With more than 900 research and development professionals employed by Amway, discovery is job #1.

In fact, more than 1,000 patents have been secured during the company’s history and over 800 more are pending. Many of these discoveries are driven by customer demands, feedback from distributors or advances in the market.

But some of the best discoveries happen simply by accident.

Take, for example, the company’s invention of non-chlorinated automatic dishwasher detergent. In the 1980s, there was not a non-chlorinated product on the market and Amway wasn’t trying to develop one. But, while testing a potential product for soil removal, our R&D professionals noticed that the product eliminated spots. Upon further testing, it also seemed to clean plates, plastic and other flatware better than anything else.

Quickly, a new product was born.

“It was all just serendipity,” Amway Scientist Ernie Brumbaugh said. “The result of observation and the understanding that something unique was happening in front of our eyes.”

What came to be known as Crystal Bright Automatic Dishwashing Detergent is just one of many discoveries made by Brumbaugh, who’s been with Amway for nearly 43 years.  It’s also one of the reasons the company recently honored him with induction into the Amway’s new R&D Distinguished Scientific Leadership Society – the highest honor bestowed by the R&D division.

Would you like to own a piece of a Nutrilite Farm? Why stop there — how about a Nutrilite Lab? Amway Korea  has made it possible.

The more than 5 million users of a popular mobile game called Rule the Sky can purchase Nutrilite farms or crops, build Nutrilite structures and visit other users’ islands. It’s similar to Farmville, but in Rule the Sky users are on their own floating island in the sky called Flotia.

The marketing effort is called “advergaming,” and it’s not just a cool buzz word. When done correctly it can be a successful tactic with an immersive effect on players. Of the more than 5 million users of Rule the Sky, an average of 800,000 of them play 45-60 minutes more than once a day.

Rather than being exposed to a 30-second ad, a gamer’s attention is captured in a much more significant way. Advergaming also offers an additional measuring stick in the form of downloads: Nutrilite’s laboratory has been downloaded nearly 330,000 times. And Nutrilite’s El Petacal farm in Mexico? That’s been downloaded nearly 790,000 times.

So start tilling the virtual soil and rule the sky with your Nutrilite Farm!

Did you know we are growing? We are expanding Nutrilite manufacturing facilities at sites around the globe to meet increased demand and to continue to provide the high quality products customers have come to expect.

In Buena Park, California, a new granulation plant and a research and development facility are under construction. The new buildings, along with a new visitor experience at the Nutrilite Center for Optimal Health, are scheduled to open in late 2014 or early 2015.

Work began on these projects last year when we started demolition of the older facilities. We’re far enough along to provide regular construction updates, not only from Buena Park, but also from the new facilities we’re building in Quincy, Washington, at our World Headquarters in Ada, Michigan, and other locations around the world.

Right now in Buena Park, the construction team is installing structural steel. That will continue for about six weeks. The granulation tower has been the first priority and is far enough along to allow the second floor decking to begin.

Watch us grow on our Nutrilite Facebook page, where we will be sharing regular photos from our construction sites.

The journey to blotchy, spotted skin is filled with twists and turns – and often  takes years to appear. It’s the result of over-exposure to the sun’s damaging UV rays, hormonal shifts and basic biological aging. 

Uneven skin tone is emerging as one of the top three global skincare concerns among women, and the obsession to correct it is sweeping the world. From Asia to America, sun spots, freckles and acne scars are a major focus of scientists as part of the quest to achieve, flawless radiant skin.

Fortunately, with the help of ARTISTRY Research & Development scientists around the world, a new definition of radiance has emerged.

ARTISTRY Ideal Radiance is a breakthrough 3D Brightening Skincare System featuring a curated blend of soothing and brightening botanicals and cutting-edge technologies. It helps diminish the look of dark spots and discolorations for improved translucency, luminosity and evenness of skin tone. And that adds up to unmistakable radiance.

Ideal Radiance begins its global rollout March 2013 around the world.

Nutrilite’s new All Plant Protein Powder is unique because it uses a tri-blend of soy, wheat and pea protein to help keep you healthy and energetic without animal products or dairy. But it’s not just what’s inside the package that makes this product special. The canister itself has unique characteristics.

Packaging engineers and designers created multiple prototypes using wide variety of feedback to produce an All Plant Protein canister that really stands out. You’ll notice the uniqueness when you pick it up and hold it in your hand.

It has a visual connection with the NUTRILITE™ supplement bottle shape. The handle grip makes the container easier to hold. And the translucent green cap matches the color and transparency of a DOUBLE  X™ supplement tray. It’s also made of plastic, which has a smaller carbon footprint than our previous package and is more easily recycled into common recycling streams available around the globe.

So, when you open your All Plant Protein Powder, enjoy what’s inside, but take some time to appreciate the package it came in, too!

While many of the ingredients for our supplements are grown on our own organic farms, some are not so easily attainable. For our new Cal Mag D Plus supplement, we traveled all the way to the glacial fjords off the coast of Iceland to harvest the naturally calcified seaweed found in our product.

The seaweed starts out as a purple plant called coralline red algae. As it grows in the Icelandic fjords, it forms reefs and naturally calcifies. The motion of the sea breaks off bits of the calcified portions. They are carried by ocean currents and deposited in Maerl beds deep under the sea where our crew harvests them. This calcified seaweed is one of nature’s most concentrated botanical sources of calcium and magnesium.

Even in the waters off Iceland we certify our supplier to meet Nutrilite’s high NutriCert standards, which ensure that sustainable environmental and agricultural practices are followed in the production of ingredients used in our supplements. The harvesting crews use advanced GPS technology to gather the seaweed while protecting other delicate sea life.

Check out the photo album at our Nutrilite Facebook page that track’s Nutrilite scientist Kevin Gellenbeck’s trip to Bildudalur, Iceland to certify the harvesting operation.

Welcome to a new feature at the Amway Insider: 5 Minutes With…

Occasionally we will choose an interesting person connected to Amway or the direct selling industry and ask them a few quick questions. We’re very excited about our inaugural guest, Zac. We’ve written about him before, but this is the first time we got Zac to sit down for an interview. Thanks to Antonia Krunes of Amway Australia and New Zealand for tracking down the jet-setting stick figure.

How does it feel to be Amway’s unofficial “social mascot”?

Great! I love my Amway business and the great opportunity it offers. It’s so much fun being in my own videos and attending all the exciting Amway Achievers events. I love connecting with people through social media – it helps me share my great experiences with Amway!

What do you think about your social counterpart, Carlos, helping spread the word about Amway in Latin America?

Carlos is a legend – he’s doing a fantastic job at letting people in Latin America know about the best business opportunity in the world.

How many languages do you know?

I speak English, Spanish, Portugese and most of the other major languages. I’m a quick study!

Can you tell us about your latest video?

Sometimes people ask me if Amway products are worth the price tag. I know that nothing compares to Amway’s quality products – but I’m not sure how to tell others! So in my latest video I go on a journey to discover what makes Amway products world-class. I find out about the rich history of Amway’s products. They don’t manufacture to the lowest cost, but produce the best value. Watch it here and find out why “Nothing Compares to Amway!”

Can we find you on Facebook?

Sure can! I love Facebook and often pop up on the Amway Australia & New Zealand Facebook.

What do you think about fellow Aussie ARTISTRY Global Face Teresa Palmer.

Teresa is an Aussie beauty and a brilliant actress – she is taking Hollywood by storm! She is the perfect embodiment of ARTISTRY. Go, Teresa, go!

What stands out about your trip to Amway World Headquarters last year?

I definitely remember getting caught up on all of the episodes of “The Office” during the 14-hour airplane ride. Aside from that, so many things! I got to meet Amway Chairman Steve Van Andel and sit his office, which has an amazing view of the “flag promenade” where Amway displays the flags from every country where it does business.

I also loved touring the beauty research and development labs. They even gave me my very own lab coat! Walking down the Hall of Achievement was another eye-opening moment. If anyone reading this gets the chance to visit Ada, I’d highly recommend it – it was the experience of a lifetime.

Well, Zac, thanks so much for your time, and we look forward to your next video.

My pleasure, G’day!

We announced record sales this week of $11.3 billion for 2012. That very big number is representative of the many wonderful people and products behind a successful year:

• 21,000 employees.
• More than 900 scientists and technicians.
• 65 research & development labs.
• More than 1,000 patents granted, 800 pending.
• 2.7 million volunteer hours.
• 10 million children helped through the Amway One by One Campaign for Children.
• $3.5 billion in bonuses and incentives.

Watch the video to learn more. We look forward to another successful year!

YouTube Direkt

Today Amway’s parent company, Alticor, announced record sales of USD$11.3 billion for 2012. 

That’s a huge accomplishment, driven by the strength of our NUTRILITE™ brand, which accounts for 46 percent of product sales. The introduction of eSpring™ in China in 2012, the company’s biggest product launch ever, and the restaging of the ARTISTRY™ beauty brand, created excitement and generated strong sales. First-year sales of eSpring in China are expected to top USD$500 million.

Those are impressive numbers.  But we calculate success another way:  The strength of  the millions of Amway distributors operating their own businesses in more than 100 countries and territories, supported by more than 21,000 employees worldwide.  They are drawn to our business to earn extra income and create more flexibility and work/life balance. When they achieve, we achieve. 

That’s why in 2013 we’ll fuel their success through USD$335 million in investments in manufacturing and research and development expansions in the U.S., China, India and Vietnam.  We’ll continue to create innovative products in nutrition and beauty.  And we’ll find new ways to support our distributors doing business wherever they are.

Congratulations to our distributors and employees on another record year.  Thanks to you, we have a “strength in numbers” that creates success.

Cough, cough. Sniff, sniff. Achoo!

If that’s not you, it’s likely a family member or coworker suffering from the flu or just an annoying common cold.

You can’t always avoid those illnesses, but you can do your best to arm your body against them. Vitamin C plays an essential role in keeping your body’s natural defenses strong by maintaining healthy tissue and supporting the immune system.

However, your body cannot store vitamin C. If you load up on a 1,000-miligram tablet in the morning, you will only benefit from about 12 percent of that. The rest gets flushed out of your system.

Our Nutrilite scientists have found a solution. They developed Vitamin C Plus Extended Release, a plant-enhanced supplement made with vitamin C from both ascorbic acid and natural acerola cherries. The tablet uses a fibrous ingredient that expands to form a network after entering the stomach. As a result, it gradually releases vitamin C through the network as the tablet passes through your system.

“Using time release technology slows the release of vitamin C over an eight hour period, resulting in improved utilization at a highly efficient rate of approximately 80 percent of the given dose,” Nutrilite Research Scientist Dr. Dawna Venzon said. “The vitamin C is more effective.  It is not only absorbed better, but it also remains in the blood stream for a longer period of time, supplying a steady rate of vitamin C for your body to use.”

Another example of the best of nature combined with the best of science.