WAHM Forums

Thanks everyone for the great advice on here and via PM, I really appreciate everyone's input.


I am basically ready to go and have all the info to get started however there is one issue that still bothers me.


All the marketing material claims that Arbonne is Swiss or that the products are formulated in Switzerland. I was born and raised in Switzerland and Arbonne is definitely not a Swiss company, the devl. center that is claimed as being in Sion, Switzerland doesn't exist (at least not under any names given in the info available). I just want to be able to give thruthful info to potential customers should I decide to go the business route when they ask me if I had heard of Arbonne in Switzerland, if Swiss people use it, etc.


Does anyone have any info? I contacted the headquarters in Irvine yesterday but I haven't heard back yet.

I don't think a company called Arbonne is in Switzerland; I think it's the development center. The formulas and patents are created in Switzerland.


Correct me if I'm wrong!


Kim

Of all the "negative" stuff I have read about Arbonne, nobody
ever said it didn't exist in Switzerland. When I was in the navy,
my family and I visited Switzerland, beautiful country. Then I
had never heard of Arbonne.


It seems to me that if it were all a lie, somebody would have
"called their hand" by now.


I'm interested in knowing what gives. I bet there is a really great
explanation.


Terry and Betty smileys/smiley32.gif

Have you looked for the Arbonne Institute of Research and Development (AIRD) in Switzerland? That is where it was developed but it ismade in the US. Edited by: charlie's mom

Have you ever researched the claims some folk make
against Arbonne. From being a cult to out and out
lying.


It is interesting how people misread and misunderstand
what is put plainly before their eyes. Especially about
the concept of MLM!!!


"Try before you buy." That concept pretty well sold me.


Terry and Betty smileys/smiley32.gif

Yes, that's exactly what I've looked for "Arbonne Institute of Research and Development" and AIRD and neither is registered in business registry of the State they're supposed to be in.Edited by: Sabine

That's strange. I would wait on Arbonne support to get back to you. They usually take 24 hours.

Terry and/or Betty, whichever one you are, your posts are not very constructive. As I explained in my inital thread, being Swiss myself, the question of the company having ties to Switzerland is bound to happen and obviously I am curious about it myself. Comparing my concern about the company really having ties to Switzerland to a potential concern of it being a cult, is just ridiculous.

Thank you Angie! I figured it would take a day or two before I hear back.

http://www.arval.ch/welcome.php3?lng=en


Edited: whoops, I hit the post button before I could type my message. smileys/smiley36.gifNow, this is the site of the company (I believe, from what I've heard) that does the work for AIRD - in Switzerland. I think if you read through the site it will all make sense.


Hope that helps! smileys/smiley1.gifEdited by: chrlstoncharmed

I did not say one word about you. Why do you read into
my statements more than I said. My comments were about
the things I have read and heard and why I bet there is a
perfectly good explanation about what you said.


My comments were to be an encouragement on what you
were questioning. I even stated "I am interested in knowing
what gives."


Please read what I say, not what I do NOT say.


Terry and Betty (a happily married pair {man and woman}who
are enjoying their Arbonne business and adventure).Edited by: major26

My National Vice President Jeanne Sterner visited AIRD in Sion, Switzerland last year for 2 weeks. Arbonne posted pictures on the website last year. Unless she lied, made the pictures herself, AIRD does exist. Hope this helps! I definetly think Arbonne should make it easier to find it though.

I like the name Sabine; it is beautiful.


Just as I think Switzerland is beautiful.


Thank you for starting this conversation.


Terry smileys/smiley2.gif

<TT>From what I have read (Arbonne can verify this for you) AIRD is actually located in another companies building. It simply means we have a"lab”, a space where we research and develop our formulas, albeit in</TT> <TT>another lab’s building. This is not an uncommon practice, to share lab</TT> <TT>space for research and development. MANY companies in this industry do</TT> <TT>so.</TT>
<TT><?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /></TT>
<TT>We do have our own team</TT> <TT>and our formulations are proprietary, meaning we own them....it's not</TT> <TT>the building that makes the lab. Many consultants have visited AIRD so it exists, unless all those consultants are nuts, lol. smileys/smiley2.gif</TT>
<TT></TT>
<TT></TT><TT>I read that Arbonne is constructing a new</TT> <TT>facility in Sion and <?:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pierre</st1:place></st1:City> was very excited by it so hopefully that will end the confusion.</TT>


<TT>And this isn't the first time this question has come up so maybe when you hear back from Arbonne you can let us know what t hey say. I think it's great you are doing your research so you can be sure &amp; give your customers the best service. Personally it isn't something I've really thought about b/c I know the integrity the company has so I am not worried about it. But also the chances of someone asking me about it are fairly slim. Not the case with you so it makes sense that you want to know. </TT>

I don't think that they are going to lie about something like this... in this wonderful country they would be surely sued... one thing I will say about Arbonne is that they are a very honest co.


Also, one of our team members has been diagnosed with breast cancer - our california counterparts are rallying and making dinner for her family every night. I want to be part of a tam like that, don't you all? Who cares where it started, it is where it is going that is important!


Keri Burks

Thank you Jennifer! That makes a lot of sense! smileys/smiley20.gif

Ok, I just got off the phone with Mr. Bottiglieri. Here is the scoop: Arbonne has never been and is not currently legally registered in Switzerland and currently there is no laboratory facility nor has there ever been a laboratory solely for the purpose of R&amp;D for Arbonne products.


These two posts were from another web site in reference to the AIRD facility. Take what you want from it. I believe there is presently NO facility specifically called AIRD. I do not call it a facility when I speak of AIRD. I call it a "research team". I really don't care, I just want to give out the correct information. I also want to be given the correct information from Arbonne. I do love Arbonne and its products and support the company. I just want the REAL information.


Susan


POST ONE


What really happened was: Mr. Bottiglieri worked for a company called Laboratoires Biologiques Arval S.A. (www.arval.ch) and they did some work for Arbonne. Arval is a big lab that does research and development for 100's of different cosmetics companies from around the world. Arbonne was just one of many of their customers.


Mr. Bottiglieri did tell me that Arbonne was currently in the process of applying for their first business license and they are looking for a location to put in a laboratory but it will be some months away before it is all official.


"Ed"


POST TWO


First, you’re right in the sense that AIRD does not exist as a specific place. At least not yet. That is certainly a misconception on my part, but I must add, that misconception wasn’t really because of anything Arbonne actually said or states in any literature. I misinterpreted information and made a conclusion without all the facts. The pictures I saw were of the facility that, at the time, had been set aside to work exclusively on Arbonne products, and not owned by Arbonne. I’m actually grateful to you for allowing me the opportunity to clear this up in my own understanding.


In essence, AIRD historically has been a team of professional chemists, herbalists and master skin care professionals who are coordinated by Arbonne to develop the ideas and science needed to create Arbonne products. In the early days many of these researchers including Pierre, were indeed part of Arval, whose owner was a friend of Arbonne’s founder. In recent years, Arbonne’s team has employed several labs throughout Switzerland to take the ideas of the AIRD team, create the formulations, do the testing, and turn them into the products Arbonne then manufacturers in California.


Also, as Arbonne grows, the concept of AIRD is also continuing to evolve. Pierre is now working in a temporary lab devoted solely to Arbonne product research as Arbonne is, in fact, in the process of being registered globally. Additionally, AIRD will soon include chemists from several other countries to contribute to product development and will have their own facility to formulate, test and even manufacture Arbonne products.


"Dave"

My message posted wrong. I did not just get off the phone with Mr. Bottiglieri "Ed" spoke to Mr. Bottiglieri back in June. He is also from Switzerland and question the validity of AIRD.


Take what you want from the information.


Just passing it along. I am content and confident that Arbonne has great products no matter where they come from smileys/smiley1.gif!


Susan


Arbonne Independent DM

Wait a minute. Now I am confused.


On page 3 of the 2005 Arbonne catalog it states "Arbonne
premium products are formulated in Switzerland at the
Arbonne Institute of Research and Development (AIRD)
and made in the USA."


Are they or are they not? Does that institute exist?
What does the word "formulated" mean, and how is our
Arbonne company using the word? What are they saying,
and what are they NOT saying?


Terry and Betty smileys/smiley32.gif

Thanks Susan! I do like the products regardless too so it doesn't really matter to me but I just want to be "armed" with appropriate answers to questions I know will be asked given my background.


I guess the moral of the story is to avoid pushing the Swiss angle! A consultant approached mea few weeks ago and after learning that I was Swiss, she told me "oh so you know how particular Swiss are with their skins, how they use pure products." I walked away laughing, I didn't have the heart to tell her that I'd be hard pressed finding someone that uses toner or anti-wrinkle creamsin my circle of friends/family in Switzerland smileys/smiley2.gif

I believe the products are formulated in Switzerland at a lab in a building in Switzerland. It just isn't, at this point, an Arbonne exclusive building and research facility.


I do not tell clients AIRD is a facility in Switzerland. It currently is not a building. It is a research team.


Be careful what you repeat before you check things out. If I repeated everything I heard. I would be telling everyone Shad was going to be on Oprah in September. Which is what I was told. September came and went. Where was Shad?


I think it is important to research and try the products. If you truly believe in the products you always know you are speaking the truth!


Just my personal two cents!


Susan

Oprah is a client of mine


lol smileys/smiley2.gifhttp://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif

Is there an AIRD or not? It does not really matter how
good the products are; that is irrelevant to the issue.


A research team has to "research" somewhere. If there
is not an AIRD "somewhere", what about the claim?


A company an "big" as Arbonne, making the money it
does, can surely do better than that.


Or, are they just playing on the word "formulated".
What do you think the word "formulated" means? I
use to think I knew, but now I am not sure.


25 years is a long time to do research without a real
building. I am curious now.


I still love the products. I still believe in the company.
Something just does not sound right.


What does the word "formulated" mean?


Terry AND Betty smileys/smiley32.gif

<DIV style="DISPLAY: block">Quick Definitions for 'formulated' (http://web.ask.com/dc?q=define+formulated&amp;qsrc=8)
adj: devised
verb: elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses
verb: come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or priciple) after a mental effort

In this context I would take it to mean developed, devised. "Developed the recipe"
susan

P.S. I too do believe Arbonne's verbage is a little more than misleading. It does sound like a facility. I am sure one day it will be a facility too.





I wish it were worded differently. I do not, however, use this verbage in my day to day business. If someone asks me about AIRD after reading about it, I certainly will/would tell them the exact information that I have. I will leave it at that.


take care


susan

I remember when I first realized the people in the church of
which I am a member are not perfect. I felt misled and lied
to. I got over it and am still in that same church. However,
I am now older and wiser (but hurt, none-the-less).


Terry and Betty smileys/smiley32.gif

If you are concerned about it then call Arbonne directly, like Sabine did,instead of relying on people guessing what it all means. People read the discussion on a board then get all confused &amp; upset thinking the companyis trying to trick people. And I am not just talking about consultants, anyone who reads thethread will come away from this wondering about it.<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><O:P></O:P>


I don't see what it matters if AIRD is a team that exists in some lab in Switzerland or in a lab that is part of an exclusive Arbonne facility. Either way the products are still formulated in Switzerland, they are still proprietary &amp; they are still formulated by people who are working as AIRD. It's all technicalities &amp; semantics. <O:P></O:P>


Personally, I don’t think 25 years is a long time to be doing research in a building that isn't one you own. Companies lease space all the time, that doesn't make them less valid. Huge corporations typically don't own the space they work out of, what difference does it make? <O:P></O:P>


And Susan is right; you shouldn’t repeat everything you hear. If it’s something you question then call your upline or Arbonne directly. That way you won't have to wonder who is right.


Edited by: Soonergirl74

Thanks, Sabine. I am still glad
you brought all this up. Good for
you.


It is interesting how we react when we all
agree. How do we react when we do NOT
all agree?


Enough from me. We are about to run this
in the ground (and I certainly am guilty of
adding to it---sorry).


Terry and Betty smileys/smiley32.gifEdited by: major26

Just for the record. I did check this out through my upline and her upline NVP.My upline is my sister.I questioned herinformation about AIRD and she did not stop until she received an answer. I have choosen to believethe informationconfirmedby my NVP. AIRD is a research team that formulates the products. I do not feel that it matters if we own our own building or not. We own the formula.


I do not want to "start" anything. I just want to confirm what Sabine had questioned. I too had the same question and have gone through the process of getting an answer.


BTW "Dave" and his wife are also VP's with Arbonne. His wife was featured last month in an EOA. He got his answer from Arbonne too.


I apologize if my information was disturbing or thought to be irrelavant. I was only trying to pass along the information I had researched and received.


As I mentioned before, take the information for what you want. I took it as a beginning for further research.


Thanks-susan

Hi everyone,


This post caught my eye and I wanted to share some info I learned at ACTNOW. AIRD is a consortium of research scientist working under Pierre Botiglieri. Candace Keefe announced at ACTNOW that Arbonne has broken ground on it's own Research Lab in Sion so all of our scientist will be in one place. The process for our formulation is as followed : Candace and her team look at the needs for new Arbonne products, they come up with what they want the products to do, and what the results should be. These ideas are forwarded to Pierre and his team, they come up with the formula, which are then sent back to Candace, then they are tested, reworked when needed, then made in California - so the formulas are made in labs in Switzerland. Hope that helps - Candace spoke to us for over an hour, she was fantastic. She also mentioned the reason our RE-9 set is still patent pending is because once a patent is given, a time limit on that patent is given as well. We would like to not have that time limit for as long as possible, so we keep "tweaking" our formula to stay "patent pending".


At ACTNOW we were fortunate enough to have Dr. Shad Helmsetter come and speak. Not only did he bring 8000 to tears with his love for our company, people and products, but he cleared up the Oprah rumors - Shad will be doing his book tour for TheGift in the spring (mass release is November) his booking agent will be calling Oprah's team, if the schedules work out he will go on Oprah - he understands how big this would be for our company and has promised if asked he will go. Shad said if he does go on Oprah, he will bring her samples "after all, I give them to everyone else! Why not Oprah?'


Hope this helps. Arbonne is an extremely ethical company. They never try to mislead their consultants and clients. I am proud to tell my clients our products are Swiss formulated. Petter is a wonderful human being, and I am happy to share his heritage - he takes a lot of pride in ours.


Jennifer


www.abundantdreams.myarbonne.com

Along with the above post I just got this email from
my NVP:


Absolutely there is an AIRD--it is Arbonne's Instituted of Research and Dev. It is in Sion Switzerland. It is were all of our products are formulated. They talked about it in KY this last weekend. They are actually building a new building for them there.

There is a slide on the Arbonne Unversity under product knowledge that talks about Pier Bottiglieri and he is who runs AIRD. Go back and listen to that--it is very qualified!

Thanks for sharing Jennifer! That is so great to hear. I wish I could've gone to ACT.


And, Susan I am sorry for the misunderstanding. I didn't feel like you were trying to start anything. I was just reiterating some of what you said &amp; why there was no need to be upset that we don't own an actual facility. If your NVP did the research &amp; found an answer then that works for me!

Thanks again Jennifer for your message. I heard that Candace spoke about this at ACT too. I totally agree and feel that Arbonne is an ethical company with great products. I wouldn't be here if I didn't.


I just wanted to reiterate that everyone should check out their sources and information before they promote it. I think anything Candance Keefe says is very reliable!!!! smileys/smiley1.gif I don't think we can get any better than that!


Have a good one everyone!


susan

Bbrown


What do you mean Oprah is a client of yours????


Michele

I was totally kidding! Thus, the "lol". Don't I wish though! Could you imagine what would happen if Oprah just said the word Arbonne!!!

oh. HAHAHA! Yeah if Oprah ever says Arbonne then we will all become millionaires over night!

Sabine


Have you heard back from Arbonne for their official response?

Yes and No smileys/smiley2.gifI've received two emails so far (they haven't returned my phone call) and they're being pretty vague or maybe I am just too pushy! smileys/smiley5.gif


I sent an email, they didn't really answer my question so I emailed back asking the specific address of the AIRD, they just sent me an email back with the following:


We are currently working and negotiating the build out of a new lab to house AIRD which is in Sion. The purpose is to meet the needs of our expanding global strategies. Information regarding the address is not available at this time.


So I sent an email back asking if they are currently using Arval to "house" AIRD, which I don't think they are since Pierre Bottiglieri doesn't seem to work there anymore. If they continue to be vague, I'll just email Pierre directly since I got a hold of his email address.


I also informed them that Pierre Bottiglieri is not the current president of the Swiss Society of Cosmetic Chemists (he was up until 5 years ago) unlike stated on many consultants' myarbonne's web sites.


On another note, I am officially a consultant now smileys/smiley4.gifand I CANNOT wait to get the products I ordered, too bad they won't be here for another week smileys/smiley19.gif

Thanks for the update.


Terry AND Betty smileys/smiley32.gif

Thanks Sabine and congrats! I think we can honestly say that there is a group in Sion developing our formulas. Just not a specific AIRD building w/ Arbonne's name in bright flashing letters. Hopefully soon though. Thank you though for questioning and letting us know.

Good info Sabine, thanks. I thought it was common knowledge though that Pierre was not the current president. In the Let's Go Shopping presentation, it lists that he was from 1990-2000.


Congrats on joining!!! Good luck!

Just wanted to give you the latest update. As I suspected there isn't an AIRD "building" - so there is a news flash for all the VPs that proudly stood, having their pic taken in front of what they thought was the AIRD smileys/smiley2.gif- but Arbonne has been using 3 different labs over the years. They're still a little vague and from what I am reading between the lines, it seems like there isn't really an AIRD anywhere right now but they will be building their own lab in the future. Here is the message they sent me today:


Our Swiss representative has operated out of 3 different labs over the years, 1 in Sion, 2 close by Sion for final formulations. Arbonne had agreements with all labs for this purpose. We are currently in transition working and negotiating the build out of a new lab to house AIRD, which is in Sion. The purpose is to meet the needs of our expanding global strategies. With our growth has come change. What started 25 years ago with a dream, vision and just a handshake, is now being driven in a very business-like fashion. Legally AIRD is secure and operationally it functions as it always has. "AIRD coordinates the input of master formulators to formulate skin care products that are pure, safe and beneficial for Arbonne."


Still somewhat vague as far as I am concerned but they've been great at responding to my emails, I definitely feel like they're more than willing to answer questions and land us their support smileys/smiley32.gif

First, congrats on formally becoming a consultant! Yea! Maybe you can share with the group how you utinately chose your sponsor since that had been a question you had earlier. If you had it then there will be others who do as well. smileys/smiley1.gif


Second, thanks for sharing what Arbonne told you. It supports what a lot of us already believed. That AIRD worked out of labs that weren't owned by us. No biggie to me personally. All I care is that AIRD exists &amp;formulates our proprietary products. I can see that to have owned our own lab before may not have been a necessary cost. Especially when you consider the way Arbonne started out. As it's grown it's changed with the growth &amp; become more business like. Even with our growth in the past few years it has still been a rather small company. (Though not after this year, lol) And Arbonne does not add several lines at once to our product line. Typically they only introduce one or two big product linesa year. Though they will add"onesis" throughout the year.And they only do the research &amp; developing of those lines,not manufacturing. So they wouldn't need a huge facility that we owned. That would have been too big of an expense at the time &amp; not fiscally responsible.In my opinion of course. smileys/smiley1.gif


ANyway, I'm glad we have the "official" word from home office. Thanks so much for sharing!

I completely agree with you! However, I am not too comfortable hearing left and right about Arbonne having "Swiss" products because I personally don't feel that it represents the whole picture. But it's probably not a big deal to a consultant that isn't Swiss! smileys/smiley2.gif


Absolutely, I should have gone back to the thread and let everyone know my highly scientific (NOT! smileys/smiley36.gif) process of choosing a sponsor. I got lots of PMs and message and basically justwent with someone I felt comfortable with, although I have to say that there was plenty of choice smileys/smiley1.gif


Now my next issue... I want my products NOW, I can't wait for them to arrive smileys/smiley4.gif

lol, interesting to hear that from someone who is Swiss. I don't know anything about that area so don't really have a point of reference. I'm trying to think &amp; I don't know if I've ever said we have Swiss products. People here think it's a big deal when things are made in the USA so I will typically say our research &amp; development is done in Switzerland but we are made here in the USA.Interesting how perceptions &amp; points of references make people think differently about various things.


lol, oh yes...sounds highly scientific! And I am sure you got tons of PM's! I am surprised you've had time to do much else besides read PM's! smileys/smiley2.gifIt's good that you decided to just go with someone you are comfortable with in the end. I think that's really your best bet. smileys/smiley1.gif


Waiting for products always stinks, I want to play in them when I order!

Thanks for the information Sabine! I appreciate the confirmation of the information I received. As I said before, in my opinion a building doesn't matter, I just want to relay the right information. I really appreciate your time and information!


Lots of luck to you. I know you are going to be awesome!


Susan

I'm thinking about becoming an Arbonne consultant. From what I read, Arbonne is a corporation that is registered in the state of Delaware.

Many businesses register in the state of Delaware. There are advantages to doing so. When I opened my brick &amp; mortar store &amp; online business I was advised to register in those states. i forget the fine point details but many, many businesses do so.