Press
Room
Wisconsin man and
wife team bet everything to champion
advanced skin care formulas
The daughter of an immigrant and the
son of a father born in poverty,
Linda and Brian Kaminski put
everything on the line, investing
their savings, mortgaging their
home, selling the family car,
borrowing on credit cards, and when
that fell short, selling many of
their possessions to raise cash to
research advanced skin care formulas
and then organize a company to
market them.
Without a car, Brian pedaled a
bicycle around town while Linda gave
away samples to shoppers in the
parking lot of their local
Wal-Mart. Today their company,
L'Bri Pure n Natural, based in
Mukwonago, Wisconsin, ships more
than 200,000 bottles and jars of
skin care lotion, face and body
scrub, diet supplements, and beauty
enhancers direct to customers
nationwide.
 The road to leading a
multi-million-dollar company began
in 1977 when then 20-year-old
newlywed, Linda Kaminski, was
working as a personal secretary at
Evinrude Motors in Milwaukee. I
was having some skin challenges, and
a friend at work told me about a
woman who had these skin-care
products, Linda relates. I
didn't
know anything about direct selling,
but I called her and started using
the products. My skin improved and
soon I was also selling these
products to my friends.
Linda quit her secretarial job to
devote fulltime to her direct
selling career, becoming the
company's top seller. Meanwhile
Linda's husband, Brian, was employed
in the aluminum foundry of
Milwaukee's sprawling Briggs &
Stratton factory. Molten aluminum
in excess of 1,220 degrees
Fahrenheit was poured into dies for
casting the block and parts of
lawnmower engines.
In the years I was with Briggs &
Stratton, I always worked in the
aluminum foundry, in die casting,
which is always very hot and dirty,
Brian says. I had a couple of
really big burns, and many small
burns on my arms and chest, but so
did everyone else. It was just part
of the job.
On this particular day in 1985, at
about noon, a forklift delivering a
large pot of molten metal to the die
casting area slammed on the breaks.
Like a wave splashing over a break
wall, super-heated aluminum spewed
from the pot, soaking Brian Kaminski
from the waist to the floor. Brian
was rushed by ambulance to the Burn
Unit of Milwaukee's St. Joseph
Hospital.
Following initial treatment at the
hospital, Brian was sent home with
strict orders to treat the
third-degree burns with a
prescription salve and bandages to
prevent life-threatening infection.
It was difficult to remove the
bandages to put on the salve without
further damaging the burns, Linda
recalls of the ordeal. Says Brian,
It got worse and in a few days I
could hardly walk. It wasn't
healing.
 Linda adds, We kept up this routine
for about five days and Brian was
still in pain and the wounds looked
terrible. A friend suggested they
try aloe vera. The Kaminskis were
aware aloe vera was a popular home
remedy for minor burns but this was
no minor burn.
At this point, Linda says, we had
nothing to lose because the salve
and bandages were not working. She
removed the bandages for the last
time and spread aloe on the damaged
skin. Within two days, the pain
subsided and Brian's legs appeared
to be healing. On the follow-up
visit to the doctor, the physician
scolded them for not following his
instructions.
He gave us a long lecture of how
lucky we were that some major
infection hadn't settled into the
skin, Linda says. He told us the
prescription salve contained certain
things to help ward off infection
and there's a reason you keep the
burns covered. The doctor insisted
they drop the aloe and return to the
salve and bandages.
We just felt good about the aloe,
Brian says. So we kept using it,
and I got better. There was no
scarring. The doctors and nurses
were amazed how well my burn healed,
and we attributed it to the aloe.
Brian recovered and returned to work
at the foundry but within six years
he left his factory job to help his
wife full-time in her home-based
business.
In 1998, remembering their
experience with aloe vera, Linda and
Brian decided to start their own
skin care company with formulas
based on aloe vera. Explains Brian,
Most skin care products begin with
water as the basic ingredient.
Instead of water, we decided to use
aloe vera as the base.
According to the Kaminskis, aloe
vera contains 75 nutrients, 200
active compounds, 20 essential
minerals, 18 amino acids, and 12
vitamins. Nicknamed the burn
plant, aloe vera has been the
subject of numerous scientific
inquiries and has been used as a
healing agent for thousands of
years. 
Working with bio-chemists, Linda and
Brian supervised the formulation of
several aloe vera-based, all-natural
skin care products. We wanted skin
care formulas that were pure and
natural, of the highest quality, and
that would promote healing to help
people have younger, healthier
skin, Brian says. We made sure
everything was well within FDA
regulations and was documented to be
healthy for the skin.
Combining their names, Linda and
Brian named their new company L'Bri
Pure n Natural, pronounced ,
Lih-Brye. The bio-chemists went to
work to create a comprehensive skin
care line of cleansers and
moisturizers. The Kaminskis were
told the work would require as long
as a year and the price tag would be
high.
To meet the research and development
costs, they mortgaged their home,
raising $200,000. Linda and Brian
borrowed $150,000 on credit cards,
committed their entire family
savings, and then sold their boat,
their car, and a number of their
household goods. Without a car,
Brian rode a bicycle around town.
 Finally, the first products began
arriving from the lab. Among them
was L'Bri Daily Moisturizing Hand &
Body Lotion, made with aloe and 41
other ingredients, including
vitamins, natural botanicals,
Echinacea extract, ginseng extract,
and cucumber essence. The office
and distribution center were located
in the basement of the couples
suburban home.
We knew our products were superior,
and people would love them, if they
tried them, Linda says. The couple
leased a compact car and Linda drove
to a Wal-Mart parking lot to give
away half-ounce samples of the
lotion and other products. At this
time we were so far in debt, the
business was now about survival,
she adds.
I positioned the car so I could see
people coming out of Wal-Mart, she
describes her sampling technique.
I asked people to try a free sample
of our pure and natural lotion.
Many people accepted the samples and
soon Linda and Brian were filling
orders from their home.
In the years since, Brian estimates
the company has distributed more
than 100,000 free samples of various
L'Bri Pure n Natural products.
Brian Kaminski no longer rides a
bicycle to work and years ago Linda
stopped handing out samples in
parking lots. Their company now
occupies a large office and
distribution complex southwest of
Milwaukee. Several thousand
L'Bri
Pure n Natural independent sales
consultants represent the products
nationwide. Annual sales are on
target to exceed $5 million dollars
this year.
On one recent morning, while walking
through the busy shipping
department, chatting with happy
employees and watching L'Bri Pure n
Natural cartons fill UPS trucks,
Brian told a guest: I was confident
that if we worked hard, did the
right things, sold a good product at
a fair price with good service, we
would be successful.
L'Bri Pure n Natural markets skin
care, nutritional, and beauty
products from its offices in
Mukwonago Wisconsin through a
national network of several thousand
independent sales consultants. The
company offers a selection of free
samples of its most popular
products, asking the consumer pay
$5.75 for shipping and handling.
Samples include a cleanser,
freshener, and moisturizer packaged
as the Customized Skin Care Trio,
Smooth n Firm Eye Repair Gel,
Facial Masque, Rejuvenating Enzyme
Facial Peel, and the L'Bri
Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion.
Free samples may be requested at the
company's website,
www.L'Bri.net/samples. To learn
more about L'Bri Pure n Natural,
visit their website at
www.L'Bri.com.
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Hundreds of
skin-care products. So many choices. Which products work best?
Todays skin-care consumer is justifiably confused, especially those con- fronting difficult skin issues such
as eczema; psoriasis; adult acne; skin rashes; excessively oily, flaky
and itchy skin; a combination of dry and oily skin areas; rosacea; and
even a combination of conditions. Many factors cause the skin to
rebel: the environment, diet, medications, hormones, stress, and
chemotherapy. Another is the mixing of products from various
manufacturers
applying a hodge-podge of products not formulated to work together.
Just as it is dangerous to combine home cleaning products, it can be
damaging to combine skin care products from a variety of manufacturers.
Due to the extensive amount of skin care products on the
market, consumers tend to purchase a mix of products and brands that synergistically
don't work together. A typical vanity is stocked with a wide-range
of brand names and products. Brand B moisturizer is applied after
Brand A cleanser and Brand C anti-aging serum
is used in conjunction with |
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Mixing
Skin
Care
Products
Can
Lead
to
Confused
Skin
Linda
Kaminski,
Founder
L'Bri
Pure
n
Natural
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Brand D facial masque. One may ask: Is that a
problem? The answer is a resounding,
Yes!
Mixing brands and products may lead to a form of
chemical
warfare, and the skin is the victim. A skin-care
manufacturer
will formulate products within a specific pH balance
range, blending ingredients that complement one
another for best results. For example, the cleanser
has a certain pH level and so does the freshener and
moisturizer. The term pH refers to the measurement
of
the acids and alkali in the skin. The amount of acid
in the skin determines the skins resistance to
bacteria.
However, one company's pH balance
range may be quite different
from the pH balance range of another manufacturer.
One brand may not work in harmony with another
brand. Mix and match brands and the result in the
long run can be damaging. Skin that becomes
off-balance and confused may develop blemishes,
allergies, rashes, and any number of other skin conditions.
Using products that contain proven healing
ingredients such as Aloe can be extremely beneficial
to confused skin. Aloe,
known as natures pharmacy, provides 75 nutrients,
200 active
compounds, 20 essential minerals, 18 amino acids,
and
12 vitamins. For those undergoing
radiation therapy, Aloe can help ease painful
treatment. Be sure to find and use products
where Aloe is listed first on the
list of ingredients.
Clear, smooth, healthy skin is the |
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beginning of a beautiful,
youthful look. The basis of healthy, beautiful skin
is a regular
program
of
intelligent skin
care.
Tips for
a
Life Time
of
Healthy-Looking
Skin:
Avoid
mixing
skin
care
products.
Use
a skin
care
system intended
to
work
together
to maintain
the
skins
natural pH
balance.
Drink
plenty
of
water.
Don't
use
products
containing drying
alcohol.
Avoid
cleansers
that
suds.
Avoid
products
containing
artificial
coloring
agents,
synthetic
fragrances,
parabens,
propylene glycol,
waxes,
mineral
oil,
or sodium
laurel
sulfates.
Don't go to bed wearing make- up.
Increase
fiber
intake.
Don't
smoke.
Smoking
constricts
blood
vessels,
causing premature
wrinkling.
Use
natural
based
products.
Don't
use
soap as
a
skin cleanser.
All
skin
types, by
nature,
are
on the
low
pH side,
or slightly
acidic,
measuring
about
6 on
the
pH scale.
One
of the
greatest
enemies to
the
skins pH
balance is
soap
because soap
leaves
the
skin in
an
alkaline
state that
is
receptive
to bacteria.
Get
your
beauty
sleep.
Eight hours
is
best.
Think
positive,
healing thoughts.
The skin
is
a
marvelous
organ and
responds
quickly to
kind- ness
and
care. When
you
care for
your
complexion
it will
do everything
naturally
possible to
be
soft,
clear,
healthy,
and youthful
in
appearance. |
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When considering
home-based business, evaluate
product benefits, company support
This year, nearly 14 million
Americans will operate a home-based
sales business, according to the
Direct Selling Association, and in
the United States, direct selling is
a $30 billion industry. If you are
considering a direct selling
business, carefully investigate the
company's products or services as
well as the kind of support you may
expect to receive, advise Brian and
Linda Kaminski, co-founders of L'Bri
Pure n Natural, a direct selling
company specializing in skin care,
nutrition, and beauty products.
Every direct selling company is
different, and the company you
choose needs to fit your lifestyle
and expectations, explains Linda
Kaminski, a successful direct seller
since 1981. Ask yourself, is this
a product that is beneficial for
consumers and something people need
and demand? Is this a consumable
product that lends itself to repeat,
on-going sales? Finally, is this a
product you can believe in?
The companies level of support is
important, says Brian Kaminski.
Look for a business opportunity
that has a low start-up cost, where
the independent sales person need
not invest in costly inventory, and
where the sales person is not
responsible for deliveries, he
advises, adding, Then look into how
much support the company offers.
For example, according to Brian
Kaminski, L'Bri Pure n Natural
provides its independent sales
consultants on-going education and
training, free personalized
websites, a product sampling
program, income from retail as well
as internet sales, cash bonuses,
travel rewards, and an automobile
allowance.
Build your business based on
proven, exceptional products and
with a marketing plan that earns an
ongoing income based on personal
effort, Linda Kaminski advises.
The customers of our L'Bri Pure n
Natural products tend to be
intensely loyal to our brand because
many of our aloe vera-based products
contain proven ingredients that
promote healthy skin.
 The Kaminskis strongly suggest
consumers study the labels and learn
about the ingredients before
investing in a skin care product.
Look for ingredients that are safe,
effective, and healthy for your
skin, Linda suggests.
Brian talks about the intangible
benefits of being an independent
sales representative for a company
such as L'Bri Pure n Natural.
This kind of business gives people
self-confidence, gets them thinking
about having goals for their lives,
and provides the courage to do
things they never considered
possible, he says. This is a
business that's about more than
making a dollar. This is something
that makes people feel better about
themselves.
Adds Linda, Selling is about
helping another person solve a
problem or fulfill a need. Help
people discover a quality product,
and the end result will be a sale.
Linda and Brian Kaminski were
introduced to direct selling in 1980
and the following year, Linda became
an independent sales representative
for a national skin care company.
Within four years, she led her
company in sales and sponsoring.
Brian later joined her in the direct
selling business and in 1998, they
founded L'Bri Pure n Natural to
market skin care, nutritional, and
beauty products.
From offices in Mukwonago,
Wisconsin, L'Bri Pure n Natural
markets its products through a
national network of several thousand
independent sales consultants. The
company offers a selection of free
samples of its most popular
products, asking the consumer pay
$5.75 for shipping and handling.
Samples include a cleanser,
freshener, and moisturizer packaged
as the Customized Skin Care Trio,
Smooth n Firm Eye Repair Gel,
Facial Masque, Rejuvenating Enzyme
Facial Peel, and the L'Bri
Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion.
Free samples may be requested at the
company's website,
www.L'Bri.net/samples. To learn
more about L'Bri Pure n Natural,
visit their website at
www.L'Bri.com.
Before buying skin
care products, read the labels,
study ingredients
When it comes to skin care products,
consumers should read the label
before purchasing, advise Linda and
Brian Kaminski, co-founders of L'Bri
Pure n Natural, a national marketer
of aloe-based skin care,
nutritional, and beauty products.
People read the labels of the foods
they eat; we want them to read the
labels of what they put on their
skin, says Linda Kaminski.
Educating consumers about heavy
oils, potentially harmful chemicals,
artificial coloring, and
manufactured fragrances found in
many skin care products is best for
everyone in the long-term.
Were very passionate that products
perform and do what they promise,
Brian says. In general, as an
industry, skin care and cosmetics
sell a lot on fluff and pretty
looks, sweet scents, and attractive
models. Consumers see the
advertising and purchase products
without realizing the products may
contain pore-clogging waxes, drying
alcohols, heavy oils, and
potentially harmful preservatives.
The first item listed on a label is
the products primary ingredient, he
says. For example, many skin care
products list water as the primary
ingredient. Explains Brian
Kaminski, Water is okay, but aloe
vera is better. I think everyone
would agree, especially anyone who
has tried it, that aloe vera is
better for your skin than water.
For this reason, we suggest looking
for skin care products that list
aloe vera rather than water as the
basic ingredient.
 According to Brian and his wife,
Linda, aloe vera contains 75
nutrients, 200 active compounds, 20
essential minerals, 18 amino acids,
and 12 vitamins. Nicknamed the
burn plant, aloe vera has been the
subject of numerous scientific
inquiries and has been used as a
healing agent for thousands of
years.
Customers of L'Bri Pure n Natural
products tend to be intensely loyal
to the L'Bri brand because the
company's skin care products use
aloe vera as the basic ingredient
rather than water. At L'Bri, we
talk about educating consumers so
they can judge for themselves what
is better for them, Linda
explains. Which is better? Aloe
or water? Which would you prefer, a
water-based product or a skin care
product that uses aloe as the
primary ingredient?
Adds Brian, An educated customer
will purchase the best products for
themselves and their family. When
considering a skin care product, we
want people to read the label before
admiring the attractive bottle and
enjoying the scent. Does the
product contain water, mineral oil,
artificial coloring, and beeswax, or
do the ingredients promote skin
health?
In addition to aloe vera, L'Bri Pure
n Natural skin care products
contain select natural vitamins,
herbs, sea plants, and botanicals
formulated to heal, nurture, and
rejuvenate the skin. The
company's
formulations rely on coneflower,
Japanese green tea, passion flower,
ginseng, and a variety of other
botanicals.
Before investing in a skin care
product, study the label and learn
about the ingredients, suggests
Linda Kaminski. Look for
ingredients that are safe,
effective, and healthy for your
skin. 
Founded in 1998, L'Bri Pure n
Natural markets skin care,
nutritional, and beauty products
from its offices in Mukwonago,
Wisconsin through a national network
of several thousand independent
sales consultants.
The company offers a selection of
free samples of its most popular
products, asking the consumer pay
$5.75 for shipping and handling.
Samples include a cleanser,
freshener, and moisturizer packaged
as the Customized Skin Care Trio,
Smooth n Firm Eye Repair Gel,
Facial Masque, Rejuvenating Enzyme
Facial Peel, and the L'Bri
Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion.
Free samples may be requested at the
company's website,
www.L'Bri.net/samples.
To learn more about L'Bri Pure n
Natural, visit their website at
www.L'Bri.com. |