The Battle Between Melaleuca And Shaklee- Discover Which Is The Best Company For You!
- Melaleuca vs Shaklee: Product Ingredients
- Melaleuca vs Shaklee: Business Structure
- Melaleuca vs Shaklee: Money Making Opportunity
- Melaleuca vs Shaklee: Safer For The Environment
- Melaleuca vs Shaklee: Price Comparison
- Melaleuca vs Shaklee: The Verdict
Melaleuca has been in operation since 1985, and have built up a global empire. The company specializes in natural health and wellness products for personal grooming, household use, pets, children etc. Melaleuca is one of the fastest growing companies in America and has experienced a high level of success. One of their main competitors is fellow network marketing company Shaklee. Shaklee have been in operation since 1956, and also specialize in environmentally friendly products for both personal and home use. Although their product range is distinctly smaller than Melaleuca’s, Shaklee still poses as a major threat to the company. But which is the best for you? Which company is the safest? The cheapest? The best for business development? Read on to find out.
Back To The Top
Melaleuca vs Shaklee: Product Ingredients
Like Melaleuca, Shaklee’s products are based on natural ingredients. Shaklee has two important principles that must be adhered to when selecting products:
1. Ingredients must be as natural as possible.
2. Ingredients must reflect the most recent scientific and technological advances.
Like Melaleuca, Shaklee support their natural and naturally derived ingredients with scientifically formulated ingredients if a natural alternative is not possible. Their scientifically formulated ingredients are thoroughly tested to ensure bioavailability, purity and potency.
In terms of which company is the most “natural”, it would appear that they are evenly matched. They both pride themselves on the high quality and standard of their ingredients. The advantage Shaklee has over Melaleuca is that a list of their products’ ingredients seems to be easier to find. Shaklee clearly differentiate between natural, naturally derived and scientifically formulated ingredients, and also show which category every single ingredient used belongs to. Melaleuca seem to be less upfront about their ingredient lists, and don’t make it clear what the difference between natural and naturally derived is which can leave the consumer slightly confused.
Back To The Top
Melaleuca vs Shaklee: Business Structure
Both companies belong in the network marketing industry, and so they have pretty similar structures. Melaleuca’s distributors must remain as customers and commit to spending a certain amount every month on Melaleuca products in order to be eligible for commission. Shaklee’s model works in much the same way:
“Just three clear steps to earning the rewards of a great living:
1. Use Shaklee products to make yourself healthier. Easy enough.
2. Share the products with others. You’ll want to.
3. Mentor others to do what you’re doing. Paying it forward pays you back.”
A key difference between the two companies is that as a Melaleuca Executive you are not involved in selling products to the end-consumer; you are merely recommending them to the company. As a Shaklee distributor, you are selling Shaklee products direct to the customer. Just as though you were a grocery store, you buy the products at wholesale prices and sell them to customers at a retail price, usually a 15% mark up.
Both companies’ distributors are required to purchase a certain amount of products every month. Melaleuca is purchased for personal use, whilst Shaklee is for resell. The Shaklee model seems to be risky. There is no guarantee that you will sell the products purchased, which could leave you with a large amount of unsold stock in your garage, and no profit.
Melaleuca vs Shaklee: Money Making Opportunity
The Melaleuca structure requires the least effort- you simply introduce a customer to the company, and will earn commission from their monthly sales provided you both spend a certain amount. From doing relatively little work, you can earn a small, monthly paycheck. You may not make much, but you won’t loose any either. Initially, it is harder to make money with Shaklee, as you msut buy the products upfront meaning before you’ve even sold anything, you’re already on a loss. There is no guarantee that you will sell any of your products, and so making even a small amount of money could be a difficult task.
Whilst it may be easier to earn a small residual income from Melaleuca, if you want to develop your business and start earning serious cash, then you need to commit to growing your down-line. It is expected to be as difficult to develop your business with Melaleuca as it is with Shaklee.
Melaleuca pay you a steady rate of commission on every generation of your down-line: 7%. With Shaklee, you are earning roughly a 15% margin on every sale, which is obviously more appealing. However, as said above, Shaklee presents a higher risk, and so whislt you will earn a higher rate, it could be harder to acheive.
Back To The Top
Melaleuca vs Shaklee: Safer For The Environment
Melaleuca pride themselves on manufacturing products that are safer for the environment. Their ingredients, when possible, are taken from sustainable, natural resources, and have a firm stance against using chemicals that pollute the environment. Many of Melaleuca’s products are concentrated, or super concentrated, meaning less packaging, water and shipping is required, and all of their packaging is compatible with the majority of recycling facilities. Melaleuca also use reusable plastic bins in their manufacturing process and recycle what they can whenever possible.
Shaklee also do their best to protect the environment, and were the first company to be Climate Neutral™, meaning they operate with a net zero impact on the earth. Shaklee has been widely commended for their commitment to protecting the environment. Their product, Basic-H®, was chosen as one of the first official Earth Day products, and in 1998 Shaklee became a Charter Partner of the U.S. EPA’s Climate Wise Program. In 2008 the company was added to the Top 20 Retail Partner list by the EPA Green Power Partnership in recognition of being a top purchaser of green power. It is clear thatprotecting the environment is a large part of Shaklee’s organization. It appears however, that Shaklee do not produce super concentrated products, meaning that perhaps they are using unnecessary water, energy and packaging.
It is difficult to decide which network marketing company is more environmentally friendly. Melaleuca seem to do more to ensure their products are as ecological as possible, whilst Shaklee seem to concentrate a larger proportion of their energies to improving the general environment. Both are doing their part, and should be commended for their efforts. But in terms of who’s the most ecological? It is too hard to say.
Back To The Top
Melaleuca vs Shaklee: Price Comparison
This article provides quite a thorough price comparison between many Melaleuca and Shaklee products, and it appears that, on average, the two companies are quite evenly matched. However, many of these products are no longer in production, and the document is also not laid out in a clear consistent manner.
The following prices were taken on 13/10/2010 direct from companies’ own websites (based on Regular Price- not membership prices)
Immune Support Supplements
Melaleuca: Activate Immune Complex Immunity Booste. 60 Capsules. $15.50
Shaklee: Nutriferon. 60 caplets. $45.90
Household Cleaners
Melaleuca: Tough & Tender All-Purpose Cleaner. 16 fl.oz. $8.50
Shaklee: Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate. 16fl.oz. $12.50
Sports Drink
Melaleuca: ProFlex20 Shake- Dutch Chocolate. 15 servings. $24.50
Shaklee: Cinch Chocolate Shake Mix, Canister. 15 servings. $48.00
Prostate Support Supplements
Melaleuca: ProstAvan Prostate Support. 30 softgels. $24.50 ($49 for 60)
Shaklee: Saw Palmetto Complex. 60 softgels. $43.80
Lip Treatment
Melaleuca: Lip Treatment. 0.123 oz. $21.00
Shaklee: Lip Treatment SPF 15. 0.15oz. $7.90
As you can see, the companies are still relatively evenly matched in terms of price. Some products are cheaper with Melaleuca, some are cheaper with Shaklee.
Melaleuca has a larger product range, and includes essentials such as dental products, which Shaklee omits. You may find it is more convenient for you to shop with Melaleuca, or you may find it more cost effective to buy the bulk of your products from Shaklee and top them up with grocery store brands as and when.
Back To The Top
Melaleuca vs Shaklee: The Verdict
So which is better for you; Melaleuca or Shaklee? Well, it depends. There is no black and white answer, no “Melaleuca is definitley the better company”, as both offer different things. In terms of the business opportunity, both companies provide you with a chance to create a prosperous business and generate a high level of income, but in different ways. Regardless of which one you choose, make sure you go in prepared, with a structured strategy to ensure success!
Back To The Top
Looking For Massive Success In Your Network Marketing Business?
Discover the EXACT Blueprint on how to add 700 reps into your Network Marketing business in our 100% FREE How To Add 700 Reps Report
thought that it was interesting–would like to know what you think of Shaklee vs Herbalife?
melaleuca obiously is better than herbalife. scientifically probe.
First of all, Shaklee is an MLM company while Melaleuca is a Consumer Direct Company. While they both have some products in common, to compare them is like comparing apples and beef! Despite their similarities, Melaleuca’s direct competition is Proctor and Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Lever Bros, etc. not Multi-Level Marketing Companies. In order to revenue share with Melaleuca you only need to purchase products you would have bought at the grocery store or drug store anyways, therefore it’s personal consumption rather than ‘front-end’ loading with product you have to mark up and resell. As for prices, you say ‘the companies are still relatively evenly matched in terms of price. Some products are cheaper with Melaleuca, some are cheaper with Shaklee’ All of Melaleuca’s prices, except for one are considerably less than Shaklee’s!!! The total of Melaleuca’s products are $94.00 while Shaklee’s products are $158.10 with a savings of $64.10!!! I would say Melaleuca, even at a ‘retail’ price offers products at a considerable savings compared with Shaklee’s prices.
Hi Theresia, thank you for your comments. Your comments about Melaleuca and MLM are interesting, and it is a question we have pondered ourselves here at ExplosiveMLM.com. You may enjoy reading this article entitled Melaleuca’s CDM structure – Is Melaleuca A MLM In Disguise?, where Judy Mila investigates this question, concluding that Melaleuca is indeed an MLM company.
How did you come to this conclusion Neil? In an MLM, everyone is a “distributor”- someone who is expected to buy and sell. Products flow through multiple levels of distribution- manufacturer sells to a distributor, who earns one level of commission: they sell the products to another distributor(who earns a different commission); and the end user (the customer) pays the retail price. To receive a money/check you must go out and “sponsor” someone. The sky is the limit on how much you can make on any single person and the more that single person buys, great, the more money everyone in the “upline” makes. They sell their business tools at retail so the people making them make $$. The business is based on volume.
Melaleuca is a CDM (Consumer Direct Marketing)- there are no distributors, only customers- real people who really buy products they really need, products they use, run out of and reorder. Nobody is forced to buy more than they can use. No buying, no selling! To receive a money/check you just have to shop (you’ll receive it in the form of rewards, kind of like you would get from using credit cards, only a much higher percentage) and/or recommend someone shop with them. Melaleuca limits the commissions paid on customers’ purchases to 150 product points per month, protecting all of their customers as it is not right to encourage others to over-purchase products since they do not make a commission by doing it. They sell their business tools at cost. Products are their business, not the compensation plan. The business is based on consumption.
Need I go on? I’m not sure where or how Judy Mila came up with her information, but it is false and she should not be spreading lies.
Hi Renee,
Thanks for your input.
MLM is not where “everyone is a distributor”, it’s a compensation model. You can have MLM’s where there are both customers and distributors. So, you can call it something fancy (Consumer Direct Marketing, Direct Sales, Peer-to-peer-direct-to-consumer-compensational-distribution model)…but’s it’s MLM. No shame – let’s just call a spade a spade
We actually wrote a full article on that very question – enjoy!
http://explosivemlm.com/melaleuca/melaleuca-mlm-in-disguise/
[...] Shaklee and Melaleuca are also involved in the war of the health and wellness companies. To find out how these two companies compare, read Melaleuca Vs Shaklee – The Battle Of The Brands. [...]
I’d be interested to know if Shaklee is debt free and profitable; also if it is willable, transferable, and sellable???
As far as I know, Melaleuca tests on animals while Shaklee don’t which would definitely make Shaklee more ‘eco’ for me!
Kathy – the business is transferable/willable and the article says “Shaklee does not have dental products” that is false – dental product is called dentrifice on their website.
Some of your price comparisons really are not accurate. For example, Shaklee’s Basic H2 product is concentrated, therefore allowing you to add it to water.
Shaklee is always safe, always green, always works!! Shaklee is Debt Free, and also direct Sales Company. No inventory, no deliveries.
There Are Many Ways to Earn in Shaklee
Cars, trips, and, of course, cash. Cash in the form of FastTRACK bonuses, Power Bonuses (during your first 90 days and each time you achieve a new Business Leader rank), and more!
* Because the Dream Plan is new, there are no average earnings by rank as yet. For the Business Leader ranks in the Legacy Plan, the average annual income in 2009 ranged from $10,629 for Directors to $598,037 for Presidential Master Coordinators. Average annual income for each rank is calculated monthly based on information reported on Form 1099-MISC for all U.S. Business Leaders who achieved that rank that month. The sum of these monthly averages is the figure reported above. Results will vary with effort. Shaklee Corporation does not guarantee that any particular income level will be achieved.
Melaleuca has never tested on animals, and many products are certified vegan.
Comparing prices does not take into account: 1) Melaleuca products are so concentrated that one bottle of Tough-and-Tender makes 6 full-sized spray bottles of cleaning power; 2) Efficacy of the products found in both lines. For instance, Melaleuca has a patent on their vitamins, because the unique way in which the pills are constructed results in higher absorption of the vitamins and minerals, as well no free-radicals being created by interactions between the supplement ingredients while in the pill.
Neil,
I’m sorry, but your information is WAY off base on Melaleuca. There is no way, in any MLM, to rise up to be a Corporate Director above the person who enrolled you who is still working very hard, as well. Melaleuca’s structure is more than just enrolling customer’s and business builder’s and you’re never left to fend for yourself. If you have people interested in the products or the business and cannot be available, a team member will jump in, help you and they will still be your personal customer or business builder. You are running your own Melaleuca business, but you are also part of a team that works as such.
Also, Shaklee has stock holder’s and their main profits are paid there. Melaleuca profit share’s 51% of its revenue with its costumer’s and their business builder’s get even more than them as a thank you. There is no middle man. Therefor your opportunity in growth is that much larger. You also stated that in working in Melaleuca you make a 7% commission … To START … It grows as you grow to 20% and that doesn’t include all of the bonuses and the bonuses are HUGE and often. That makes the money you’d make in Shaklee far more prosperous by being with Melaleuca. Its all in the math. The businesses sound the same but they couldn’t be more different in compensation, products and in the value their customer’s get! Does Shaklee send its customer’s actual checks as a thank you? No. The answer is no … Shaklee does not profit share with anyone but its top line and stock holder’s. This is WHY Melaleuca is able to reward as well as they do. They are not just a wellness company with NON-animal tested products (I can’t believe I just read that, Mary) that work so much better than Shaklee’s and as pointed out by Theresia,but in WELLNESS it the products, the opportunity and in its mission. It really is wellness in mind, body and soul and risk free. Melaleuca’s prices are MUCH lower than Shaklee’s as their Windex substitute, for example, make’s 6 bottles and the member price is $5.69 … That works out to less than .95 cents a bottle!!!!!! Also, member prices are on an average 30-60% less than the ones you listed. Take Shaklee’s and then remember that their ‘distributers’ have to mark their prices UP to make a profit.
Melaleuca also gives monthly business reports to all marketers. It is not an MLM just because a woman wrote an article saying it is. Is Netflix an MLM? Nope. The idea in sales is the same. No one is out selling Netflix but people shop online and now, even through their BluRay players, because they signed up for a Netflix membership. They agree to pay a certain amount monthly and deal directly through Netflix. When you shop with Melaleuca you shop directly with the Company like you do when you go to the store. All you’re doing is redirecting money you would be spending anyway. You make your own choices and it is consumer direct which also leaves you with PRIVACY.
Some may say Shaklee’s proof is in it being a multi-billion dollar company. They have been here since 1950. Melaleuca began in 1985 with the message to enhance the lives of others. It does that in every way as it is now approaching its billion dollar mark,with several years of BBB awards like their HIGHEST Blue Torch Award, and the same goes for its years as an Inc 500 Hall of Fame winner. Melaleuca’s amazing products are proven to work due to their amazing and patented formula’s that are made right here in the USA. Their shoppers get amazing products, other offers and actually, as I mentioned, profit share as they save and help themselves and their families. The Company hasn’t had ONE lay off EVER. It is 100% debt-free … Also, all I’m writing is backed by PROOF (I could go on and on about product comparing proof, but I think I’ve made enough points in the differences).
On that note, I wish EVERYONE with Shaklee happiness, health and prosperity. I really want the best for everyone. I just want the record straight here as so many believe all they read as facts when the facts are wrong. No offense, Neil, but when you’re stating facts you should know them before listing them. I was googling as I was curious what people had to say about this as I have met many people who left Shaklee FOR Melaleuca and I wanted to see what was said in conjunction from what they told me. I wouldn’t have written except you don’t know Melaleuca well enough to have advised as you did. You missed the mark too many times and people will believe what the don’t know …
With respect, honestly, and a smile,
Steph
Just to clarify on the price comparison:
Household Cleaners
Melaleuca: Tough & Tender All-Purpose Cleaner. 16 fl.oz. $8.50 – makes 96 fl. oz.
Shaklee: Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate. 16fl.oz. $12.50 – makes 48 gallons
You stated: “Many of Melaleuca’s products are concentrated, or super concentrated, meaning less packaging, water and shipping is required, and all of their packaging is compatible with the majority of recycling facilities. Melaleuca also use reusable plastic bins in their manufacturing process and recycle what they can whenever possible.”
As you can see from the household cleaners, Shaklee far surpasses Melaleuca in decreasing packaging. They even plant trees when you buy a starter kit of supply samples. Hope this helps your readers as well.
[...] Read more about the battle between Melaleuca and Shaklee [...]
actually the proper comparison,
Melaleuca: melamagic allpurpose cleaner Concentrate 16fl oz $5.69 makes 32 gallons = $.17 per gal
Shaklee: Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate. 16fl.oz. $12.50 – makes 48 gallons = $.26 per gal
Whoever wrote this didn’t do their due diligence and research the facts. Melaleuca is NOT a MLM and theyre NOT “distributers.” They do NOT have a “downline” and they are residual income, ongoing true monthly income. Melaleuca has a documented 95% reorder rate, I’d love to know Shaklee’s. People order what they really NEED, and they don’t mark product up, everyone no matter what your level (whether you are just a consumer or whether you actually refer customers and generate income) pays the SAME. Harvard business school is studying this model of business currently and they are the FIRST EVER Consumer Direct Marketing Company worldwide. Pretty cool.
PS Melaleuca preferred customers pay $5.67 for the cleaning products (which have no child safety caps because they’re already safe–no child has ever been poisoned by a Melaleca product) and they make 4-6 full sized spray bottles. Melaleuca hit over ONE BILLION in annual sales last year, what was Shaklee’s. Just curious. Melaleuca surpassed total sales of Mary Kay and AMway this year too, and they’ve been around half the time. Their products work, they speak for themselves. “The truth is always good enough.” – Frank Vandersloot, CEO of Melaleuca
Ok, I am actually looking for a comparison of products, but I want to make 3 statements
1) My dad sold melaleuca in the 80′s when the company was new. It was DEFINITELY an MLM “buy the products, get your clients to buy them from you, and get them to be a distributor with a downline to REALLY increase your profits.
2) While the internet allows the ability to cut out the need for me to buy FROM my friend and her carry products, it still has downlines and uplines. Yes I don’t have to sell it to buy it. But it is indeed a MLM when it comes to working it like a business and earning money.
3) My husband and I recently signed up for Melaleuca because our friend presented it to us as an “all natural ” company. But the more and more I purchase these products I am disappointed in the ingredients labels. In the laundry detergent specifically I called to see about the ingredients. They said they could not tell me, and the only thing she could say for sure was that the FDA would not allow them to use the “non-toxic” label on their products (which would mean to me that they do have toxins in them. Which they will not admit to me)
I see on Shaklee’s website their products ARE listed as “non-toxic” “natural” or “chemical free” Melaleuca can not make that claim. Makes me wonder what they are NOT telling me is in that laundry detergent, and better than Store brands? I dunno. No one will tell me.
I am not looking to make money, I just want the safest products for my family. And so far I am not impressed with Melaleuca.
Angel, I’m with you on wanting the safest products and recently found Essante Organics. They are 100% Organic and 100% Chemical-Free. They were just awarded the Chemical Free seal of approval from the ToxicFree Foundation for their entire product line of weight loss, personal care, anti-aging, home and now baby products. This seal has only been awarded to 3 companies worldwide. Oh yeah their compensation plan blows away everyone elses as well. Check it out at essanteorganics.com/cr. If interested or have questions feel free to contact me at cyreuter@gmail.com
First, I want to comment to Angel’s post of 4/21/12. You can find all the product information on each of your Melaleuca products right on line, there are product labels and ingredient labels you can pull up before you even make a purchase. The other thing I wanted to point out is the fact that Melaleuca’s cleaning products to not have child proof caps on them, you better believe that the FDA would not approve that if they weren’t in fact very safe. I’m not sure who your enroller is, but you really should be contacting them or Melaleuca with your concerns about how safe the products are, etc. All of Melaleuca’s products are not “all-natural”, however, many of them are. Those that aren’t are the best of science and nature formulated.
If you are concerned about MLM’s vs Consumer Direct Marketing, these twelve success factors should help you when making your decision between Melaleuca and other MLM companies. Look for these qualities when deciding on going into business for yourself.
12 Success Factors:
1. Company Track Record
2. Financially Sound
3. Strong Management
4. Product or service is highly consumable to all
5. Competitive Pricing
6. Low Personal Production Requirement
7. High Reorder Rate
8. Low Entry Fee
9. Low Attrition
10. Timing
11. No Breakaways
12. Risk Free
Which one of these 12 points would you take off the list and still invest your money, time and reputation? Are you looking for the next one or the last one?
Please feel free to contact me with any other questions or concerns, I would love to help you figure them out or at least send you in the right direction for the answers that you are looking for.
My husband and I have been Melaleuca customers for over 20 years. We have used their vitamins and many of the supplements all that time. We use, not all, but a full range of of other Melaleuca products monthly as well. My husband is 91 years old and I am 71. We go to a Senior Fit class three times a week. In addition I go to a Senior Tap class weekly. We just bought a new travel trailer and will be full time on the road starting this June. Not only do we like their products, but as perfered customers we are able to shop at the lower preferred customer level and receive reward $ on everything we buy. I save these reward $ and use them to purchase birthday and Christmas gifts for family and friends. Melaleua had their first $1 Billion in annual sales this past year.
Ive been shopping for the best network marketing company,that is best for my family,im not big on retailing, so melaleuca seems to be a a goo choice, the only thing is, i dont see any water filters, and they dont have a turnkey marketing system, so id have to go shop for one,and theres a lot of them out there, so hmmm……