Then, in April, when the “Buy 5, Get 1 Free” XS promotion came along, it applied not only to cases but also pallets. It was like pouring gasoline on a fire.

Nearly 30 pallets of XS Energy moved through their business and when you factor in the pallets purchased via the organization of Anthony’s parents, Vinny and Dayna, that figure climbed above 40.

There are 224 cases in a pallet. For those keeping track, that means more than 110,000 cans of XS flowed like a river (of profits) through the Pappalardo organization.

“The promotion was just great,” Anthony says. “We’ve always been able to move lots of XS, but it wasn’t as competitive a price as it could have been to help people go out there and promote it. The `Buy 5, Get 1 Free’ promotion brought XS to a price that is even more marketable.”

The month-long deal enabled many of his IBOs to sell the product at their usual cost, and still make a healthy profit.

For the Pappalardo team, momentum began building in March with leaders buying pallets, as they’ve been doing for some time, so that we “absolutely exploded with it in April,” Anthony reports.

“I told our IBOs, `Let’s make sure we have some on hand, some in stock, so we can keep growing,’” Anthony says. “The bottom line is good things happen when IBOs are excited about a product and when they make money. Our volume skyrocketed with XS in April.”

Sponsoring is likewise on the upswing, along with the number of people at organizational meetings.

Over the course of the month, Anthony gave special recognition to IBOs who were especially successful in boosting their volume, including a few who sold more than 50 cases apiece.

Each of his platinum businesses likewise ran recognition-and-reward contests of their own, typically tying in key parameters like sponsoring and contacting prospects.

Not coincidentally, within his own organization, Anthony can list one IBO leader after another that he can trace directly to XS as a door-opener.

Among them: Benjamin Myers (Ruby); Steven Mazzurco (in Emerald qualification); John and Rebekah Leggio (Sapphire); and Jason and Effie Murphy (Q-12, in Sapphire qualification).

“If XS was not part of the equation,” he says, “I wouldn’t have found the leaders we have found and be a qualifying Diamond.”

“When you want people to get engaged, XS is a great door-opener,” Anthony adds. “It’s been Amway’s best product for 10 years.”

Speaking of engaged, his fiancée has been getting in on the marketing efforts. Frances shared a recent vignette that underscores the importance of keeping your eyes open—and then opening your mouth to share the XS story.

“I went into my doctor’s office and noticed everyone was drinking Red Bull. Before I knew about XS, I was a Red Bull drinker too,” Frances says. “I knew it was bad for me, but didn’t know what else to do.”

“So I teased them a little bit and told them they shouldn’t be doing that to their health,” Frances continues. “One of them asked me what they should do instead and I had the answer. I brought a case of XS on my follow-up visit and by the time I left, every staff member was drinking it and asking where to get it. Now I’m hooking them up with cases that they’re buying.”

To see this and other XS Success Story profiles on the XSGear website, visit http://www.xsgear.com/info/successstories.asp

(Photo of Anthony & Frances is below)