By IRMA ISIP

The merged operations of Tupperware Philippines and Fuller Life Direct Selling Philippines, formerly Sara Lee Philippines will result in sales of over $100 million or P4.5 billion according to Pablo B. Perez, managing director of Fuller Life.

Starting next month, the two biggest direct sellers of plastic food keepers , underwear and cosmetics, expects double digit growth this year despite the current food and fuel crises.

Perez said tough times work for direct sellers inasmuch as more housewives wanting to earn extra join their over 200,000 workforce.

By July, all 25,000 Tupperware sales agents would be folded into the Fuller Life umbrella, joining its 180,000-strong sales force in its 90 branches nationwide in pitching Tupperware products and Fuller's 1,000 product lines including underwear brands like Playtex, Hanes, Champion, Wonderbra, cosmetics Colour Collection, Ivana, and Zwitsal.

Perez said direct selling would boom to grow despite strong competition from both local and foreign companies using this scheme to push their products.

"In difficult times, direct selling tends to grow because (people) look for additional income. Wives pitch in to raise money", Perez said.

He said integration would provide more products -- from Tupperware to underwear - which means more sales and more income.

"Word of mouth will help the industry grow," Perez said.

Fuller Life ranks second in the direct selling industry after Avon in terms of sales.

The operational merger in the Philippines of Fuller Life and Tupperware started last year through the unification of back office operations like accounting and logistics.

Perez disclosed plans to launch more products in skin care and fragrances towards the end of the year.

In 2005, Tupperware bought the direct selling business of Sara Lee but Perez said in countries like the Philippines, Fuller becomes the surviving entity because it is a bigger business here compared to Tupperware.

Of the $100 million projected sales, Perez said $15 million of that would be from Tupperware.

Currently, all Tupperware products are imported from the company's facilities in China, Korea and Malaysia . There are no plans to put one here, Perez said.

He said branded products like Playtex, Hanes, Champion are manufactured here from third-party operations while local brands like Colour Collection cosmetics and Ivana fragrances are expected to contribute strongly to the Fuller Life revenues.