CHENNAI, February 4: Attention all Hotmail users (and E-mail account holders): "Amway offers you the opportunity to own your own business. I am not looking for investment capital, just a few key people in India."If you find this message staring at you one fine morning on your Hotmail screen, don't be surprised.
For this is the line thrown at you by one of US multinational Amway's distributors aiming to establish a network in India.
It's no secret that the Internet is a potent tool to promote business.
If you are an Indian and a regular user of Hotmail - chances are you have already got this attractive business proposition.
An opportunity to own a tried and successful business without making any capital investment whatsoever. As Al Pacino would say in his macho voice, "It's an offer you can't refuse."
At least one distributor of the $7 billion Amway Corporation which is known for its innovative marketing tactics, has kicked off a drive to recruit distributors in India through "unsolicited E-mailmessages".
Selective users of Hotmail and possibly other E-mail services are being sent a letter inviting them to sign up by, apparently, one of the "Diamond Directs" - as Amway's top grade distributors are called.
If the invitation to join the Amway selling network catches your fancy, you are asked to E-mail the distributor who has sent you the message.
An appointment for you will then be fixed with an US-based Amway distributor, scheduled to visit India this week.
"These one-to-one discussions are authorised by Amway," said an Amway official.
"But these distributors are independent entrepreneurs."
However, should you have some doubts about the viability of being an Amway products seller, the message also lures you to link up to a personal homepage, which runs you through a case study of a couple who struck it rich - by taking up distribution of Amway products.
"This business has given the couple the opportunity to help others achieve their dreams and financial flexibility by building their ownAmway distributorships," the case study claims.
Amway's distribution methodology operates on the principle of exponential duplication where its customers act as distributors for its products.
This is done through discounts to the distributor which are in the region of 15 per cent.
Amway Corporation plans to structure its Indian operations through Amway India Enterprises, wholly owned by the Amway Group of Companies.
It plans to launch six products in India initially. Four of these will be home care products and two personal care products.
To be supplemented with new products every few months, they will be launched later this year in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta and Bangalore.
Amway India is headquartered in New Delhi. Starting with a single product in 1959, Amway's current product portfolio is extremely diversified.
It ranges from cosmetics, skincare, health and fitness products, homecare, laundry products (including detergents, bleaches and softeners), cookware, water filter system,footwear and much more.
It even has multimedia CD Roms and books for education and games as also gift articles.
Amway manufactures and markets more than 500 products and more than 100 products in joint venture with various multinational companies. It operates in 80 countries around the world.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
