| When I first started researching Enagic USA, I was | | | | Enagic's flagship product, the SD501, is a $3,000 |
| skeptical about all the claims made about their "kangen | | | | investment. This is not chump change, especially in |
| water". As with most all MLM companies, my research | | | | today's marketplace. There is a good financing plan in |
| brought up a lot of negativity surrounding both Enagic | | | | place allowing consumers to purchase the product |
| and their products. They introduce themselves as a | | | | without having to shell out the entire amount, but the |
| leader in the water purification and wellness industry, | | | | bottom line is that this product is a big financial decision |
| but who are they really? Let's take a close look... | | | | for most people. |
| Enagic - A Brief History... | | | | In many cases people are sold on the unit after seeing |
| The company itself has been around since 1974, which | | | | a detailed demonstration, in other cases a distributor |
| is quite a long time in terms of network marketing. The | | | | will lend "Kangen Water" to the individual for a period |
| company started in, and is still headquartered in Tokyo, | | | | of days/weeks so that the prospect can "try before |
| but today they have offices in Los Angeles, New | | | | you buy" so to speak. In either case I think there is a |
| York, Chicago, Honolulu, Canada, Germany, and | | | | good deal of salesmanship that needs to take place to |
| Mexico. Recently in 2006 Enagic USA was enrolled as | | | | convey the importance of the product and justify the |
| an official member of the DSA. With offices | | | | investment. |
| worldwide, a 35+ year history and a company that is | | | | From what I've seen, building a business with Enagic |
| now a member of the DSA it looks so far like Enagic | | | | would be a bit different than building with most other |
| is obviously no fly by night operation. | | | | consumable MLM companies. There is no residual |
| It would be incorrect to say Enagic is in the water | | | | ongoing purchase with Enagic so to keep making |
| purification business. What makes their units unique is | | | | money you either have to continue making sales or |
| how they ionize and change the pH level of the water. | | | | have a team that is doing so for you, either way |
| The term "Kangen Water" was coined to describe the | | | | building an income requires more ongoing sales activity. |
| uniquely altered water that is produced by their | | | | This is not a negative per se, simply an observation. I |
| technology. | | | | would imagine that your typical Enagic distributor has a |
| So what is the big deal with "Kangen Water"? | | | | bit more sales experience than your average network |
| Generally speaking most of our bodies are acidic due | | | | marketer selling juice or lotion for some part time |
| to diets primarily consisting of processed foods. It is a | | | | income. |
| widely known and heavily studied fact that an acidic ph | | | | Enagic Compensation Plan |
| level is not healthy. The old school way to balance out | | | | The thing that struck me first about Enagic is how |
| your ph level would have you eating a healthy serving | | | | product driven they are. As I was doing research it |
| of fresh greens with every meal. The concept with | | | | was very difficult to find much information on the |
| Kangen Water is that it has been altered to an alkaline | | | | opportunity, not even having a business presentation |
| state and by drinking it you can help bring your body | | | | on their website. The lack of opportunity "sizzle" is |
| back to a balanced ph level. | | | | honestly a breath of fresh air. I contend that most |
| I found a good presentation of the product @ that | | | | MLM companies focus on the opportunity to a fault. |
| would be worth checking out if you have not seen the | | | | In keeping with the product focus I am also extremely |
| product demonstrated before. | | | | happy at how the compensation plan is not structured |
| The Japanese Association of Preventative Medicine | | | | to allow "front loading", a major flaw of most MLM |
| for Adult Disease endorses Enagic as their leader in | | | | companies selling high dollar products. With Enagic, |
| water purification. In addition, "Kangen Water" is the | | | | when a distributor sells a product, it is shipped directly |
| only water product or technology approved for its | | | | from the company to the consumer. At no point is it |
| health benefits by the Japanese Ministry of Health and | | | | encouraged to stock and deliver product, the tell tale |
| Welfare, which is comparable to the FDA in the United | | | | sign of "front loading". |
| States. While neither of these endorsements do much | | | | Enagic has designed a unique type of compensation |
| for us here in the US, it is highly uncommon for the | | | | plan where there is no annual renewal, no sign-up fees, |
| product of a network marketing company to gain such | | | | no monthly or yearly fees, and no monthly |
| an endorsement from any government organization of | | | | qualifications. This is a great move on their part |
| any country. | | | | because most companies have all kinds of fees |
| Enagic has 7 main units, however the company's iron | | | | associated with joining. |
| horse is the Leveluk SD501, which accounts for about | | | | I won't bother going into detail on the comp plan other |
| 98% of all sales. One of the beauties of Enagic is the | | | | than to say it is structured very legally. It only pays |
| simplicity of its product line, they are not out to sell | | | | commission on the movement of product and not on |
| everything to everybody, they are focused on | | | | recruiting. The commission from a product sale is |
| excelling at the one thing they do best. | | | | divided into eight slices (points) which are paid out to |
| Thoughts on the Industry & Competition | | | | the selling & upline distributors based on rank. |
| The topic of competition is an interesting one to breach | | | | Without a consumable product, there is no residual |
| because Enagic is sort of a market creator. Of course | | | | income. This is just the nature of the beast. Here is the |
| there is plenty of competition for water purification but | | | | upside: commissions made from each Enagic sale can |
| Enagic is not really a water purification company. The | | | | be worth more than the commissions from a year's |
| broad market for Enagic would be the health and | | | | supply of a consumable product in most MLM |
| wellness industry but how does a water device that | | | | companies. These commissions are paid daily; |
| claims to turn normal water into healthy water | | | | essentially when a sale comes in the commission is cut |
| compare with traditional supplements? | | | | and sent to the various distributors earning any |
| Based on my research, Enagic is clearly the market | | | | combination of the 8 points. In the end what you have |
| creator for the healthy water concept. Success | | | | is a very unusual and very product driven |
| breeds imitation however, and Enagic has certainly | | | | compensation plan which passes the legality test with |
| attracted its fair share of competitors. Being the | | | | flying colors. |
| market originator, Enagic is maintaining their status as | | | | Parting thoughts... |
| the premium quality standard. Of course, doing so also | | | | Enagic is without a doubt a very legal and legit |
| means they also carry the premium price tag. They | | | | network marketing company. Anyone saying it's a |
| have plenty of competition saying their product does | | | | scam is quite simply misinformed, because they pass |
| the same thing for less money, but this is nothing new. | | | | the scam test with flying colors. The company looks |
| Every premium priced nutritional supplement must | | | | strong everywhere from the leadership, to the product, |
| compete against the argument that Wallmart's brand | | | | to the compensation. Enagic is a company with a solid |
| does just the same thing, which is rarely the case and | | | | product that can without a doubt compete with its |
| obviously has not slowed the growth of MLM, an | | | | competitors. As always if you looking to join any |
| industry dominated by nutritional companies. | | | | company, dedicate yourself to it for a whole year, or |
| Let's ignore the competition for a moment and taking a | | | | don't give it a DAY. |
| look at the marketability of the core product itself. | | | | |