Miessence Review and Profile

Miessence has moved away from its former full-scale, ten-level MLM compensation plan. The brand now operates through One Organic with a simplified two-level affiliate program, wholesale accounts and conventional online retail.

Miessence is an Australian organic skincare and wellness brand developed by Narelle Chenery with her husband, Colin Chenery, and business partner Alf Orpen. Narelle began formulating natural skincare products in her home in 1995 and introduced her first cosmetics at a local market in 1998. The founders began developing Miessence in 1999, and the company introduced what it describes as the world's first certified-organic skincare range in 2001. John Hunter joined the group in 2003 and helped establish its international direct-selling operation.

The business operated through the Organic & Natural Enterprise Group, commonly called ONEgroup, from its base on Australia's Gold Coast. Miessence expanded internationally with certified-organic skincare, cosmetics, haircare, oral-care products, household cleaners and nutritional products. A 2010 company profile reported approximately $10 million in annual sales, 45 employees, about 150 products and exports to 65 countries.

Miessence built its identity around independently certified-organic formulations and environmental sustainability. The company promoted products made without conventional synthetic preservatives, emulsifiers, fragrances and other additives commonly found in cosmetics. Its current sustainability measures include planting a tree for qualifying purchases and using sugarcane-based bottles, compostable pouches and reusable packaging where possible.

The company initially sold through a traditional multilevel network of independent representatives. A 2015 version of the compensation plan contained 10 ranks, from Associate through Diamond Executive, and paid retail commissions, recruitment and builder bonuses, customer-loyalty bonuses, leadership-pool payments and unilevel residual commissions extending through as many as 10 levels. Representatives generally needed at least 75 personal-volume points per month to qualify for commissions. Basic membership was listed at A$59.95, with optional business packages priced at approximately A$109.76 and A$307.69.

Miessence subsequently replaced that extensive rank-based plan with a much simpler affiliate structure. Its current affiliate program pays 20% on the first purchase made by a personally referred new customer or affiliate and 3% on later purchases. Affiliates can also earn 5% on the initial purchase made by customers or affiliates introduced by a personally sponsored affiliate, followed by 3% on repeat purchases. The two-level structure still qualifies as a multilevel referral program, but it no longer resembles the company's former ten-rank MLM plan.

To remain qualified for commissions, current affiliates must place an order of at least A$99 each month, A$299 every three months or A$999 every 10 months, or enroll in one of the company's membership subscriptions. The company also maintains separate wholesale accounts for retail businesses and an influencer collaboration program.