BIZCHINA / Center

Nu Skin to expand for direct sales
By Wang Lan (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-08-04 11:03

US cosmetics firm Nu Skin is planning to recruit an army of up to 5,000 direct sellers in Shanghai by the end of this year.

Expansion plans also include opening 100 service centres in the city and 40 more specialty shops across the country, taking the total to 180.
 

Nu Skin Enterprises' Tru Face Essence. Nu Skin Enterprises Inc, a direct seller of skin-care products, said on July 31 quarterly profit fell 38 percent on sales declines in North Asia and Greater China. [Reuters]

"Our strategy features a dual focus we give priority to specialty shops with their full-time contracted employees on the one hand, and service centres with their part-time direct selling staff on the other," said Qiu Jinyun, president of Nu Skin China, at a press conference in Shanghai yesterday.

The world's leading direct seller of personal care and nutrition products, Nu Skin was granted a direct sales licence by the Ministry of Commerce on Monday, five months after rival Avon secured the first of the licences in the country.

"This direct sales licence shows government recognition of our leading position in the business line. Abiding by the laws and regulations also helped us gain the government's trust," said Qiu.

"Despite having the direct sales licence, we still face unprecedented competition from our peers, " added Qu.

Apart from Nu Skin, the commerce ministry also granted licences to three other companies selling nutritional supplements domestic companies Ant Power and Zhen-ao, and Hong Kong-invested Pro-Health Care.

In contrast to cosmetics giant Avon, Qiu said, Nu Skin is following a cautious growth strategy in China.
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