Epidemic Prevention ‒ Cooped up or go around? Seize Commercial Opportunities in the Midst of Trend and Consumption Channel Change
In 2020, with the impact of COVID-19 at home and abroad, the Central Epidemic Command Center(CECC) of our country adopted tight or loose community anti-epidemic policies based on the fluctuation of the pandemic. With the public adjusting their daily life to deal with the rapidly changing situations, the consumer behaviors in the market have changed alongside. Since the comparatively tight anti-epidemic policies adopted in the first half of last year have significantly impacted the business in the traditional retail channels, business in online shopping and food ordering & delivery services surged. E-commerce and “stay-at-home economy” have become hot commercial opportunities. However, with the comparatively loose “Post-COVID Lifestyle Campaign” policies adopted in our country in the second half of last year, the market trend has also reflected rapidly in the change of propensity to consume, of which we must aware if we want to seize the commercial opportunities.
According to the “Snapshot of Consumer Behaviors of June 2020” released by Eastern Online, the top 3 hot topics used to be actively shared by consumers with their friends are restaurant cuisine (45%), investment and financial management (38%), and shopping offers (32%) respectively. The usage rate of mobile payments was over 51%, representing a 3.2% increase comparing to that of previous month.
With the loosening of anti-epidemic measures, lifestyle shopping channels, such as convenient stores, supermarkets, and hypermarkets, have regained their momentum rapidly. The channels that had lost their popularity among consumers in the first half of last year, such as hypermarkets, department stores, and night markets, have gradually regained their customer flow. The time consumers spend at home has also changed, decreasing by 4% and 7% on weekdays and holidays respectively. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a link-up change of the overall environment. Over 60% of consumers are worrying about their future salaries and nearly 60% of consumers are considering reducing expenditure in the short run, for which paid courses and web videos are among the first to bear the brunt. In addition, other operations, such as freshly brewed coffee, apparel, drinks, snacks, and dinner parties, may also be put on the savable item list. Under the consideration of cautious consumption, the possibilities of consumers to give up or switch brands vary significantly among different consumer goods categories. In order to break out of the encirclement in the still changing consumer market, we need to continue to observe the market dynamics to find the best cut-in timing.
Lifewave LLC Taiwan Branch
Joined the DSA in June 2020, LifeWave LLC Taiwan brought an important force into the industry’s promotion of a sound and sustainable development.
Since its establishment in 2008, LifeWave has always upheld the attitude of integrity and responsibility to implement its mission of “making people away from drug harm” with an emphasis on helping people “live long and live well”. The company name Life-Wave literally means the wave of life, taken from the significance of activating life energy. In terms of products, its drug-free and non-transdermal patch, developed with a combination of the Western advanced technologies and Chinese traditional principles of meridian acupuncture, provides a hi-tech and quality product to serve the public. In addition to outstanding products, LifeWave has other advantages. At the moment of joining, all LifeWave distributors possess a “globally exclusive personal website”, which enables them to activate an international e-commerce model with zero time difference and zero distance, and establish a global team to explore the global market and create a brilliant life exclusive to LifeWave together.
Business philosophy
To provide a drug-free and safer way of keeping good health by combining the Western high technologies and Chinese traditional principles of meridian acupuncture and help Life-Wave distributors create a business opportunity and earn extra income through LifeWave’s hi-tech products.
Main product
LifeWave nanotechnology patches‒the drug-free and non-transdermal patch, developed with a combination of the Western advanced technologies and Chinese traditional principles of meridian acupuncture.
New Office Inauguration Introduction to Chairperson Lee Mei and Vice Chairperson Chen Zhi-ming of the Fair Trade Commission
The newly appointed Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) Lee Mei and Chen Zhi-ming took office on February 1, 2021. Meanwhile, two current FTC commissioners Guo Shu-zen and Hong Cai-long sworn in for their next term on the same day. FTC Chairperson Lee Mei, Vice Chairperson Chen Zhi-ming, and two renewed commissioners Guo Shu-zen and Hong Cai-long were recommended by Premier of the Executive Yuan on October 30, 2020, later approved by the Legislative Yuan on December 31, 2020, and then formally appointed by the Executive Yuan on January 19,
2021. Their term of office started on February 1, 2021 and ended on January 31, 2025.
The new FTC Chairperson Lee Mei has excellent education and professional experience. She earned her LL.M. at National Chung Hsing University and is a qualified lawyer. She used to serve as the Director General of the Department of Commerce, MOEA, and Deputy Director ofTaiwan Intellectual Property Office. Her specialties include Company Act, Intellectual Property Law, and related business laws. After 30 years in public service, she has had a complete experience in public service. In addition, her ability to communicate and interact with the industry and effectively promote policies is highly recognized by all walks of life. The new FTC Deputy Chairperson Chen Zhi-ming earned her S.J.D at Northwestern University and has served in academia for years. She used to work as a professor and dean of the Department of Financial and Economic Law at Chuang Yuan Christian University. Her specialties include Fair Trade Act, management theories and policies, and law & economics analysis.
As indicated by Chairperson Lee Mei, the FTC’s future work will focus on 3 main points: better transparency in administrative procedures, enhanced external communication, and grasping the digital economic trends as well as keeping laws & regulations up with the times. Chairperson Lee Mei further indicated that in the future the schedule of administrative procedures for individual cases shall be clearly clarified, including replenishment time, review time, and internal document round trip, in order to establish standard operating procedures (SOP) for case handling and effectively simplify administrative process.
As for issues concerning the management of multilevel marketing/direct selling industry, including suggestions proposed by legislators at a review meeting held at the Legislative Yuan, such as “switching from filing system to approval system”, “participating in electronic contract”, and “compulsory membership”, Chairperson Lee Mei did not clearly reveal her position. However, other commissioners expressed their open attitude towards electronic contract, holding the opinion that digitization has become a common scene in commercial transactions and operations in the market and should be promoted in response to the situation as soon as possible.
At present, although the industry has proposed a draft amendment to Multi-Level Marketing Supervision Act, the FTC has not presented their official counter proposal yet. In the future, the DSA will continue to care about issues concerning the amendment of Multi-Level Marketing Supervision Act and collect legal concerns regarding the operation of the FTC raised by member companies so as to communicate with the FTC or related authorities.
Second-generation NHI Supplementary Premium Rate Rose to 2.11% Starting from January 1, 2021
The second-generation NHI supplementary premium rate is adjusted to 2.11% (from 1.91%) starting from January 1, 2021. Please update your finance and accounting system accordingly.
For wages from second or part-time jobs less than NT$24,000 and other incomes, such as the interest income, dividend income, rental income, and income from professional practice (member bonus), less than NT$20,000 received by beneficiaries, withholding of supplementary premiums is not necessary.
“Refinement 30, Excellence Future” ‒ DSA 2020 Convention
Founded in December 1990 when business environment for direct selling was yet mature, with bold territorial expansion and conscientious efforts made by our seniors, Taiwan R.O.C.
Direct Selling Association (DSA) has entered its 30th anniversary with solid steps. A period of 30 years represents nearly half of one’s life and a journey of an industry growing from arrested development to prosperity.
On December 21, 2020, the DSA held its 2020 Convention at Helton Taipei Sinban Hotel, featuring industry forums, general assembly, and a banquet dinner, to kick off its 30th Anniversary
activities with representatives from member companies. Along with the developmental transmission brought about by digital technologies, the DSA member companies have witnessed the development track of the industry over the past 30 years. Digital technologies, social media, and customer communications are also topics explored in the industry forums of the Convention.
At the scene of the Convention, apart from the blessing message wall, set up for representatives of member companies and guests to leave their blessings to DSA’s 30th Anniversary, the DSA particularly compiled the Special Edition of 30th Anniversary, which records the historic tracks and achievements of the DSA over the past 30 years, and produced the 30th Anniversary Souvenir for representatives of member companies who have worked with the DSA for years to show our respect to the history and open up our prospect for the future.
The 2020 Convention called for an end at the banquet dinner filled with laughter and singing. In 2021, DSA’s 30th Anniversary, the DSA will continue to bring about even more rich and brilliant gains and results for member companies and representatives through various DSA activities.
【COE Talks】 How to Choose a Legal Direct Selling Company?
With the vigorous development of direct selling industry in Taiwan, both the number of workers and revenue of the industry have expanded significantly, constantly attracting the public to switch from consumers to distributors by joining the direct selling industry. For people who are interested in joining the direct selling industry, among numerous direct selling companies, how to find a legal and quality direct selling company to build their own business is a question that needs to be carefully considered.
In view of this, the DSA produced a short film entitled “How to Choose a Legal Direct Selling Company” to help educate the public to identify legal and quality direct selling companies and make those who are interested in joining the direct selling business understand the importance of Code of Ethics in running the direct celling business. Quality direct selling companies possess the following features:
Comply with the Code of Ethics for the direct selling industry.
1.Fulfill the obligation of filing required by the law.
2.Have established flawless marketing systems and a compensation plan.
3.Have established adequate communication and complaint channels.
4.Have open and transparent product pricing.
5.Have established reasonable and legal return and withdrawal criteria.
Not only the public who are interested in running their own direct selling business should carefully evaluate and choose a legal and quality direct selling company, direct selling companies also have to abide by related laws and regulations in order to safeguard each other’s interests and smoothly promote the direct selling business.
To cope with its corporate strategies, DSA member V Live International has changed its company name to “Charming Judy International Inc.”
To cope with its corporate strategies, DSA member V Live International has changed its company name to “Charming Judy International Inc.”
Congratulations on Charming Judy for having a new name.
We wish you good fortune and a thriving business.
Name in Chinese: 嘉美利國際事業股份有限公司
Name in English: Charming Judy International Inc.
Add.: 104 Fl. 8, No. 51, Sec. 1, Minsheng East Rd. Zhongshan Dist. Taipei
Tel.: (02)8978-2111
Fax: (02)2758-2116