with a coveted Innovation and Training Award for a brand new commission plan and training programme, also launched at the beginning of the year.
September is set to continue the trend for all things new, when the company officially launch a direct selling operation in Germany.
“As the largest and most important Direct Selling market in Europe, Germany is a natural choice for us” explains CEO Ros Simmons. “In order to grow as a business, it is imperative that we look beyond the borders of our home market and expand internationally. With a population of 83million consumers at the heart of Europe, Germany offers us the scope to not only build a strong direct selling business in a market already accustomed to shopping in a direct selling environment but also as a base to springboard out into the rest of Europe over time.”
VIE at home understand the importance of a well balanced mixture of product, people and the right plan to be successful in any market and they have a strong recipe for success in Germany.
Henrieke Buijvoets, National Sales Director, will head up VIE at home’s operation in Germany. Henrieke is no novice to the direct selling industry, with over 10 years experience at a
senior level in party plan companies including The Body Shop At Home, PartyLite and NuSkin for Germany, Austria and the Benelux countries.
Another experienced party plan professional, Britta Walter, also joins the team as National Sales Manager. Britta brings with her a wealth of experience including Jafra Cosmetics, PartyLite, Just and The Body Shop At Home.
VIE at home, recognises that each market has its own cultural distinctions and that a plan from one market cannot necessarily be transplanted into another. Grace Elphinstone, International Marketing Manager, explains, “We have a successful income plan formula in the UK but just because something works in our already established and mature home market doesn’t mean it will work in another market with its own established competitors and a different customer and Consultant. We have therefore treated the German market as a blank piece of paper, assessing every element of the income opportunity and wider Consultant and customer proposition.
This approach has ensured that we can offer Consultants and customers the very best service, hostess programme and of course income opportunity needed for a competitive and successful launch in the market.”
Henrieke Buijvoets comments, “My team and I are very excited about joining VIE at home at this period of prosperity.
For us it is a great chance to launch one of the largest direct selling companies in the UK into the German market.
“It was refreshing to have the opportunity to create a completely new plan for Germany and we are confident we have the best business start for Consultants and a very generous hostess programme. Best of all, it is customised for the German market.
“VIE at home continues to extend its competitive edge to achieve the most attractive income opportunity for German women, who intend to build a strong business. We have no doubt that VIE at home will soon become one of the largest direct selling companies in Germany.”
With their ambitious and well thought out plans, experienced and professional team, and of course their award winning cosmetics and skin care products that UK customers have
already grown to love, VIE at home is set to make a big impact on the German market place this autumn.
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