Quixtar

Quixtar is an internet based company, founded in 1999 by the owners of Amway corporation. It employs a multi-level marketing system similar to Amway's. Quixtar is owned by Alticor[?] and took over the North-American business of Amway in 2001.

People can join as "Clients", "Members" or "Independent Business Owners " (IBOs); the latter are akin to Amway distributors. IBOs, after having paid a fee, set up web malls and attempt to sell merchandise (from Amway and other manufacturers) and recruit new participants into the network. Their monthly payments are based on their sales and the sales of their recruits. The only way to join and buy products at Quixtar's web site is with a referral number from an IBO.

Quixtar sales reached $518 million in the first year, with $143 million in profits being paid out to distributors. This set a record for e-commerce web sites. After its first year, Quixtar was ranked by Deloitte & Touche consulting as the #2 E-Tailer in Canada right after Sears. In addition, in its second year it was ranked as the #1 Health and Beauty website and #6 overall. It was also repeatedly ranked by ZDNet[?] as one of the "ten worst e-commerce sites" (in the company of Levi's, Macy's, Starbucks, and Office-Max).

External links:

• Quixtar site: http://www.quixtar.com/
• A site critical of Quixtar/Amway: http://www.amquix.50megs.com/amway
• ZDNet's evaluation: http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2282631,00
• http://www.deloitte.ca/en/newsroom/Headlines/e-tailBlazers.ASP
• http://www.asapsoftware.com/whatsnew/interactive500/rank.htm (#43 - Harris Interactive 500)
• http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=89