In A Down Economy, Nature’s Pearl Corporation Creates 2,382 Home-Based Businesses

Dec. 29, 2009 - PRLog -- ADVANCE, N. C.  – Nature’s Pearl Corporation announced today that since July, 2008, the company has generated 2,382 home-based businesses. The company converted from traditional retail sales to a network marketing model, beginning with 26 distributors in July, 2008. Nature’s Pearl distributorship continued to grow rapidly during the month of November, 2009, adding 129 distributors to hit a historic high of 2,382.
“Five years ago, if you had told me I would be selling muscadine products through thousands of home-based businesses, I would have told you that was impossible,” said Jerry W. Smith, Founder and CEO of Nature’s Pearl Corporation.  In 1990, Mr. Smith also founded Le Bleu Corporation, the 87th largest beverage company in the United States. He began to consider distributing Nature’s Pearl products through network marketing after studying entrepreneur Warren Buffett’s purchase of The Pampered Chef, Ltd.,  which Buffett called the best investment he ever made.
The Direct Selling Association estimates on their website, www.dsa.org, that 15 million people in America are involved in direct sales, with more than 66 million worldwide. 2008 sales totaled $30 billion in 2008 in the U. S.; and 74% of Americans purchased products or services through direct sellers.
“When I first got into Nature’s Pearl, I was not sure I was fond of the network marketing model,” said Cay Bacon from Tampa, Florida, who has a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ms. Bacon, co-owner of a printing business, first heard of Nature’s Pearl when Jerry Smith invited her and her business partner to hear about the new network marketing strategy in July, 2008.

“I saw a business opportunity,” said Ms. Bacon. “I liked the product, and I liked the business. It’s been very successful.”

Jeff Weigele, a sales and training manager with 30 years’ experience from Wilmington, N. C., also affirmed the attractiveness of the networking business model. “It is the kind of opportunity that if somebody works at it, in 90 days, you can create a secondary income in excess of $1,000 per month,” said Mr. Weigele. “Most people are worried about keeping jobs rather than advancing, and yet the financial residual with Nature’s Pearl continues to grow.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that from November 2008 to April 2009, payroll employment experienced the greatest monthly declines since the recession started, with monthly losses averaging 645,000 (http://www.bls.gov/web/ceshighlights.pdf).  Since the recession began in December 2007, payroll employment has declined by 7.2 million.

Terry Bralley, President of the Davie County Economic Development Commission in Mocksville, N. C., believes that e-commerce’s home-based businesses are the fastest growing segment of the U. S. industrial base.

“E-commerce provides jobs for millions of folks and lowers their overhead by working from home,” said Mr. Bralley, a former Davie County Manager. “These small businesses account for more than 52% of today’s workforce. Nature’s Pearl has superior products in the natural supplement industry, with demonstrated results.”

Nature’s Pearl Corporation currently has distributors in 49 states, with 18 corporate employees. The company has grossed over $2.2 million in sales; and Jerry Smith is convinced that in a shaky economy and uncertain future, older business models may undergo rapid change.

“In a recession we have to look for innovative ways to create jobs and make a positive impact on the economy, “said Mr. Smith. “After owning and operating traditional businesses for over 35 years, I am convinced that network marketing is the wave of the future.”

Brock Agee, President of Nature’s Pearl Corporation, estimates that his company will number 15,000 independent distributors by the end of 2010.

“We are prepared to hire 30 new staff members as we reach our sales goals,” said Mr. Agee. “We will need professionals in customer service, shipping, training and marketing positions.”

Terry Bralley, who travels across the United States to spur economic development for Davie County, is understandably excited about the Advance company’s expansion of entrepreneurs and small businesses.
“They are creating job opportunities at a phenomenal rate,” said Mr. Bralley. “With their success, they will help other logistics operations in our county with jobs, not counting growers and transportation industries, while improving the consumer’s quality of life.”

About Nature’s Pearl Corporation:
Nature’s Pearl Corporation, founded in 2005 in Advance, N.C., is a leader in the muscadine grape seed nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries, offering consumers worldwide high quality muscadine grape seed-based products.  In addition to Nature’s Pearl™ Premium Muscadine Grape Seed Supplement, the company has developed Natures Pearl™ Muscadine 20 Antioxidant Skin Care, including Ultra Rich Lotion, Skin Renewal Serum, Rejuvenating Skin Polish, Soothing Relief Spray, and Gentle Foaming Cleanser. Nature’s Pearl also produces 100% All-Natural Muscadine Grape Juice.  President and CEO Jerry W. Smith, founder of Le Bleu Corporation, established Nature’s Pearl after two years of research with muscadine grape growers and scientists. Nature’s Pearl has completed the first double-blind, placebo-controlled, human clinical trial researching Nature’s Pearl efficacy on cardiovascular function (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01011517?term=m...).
 Nature’s Pearl is also the only muscadine supplement company to fund in vitro cancer studies  on “The Effect of Muscadine Grape Seed and Grape Skin Extract on the Growth of Human Cancer Cells” at a major medical university. (www.naturespearlproducts.com).  
About Le Bleu Corporation:
Le Bleu Corporation, established in 1990, uses a unique patent-pending process to produce the purest and best tasting water in the world. Le Bleu’s five-step purification process eliminates the inorganic minerals and chemicals that may be present in other waters. Le Bleu offers 5-gallon delivery service to over 65,000 residential, business and industrial customers throughout North and South Carolina, southern Virginia and eastern Tennessee. Le Bleu package products are distributed nationally through major grocery chains, natural health stores, food service distributors and drug retailers. International
distribution of Le Bleu extends into a dozen countries, including: The Bahamas; Barbados; West Indies; The Cayman Islands; British West Indies; Japan; US Virgin Islands; British Virgin Islands; Turks and Caicos Islands; and Bermuda. Doctors and nutritionists worldwide recommend Le Bleu ultra pure steam-distilled bottled water for its purity and taste. Le Bleu was chosen “Best Non-Alcoholic Beverage in the Western Hemisphere” at the V Americas Food and Beverage Trade Show in 2003. Le Bleu received the “Best in Cold Beverages” Peoples’ Choice Award from the National Nutritional Foods Association in 2006; and has been listed in Beverage Industry’s “Top 100 Beverage Companies“ since 2005 (www.lebleu.com),

# # #

Nature's Pearl and Le Bleu Corporations are two separate companies founded by Jerry W. Smith in Advance, N. C. Le Bleu Ultra Pure Water is distributed internationally. Nature's Pearl Premium Muscadine Grape Seed products are sold through distributors.