Melaleuca is a billion-dollar wellness company that has been confronted with this question for many years.
In this article, I’ll share my expertise in the MLM industry and provide my Melaleuca Review.
So, is Melaleuca an MLM?
Yes!
But here’s the secret.
I’m not sure if that matters.
An MLM is just a simple business model.
What you’re reeeallllyy probably asking is…
Is Melaleuca a pyramid scheme?
And the answer here is…
Nope.
But we’ll get into that.
Let’s go!
In this post, I have taken a deep dive into if Melaleuca is a multilevel marketing company or not and how their âaffiliateâ program [not much different than the affiliate marketing I am involved in] is different from the norm.
With a lot of experience with this company and others like it in the networking marketing arena, Iâll share some of my insights on the industry in general.
And if you’re on this post because you’re searching for a side hustle, you might also want to go ahead and bookmark these others guides we have:
What is Melaleuca? An MLM?
Established in 1985, Melaleuca (not Melalueca or Melaluca!) is a wellness company that claims to be the largest online wellness shopping club in North America.
It manufactures and sells a full line of over 400 world-class wellness products, supplements, nutrients, and functional foods.
They have direct control over the ingredients used in their products.
Meaning the amount of time between manufacturing and you using the product is short.
Melaleuca gets over 1 million shoppers every month, and has an over 96 percent month-to-month reorder rate.
Yes, the website looks like itâs trying to party like 1999, but the ordering experience via the app is really simple.
Sidenote:Â if you accidentally spelled it Melaluca, Melalueca, or any other variation, youâre definitely not alone.
Itâs a toughie.
Letâs dive a bit more into their promo methods.
[Related Reading: Is Zyia Active an MLM?]
How Does Melaleuca Promote Its Products?
Rather than sell its products in retail stores like Wal-Mart or Walgreens, Melaleuca relies on word-of-mouth marketing from its customers and ships products directly to their homes.
This alternative strategy enables Melaleuca to compete against giant manufacturers that spend billions in advertising each year.
It also allows Melaleuca to duck the expensive turf wars over shelf space in the retailersâ stores.
Instead, Melaleucaâs business model compensates âmarketing executivesâ (a term it uses for business builders who refer customers and help them set up shopping accounts.)
To date, Melaleuca has paid $4.5 billion to these sales executives who have made referrals and helped others to do so.
The general idea of the model of this company and many other old ones in the industry.
Think Amway, Mary Kay, Herbalife, or even new-age companies like Zyia that sell activewear (my wife, a rep, just got me some killer stretchy business casual pants).
These are giants in the industry that operate on similar models — cut out middlemen, donât fight for retail shelves, and pay reps to market your product instead of millions in advertising campaigns.
Itâs that simple.
I find it humorous that reps of these companies (specifically Melaleuca here) have to defend themselves on being an MLM (multi-level-marketing) or not.
But let me give you a few additional thoughts on multilevel marketing based on my experience.
Here are some things you can ask to look closer at opportunities.
Related Reading: Is Monat A Pyramid Scheme – Check Out Here.
If you prefer a video, watch this or view it below.
Or, carry on reading…
My Melaleuca Review
Give your MLM opportunity the âole MLM Test!
âIs Melaleuca an MLM?â your friends ask when you tell them about it.
âNo, and hereâs why. See we only have a x-factor tier and you donât get paid on multiple layers deep until the 5th tier. The sublevels have to level up with your subreddit and substack.â
Ok, I made that up. Â
Itâs just funny that companies have to defend whether they are an MLM or not.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of bad apple companies that Iâve run across out there.
But who cares?
I think you’re asking the wrong questions.
These are the rules I use to examine any sort of direct sales, networking marketing, or MLM opportunity (I think the three of these are interchangeable).
My MLM Test (Great For Melaleuca Reviews)
I have two simple tests for you if you happen to be looking at these opportunities and wondering if Melaleuca is an MLM.
Test 1:Â Is the company more focused on selling great products and promoting those or are they more concerned and focused on selling the idea of recruiting others and getting paid for that?Â
This second part is where it can get sticky as a company begins getting built a bit more on a house of cards.
Test 2: Is the product or service one that you would be happy to pay for at the price?Â
Is it even a product or service that you could learn to get excited about?Â
Maybe even share it with your friends like you already do with countless other products that you use and love?
If a company can pass those 2 tests, then itâs probably a great opportunity for you to seriously look at further. Â
Melaleuca Reviews: You will have to test the opportunity for yourself with the above questions. I would argue that they are definitely passionate about the products that are offered.
And Melaleuca makes some incredible products. The second question is going to be for you to decide. If you buy all of your products from Dollar Tree and you have no concern for how products you use are made, then you won’t find great deals with Melaleuca.
But if you already purchase products with carefully picked ingredients, then you may find some new favorites with Melaleuca (wait until you smell the laundry detergent!)
Conclusion – So is Melaleuca an MLM?
Ok, let me first ask you this – âDoes the term scare you or are you just looking for an answer?â
With the basic definition of a multi-level marketing company, yes it is.
Because youâre getting paid on multiple levels.
If the MLM (or multi-level marketing) phrase is negative to you and you tie it to the term pyramid scheme, then no, itâs not.
I understand why companies want to detach themselves from the term.
Because the term means different things to different people.
But I honestly think itâs the wrong question.
Really, who cares?
Today, companies like activewear company Zyia (my wife recently became a rep after trading in 95% of her closet for athleisure) are modern-day affiliate programs where you become a customer and use the product.
They then reward you for promoting the products to people in your network when you make sales.
This is affiliate marketing at its core.
Just revert back to my 2 test questions from above when looking at any opportunity.
1:Â Is the company more focused on creating a great product or recruiting people?
2: Would you be happy to use the product or service yourself and purchase at the price points?
Does it pass both tests?
Good, then itâs probably worth looking at whether you call it direct sales, MLM, or networking marketing.
Typically, itâs all very similar.
If you’re looking for Melaleuca Reviews, you’re going to find different opinions based on personal experience. So be sure to take these with a grain of salt.
So is Melaleuca an MLM?
Iâll let you be the judge.
Good luck!
