| Comment Number: | 522418-12273 |
| Received: | 7/17/2006 7:48:59 PM |
| Organization: | Arbonne International |
| Commenter: | Cynthia Collins |
| State: | WI |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
To the FTC: I have been involved in the Direct Selling profession since 1991. I was a single parent and couldn't make ends meet with traditional jobs. I had a high school diploma and was faced with the task of raising my children myself. I took a Job Training class through a government program, at a local college and then was offered jobs that paid $7-10 per hour. When I decided to take one of these jobs, after the first year of employment I owed the daycare facility over $3000.00! Even though I worked full time with two children in daycare, each week I was in the red. I was determined not to go back on AFDC and so this is what I did. Until I found the Direct Selling Industry...we didn't have any hope of getting out of this trap and the two or three jobs trap. I went back to school, got a degree and still the traditional incomes offered to degreed professionals didn't allow me to feed my kids, drive a car and pay for the necessary expenses without visiting the local food pantry each week to feed my kids. Requiring a 7 day waiting period doesn't allow a parent like myself to start making money right away which is one of the best benefits of a business like this. I used my earnings to allow my kids to play sports each week, eat at a restaurant once a week, and I paid for a parochial education all the way through college. Our family needed that money right away working once or twice a week for a few hours allowed me the freedom to be a better parent, give more opportunities to my children and create tremendous value to the free market. Requiring referrals from other distributors doesn't make sense either, since many distributors don't have the motivation and or drive to succeed in this type of business. Many of those who think they want to build a business find out they don't have the motivation, patience, and or desire to build it. That is why over 75% of new businesses fail in the first two years, isn't it? That's not unique to this type of business, that's all types of businesses. Are you going to stop all people from starting all types of businesses because some fail? Stop all individuals desiring to start a business? They would have to have referrals from all the local business owners before being allowed to start a business of their own? Would this include all franchises, sole proprietors? This makes no sense,since it is up to the individual, their motivation, their marketing, etc. that determines whether a business succeeds or doesn't. The Direct selling industry has allowed myself and my children to have a great life, instead of a miserable life with only the traditional opportunities available to me. I have been with Arbonne International 14 years in May of this year. This company's opportunity has allowed me to make a difference for my children and choose their education. I have paid off all of my own student loans because of my Direct selling business. I have taught my children, through example that they can do whatever they choose to and they can achieve whatever they set their minds to. This is what the U.S. stands for isn't it? Freedom to do, freedom to pursue happiness? If these types of laws are put into effect for U.S citizens, we might as well move to a regulated country where individuals cannot change their circumstances on their own with opportunities, through determination, hard work and good business. When I began my business, I worked two other jobs, went to school and raised my children myself. Now I run a business from home. I am 100% responsible for their financial support as well. This business opportunity has allowed me to provide well for my children, taught them how to run a business, how to treat customers and that they are responsible for their own success. Regulations like you are proposing would steal this opportunity from future generations and would severely limit the choices of single mothers and fathers, and families of all kinds. This is an abomination.