Written by SuzyQ

Wow! So much excitement in the Mary Kay world as we work our way towards the end of the Seminar Year… Can you believe all the perks and such that MK is offering? $175 in products, so essentially your seminar is paid for? Cool! (Do you want what they are offering for $175? No matter, you can sell it if you don’t)

All over the MK world I have heard that the mineral foundation is the fastest selling MK product since, can’t remember, Microderm? Cellu-Shape? Whatever, it is HOT HOT HOT. Except for the returns and the talc issue. Limited colors and the colors smear and they are so tiny and the cases smudge, and there are some other concerns but, hey, what a great product!

And a new lawsuit! Oh, the drama! Of course Mary Kay Cosmetics has your best interests at heart, so it’s all good and well in the MK world. Unless, of course, you or your consultants were Touch of Pink’s customers and then it’s an oopsie. It is so not about Touch of Pink, it is about you, dear ones.

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My sources from inside Mary Kay Inc. tell me three things:

• Recruiting is down (You wondered why there seemed to be more contests than ever for recruiting?)
• Sales are down, and even expansion into India isn't fixing this problem (Maybe they need another ordering contest?)
• Product returns by consultants are up (Have you called to return your inventory and been told, "Sorry, they're too busy, call back later"?)

But what proof do I have? I still haven't been able to get my hands on any financial statements, as hard as I've tried. (Come on... somebody has to be willing to give up the goods!)

So technically, we don't have any hard evidence of the declining numbers at Mary Kay Cosmetics. But management has given one small hint.

Each year, in February or March, the company puts out a press kit. In that press kit, they brag about the prior year's sales figures and the number of consultants and directors around the world.

This year's press kit was released on...... Well, wait. It's May. There's no press kit to be had for 2008, so we have no idea what the numbers were for 2007. What could that mean? Could it mean that numbers are down (just like I've been told) and the company is too embarrassed to put it in writing?

Friday afternoon, we got word that Mary Kay Cosmetics had filed a lawsuit against Touch of Pink Cosmetics . We discussed it all weekend, and I’m not going to post anything new today. I’m going to give everyone who missed all the fun a chance to catch up. There are a ton of good comments on this topic.

Here’s my brief summary of the situation… as a non-lawyer, of course…

Mary Kay has filed suit, alleging trademark infringement, among other things. They’re saying that Touch of Pink infringed on their trademark by using the name “Mary Kay” on their website. Mary Kay also made allegations about exactly what is said on the Touch of Pink website, although even the printouts of the site that the lawyers included with the lawsuit completely contradict their allegations.

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This is a transcript of the voice message Mary Kay Inc. president of U.S. operations Darrell Overcash left for sales directors today about the lawsuit against Touch of Pink Cosmetics (details on the lawsuit below):

This is Darrell Overcash and this message is being sent to all Independ Sales Directors. We want you to be among the first to know that on May 7th, Mary Kay Inc filed a lawsuit in federal court in Dallas TX against Touch of Pink Cosmetics and its owners, Amy Weber and Scott Weber.

 

With this lawsuit, MK seeks to prevent Touch of Pink Cosmetics and the Webers from their improper procurement and sale of Mary Kay products and their misuse of the company's trademarks and goodwill. Mary Kay made the decision to pursue litigation after careful consideration of all the company's options. Litigation is a serious undertaking and is rarely a swift or easy process.

 

However Mary Kay is committed to vigourously pursue this litigation in order to protect your individual rights to conduct your business as Independent Beauty Consultants, Independent Sales Directors and Independent National Sales Directors AND to protect the Ultimate Consumers of Mary Kay Products.

 

We know you will support us in this effort and we sincerely appreciate your cooperation, concern, and patience as we move forward with this litgation. If you do have any quesitons about this matter, plesae feel free to contact the legal support team at 972 687 5777. Thank you.

Contrary to the email being circulated by Joanne Hollingsworth, Pink Truth is not being sued. Touch of Pink Cosmetics is being sued. See below.

Darrell Overcash just sent a voice message to all Mary Kay sales directors. Mary Kay Inc. is filing a lawsuit against Touch of Pink Cosmetics . The company is a known liquidator of Mary Kay products. They basically help beauty consultants who were frontloaded with tons of product. The company purchases it from the consultant at a discount, and then passes those savings on to consumers. It’s a win for everyone: consultant unloads useless overstock, customer gets a discounted product, and Touch of Pink makes a little money in the process.

Mary Kay Inc. v Amy L Weber, Scott J Weber, and Touch of Pink Cosmetics
Trademark Infringement

The entire complaint in the case can be seen here. This is my summary of what the case is about:

Amy is a former Mary Kay consultant. Amy, her husband, and Touch of Pink are accused of encouraging and helping consultants to violate the terms of their contracts with Mary Kay and confusing and deceiving customers through the "wrongful" use of the Mary Kay name and trademark to sell products on their website and on eBay.

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Written by Lazy Gardens

Seven for Seven: Team Building Tactics for Wanna-Bees

Mary Kay upliners are fond of numbered lists, so here's a list of seven proven tactics* to gain control over another person without putting a gun to her head. I mean, guns are tacky, right? And Mary Kay is against tackiness, unless it is unit prizes and those suits the upline has to buy.

TACTIC 1: Increase suggestibility and "soften up" the individual through suggestibility-increasing techniques such as: extended audio, visual, verbal, or tactile fixation drills, excessive exact repetition of routine activities, sleep restriction and/or nutritional restriction.

The goal posters, the chanted affirmations, the CDs in the car, the video tapes ... it's all softening your brain for the takeover. The busy, busy, busy scheduling, the incessant tracking of trivial data ... I feel my brain turning to mush just thinking about it.

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The story of Robin Blackmon Dunda broke in the early days of Pink Truth (known then as Mary Kay Sucks). She was unceremoniously booted from Mary Kay with a 30-day termination letter . Her Mary Kay career came to an end as she was approaching the status of National Sales Director.

Her mother, Joann Blackmon was a NSD at the time but couldn't talk Mary Kay out of the termination. She even rounded up people who apparently approached corporate and asked them to reconsider the termination.

Many have wondered what became of Robin, and the rumors included stories of magical healing magnets for the ears and of an oxygen bar. She and Joann have landed at Isagenix, and here's a little bit of the story recently published:

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Making the rounds in the Mary Kay blogosphere...

Are you or any of your team members looking for a way to invest in more inventory?

I just saw the news this morning that the government is sending out the "Stimulus Checks" starting this coming Monday, April 28th!  The story below are very real options and consequences.  If we go out and purchase a lot of products made outside of the U.S. who's economy are we stimulating? 

As business women, this new capital could be used as an investment to build your business where your return is double and it stimulates our economy here in the U.S.  Where else can you get that kind of return on an investment?  By putting in the time and effort  into your business, which historically does very well in recessionary times such a this, yo u can provide the extra income needed to fill the gas tanks, buy the food and more while you expand your customer base and add new people to your team.

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Are you tired of hearing the stories about Pink Truth success? I hope not, because I'm sure not sick of them. They warm my heart, and I love hearing from our members who identify with these stories from newbies.

Thank you so much, pinktruth!  I joined Mary Kay only a month ago, but I am already sick of it.  I thought that it seemed great from the outside.  I did my research, which included visiting your website, but my eyes were so starry that I don't think anything could have clouded my beautiful visions.  I wanted a car!  I wanted money!  I wanted freedom!  And I could have it all with Mary Kay!

Well, fast forward a couple of weeks and I'm already dodging phone calls from pushy up-lines who are trying to get me to buy inventory (which I did, unfortunately).  My husband is trying to be supportive and reign in his wife, who from his point of view has gone completely bonkers, and my friends are avoiding my phone calls. 

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