Neora

Neora’s challenge of FTC closes surprising year

Another year has ended, but what a year it has been! Who could have imagined that 2019 would bring the end of AdvoCare’s multi-level structure, or the filing of a lawsuit against the foremost agency that prides itself for its fight against direct sellers? 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been a subject in nearly every one of our 12 issues in 2019, which clearly speaks to the agency’s extensive influence in our channel. This month, both our cover story, page 1, and our Getting Real interview, page 25, explore the Neora lawsuit against the FTC in depth. 

Neora’s challenge against the FTC’s basic right to file suit against any company on the grounds of overreach is unprecedented. 

But the past year has seen the agency behave in such a slippery manner, including making allegations against direct sellers for behaviors and attributes they’ve previously signaled as legal. The lawsuit against the regulatory agency is certainly most welcome, and frankly a relief that standards may be made more clear. 

In fact, I wonder if this lawsuit, along with recent court decisions that appear to curb the agency’s authority, will provide a very different backdrop in which the FTC operates in 2020. 

We’ve also seen many companies arise or join the channel with new strategies such as instant pay, flatter genealogy structures and other significant compensation plan alterations intended to keep them clear of any regulatory agency scrutiny. The success of these companies could significantly alter the face of direct selling in the coming years.

In this issue, don’t overlook our custom-designed infographic in The Optics: Women in Leadership. The graphic highlights a few of the accomplishments that women have made in business over the last 150 years. 

It makes for an interesting companion to the Special Report, which explores the lack of female leadership in many companies, including those in the direct selling channel. 

Also this month, The Ranks features a compilation of our 2019 lists, cataloged for your easy reference. You can review all of the lists in their entirety on socialsellingnews.com.

I hope you enjoy this last issue of the year. From our team here at Social Selling News, we wish you and your loved ones to have a blessed holiday season. We’ll see you in 2020!