Total Trust
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By Kate Burrows   
Monday, 14 May 2007
smc ACN says its innovative direct-sales distribution model allows it to seamlessly adapt to trends in the telecommunications industry.
ACN says its innovative direct-sales distribution model allows it to seamlessly adapt to trends in the telecommunications industry.
After working for more than nine years in the network marketing industry, ACN President Greg Provenzano recognized a need for a company that would offer its representatives “an environment of total trust,” and a company based on solid ethics and a fair compensation plan – important aspects he hadn’t seen in other companies.

He partnered with Robert Stevanovski and brothers Mike and Tony Cupisz to “form a company with a unique business model that would allow people from all walks of life to achieve the lifestyle of their dreams while at the same time providing a valuable and necessary service to customers,” Provenzano says.

Today, ACN provides everyday products such as local and long-distance calling, Internet and wireless services, as well as cutting-edge services such as a digital phone service with video capabilities. But it’s ACN’s person-to-person distribution model that truly sets it apart, Provenzano says. “Basically, we give people the opportunity to own their own company within a company – without any of the usual risks that most entrepreneurs face,” Provenzano states.

“Instead of using traditional marketing methods that can be costly and ineffective, we have our independent representatives share our services and products with the people they know. This way, we’re able to get our products in front of the consumer without incurring any advertising costs and, more importantly, the savings are passed directly on to the customer.”

In addition, the company provides substantial financial incentives for its independent representatives to acquire new business. The key to ACN’s business opportunity is residual income. Rather than receiving a one-time commission for acquiring a new customer like most traditional businesses, ACN’s representatives earn a percentage of their customers’ monthly bills for as long as they continue to use the service, Provenzano explains. “Our representatives have great incentive to acquire as many of their own customers as possible, because they are directly compensated for these efforts. Where else can individuals be paid what they’re worth, not what someone else has decided they’ll make?”

The company’s marketing strategies offer it a high level of flexibility, as well. “We’re very light on our feet; we’re not necessarily linked into one particular product,” Provenzano asserts. “As different forms of communication evolve, our business model is perfectly positioned to adapt. And, no matter what the new service might be, our representatives will be ready because we provide the training, tools and back-end support they need.”

Ahead of the Rest
ACN stresses the importance of staying ahead of the trends, and strives to offer the latest products and services to stay competitive. Its fastest-growing product in recent years has been its digital phone service, which offers customers the ability to speak over the Internet. Combined with videophones, digital phone service is the wave of the future, Provenzano says. And ACN is one of the few companies offering this technology, he adds. “We saw this technology coming a while ago,” Provenzano asserts. “So, as a company, we built our own broadband network in 2006, which has become the most robust in the industry.”

ACN used the latest in technology to ensure reliability and to establish three network operations centers. “We’re providing the absolute best in terms of technology and support, because we believe that our customers deserve nothing less,” Provenzano asserts.

Culture of Success
According to Provenzano, recruiting the right staff internally to support the business has become its key to success. “We have a very positive culture here at ACN,” he adds. “Finding the right people to fit within our organization and team is important. We look for people who are not only expertly skilled in their areas, but also people with a great outlook on life, and people who want to directly impact the lives of others.”

Its corporate structure is anything but typical, he adds. “We have a very comfortable environment, unlike many other corporations,” Provenzano asserts. “We really are one big family. But, everybody understands the job must get done. We’ve always been able to attract strong key executives, because people can recognize that we are well positioned for growth in the future. People want to be a part of this company.”

ACN currently operates in 19 countries and Provenzano’s plans for growth include expansion into the Asian and Latin American markets. “Also, in the countries we’re currently doing business in, we’d like to provide additional products and services that our representative base can market directly to consumers,” he says. “It’s our job to stay competitive in the industry, and provide our dedicated independent representatives the opportunity to create a rewarding lifestyle for themselves.”
 
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