This is almost everything you need know about DS-MAX (now known as Innovage), the super-shady multi-level-marketing group whose business practices seems to have inspired the Midtown Promotions office we’re looking into. It’s culled from an excellent post over at DS-MAX: The Aftermath:

Overview
“In the US alone there are hundreds of such offices. Such independently run corporations remove ds-max from liability.”
The Marketing System
“If they are earning more than that the stroke should be adjusted so that they earn $100. If they earn less it should be similarly adjusted. They don’t want the guys too rich or too poor.”

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Atmosphere and Psychology
“…insinuated in many offices in the business…[that] if you leave the business and do your own thing that you will languish in poverty because you will not have atmosphere to rejuvenate you…”
Phrases/Terminology
“9 to 5 schmuck = some one that has a 9 to 5 job. This person is lazy, has his life controlled by a boss, will be laid off, has no sense of goals or directions and is too secure in their poor existence to try and get a head in life.”
The Meeting
“It is time to get the people going but first they must be even more hyped up.”
The Opportunity
“Now the owner will start to mention growth and expansion. It will be mentioned that more locations are desperately needed to handle their clients, that more managers are needed to run them!”
New locations
“That is one benefit to retraining people off of your crew. You can bond with them and they might want to follow you to your place.”
How an office works
“It sold for $20. The rep keeps $9. The owner keeps 5. The rest goes to ds-max.”
Employment ads and first interviews
“This is a door to door sweatshop sales job. Turn over rate is high. You need a constant supply to survive.”
How to take out a day of Observation and build a crew
“You should ask a whole bunch of questions to the day of o. Find out what he likes and dislikes. What he is motivated for or running away from? If it is an older guy — talk about management. If it is a kid talk about learning and growth. If the guy hates being in a cubicle then promote the fresh air.”
The History
“Murray was living out of his car. He formed what became DS-max. “
Head office, Hubs and VP’s
“You walk out of one of those meetings at the end of the day and feel inspired. You are determined to be the next VP.”
The belief system and life
“They will always retrain someone — even though they may not know where they might be sleeping in a week.”

— BEN POPKEN

AN EXPLANATION OF DSMAX, CYDCOR AND GRANTON MARKETING [DS-MAX The Aftermath]
RELATED: Consumerist’s undercover investigation into IDT Energy

Note: No definitive ties have been established between Midtown Promotions and DS-MAX/Innovage.

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