Category: Business

May is the Month to Make Our Recommitments

Published on by Nikken

May is the third and last month of the spring season in the northern hemisphere. In the United Kingdom, it’s known as the “smile month.” May is named after the Greek goddess of fertility, Maia, and the Romans called her Bona Dea. In the 1400s, the word designating the fifth month of the year changed from Maius to May.

In North America, May is known as National Recommitment Month! Its significance is as a time to reevaluate the meaningful areas of our lives and to see if we’re on the right path. Have we honored the commitments we made earlier in the year? How are we progressing with our goals for 2023? Are our relationships with family and friends where they should be?

Throughout our lives, we make goals and commitments, and before the middle of the year approaches, May is a good month to step back and assess how we are doing. No matter what the commitment—largely encompassed by any of the 5 Pillars of Wellness—healthy mind, body, family, society or finances—it’s time to take a look at where we stand.

Some practical ways to recommit are to examine our goals and see which ones are on track and which need more work or to be eliminated. If the original plan was too complicated to execute, then it’s time to simplify. If there were too many goals, it’s time to reset priorities and stick to the critical ones—our chances of success are higher when goals are realistic.

Focus. Multi-tasking is often presented as a desired skill when in reality, focusing on one goal at a time tends to produce a higher success rate. When we work on many things at once, chances are none of them will get done in a timely way. In other words, we don’t need to spread ourselves too thin. This holds true not only for work goals but also relationship goals.

Be mindful. Mindfulness is a means to an end. It helps ensure commitments are honored by decluttering the brain. Mindfulness requires our full intention as well as freedom from self-imposed anxiety, pressure, negativity and fear. Meditation is a form of mindfulness, but even without an actual meditation practice, we can take a few minutes every day to be quiet internally and renew our commitments and intentions. Meditation and being silent helps us consciously repel self-demeaning thoughts and emotions by emptying the mind. Mindfulness is positive self-talk and an essential component of self-care.

Prioritize. This is a no-brainer, but too often, we forget to do it. Since change is constant, we need to prioritize every day. That actually is what recommitment is founded on—as priorities change, our commitments change. What is most important to do today? And then, for the week?

Be flexible. Depending on each person’s personality, flexibility may come naturally or be a goal in and of itself. Just because we have made certain commitments and want to fulfill them doesn’t mean it’s always do-able or even practical. Sometimes we just have to go with the flow and adjust accordingly. On the other hand, sometimes we do have to stick to our plans even if they go against the general consensus. Exercising good judgment in that way is also part of recommitment.

What are you recommitting to this month? Are you hydrating and making sure you are breathing in fresh air? Are you exercising daily? Have you connected with your elder family members? Did you walk the dog today? Whatever your priorities are, remember to be kind to yourself.

As you recommit to prioritizing your health, be sure to take advantage of the 20% off filters promotion that Nikken is running now through June 30, 2023. It’s a great savings and the perfect time to purchase a spare for your PiMag® Sport Bottle, PiMag MicroJet® shower systems, PiMag Waterfall® and KenkoAir Purifier®! Each filter helps decrease your carbon footprint and gets your closer to being in harmony with nature!

Women in Leadership Then and Now

Published on by Nikken

“Since 2008, more women have assumed leadership of huge and influential companies (GM, IBM, Lockheed Martin) and global institutions (the IMF, the World Bank, the European Central Bank). More women have also been elected to high office around the world.  Since 1964, 64 countries have had a female head of state or government, according to Women’s Power Index and as of May 2020, 19 countries were being led by a woman,”1 according to Sally Helgesen, author of seven books on leadership, and a keynote speaker around the world on women’s changing roles.

Even with these vastly improving numbers, women in leadership still lag behind the majority. This may be attributed to the basic challenges women continue to face in the workplace, even as progress is made:

1. Unconscious bias stems from gender stereotypes reflected in the subconscious attitudes both men and women have about female capabilities. Huge strides have been made, but the deeply ingrained image of women “barefoot and in the kitchen” still is widespread even in civilized nations.

2. Unequal pay is more complex than just dollars and cents. It extends into the opportunities women are presented with, often fewer than their male counterparts.

3. Different expectations makes it more difficult for women, because there is the need to balance actual ability, respect from peers and being likable. In other words, aggressive men are the norm, but aggressive women may be considered dislikable.

4. Limited career advancement opportunities take the form of fewer promotions for women in a corporate environment. A 2021 Yale study found women 14% less likely to be promoted at their companies annually as well as being consistently judged as possessing lower leadership potential than their male counterparts.2

5. Lack of sponsorship and mentorship ties in with limited career opportunities. Women are less often approached by mentors or sponsors who can be sources of knowledge and even lead to the “inside track.” What women need to do is to actively seek out mentors and coaches rather than hope to be “found.”

6. Sexual and gender-based harassment is something that women continue to contend with. The American Academy of Arts and Sciences found that women supervisors had to deal with even more sexual harassment than others in their fields in the United States, Japan and Sweden.3

Given the inherent challenges that women face, the progress that has been made by women in leadership in recent decades is impressive. According to recent statistics from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the proportion of women in higher education fields as of 2017 are as follows: 78% Education, 76% Health & Welfare, 64% Social Sciences, 63% Humanities, 54% Business and Law, 50% Science & Math, 24% Engineering and 19% IT & Communications. The World Bank shows that as of 2017, women accounted for 49% of the global workforce.4

Women inevitably will continue to rise in roles of responsibility and power. The reason is simple: women are major consumers and therefore drive the global economy. A report looking at female emerging markets by Ernst & Young pointed out that by 2028, 75% of the disposable income worldwide will be controlled by women.5 With women as the primary consumers for everyday products and services (fashion, home, health, education) female preferences will dictate the marketplace, and women executive and entrepreneurs will have the sensitivity and know-how to lead. In fact, start-ups founded by women since 2018 to date, have yielded higher benefits with an average 10% higher income than those founded by men.6

What is called “she power” by entrepreneurs in the Digital Age, refers to leadership traits attributed more often to women. It embodies the ability to combine, adapt and learn. In other words, women leaders tend to be able to adapt quickly to changing environments and to face hardships with optimism and perseverance. According to a survey published by the Boston Consulting Group in 2018, women are more dependent on data and information analysis as well as being more willing to spend time on research.7

This trend coincides with the decreasing “confidence gap,” where women questioned their own competence. Since female millennials are now a force to be reckoned with in the global workplace, confidence has increased as well as the recognition of women’s capacity for strategic insight and vision. According to Ms. Helgesen, “As growing confidence based on demonstrated competence has increased women’s determination to reach their full potential, so has greater solidarity among them. This is one of the most dramatic shifts that has taken place over the past 30 years. Increasing solidarity among women, a growing role for male allies, and vastly improved organizational engagement have combined to create an infrastructure of support for women almost entirely missing in previous decades.”8

As women continue to expand into leadership roles worldwide, initiatives that were once considered tokens to showcase a company’s commitment to women’s advancement have now become integral parts of many companies’ talent acquisition strategy. Global organizations look for leaders who can combine decision-making with relationship-nurturing, collaborative thinking and direct communications—qualities found often in women. And, as women come into positions of power, they are actively giving a hand to the new generations coming up through the ranks.

Some interesting trivia about women of wealth from Forbes: China had 45 self-made women billionaires in 2022, down from 57 in 2021. The U.S. had 24 self-made women billionaires in 2022. India’s richest self-made billionaire is Falguni Nayar whose fashion retailer Nykaa went public in November of 2022. Singer and entrepreneur Rihanna is Barbados’ first billionaire.9

One major change in workplace attitudes may be attributed to the pandemic. For some time, as workers were forced to stay home, the distance between those who worked outside of the home and those who worked within the home, closed. Women who worked from home used to be in the majority, but the pandemic shifted the numbers drastically. Companies that were able to be flexible and support working from home (like Nikken did globally) managed to survive and even thrive. Traditionally, women have always dominated in direct selling and network marketing—and the pandemic supported what women have been doing all along: being productive while working from home.

Let’s celebrate together on International Women’s Day on March 8 and honor all the women in our lives!

1,8 https://www.strategy-business.com/article/The-evolution-of-womens-leadership. (2020 article)

2,3 https://www.strategypeopleculture.com/blog/challenges-female-leaders-face-in-the-workplace/

4,5,6 https://www.ceibs.edu/new-papers-columns/women-leaders-then-now

9 https://www.forbes.com/sites/gigizamora/2022/04/05/the-10-richest-self-made-women-in-the-world/?sh=6b0cdd126c25

Do You Like to Work Alone or as Part of a Team?

Published on by Nikken

Do you prefer solo endeavors or projects that require teamwork? There’s no right or wrong answer here, but thinking about it can be an interesting way to get to know more about yourself.

Your choice may depend in part on your personality—extrovert, introvert or a combination of the two—and also on your motivation. In other words, what motivates you to work and get the job done? Finding the balance between working alone and as part of team is a skill that also plays a big part in life and in Active Wellness.

Extroverts are outgoing and generally perceived as people who enjoy being around others. They typically thrive in group situations and are comfortable giving opinions and if necessary, arguing their points.

Introverts prefer alone time and are less likely to assert themselves in a group. This does not mean they are less capable; in reality, it usually pays off for a team to pick the brains of the introverts, because they tend to have unique perspectives that can make a project stand out but need to be coaxed to voice them.

Those who enjoy working on a team tend to be energized by interactions with others. They thrive on the energy of others and contribute their own into the group dynamic. Because they enjoy teamwork, they tend to be cooperative and likewise, expect others to help them find solutions to questions to create a good work flow. They use the team’s energy and goals as their primary sources of motivation.

The greatest benefit of working as part of a team may be the sharing of knowledge and skills. We are all gifted individually and when these skills are pooled, it can produce a much greater result than the abilities of one person. The collective brainstorming, in the best scenarios, produce creativity, strength and effectiveness.

Another benefit of working on a team is the potential to create friendships and even lifelong bonds. This certainly is true of network marketing organizations where the sponsor becomes a mentor to the people who sign up. Or, an entrepreneur who heads a start-up and grows an extended “family” who works to make the venture successful—the ups and down eventually end up being shared experiences that create permanent bonds. Just look at the unbreakable bonds of soldiers who have shared life-death encounters and survived together!

Motivation plays a big part in choosing how to work. Soloists are able to self-motivate, something not everyone can do. Rather than requiring the energy of others to become motivated, soloists know they are accountable for both the ups and the downs that can come from working alone. They won’t be held back by others, but neither do they have the support of a team.

Not everyone is capable of working independently without having someone looking over their work. Those who prefer working alone appreciate not having someone “hovering” or looking over their shoulders. They are highly motivated to do their best work when they are free of the interruptions that are part and parcel of being a team member. Introverts are often motivated by the feeling of independence and happy to set their own goals and schedules. Even if they belong to a company, these solo workers shape their own work flows and can create their own suitable work environments.

The pandemic changed the workplace in a big way. As people were relegated to working from home or remotely, teamwork took on a new practice. Even now, some work methods continue, for example, meetings via Zoom or other platforms rather than face-to-face. Working remotely or hybrid work formats also continue on.

At Nikken, we have learned to be more flexible and cooperative while working online as a team. And, we have learned how resilient we are.

https://www.hugo.team/blog/team-collaboration-vs-working-alone

The Benefits of Teamwork vs. Working Independently

New Year Message from CEO Luis Kasuga

Published on by Nikken

Dear Nikken Global Wellness Community,

As I look back at 2022, I see how much we have accomplished. I also see clearly that there is so much more to do. According to analysts, 2023 is expected to be a challenging year. Yet, I remain optimistic. I would like to share with you, why.

At Nikken, the spirit of Humans Being More is how we can improve our own foundations and the key to growth during difficult times. This spirit serves as the solution to many conflicts and relates to our responsibility as a community to bring the message of well-being to one and all. This message of wellness is needed even more during difficult times and it is our mission to deliver it.

We can choose to be proactive and responsive rather than reactive and combative. We can choose to be kind rather than judgmental, and we can consciously make the best of the worst situations. Do you know the Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl? He was an Auschwitz survivor who wrote and lectured about the search for life’s meaning as the primary human motivational force. In Dr. Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, life’s meaning comes from three sources: purposeful work, love, and courage when facing adversity. He explains that the discovery of life’s meaning can come about in three ways: by creating a work or doing a deed, by experiencing or encountering someone, and by facing unavoidable suffering with a positive and forgiving attitude.

In my 28 years with Nikken, I have found purposeful work, love and the courage to navigate the many ups and downs we have faced as a company. Together with our Nikken Team and leaders in the field, we have experienced many changes. It has not always been easy, and we have transparently aired our differences. Ultimately, we pledge to continue as a united front, moving forward with humility, compassion and forgiveness.

The idea of forgiveness is an integral part of this season of family celebrations and renewal of friendships. Forgiveness does not come naturally to everyone, but it can be a conscious choice. The reality is, when we don’t forgive others and stay angry or resentful, we are punishing ourselves. It’s not anyone’s responsibility to change to please someone else, and misplaced expectations may cause negative emotions that don’t work. For example, we have losses and gains in relationships, so we need to let go and forgive what didn’t work and hold on and be grateful for what does.

We need to start with ourselves. What I mean by this is that we need to forgive ourselves. We often are harshest with ourselves. So, let’s be kind to ourselves! We are humans and imperfect, so we are better off forgiving ourselves and trying to improve. And, hand-in-hand with forgiving ourselves is being grateful for what we have in every aspect of our lives. Humans Being More training teaches us to forgive through learning about ourselves and transforming into better versions of ourselves. This is an ongoing process for as long as we live.

What I wish for you during this celebratory time of year is peace in your heart as you approach 2023 and love and health for your entire family! Enjoy the new year, reflect on what you really want for yourself and others and go for it!

Your friend,

Luis Kasuga

President & CEO

From Personal Need to Helping the World

Published on by Nikken

Companies are started for many different reasons. Isamu Masuda founded Nikken because he personally had a need and nothing fulfilled it. In the true spirit of entrepreneurship, he thought outside of the box and found a way to fulfill his personal need and in doing so, created a company that could do the same for countless people, first in Japan and eventually, globally.

Young Masuda became the son of a single mother when his father died in World War II. His mother managed a small shop, and when he was 18, young Isamu found a job with a bus company. Over the next few years, he worked his way up from washing buses to being a desk clerk.

Married at age 27, Masuda was intensely interested in ways to improve health, possibly because he personally did not have a robust constitution. He started to work at a shop providing health-related products. His goals and career path changed when his son was born with daunting health challenges. The need to support his family and help improve the health of his son and himself, was enough to spur him into action. Doctors told him his son’s recovery would be expensive, so the new father logically decided he had to find a way to make a lot of money.

Inspiration came in the form of personal experience. Japanese people are introduced to hot baths early in life and grow accustomed to communal bathing. Families enjoy public baths with a key feature: pebbles on the floor of the baths stimulate the feet. Creatively thinking, Mr. Masuda combined the concepts of the stimulating pebbles with the age-long practice of using magnets, believed by Japanese to be therapeutic. He created the first magnetic insole that could be placed inside shoes.

His invention was a hit almost immediately. His customers claimed they felt better in different ways. They said their circulation improved, they felt more energetic and they were getting better sleep. But Masuda was not a businessman and didn’t know how to expand, so he reached out to an experienced financier. Together they grew their insole business.

Nikken sold only insoles for the first three years of business. They were sold to help improve overall energy through stability and stamina from the feet upward. Independent distributors later expanded into other countries and Nikken has now been an international company for more than 45 years.

Kenko Insoles are now available in two variations: mStrides and mSteps. Both continue on the Japanese tradition of magnets for therapeutic usage combined with the effect of the hot bath pebbles. The contemporary insoles make use of patented magnetic DynaFlux® technology. Depending on preference you can choose Kenko mSteps® insoles that are “bumpier” for more intense massage effects or Kenko mStrides® for a smoother surface. Both are durable, provide support for feet, legs and back, and are ventilated so feet stay cool.

As the flagship product line, Kenko Insoles have withstood the test of time and have built a huge fan base. Here are a few examples of what people with happy feet say:

” I used to have discomfort on my ankles for years. Since I wear the mStrides, the discomfort went away! So grateful for the technologies!” U. Pho

“I feel grounded and connected all day with my mStrides.” C. Aubry

“Ever since I was 7 years old, I’ve had challenges with my joints and being on my feet for long periods of time. I consistently wear mSteps or mStrides in my shoes and even my sandals. I like both so I just keep them, without switching them out. I no longer feel challenged when I’m on my feet!” B. Richmond

“I teach aerobics and strength training so when serious foot discomfort threatened my ability to that as well as to hike and dance, I needed help. My friend gave me a pair of mStrides and I was amazed. My feet felt great, I had tremendous energy in my legs and my class even told me I was too peppy! That was 20 years ago and I’ve never taken them out of my shoes. It’s mind-blowing how a product can be so effective and so simple to use.” C. Livingston

“When I started working at a cable plant, I had to climb stairs throughout the day while wearing steel toed boots. My back and legs were strained and I could barely walk by the end of the day. I order mStrides and put them in my boots. Now I am able to go up and down the stairs as many times as needed without worrying if I will make it to the end of the day. I am so grateful.” – A. Markus

“I am a busy mom and entrepreneur business owner. I love my mSteps—it’s one of the easiest things I can do to improve my well-being without adding another thing to my to-do list. I have improved balance and feel that it supports the flexibility of my back, while my energy levels are better during the day. Slide them in the shoes and forget about it.” A. Weinberg

How are you doing with your Summer Active Wellness regimen? Walking, hiking, running or gardening, traveling and anything you do on your feet can be surprisingly easy with Kenko Insoles. From now until September 30, you can save 20% off the Summer Active Wellness Pack. It contains three Nikken technologies—nutrition, magnetics and PiMag® water— with a jar of Kenzen® Super Ciaga® powder, a pair of Kenko Insoles (choose mStrides or mSteps) and an eco-friendly PiMag® Sport Bottle.

The 5 Pillars of Wellness Relate to Health and Wealth

Published on by Nikken

Do you know about the 5 Pillars of Wellness? These 5 Pillars are the foundation of Nikken and what our founder believed to be the essence of a balanced lifestyle. The pressures of daily living — a busy schedule, the demands of work, inadequate family or personal time, not enough rest, environmental challenges — can lead to a life thrown out of balance, a disturbance of our natural equilibrium. A balanced approach to living strengthens each of the 5 Pillars of Wellness — Healthy Mind, Body, Family, Society and Finances — and results in a more satisfying, healthy and rewarding lifestyle.

Each of the 5 Pillars relates to the others. Healthy Mind and Body go hand in hand. If you have a Family, you cannot be in balance unless each member is somewhat stable in mind and body. As we reach out past the family, we participate in our communities, just as Nikken is proactive in our Global Wellness Community.

Finally, we have the Healthy Finances Pillar. Simplistically put, this particular pillar is about making money. Unless we are born with so much money that we never have to work a day in our lives, our personal finances help determine whether we can be independent or not. When we have a hard time making ends meet, we worry (unhealthy mind) which takes a toll on our overall well-being (unhealthy body). Inevitably this will impact our relationships within the family and our community. Healthy Finances therefore are a critical part of an Active Wellness lifestyle.

Many people join Nikken because of our groundbreaking products that help us maintain or even improve upon a Healthy Mind, Body and Family. But how many are aware that Nikken also provides a way to contribute to the Healthy Society and Healthy Finances Pillars? Let’s take a single product and see how it might impact every pillar. Let’s use the KenkoAir Purifier® as an example.

•          You purchase a KenkoAir Purifier® because you have furry pets that are shedding a lot and there is a lot of pollen with the spring season. There’s more sneezing and itchy eyes than usual in the household. Or, you purchase a KenkoAir Purifier® because your area is affected by summer fires. It can be that you simply don’t feel your home smells fresh.

•          Once you place your KenkoAir Purifier® your home, you notice it is working hard (the sensor is showing you each time it changes color from blue to red and back again as it ramps up or down, depending on air quality).

•          After a few days (or weeks) you notice the sneezing and itchiness have abated somewhat. Or, you don’t notice the smoky outdoor air at all. Your friends come by and comment on how fresh your house smells.

•          You’re socializing a bit more because you feel more energetic now that allergens or whatever else was in your indoor air is negligible, if not entirely gone.

•          You want to share your newfound companion, KenkoAir Purifier®, with your family members who don’t live with you, so they can breathe more freely, too.

•          You also want to share your “breath of fresh air” with friends, because after all, friends share good things with each other.

•          After hearing from you, your extended family and friends may want to try the KenkoAir Purifier® for themselves. You help them with the purchase and introduce other products that may benefit them. You may also introduce the business potential with Nikken as a way to earn some supplemental income.

•          Each “share” you do that ends up in a purchase, results in a check in the mail for you from Nikken. It’s known as a commission, but you didn’t think of it as selling anything. You just wanted to share something really beneficial, because it’s the air you breathe every single day in your home that made the difference!

This actual scenario repeats itself around the world. There are people who discover this sharing of benefits as a way to make money. Many are stay-at-home mothers and ironically, the pandemic transformed many unemployed people into entrepreneurs—no need to leave home when you simply connect digitally.

Imagine how your Society and Finances Pillars would stabilize and expand if you consciously and conscientiously shared your discoveries of the different benefits of KenkoAir filtration, Nikken Sleep Technology, magnetic technologies, alkaline PiMag® water, Kenzen® organic nutrition, True Elements® marine organic skin care, and Kenko massage technology! In other words, what could happen when you share with intention?

Since May is designated as National Asthma & Allergy Awareness month, Nikken is participating by offering you affordable access to top quality HEPA 13 air filtration with 20% off each order of the KenkoAir Purifier®. In addition, each order of the KenkoAir Purifier comes with items that provide an extra line of defense to support an Active Wellness lifestyle—Kenzen® Hand Sanitizer, Kenzen® Surface Cleaner and the Surface Cleaner refill. May is almost over, but you still have almost a week to experiment with sharing the benefits you’ve personally felt, and to see how your intention impacts the size of your commission check!

Find Your Super Power and Build Upon It

Published on by Nikken

Nikken held its annual Leadership Summit on December 10 and 11 this year. Guest speaker Antoine Zervudacki, CEO of Letsmake Innovation and a Nikken collaborator, spoke about the need for change and sustainable growth in management. He described four archetypes for transformative leadership; in reality, these archetypes may pertain to anyone in pursuit of self-development. We may see ourselves in each archetype or in one specifically.

The Visionary is always looking to the future. This archetype specializes in defining strategic vision, guiding teams and inspiring colleagues to action. The Visionary transforms with special powers of communication. Areas to work on include staying connected to day-to-day realities, teamwork skills and focusing on details.

The Insighter has ears and eyes open to opportunity. This archetype focuses on the client and specializes in research, trends, market expectations, data, deep analysis and nurturing intelligence in teams. The Insighter is gifted in understanding complex situations and turning them into opportunities but may need to learn how to be flexible when change is needed and to pay more attention to teamwork.

The Maker embodies hands-on energy and focuses on generating results through effective processes. This archetype specializes in managing projects, improving procedures and meeting collective objectives on time. The Maker knows how to solve problems in a timely manner and to create success out of failures. Due to a passion for achievement, the Maker needs to balance personal and professional lives as well as those of the team and try not to deviate from long-term strategies.

The Humanizer has a heart that beats for people. This archetype specializes in building trust, empowering team members, communicating transparently and transforming strengths into a winning advantage. Conflict resolution is a major strength while strategic dimensions and solid use of data are areas for growth.

We are constantly transforming as we practice Active Wellness, develop into Humans Being More and share the benefits with the Global Wellness Community. It’s definitely an adventure to explore the archetypes we embody in our changing roles as students, teachers, parents, children, artists, entrepreneurs, inventors, engineers and so much more. Let’s tap into our super powers and make 2022 the best year it can be!

Black Friday Then and Now

Published on by Nikken

The true origin of the post-Thanksgiving Black Friday lies in the sense of black meaning “marked by disaster or misfortune.” In the 1950s, factory managers first started referring to the Friday after Thanksgiving as Black Friday because so many of their workers decided to falsely call in sick, thus extending the holiday weekend. About 10 years later, Black Friday was used by Philadelphia traffic cops to describe the day after Thanksgiving because they had to work 12-hour shifts in terrible traffic. Soon, the term caught on among shoppers and merchants in Philadelphia, and from there it took off nationwide.1

The 1980s brought the mythology of Black Friday as we know it today. While the phrases in the black and in the red are used in the business world to describe profits and losses, this explanation for one of the busiest shopping days of the year only came about in the 1980s, about 20 years after the phrase Black Friday was in regular use.2

In more recent years, global retailers have adopted “Black Friday” as the term and date to market their holiday sales. Here are some interesting facts about Black Friday:

  • Canadians often traveled over the border into the U.S. for Black Friday bargains. To curtail this, Canadian retailers began holding Black Friday specials of their own. The year 2012 saw the biggest Black Friday to date in Canada.3
  • Traditionally, Boxing Day had been considered the biggest shopping day of the year in the UK. In the 2010s, several American-owned retailers began to hold U.S.-style Black Friday promotions. As a result, more and more British retailers adopted the concept.4
  • In Welsh, Black Friday is known as “Dydd Gwener y Gwario Gwirion” (Silly Spending Friday).5
  • In Mexico, Black Friday was the inspiration for the government and retailing industry to create an annual weekend of discounts and extended credit terms. Known as El Buen Fin, meaning “the good weekend” in Spanish, it began in 2011. It takes place on November in the weekend prior to the Monday in which the Mexican Revolution holiday is pushed from its original date of November 20.6
  • In Germany, the term “Black Friday” was registered as a wordmark in December 2013. Black Friday GmbH is the exclusive licensee of the wordmark in Germany.7
  • Traditionally Black Friday is now a regular event in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Africa, Benelux, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico and increasingly many other parts of the world.8

This year, as a way to express our gratitude, Nikken is offering Nikken Consultants and Registered Customers free ground shipping on all orders through December 17, 2021. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

1, 2 https://www.dictionary.com/e/black-friday/

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)

Committing to Transformation and the Global Wellness Community

Published on by Nikken

Now more than ever, Nikken is a company committed to a transformative purpose. This purpose is really a commitment to the growth of the Global Wellness Community by creating mass consciousness about self-reliance through Active Wellness, the need to live in harmony with nature, and how to take care of not only ourselves but also those in our respective societies.

Committing to transformation starts with each individual but with the community in mind. Although we make mental commitments, actual transformation begins in our hearts. In current times, this means having faith in the power of love and resilience, in staying calm during crisis after crisis, and in believing that we are bigger than what’s happening and that by helping each other, we will emerge stronger than before.

Transformation, like happiness, starts from the inside and moves outward as it expands. Before we can “think outside of the box” as we’ve been told so often, we have to start inside the box, sift through and retain the useful while getting rid of the useless, and then jump out and focus on the change we choose. Individual transformation is after all, a choice, not something that can be forced.

Corporate transformation is similar to individual transformation. Nikken has always been a pioneer in creating relevant products: alkaline water (PiMag® water), organic whole foods (Kenzen® nutritionals) and restful sleep (Kenko Sleep). We’ve never been “trendy” because our products are classic and based on real wellness needs. Because of this, sharing Nikken products has been a viable way to augment finances for decades. During these trying times, Nikken has proven to be a way to forge on when other sources of income might have been cut off. More people are ready to embrace the Global Wellness Community and what we offer.

The philosophy behind our product line has not changed, because its relevance remains. How Nikken has transformed is by staying at the forefront of emergent technologies, phasing out products that prove unwanted by consumers, and offering partnerships with those interested in actively expanding our Global Wellness Community. The social aspect of sharing Nikken products, technology and a self-motivated way to earn money may prove especially attractive to those who are comfortable being part of the gig economy.

By the same token, we are not pioneers in making face masks or household cleaners. Yet during such unusual times, we’re offering re-usable face masks, hand sanitizers and a non-toxic Surface Cleaner simply to help our growing Global Wellness Community cope with the environment. (link to https://nikkenactivewellness.com/2020/06/25/create-a-wellness-home/) It’s a way Nikken to show our ongoing commitment to the Global Wellness Community.

As we approach 2021, we hope the lessons of 2020 help us all to positively transform to be stronger and more confident members of the world.

Letter from the C.E.O.

Published on by Nikken

Dear Nikken Wellness Community,

As we bid farewell to 2019, I am grateful for the many memorable experiences of the past 12 months. There was the Recognition event in Mexico City, the Nikken North America Anniversary celebration in San Diego and the Team Kaizen trip to Italy. There was the Diamond Seminar in Toronto, the European Inspire event in Paris and a North American Leadership Summit in Irvine. And finally, there was the opening of Chile. All of these activities gave me the chance to reconnect with old friends and make new friends. Every one of these events gave me an adrenalin rush!

I am also grateful for your unwavering belief in sharing Nikken Active Wellness with so many people who are in dire need of our products. There can be no more rewarding activity than introducing people to the 5 Pillars of Wellness. Your dedication to creating Wellness Homes everywhere certainly is an example of Humans Being More.

The year 2020 promises to be a very exciting year for our Global Wellness Community. Here are a few examples of what’s ahead for us in 2020:

• In Europe and North America, Nikken will rollout cutting edge IT platforms for our website, shopping cart and back office.

• We will continue to introduce new and improved products that customers will want and need.

• We will provide you with more great tools that will make it easier to sell products.

• We will celebrate 45 years of Active Wellness in New York City at our global convention.

• We will host another European event in Paris, another Diamond Seminar in North America and another Leadership Summit in North America.

• And qualifying for Team Taishi or Kaizen will offer exciting excursions in 2021.

Together we will improve the well-being of people in all corners of the world. In helping others, you can benefit directly from the various rewards that are a part of our Incentive Program. We will do all of this while being respectful of the environment.

On behalf of all of us at Nikken World Headquarters, I would like to wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

Best Wishes,

Kurt H. Fulle

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