Waters Philippines: Keeping You Healthy While Saving You Money by James Humarang

Josiah Go December 22, 2015 44

Waters Philippines is the market leader in home water purifiers in the Philippines and has started operating in Indonesia through a subsidiary, PT Noah Health in 2015. Founded by best selling marketing author Josiah Go, it is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Josephine Recto, Waters’ general manager, shares her thoughts about how the company has grown and why it attracts independent entrepreneurs to be distributors of the Korean-made Waters Bio Mineral Pot.

Q1: Waters Philippines started MLM in the Philippines in 1995 even ahead of Amway and Herbalife. It has not just survived but grown despite being a consumer durable company. What made it an outlier?

A: Waters Philippines has always been the opposite of the traditional MLM companies. A few common beliefs regarding direct selling and MLM success is that you should have main street office visibility and accessibility, and having products that require consistent repeat purchase in a short span of time. The head office of Waters Philippines is on a side-street, and our main product is a consumer durable to cite a few examples.

Putting it together, the reasons this works are because of the following:

  1. Our main product, Waters Bio Mineral Pot, is an award winning quality product which provides the basic need of water. With the growing demand for clean, safe and healthy drinking water, our water purifier is now a necessity. Rather than just being good to have, our products are actually affordable when you look at long term savings and benefits.
    bio-mineral-pot-with-shamcey
  2. We are one of the very few MLM companies that offer credit line facilities so customers can pay on installment. The installment price is quite near what they pay to water refill stations regularly. It is important to us that we reach more and more families because it is our mission to provide Good Health, Happiness, and Prosperity.
  3. We have an After Sales Group that serves the maintenance requirements of our units as well as any filter change needs.
  4. We partner with our customers for life by lending them extra Waters Bio Mineral Pot units free for their family or corporate events to ensure all their loved ones also enjoy 3-in-1 alkaline, mineral and purified water from our unit, not acidic water from water refill stations.
  5. We have other health products like Noah massagers and Noah ion cleanse foot detox.
    nicc-wth-shamcey nicc-with-dr-jaime-tan noah-2-in-1-heatable-foot-and-back-massager.JPG
  6. We have a very attractive compensation plan for distributors that includes big bonuses, foreign travel and cars.
  7. Waters Philippines is very strong in training, one of the basic foundation of direct selling. Our Chief Training Officer is no less than our founder, marketing guru Josiah Go, who has personally been training newly promoted distributors.
    waters-josiah-go
  8. We do not compete with the products of other direct selling companies. In fact, our products complement their products in the health and wellness category.
  9. We are blessed with many long-time sales leaders who have become successful with us and are now helping others succeed like them.
  10. It is also good to note that we support the preservation of the environment with our sustainable filters and use of glass pots instead of plastic.

Q2: One of the main features of Waters Philippines direct selling is offering credit when most multilevel marketing (MLM) companies transact on a cash basis. How risky is granting credit and how do you avoid bad debts?

A: Granting credit is always a risk, but our credit offering is actually what sets us apart from other direct selling companies.

Our In-House Credit Group assesses the financial health of the customers and extend credit (or not) accordingly. We employ credit score cards to rank potential and existing customers according to risk and then apply appropriate strategies.

Tight credit control is our first line of defense to prevent bad debts. Risk is further controlled through the setting of credit limit and clear payment terms and conditions. At the same time, strict implementation of work system and a third party supplier of intelligence and investigation reduce this risk.

Unlike other companies, we deliver and collect. Our distributors just do retailing and recruiting. This frees them to do more high value-adding tasks like business development.

Q3: What have you observed about products that work vs. don’t work in a direct selling company?

A: In a direct selling environment, products that are common include skin care, cosmetics, apparel and plasticware. Most of these products are patronized by the middle class market. Customers also look up to celebrity endorsers of these products.

Dealers go to their target market and serve as the walking advertisement and ‘retail store’. They provide more options (more product choices) and make their products more affordable (promo packages and discounts) to customers.

While beauty products and food supplements are abundant in direct selling, their strength is their weakness which is too many of similar products, unlike Waters Philippines with less competition.

Assumption of repeat purchase for beauty products and food supplements may not come true as competition from retail brands, such as Pond’s and Wyeth, is very strong. In Waters, there is strong per unit earning that is good for beginners and part-timers allowing distributors to earn more income at less time.

Q4: What about direct sellers? You have worked in Tupperware and Mary Kay before joining Waters. What have you observed about successful independent direct sellers versus those who have tried but didn’t make it?

A: Based on my experience with Tupperware, Mary Kay and Waters, successful independent direct sellers possess the following characteristics.

  1. They set goals.
  2. They are self-motivated, determined, and focused.
  3. They do not give up despite challenges.
  4. They attend trainings and every opportunity to learn the business.
  5. Their mindset – the success of their business is dependent on them.
  6. They value time.
  7. You only see them in the office to transact business or attend meetings; most of the time, they are out doing field sales activities.
  8. They are truthful to their customers and provide good service.
  9. They share the opportunity to other people. They train and coach. Most importantly, they give recognition to outstanding performances and make their downlines feel that they belong.
  10. They build and develop a team.

Some people tried but didn’t make it. The reasons are varied.

  1. Some were good in selling but have no goals.
  2. Some were not focused; they carried other products.
  3. Some were disillusioned with their upline distributors.
  4. Some were not able to manage their finances.
  5. Others had personal problems – family and health.

Q5: Why do you think that there are independent direct sellers who start strong but lose momentum and leave? What do you do to prevent this from happening?

A: Some independent direct sellers started strong because

  1. They had many connections (warm prospects) from the start.
  2. They had no training/coaching; their upline did all the selling for them.
  3. They changed priorities, changed location, no family support, health problems.

Training and recognition would be helpful to retain them. Consequently, uplines need to be trained and coached, too.

(Waters Philippines website is www.waters.com.ph. Email info@waters.com.ph to be an independent distributor for only P299)

44 thoughts on “Waters Philippines: Keeping You Healthy While Saving You Money by James Humarang”

    1. Hello Perlyn,

      Thank you for taking interest. We’d be happy to accommodate you at our free business opportunity seminar at our Waters main office at No.14 Ilang-ilang St., New Manila, Quezon City. Please call/text us at 09175644176 so we can help you start your own business now.

  4. Good day sir,I am from Masbate province and I got a commercial place here in our town. Is there a need to have a lot for the said business? I am very much interested,here is my mobile # 0907338#### just in case you would be expanding your business in our place. Thank you.

    1. Hello Arlene,

      Please attend our free business opportunity seminar at 2pm from Monday-Saturday at the Waters main office at No.14 Ilang-ilang St. New Manila, Quezon City. We also have Tarlac and Laguna branches.

      Please feel free to call/text us at 09175644176 for further inquiries. Thank you!

    1. Hello Esteban,

      Please attend our free business opportunity seminar at 2pm from Monday-Saturday at the Waters main office at No.14 Ilang-ilang St. New Manila, Quezon City. We also have Tarlac and Laguna branches.

      Please feel free to call/text us at 09175644176 for further inquiries. Thank you!

  7. I am very interested how I can get started. I am from cebu city and willing to attend a seminar…
    my cell no. 0933#######
    pldt no. 032-564-####

      1. PLEASE INFORM US OF YOUR CONTACT NUMBER AND YOUR MAIN OFFICE I NEED TO REPLACE PARTS OF YOUR WATER PURIFIER PRODUCT I PURCHASED SEVERAL YEARS AGO

    1. Hello Frederick. We currently operate in the Philippines and Indonesia. Product deliveries and seminars are conducted within these territories for now. If you have relatives in the said countries and they want to start their own business, they may contact us through the following numbers:

      Philippine Office: 09175644176/ (02)5840602
      Indonesia Office: +62-21-72800809/ +62-21-7252106

      Thank you!

    1. Hi Dolly! It’s so easy to join, small capital pa. Just attend our seminar any day from Monday to Saturday, 2pm at the Waters Center, #14 Ilang-ilang St., New Manila, Quezon City then sign up as a distributor afterwards (P299 capital). We also have branches in Laguna and Tarlac or our nearest distributor can visit you. Please text us at 09175644176. Salamat po.

    1. Hi Grace. The Waters business provides you the opportunity to earn unlimited income. Two ways to earn: Retailing (sharing the products) and Sponsoring (sharing the business opportunity). Please text us at 09175644176 so we can call you and tell you more about it. Thank you!

    1. Hi Florence. Waters is a great alternative to working overseas. We have distributors who were former OFWs. Now, not only do they earn more – they also have more time for their families. Will you be going home to the Philippines soon? Please text us at 09175644176 or send us an e-mail at info@waters.com.ph. See you soon!!

    1. Hello Lani. You can earn via retailing (sharing the products) and sponsoring people (sharing the business opportunity). Please text us at 09175644176 so we can tell you more about the business, step-by-step. You may also attend our seminar any day from Monday to Saturday, 2pm at the Waters Center, #14 Ilang-ilang St., New Manila, Quezon City. We also have branches in Laguna and Tarlac. Hope to hear from you soonest!

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