Founded | 2023

Headquarters | Midvale, UT

Top Executives:
Darren Zobrist, Chief Executive Officer
John Wadsworth, Chief Brand Partner Officer

Products | Health and Wellness

Building a legacy organization is the dream of every ambitious direct sales leader. The compound success of consistency through the steady, everyday activities this industry teaches lays the foundation for businesses to last generations. But the industry is in constant motion, and legacy organizations aren’t immune to challenges. It’s how people navigate those challenges that separate leaders from partners.

Facing a Crossroads

John Wadsworth’s direct selling journey was 25 years of building a dream business from the ground up. After launching his career in Japan, he steadily followed habits and practices that grew his network to include teams in over 30 countries.

“This is the quintessential idealistic network marketing story of how cool network marketing can be,” he shared. “I spent my career, 25 years, working boots on the ground with a single network marketing company, witnessing firsthand the impact these products have on transforming people’s lives for the better. I was blessed to see thousands of people around the world truly experience the magic of network marketing and have experiences and accomplishments that, in most cases, exceeded even what they had dreamed.”

But in 2022, John’s dreams of a business that would stand the test of time felt like it was about to be dashed. NewAge was facing financial challenges, and its future was uncertain. Everything John had built throughout his career in the field was on the line, and starting over seemed daunting.

“Your dream when you start (in network marketing) is to do it once and build with a company that lasts forever,” he said. “The magic of this is that every day adds to what you did the day before and compounds to a huge scale. But if you ever had to start over—that’s traumatic. When you face something that you didn’t expect, that comes out of left field, that throws you off your track, you have to respond quickly. One, you want to try and see how you can influence the outcome. But two, you want to keep an open mind and say, ‘Maybe this could be a silver lining. Something good.’ I hit that point. When I did, I called Darren.”

Preserving Legacy

Darren Zobrist chose a different path, starting his career in the financial industry, followed by Wharton Business School and launching a hugely successful seafood business that he eventually sold in a lucrative deal. But he wanted more.

“I started my career in the financial industry on Wall Street, working with some highly reputable firms,” Darren said. “But the longer I was there, the more I realized I wanted to do something more meaningful. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that there is more than just the bottom line. To be truly successful, you have to think about others and how you can support them, too.”

Fast forward to 2022 and a phone call from John that would change everything. The two had met at church years earlier and became fast friends, finding commonalities in how they viewed both business and life.

“I called Darren and told him that I can accept starting over because I’m pretty resilient, but I don’t want to,” John said. “Darren listened to me, calmed me down a little bit and said, ‘John, no big deal. We’ll just buy the business.’”

The solution sounded simple and crazy at the same time. But in a matter of days, it was done, saving not only all that John had built, but countless other leaders’ networks worldwide. While he intended to be more of a passive investor, Darren became CEO following a life-changing trip to a field event in Barcelona, where he experienced the heartbeat of network marketing for the first time.

“I didn’t know much at all about this industry,” Darren said. “It was really touching to see how people’s lives were changed by this company, by this industry, by improving their health and their finances. And I saw the opportunity to help people on a much larger scale. Then all the discussions started, and we realized how unique our partnership was. Here we have John with 25 years as a distributor. You have me with Wharton, Wall Street, ran a big company. We’re unique, and it’s a huge advantage for us to build something that will last—hopefully for generations. And something that is a very unique opportunity for distributors who are looking for a place to land.”

Discovering True Partnership

It became clear that John and Darren’s venture wasn’t just new ownership, but something new entirely—a true partnership that could inspire a new vision for what’s possible in network marketing. They took a critical look at every aspect of the company, from products to compensation plan, corporate structure and strategy. They took stock of what they had on the table: time-tested products, efficient worldwide logistics, a license in China, established brands and experienced leaders, a fair compensation plan and a great opportunity—everything they needed to create something new that the industry hadn’t seen before. They dreamed up a partnership of existing brands, all working together as a new entity with the stability and longevity of a legacy company. But what to call it?

“We want to be a true partnership with all of our people, hundreds of thousands of people around the world who look to this community to better their lives on a daily basis and give them a vision for what their future can be over three years, five years, 10 years, next generation,” John explained. “As we contemplated that and considered different names, we kept coming back to that concept of partner, a partnership. Something that really signifies how we feel about our relationship with everyone else who’s part of our community, be it the vendors and the suppliers; the people out in the field; the executives at corporate. Everyone locks arms in a partnership. It was then we came up with the name Partner.Co, the Partner Company, and if you understand the context, it’s a really cool name with a deep meaning.”

Partner.Co officially launched in February 2023 as a brand-new company with Darren as Chief Executive Officer and John serving as Chief Brand Partner Officer, combining established brands and leaders from four companies, ARIIX, LIMU®, Morinda and Zennoa®, into a new platform of brands and product categories that supports existing Brand Partners and offers a fresh opportunity to a new generation of prospective Partners.

“We think of ourselves as a blended community—one that gets this tremendous opportunity to build off the accomplishments and hard work of the people who helped create and grow ARIIX, Morinda, Limu and Zennoa. We’re incredibly grateful for that,” shared John.

Reimagining the Future

John’s desire to preserve what he’d built plus Darren’s business leadership experience combined to birth a new way of operating a network marketing company with powerful leaders working together to achieve the team’s goal of long-term, sustainable growth. The team is quick to observe, listen and adapt, leading their field-driven organization with transparency and collaboration through:

• The Brand Partner Bill of Rights, which guarantees the company’s pledge to give its Brand Partners a seat at the table, helping drive business decisions together with the corporate team, sharing profits, incentives and fun.
• The Partners Council, a group of key ambassadors selected each year for their proven records of success combined with their passion for Partner.Co’s shared vision.
• The Founders Club, the most prestigious group of recognition that a Brand Partner can achieve in the entire industry. This group has all the privileges of being a founder, including profit sharing.

Partner.Co considers the entirety of 2023 its “launch year,” giving prospective Brand Partners the exclusive opportunity to join during such an exciting time for the company. And Darren and John can’t wait to see what’s next.

“I’m excited about the adventure of experiencing this from a new perspective with new possibilities, new scale and new scope,” John said. “We’re bringing people along on that exciting journey because we only get one chance at life.”

“It’s incredible to me how we were able to bring Partner.Co together so quickly and so cohesively,” Darren shared. “We have incredible leadership. We have amazing products. Everything just came together. And for me, that’s been unique in my business career. I’ve loved every minute of seeing that happen.”

From the April 2023 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

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The driving force behind the study was a collaboration with the Utah Direct Selling Coalition (UDSC), an entity founded through collaborative support of Cloe Nixon and Troy Keller at Dorsey and Whitney LLP and direct selling companies 4Life, ASEA, doTERRA, LifeVantage, Nature’s Sunshine, NewAge, Nu Skin, Modere, USANA Health Sciences, Younique, Young Living and Zyia Active. The resulting third-party analysis of the channel’s economic impact on local economies is expected to become a model for other states densely populated by direct selling companies.  

“I speak for all Utah Direct Selling Coalition members by saying that we’ve always known our channel contributes meaningfully to Utah’s economy—but none of us anticipated the depth and breadth of our impact on the state,” said Calvin Jolley, 4Life Vice President of Corporate Communications. “Among more than 150 combined direct sellers and ecosystem service suppliers, we account for more than one-third of Utah’s total international exports, and more than 70% of Utah’s non-gold exports. Our businesses provide more than 38,000 jobs. We employ a more diverse workforce than other industries and bring people in from around the country and world. All this says nothing about our entrepreneurial opportunities or philanthropic commitments. The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute Economic Analysis provides us with an indispensable tool to engage and educate policymakers. And as a collective? The UDSC framework is a model that every state with more than one direct selling company should adopt.” 

Key findings in the paper indicate just how vast Utah’s direct selling footprint is, hosting 157 companies who are responsible for 38,238 jobs, or 1.8% of the state’s employment. Direct selling jobs were also found to pay higher than average wages, ranking 18.4% higher than other industries within the state.  

The ten direct selling companies surveyed by Pace’s team reported $10.3 billion in sales in 2020 and were responsible for $6.3 billion in international exports in 2020, or 35.6% of Utah’s total international exports and 71.7% of Utah’s non-gold commodity exports. 

Direct selling’s presence in Utah also catalyzes tourism. From 2015 to 2019, it is estimated that out-of-state visitors attending direct selling conventions spent $41.6 million annually. 

The post Third-Party Study Measures Impact of Direct Selling on Utah Economy  first appeared on Direct Selling News.

The company secured a “debtor in possession” financing facility of $16 million and plans to use this capital, together with revenue generated from ongoing operations, to provide liquidity to support the company through the sale process. 

The management team will continue to operate the business as “debtors in possession” and are seeking approval of a variety of “first day motions containing customary relief intended to enable the company and its subsidiaries to continue operations in the ordinary course.” The company emphasized that it intends to pay vendors and partners under customary terms for goods and services and to provide employees with their usual pay and primary benefits. 

The post NewAge Files Chapter 11 with Reorganization Planned  first appeared on Direct Selling News.

Nutrifii Renew now joins 33 other NewAge products already certified by the Cologne List. 

“Being able to add Nutrifii Renew to our already-extensive list of products certified by Cologne List is a testament to the quality of not only Renew, but the 33 other products that have received the same certification,” said Deanna Latson, NewAge Chief Product Officer and Chief Marketing Officer. “We hold ourselves to the highest standards when it comes to product development and testing to ensure that no matter who you are—professional athlete or simply an individual that cares about what they put in or on their body—you are getting the best from NewAge.” 

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In the meantime, the board of directors will make all principal executive officer-level determinations, and Chairman of the Board Ed Brennan will guide and direct the senior management team. 

Within this same filing, the company also issued preliminary financial results for the fourth quarter of 2021, posting net revenue expectations between $99 million to $101 million. This prediction is relatively unchanged from the company’s third quarter 2021 revenue of $100 million, but is below previous expectations of a high single-digit sequential increase. 

The post NewAge Announces Agreed Resignation of CEO Brent Willis first appeared on Direct Selling News.

NewAge utilized brief clips, similar to what has become common through Instagram Reels and TikTok videos, to develop the Gold-winning onboarding video series entitled “NewAge Tips.” The “John Wadsworth: Superfood Revolution” mini docuseries also received two honorable mentions.  

“We’re super proud that our unique onboarding videos are getting the attention they deserve, as they fully embody our social-first approach to e-commerce,” said John Raser, NewAge Senior Director of Marketing and Creative. “They’re unlike any traditional training videos you’ve seen before because they don’t feel like homework from a talking head. They’re fun, fast-paced and easily digestible—allowing our brand partners to get new team members on the right track right out of the gates. The offbeat style is on-trend with the digital world and clearly differentiates us from our competitors, as these vignettes very simply convey how a little bit of influence goes a long way.” 

The company has also implemented the opportunity for viewers to earn points that can be redeemed for perks and rewards, through the recent addition of a gamification experience. 

“Our streak of creative recognition continues as we rack up trophies for the social selling tools and content our award-winning marketing team creates,” Raser said. 

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Included in this patent is a new way to unblock the secretion signal from the hypothalmus, stimulating the anterior pituitary gland to naturally secrete human growth hormone (HGH). 

“The filing of this patent and unveiling of this unique discovery is an incredible achievement in both science and technology to help people take control of the aging process and age healthy,” said Brett West, NewAge’s Senior Director of Research. “This is the first product to simultaneously address specific multiple pathways by which Human Growth Hormone declines in the body. The results from our laboratory studies and trials represent real scientific breakthrough with globally relevant applications, and we are incredibly proud of the team that contributed to the discovery.” 

Cardiovascular health decline can be attributed in part to the increase of dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP4), which sends signals to the anterior pituitary. Combining Tahitian NONI fruit and pterostilbene, NewAge scientists found a way to unblock the DPP4 signal by 99.1%, triggering the body to naturally regulate itself. 

“This is the first time that scientists have ascertained how to simultaneously address these specific pathways by which HGH declines in the body,” said Deanna Latson, NewAge’s Chief Product Officer. “As a result, we can now trigger the body’s natural regeneration process and support cellular health. No other product to our knowledge can improve cell regeneration, inhibit cellular apoptosis, support physical resilience, boost energy and stamina, and combat other adverse effects of aging.” 

The post NewAge Files Patent on Anti-Aging Discovery first appeared on Direct Selling News.

“We continue to build NewAge into a leading social selling machine, and I am encouraged by the operational progress we made during the quarter, setting us up well for the rest of the year and beyond,” said Brent Willis, Chief Executive Officer of NewAge. “This quarter we made investments in our systems, launched new products, and unveiled new social selling tools and technology, all of which are critical foundational components and will act as a springboard for growth. Our results in the third quarter for revenue, gross margin, net income and adjusted EBITDA all improved year over year, and we expect our future results to benefit substantially from all the actions we have taken in the quarter and earlier in the year.” 

Selling, general and administrative expense for the third quarter totaled $39 million, or 39.2% of revenue, compared to 44.6% of revenue during the prior-year’s period. The company believes this SG&A boost is primarily due to the benefits of a growing business and elimination of redundant positions and offices. 

Operating loss was $30.4 million for the quarter, a significant increase from the $13.1 million during the third quarter of 2020. Adjusted EBITDA improved $4 million to a loss of $4.4 million. 

“Our healthy products portfolio is on trend and we continue to strengthen our offerings and our systems around the world, supported by a robust supply chain,” Willis said. “Our inventory levels and our D2C route to market help to alleviate many of the supply chain concerns plaguing the wider consumer goods market. We have a lot of confidence in our direct-to-consumer and social selling business model, and are excited as our proposition and financial results begin to unfold.” 

The post NewAge Q3 Net Revenue Increases 59% first appeared on Direct Selling News.

“We have more than 200 patents, cooperative research studies, and peer-reviewed papers on NewAge’s Tahitian NONI® (NONI) products and this new discovery not just adds to the body of research, but brings our insights into the benefits for consumers to an important new level,” said Brett West, Chief Scientist at NewAge. “We have now been able to measure the ability of NONI and its major phytonutrients to block the binding of the spike proteins to cellular membranes. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to detect the competitive inhibition of spike protein to Angiotensin II Receptors (ACE-2) binding by NONI, NewAge scientists uncovered that NONI inhibited the ability of the spike proteins to bind ACE-2 by approximately 70%.” 

The company reported their findings in an abstract titled “Anti-viral properties of Morinda citrifolia (NONI) fruit juice” and presented during the Functional Foods and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) session of the 29th International Conference of the Functional Food Center, a conference that gathers experts in medicine and biology and industry to discuss the usage of bioactive compounds for immune support and health. 

“Presenting at the FCC conference is great recognition for NewAge and a really big deal,” said Deanna Latson, Chief Product Officer at NewAge. “An even bigger deal is our new discovery, one of the magnitude that would normally be expected to come from major pharma companies, research institutes or health systems. The amount of research and scientific data that goes into being able to present findings of this nature is an arduous hurdle, and the significance of NewAge’s new discovery and the impact it may have on immune health has never been more critical and timely given today’s environment.” 

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