Country Focus
January 2010
4Life chooses Spain as first European market
STRONG local networks managed by Distributors in other parts of the world made Spain the ideal market when 4Life Research decided to expand into Europe.
Spanish-speaking Distributors were already doing good business in the Iberian region before the company officially entered the market, including the top Distributor in the world, who lives in Puerto Rico.
“Being the first office in Europe is a great responsibility and now we are doing the same thing, expanding into other countries through the personal contacts of our own Distributors here,” said General Manager Rafael Fernandez. “We can see a lot of interest, especially from the UK and Germany, where many of our people have a fast-growing network.
“Multi-national companies often start their expansion in these Anglo-Saxon markets, but, once again, 4Life is breaking barriers and doing things differently.”
Having opened here at the end of 2007, the company now has more than 5,000 Distributors and saw growth of 17 per cent in its fi rst year. Market entry coincided with the start of the economic crisis, and while the country has been badly affected, the situation has not been an obstacle. “On the contrary, it enabled us to break sales records straight away and experience solid and consistent growth from the start,” added Rafael. Company President Stew Tew announced record sales for October (as Direct Selling News Europe went to press) with overall sales more than 25 per cent up over the previous year. The 4Life international product registration department is working on 91 product registrations in 25 countries.
In Spain, this momentum has continued, due in part to the launch of a new product, Rio Vida Burst, a gel form of an already popular drink called Rio Vida, and also the effect of the company’s recent global convention in Florida. Rafael went on, “These events are always highly motivational and our people go home full of excitement and energy which translates into additional activity and new business.”
For 12 years the company has pioneered the research and development of Transfer Factor products, a unique product range comprising exclusive natural formulas to promote well-being and patented by 4Life. “The company’s success is built on three principles: science, success and service,” said Rafael. “What makes us different is our commitment to people… to improving their well-being, helping them earn money and serving the community. Our compensation planis one of the most generous.
Charity donation of €10,000: 4life founders David and Diana Lisonbee, Rafael Fernandez (General Manager) and from nuevo Futuro Association Marta Herrero Zubirana and Francisco Moreno Bardaji
“Through our Foundation 4Life we help organisations that care for children. Here in Spain, we recently signed an agreement with Nuevo Futuro Association that has been taking care of vulnerable children for 20 years. Our partnership is not just about sharing our products and fundraising but also volunteering so Distributors and employees get personally involved.
“Our priorities for 2010 are to strengthen this ‘service’ element, consolidate our local operation and launch a new line of cosmetics to give us another source of growth.
New European consumer-protection laws will make the direct selling channel more robust to strengthen service and interaction with the customer. Combined with our exclusive and patented products, we believe we can achieve our goal of taking this business to every corner of Europe.”
