Blyth, Inc. Subsidiary PartyLite Gifts Enters Mexico

Blyth, Inc. today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, PartyLite Gifts, launched its direct selling business in Mexico following a successful testing phase conducted last year. According to the company, PartyLite’s opportunity meeting for independent sales consultants was held in February and was well attended, followed by a very successful Pioneer’s Month in March. PartyLite’s Mexico City-based local team of nationals supporting the efforts of the independent consultants includes a general manager, as well as sales development, marketing and operations managers.

Commenting on PartyLite’s expansion into Latin America, Robert B. Goergen, Blyth’s chairman and CEO, said, “The positive reaction of Mexican consumers to home fragrance products and the growing popularity of the party plan model of direct selling in Mexico offer an excellent opportunity for PartyLite and potential independent sales consultants. The high quality of our products and the strong programs in place for PartyLite consultants offer new possibilities for consumers to enhance their homes, earn extra income and start their own businesses while having the freedom to determine their schedule according to their own unique needs.”

This step into Latin America demonstrates Blyth’s ability to leverage its worldwide facilities and core competencies to support new market entries as it utilizes its Monterrey, Mexico facility for initial PartyLite distribution in Mexico, minimizing the Company’s initial investment requirements in this market. Further, Blyth’s global sourcing and research and development efforts ensure continued availability of quality products and help speed new products to market more quickly.

Frank Mineo, president of PartyLite Worldwide, said, “Candles have long been popular with Mexican consumers for religious reasons, and we see that decorating with fragranced candles and accessories is becoming increasingly popular. Local Mexican communities tend to be close-knit, even in larger cities, lending themselves to the success of the party plan model. Moreover, we believe that PartyLite was the catalyst for consumers’ growing desire for fragranced candles and related accessories in the United States, Canada and Europe, and early indicators lead us to believe that Mexican consumers will be equally enthusiastic.”