|
Amway surpassed Avon Products AVP 3.47% in 2017 to become the world’s largest direct-selling company, thanks to a steady, drama-free international expansion over the years into key markets like China, a bigger focus on nutrition products, which are less prone to sales fluctuations than beauty products, and the ability to attract and keep sales representatives (whom Amway calls ABOs, for ‘Amway Business Owners,’ and who now number 3 million.) 安利于2017年超过雅芳，成为全球最大的直销公司，这得益于过去数年间，安利一直在稳步地拓展中国等关键市场；更专注于销售波动比美容产品小的营养产品；以及吸引并留住销售代表的能力（安利称销售代表为“安利事业合作伙伴”，现已达到300万人规模）。 In 2013, its sales rose 4.4% to $11.8 billion, helped by growth in China, its biggest market, and one where Avon’s business has collapsed since a big bribery scandal hit that company a few years ago. (Avon’s business is struggling in almost every key market.) 中国是安利最大的市场。2013年，得益于中国市场良好的业绩表现，其销售额增长了4.4%，达到118亿美元（约合728.4亿元人民币）。而雅芳则因几年前的一起闹得沸沸扬扬的贿赂丑闻，业绩大幅下滑。（雅芳的业务几乎在各个关键市场都是步履维艰。） As a privately owned company, Amway has been spared the drama that has slammed some of its other direct-selling peers that faced regulatory and investor scrutiny: personal care products maker Nu Skin EnterprisesNUS -3.63% was fined earlier this year by Chinese authorities over its product claims, while nutrition company Herbalife HLF -0.10% is in the throes of a battle with activist billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who claims it is operating an illegal pyramid scheme. | 
