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The Southwestern Company: Web of Deceit--Affiliated Organizations
Ersun Warnke Salem-News.com Business/Economy ReporterIf you Google "Southwestern Company" you will notice that almost all of the independent views on the company are negative, and everything positive is published on a Southwestern Company owned site.
 Courtesy: gregrichblog.com |
(EUGENE, Ore.) - The Southwestern Company is about much more than selling books door-to-door. They have expanded and diversified their business operations into many areas. Southwestern Company owners and employees also have their own separate business interests that they are pursuing.
This article will reveal the tangled web of affiliated companies that are tied to The Southwestern Company.
As revealed in the first two parts of this story, The Southwestern Company is engaged in an organized scheme of tax evasion and illegal immigration that violates both State and Federal laws.
The Southwestern Company - Part 1: Walks Like a Duck, Quacks Like a Duck, Duck
The Southwestern Company Part 2: A RICO Case
In Part 3 of the series, covering political influence, the extensive donations of Southwestern Company owners and employees, totaling over $150,000, and directed primarily to Republican politicians was revealed.
The Southwestern Company Part 3: Web of Deceit Political Influence
This article will list affiliated organizations, their relationship to The Southwestern Company, and provide links to their websites.
The Southwestern Company and Direct Affiliates
Business consulting firm that teaches other companies the Southwestern technique for success. Very appropriately named. This one isn't listed on their main website. I wonder why.
Company that provides products to be used by schools in fundraising activities. Includes selling magazines, gifts, and frozen foods.
Manufacturer of frozen baked goods based in Canada.
Life insurance company based on direct selling model. Market Watch wrote published a column calling their "Cancer Insurance Policy" the "Stupid Investment of the Week."
Southwestern Legacy Financial Services
Supplemental insurance policies.
Company that publishes cookbooks, including for people who want to self publish.
Direct selling of "natural" prepared food mixes.
Southwestern Investment Services
Investment advising firm somehow linked to Raymond James Financial Services a much larger brokerage and consulting firm.
Southwestern subsidiary running the J-1 Visa operation highlighted in Part 2 of this series.
Southwestern Business Resources (SBR)
Executive search company operating in the U.S. and Europe. Success Starts Now / Southwestern Consulting
Sales training consulting service. "Liberating sales potential worldwide," according to their slogan.
Fine art consulting and appraisal. From looking at the houses these people live in, I definitely would not take their advice on art.
Magazine publisher.
Southwestern Company Websites
The company is in the practice of squatting on domains that they think will be used by their detractors. Funny that they thought the word "cult" would be a likely target.
More of the same.
Website for "communicating" with universities where the company recruits.
Site for "communicating" with parents whose children are interested in Southwestern.
Blog about sales.
Blog with information for and about former employees.
Southwestern Company Internship
Another promo site.
Another promo site.
Southwestern Company Testimonials
Another promo site.
Southwestern Company Difference Blog
Another promo site.
Southwestern Company Alumni Blog
Another promo site.
Another promo site.
Why does the Southwestern Company have so many different promo sites? This is simply a tactic to try and keep the independent and negative information about the company out of search engine listings, and to try and counterbalance all of the independent and negative viewpoints.
If you Google "Southwestern Company" you will notice that almost all of the independent views on the company are negative, and everything positive is published on a Southwestern Company owned site.
Spencer Hays Owned Businesses
Spencer Hays is one of the primary owners of the Southwestern Company. According to Forbes he has a personal fortune estimated at $400 million dollars. These are some of the other companies he owns.
"American hand made suits and luxury clothing of the highest quality".
"The world's largest manufacturer and retailer of custom clothing."
Sports news websites and publishing.
Other Related Businesses
Some kind of new age life coaching company mixed with internet marketing and Yoga instruction. Very weird. Owned by Marc Savas, the CEO of Unfair Advantage.
Affiliated Religious Organizations
Evangelical Christian organization focused on missionary work in Africa. Jerry Heffel, the retired Co-President is Chairman of the Board of Trustees. As of 2007, this non profit did not meet the Better Business Bureau's accountability standards. Jerry Heffel has made $18,550 in political donations related to The Southwestern Company, and has been their #2 political spender.
Salem-News.com Business/Economy Reporter Ersun Warncke is a native Oregonian. He has a degree in Economics from Portland State University and studied Law at University of Oregon. At a young age, his career spans a wide variety of fields, from fast food, to union labor, to computer programming. He has published works concerning economics, business, government, and media on blogs for several years. He currently works as an independent software designer specializing in web based applications, open source software, and peer-to-peer (P2P) applications.
Ersun describes his writing as being "in the language of the boardroom from the perspective of the shop floor." He adds that "he has no education in journalism other than reading Hunter S. Thompson." But along with life comes the real experience that indeed creates quality writers. Right now, every detail that can help the general public get ahead in life financially, is of paramount importance.
You can write to Ersun at: warncke@comcast.net
Articles for March 1, 2010 | Articles for March 2, 2010 | Articles for March 3, 2010
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Mg July 12, 2017 8:02 am (Pacific time)
We have some issues with the selling of books in our area by this company lots of complaints. I am doing research myself and I agree with you and thank you for your helpful information. You get it.
Jim Potts August 18, 2015 8:24 pm (Pacific time)
I sold for Southwestern in the mid 60's and was recruited by Spencer Hays. I have not read your entire article, I didn't need to. It is a crock. You could pick any company, organization or even an individual and decide you only want to pick out certain aspects and make that a complete picture. Not sure what your agenda is or your motivation, your story doesn't pass the smell test for me.
Mark Douglass July 15, 2010 8:22 am (Pacific time)
Hey Ersun, interesting article series. I'm a little confused as to its intent. Are you doing extensive "research" into this company's sister companies and their viability, or are you simply clicking on web page links and summarizing that they are Southwestern affiliated an therefore "evil". From what I read, you seem to be bashing them for having multiple branches of revenue. Isn't this a way of pursuing the American dream for Spencer Hays? I understand that you may disagree with a lot of the ways they run their business, but to simply list off a synopsis of their corporate family of companies is lazy journalism. I can't wait until you "expose" the mysteries of Microsoft and all of its subsidiary businesses. How dare Bill Gates be so successful shame on him!
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