Winning Business Models: Analysis Of 10 Public Companies (36 pages):

A Detailed Study of Ten Public Companies: Our staff has assembled an analysis of the performance of ten public companies involved in online education, direct sales and consumer subscriptions. This analysis covers stock performance, price/sales ratio, price/earnings ratio and growth rates for the 24-month period ending May, 2008. A hard copy of this document can be mailed to you and is available upon request. (See a brief summary below).

SECTION 1: Direct Sales & Network Distribution

In the 1990s, high-tech and financial companies became enamored of the direct sales networking industry, as these companies broadened their lines to include services as well as consumer products. Soon, it seemed every high-tech company was looking to networking as a means of guerrilla distribution in highly competitive markets. Companies in telecommunications, paging, Internet service, Satellite TV, financial, and travel services were the chief beneficiaries of alliances with networking companies. Today, even electric power is being sold through network marketing channels.

Four Public Companies Selling Both Tangible and Intangible Products

• Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. [NYSE: PPD]: A monthly subscription (av. $20/mo.) offering legal advice and services. Pre-Paid Legal has been in operation for 36 years, and operating as a public company since 1992.
• Tupperware Brands Corporation [NYSE: TUP]: A 60-year old product line, this home party plan sells a wide range of practical household products.
• Herbalife, Ltd [HLF]: A 28-year old provider of nutritional supplements.
• YTB International, Inc. (Your Travel Biz) [YTBLA.OB]: Barely four years old, YTB generated $140 million in sales over the past 12 months. Since 2005, they have sold over 120,000 "virtual online travel agencies" (Income is generated from travel booking fees, and a $49/mo. maintenance fee for agents).

SECTION 2: Consumer-Direct Subscriptions & Affiliate Programs

Subscription services in every conceivable category have exploded across the Internet. Affiliate Marketing (performance-based advertising partnerships) was pioneered in the 1990’s by companies like Amazon.com (see Amazon Affiliate Program)

The formal birth of affiliate solution providers came to be in 1996 with the launch of 3rd party record-keepers such as LinkShare and Be Free. Commission Junction started up in 1998 to round out what is considered to be the top three.

• Wikipedia - Affiliate Marketing

Two Public Companies Offering Recurring Consumer Subscriptions

• Netflix, Inc. [NFLX]: 7.5 million monthly subscribers (av. $15/mo.), secured largely through affiliate marketing referral incentives
• eDiets.com, Inc. [DIET]: A subscription-based ($17.96/mo.) online counseling service

SECTION 3: Online Education: Consumer, Business & Career Advancement

MiracleMind has researched and identified a viable market for a broad spectrum subscription education service directed toward the mass consumer and small business marketplace. MiracleMind curriculum will encompass four primary categories and five huge demographic groups. For more detailed information, read the comprehensive whitepaper entitled "MiracleMind Growth Drivers".

Four public companies involved in business training, consumer services and e-learning:

• SkillSoft, PLC [SKIL]: Focused on corporate & institutional business training, SkillSoft is the leader in their field.
• InvesTOOLS, Inc. [SWIM]: A remarkable success, InvesTOOLS uses TV infomercials and hotel seminars to sell their online training program directly to consumers. Their stock grew a staggering 7,0000ver the past five years. (currently 3,300% multiple over the IPO)
• Capella Education Co. [CPLA]: A 17 year-old nationwide organization, Capella went public 17 months ago and operates primarily in the realm of online post-secondary education.
• Modavox, Inc. [MDVX.OB]: Founded in 1999, Modavox went public in 2003, and is now just coming into its prime as a provider of enterprise audio and video online learning and broadcast technology.