Touchstone Essentials launched in 2012 and operate in the nutritional supplement MLM niche.

The company is based out of North Carolina in the US and headed up by Founder and CEO, Norwood “Eddie” Stone.

In his Touchstone Essentials corporate bio, Stone claims to have ‘two decades marketing and making nutritional supplements‘ experience.

Stone (right) co-founded Waiora, who also market a range of nutritional supplements. Prior to co-founding Waiora, Stone was an affiliate in Nu Skin and then Rexall Showcase International (Unicity International).

As early as 2010, Waiora was made aware that their NCD supplement contained significantly less than the advertised amount of zeolite.

The fallout of this discovery eventually led to a class-action lawsuit filed in early 2012 (the same year Stone left Waiora to launch Touchstone Essentials).

Waiora settled the lawsuit for $12 million dollars in 2013.

In his Touchstone Essentials corporate bio, Stone claims he

couldn’t help but notice that many of the same problems found in Big Food—pesticides, ultra-processed ingredients and toxic additives—were also found in most “health” supplements.

In fact, most supplements are anything but healthy.

I knew that needed to change. Your family, my family, all families deserve better.

Read on for a full review of the Touchstone Essentials MLM opportunity.

Touchstone Essentials Products

Touchstone Essentials market a range of nutritional and detox supplements.

  • Super Green Juice – “gives your body 44 organic superfoods to alkalize, detox, energize and strengthen immunity”, retails at $79.95 for a tub of 30 servings
  • Organic Super Protein – “a vanilla shake for all ages that is smooth, satisfying, and supports healthy muscles”, retails at $59 for a tub of 20 servings
  • Essentials – “brings the best of the farmer’s market to you with all the hard-to-find organic fruits, veggies and herbs you want”, retails at $59.95 for a bottle of 90 capsules (30 day supply)
  • Supergreens +D – “organic broccoli, gluten-free barley grass and spinach in convenient capsules”, retails at $52.95 for a bottle of 90 capsules (30 day supply)
  • Green Energy – “organic green tea and proteolytic enzymes”, retails at $46.95 for a bottle of 60 capsules (30 day supply)
  • Wellspring – “soothe creaky joints and show your heart some love”, retails at $49.95 for a bottle of 60 capsules (30 days supply)
  • Boost Focus Fuel – “makes it easier to drop pounds and inches, and feel good while you do it!”, retails at $64.95 for a bottle of 90 capsules (30 day supply)
  • Pure Body Extra Strength – “natural energy, improved focus, better sleep and renewed wellness”, retails at $79.95 for a 60 ml bottle (30 day supply)
  • Pure Body – “daily natural detox for optimal health and well-being”, retails at $38.95 for a 20 ml bottle (30 day supply)
  • Green Detox Pack – “healthy superfoods in a convenient juice AND a breakthrough cellular detoxifier for vibrant health”, retails at $159.90 for a 30 day supply

Touchstone Essentials products are also available in bulk via bundle packs.

The Touchstone Essentials Compensation Plan

Touchstone Essentials pay affiliates to sell products to retail customers. Residual commissions are paid out via a unilevel compensation structure, with additional performance-based bonuses on offer.

Touchstone Essential Affiliate Ranks

There are twelve affiliate ranks within the Touchstone Essentials compensation plan.

Along with their respective qualification criteria, they are as follows:

  • Affiliate – sign up as a Touchstone Essentials affiliate
  • Active Member – generate 100 PV a month
  • Manager – maintain 100 PV a month and 600 GV in monthly downline volume (max 60% from any one unilevel leg)
  • Regional Manager – maintain 100 PV a month and 1500 GV in monthly downline volume (max 60% from any one unilevel leg)
  • National Manager – maintain 100 PV a month and 3000 GV in monthly downline volume (max 60% from any one unilevel leg)
  • Director – maintain 100 PV a month and 9000 GV in monthly downline volume (max 50% from any one unilevel leg)
  • Regional Director – maintain 100 PV a month and 25,000 GV in monthly downline volume (max 40% from any one unilevel leg)
  • National Director – maintain 100 PV a month and 75,000 GV in monthly downline volume (max 40% from any one unilevel leg)
  • Executive – maintain 100 PV a month and 150,000 GV in monthly downline volume (max 40% from any one unilevel leg)
  • Regional Executive – maintain 100 PV a month and 300,000 GV in monthly downline volume (max 40% from any one unilevel leg)
  • National Executive – maintain 100 PV a month and 500,000 GV in monthly downline volume (max 40% from any one unilevel leg)
  • Ambassador – maintain 100 PV a month and 750,000 GV in monthly downline volume (max 40% from any one unilevel leg)
  • Presidential Ambassador – maintain 100 PV a month and 1,500,000 GV in monthly downline volume (max 40% from any one unilevel leg)

PV stands for “Personal Volume” and is sales volume generated via retail sales and an affiliate’s own purchase of product.

GV stands for “Group Volume” and is PV generated by an affiliate and their downline (unilevel team).

Note that an affiliate can only count up to 1000 PV of their own volume towards their monthly GV qualification quota.

The Referral Bonus and Star Bonus requires Advantage qualification.

This is a separate rank that can be qualified by

  • signing up as a new affiliate with an Advantage Pack ($649)
  • signing up and purchasing at least 500 PV worth of product or
  • generating 500 PV in any commission period (monthly)

Retail Commissions

Touchstone essentials pay retail commissions on all products sold to retail customers (non-affiliates).

Retail commissions are calculated as the difference between the retail and wholesale cost of products ordered.

Residual Commissions

Touchstone Essentials pay residual commissions via a unilevel compensation structure.

A unilevel compensation structure places an affiliate at the top of a unilevel team, with every personally recruited affiliate placed directly under them (level 1):

If any level 1 affiliates recruit new affiliates, they are placed on level 2 of the original affiliate’s unilevel team.

If any level 2 affiliates recruit new affiliates, they are placed on level 3 and so on and so forth down a theoretical infinite number of levels.

Touchstone Essentials cap payable unilevel levels at ten, with affiliates paid a percentage of sales volume generated in their unilevel team.

How many unilevel levels a Touchstone Essentials affiliate can earn on is determined by their rank:

  • Active Member – 5% on level 1
  • Manager – 5% on level 1  and 7% on level 2
  • Regional Manager – 5% on level 1 and 9% on levels 2 and 3
  • National Manager – 5% on level 1, 9% on levels 2 and 3 and 8% on level 4
  • Director – 5% on level 1, 9% on levels 2 to 4 and 7% on level 5
  • Regional Director – 5% on level 1, 9% on levels 2 to 4, 7% on level 5 and 5% on level 6
  • National Director – 5% on level 1, 9% on levels 2 to 4, 7% on level 5 and 5% on levels 6 and 7
  • Executive – 5% on level 1, 9% on levels 2 to 4, 7% on level 5, 5% on levels 6 and 7 and 3% on level 8
  • Regional Executive – 5% on level 1, 9% on levels 2 to 4, 7% on level 5, 5% on levels 6 and 7, 3% on level 8 and 2% on level 9
  • National Executive and higher – 5% on level 1, 9% on levels 2 to 4, 7% on level 5, 5% on levels 6 and 7, 3% on level 8 and 2% on levels 9 and 10

Royalty Bonus

The Royalty Bonus is a bonus commission paid on residual commissions earned by affiliates across the first five levels of the unilevel team.

  • Director ranked affiliates earn a bonus 20% on level 1
  • Regional Director ranked affiliates earn a bonus 20% on level 1 and 10% on level 2
  • National Director ranked affiliates earn a bonus 20% on level 1, 10% on level 2 and 5% on level 3
  • Executive ranked affiliates earn a bonus 20% on level 1, 10% on level 2 and 5% on level 3 and 4
  • Regional Executive and higher ranked affiliates earn a bonus 20% on level 1, 10% on level 2 and 5% on levels 3 to 5

Infinity Bonus

Ambassador ranked Touchstone Essentials affiliates qualify for an Infinity Bonus.

The Infinity Bonus is a bonus percentage commission on unilevel team sales volume, paid across three generations.

A generation in the Touchstone Essentials compensation plan is defined when an Ambassador or higher ranked affiliate is found.

This affiliate caps off the first generation within that particular unilevel leg (generations in each unilevel leg are calculated independently).

The second generation of the leg begins after the Ambassador affiliate and is again capped off if another Ambassador or higher ranked affiliate is found.

If no other Ambassador affiliate is found, the second generation extends down the full length of the leg.

If one is found, the third generation of the leg begins after them.

Using this generational structure, the Infinity Bonus is paid out as follows:

  • Ambassador – 1% on the first generation
  • Presidential Ambassador – 1% on the first generation and 0.5% on the second and third

Referral Bonus

The Referral Bonus pays a bonus percentage on sales volume generated on orders made within a new retail customer or recruited affiliate’s first 90 days.

  • non Advantage qualified affiliates earn 25% on personal retail customers and recruited affiliates
  • Advantage qualified affiliates earn 25% on orders made on level 1 (personal customers and recruited affiliates), 10% on level 2 and 5% on level 3

Star Bonus

The Star Bonus is essentially a Rank Achievement Bonus for the National Director and higher ranks.

To qualify for the Star Bonus, a Touchstone Essentials affiliate must be on a monthly autoship of 100 PV or more, be Advantage qualified and meet the following qualification criteria for their respective rank:

  • Star National Manager – maintain at least one Manager ranked affiliate and personally recruit at least two Regional Managers (qualify after three consecutive months)
  • Star Director – maintain at least one Regional Manager ranked affiliate and personally recruit at least two National Managers (qualify after three consecutive months)
  • Star Regional Director – maintain at least one National Manager ranked affiliate and personally recruit at least two Directors (qualify after three consecutive months)
  • Star National Director – maintain at least one Director ranked affiliate and personally recruit at least two Regional Directors (qualify after three consecutive months)
  • Star Executive – maintain at least one Regional Director ranked affiliate and personally recruit at least two National Directors (qualify after three consecutive months)
  • Star Regional Executive – maintain at least one National Director ranked affiliate and personally recruit at least two Executives (qualify after six consecutive months)
  • Star National Executive – maintain at least one Executive ranked affiliate and personally recruit at least two Regional Executives (qualify after six consecutive months)
  • Star Ambassador – maintain at least one Regional Executive ranked affiliate and personally recruit at least two National Executives (qualify after twelve consecutive months)

Once qualified the following Star Bonuses are rewarded:

  • Star National Manager – $500
  • Star Director – $750
  • Star Regional Director – $3000
  • Star National Director – $5000 plus another $5000 paid out over three months
  • Star Executive – $10,000 plus another $15,000 paid out over six months
  • Star Regional Executive – $15,000 plus $35,000 paid out over twelve months
  • Star National Executive – $25,000 plus $50,000 paid out over twelve months
  • Star Ambassador – a Tesla Model S

Advanced Referral Bonus

If a Touchstone Essentials affiliate has ten retail customers or recruited affiliates who each spend/generate 50 PV in sales in a month, their first level unilevel residual commission rate is increased to 15%.

Rank Achievement Bonus

Touchstone Essentials reward affiliates who qualify at the Regional Manager, National Manager and Director ranks with the following Rank Advancement bonuses:

  • Regional Manager – $150
  • National Manager – $300
  • Director – $600

A 100% matching bonus is also paid out when personally recruited affiliates qualify to receive the Rank Achievement Bonus.

Note that in addition to qualifying at the rank for two consecutive months, an affiliate must also have a standing 100 PV a month or higher autoship order.

Joining Touchstone Essentials

Touchstone Essentials affiliate membership is $19.95 annually.

The first year fee is waived if an affiliate

  1. purchases at least 500 PV worth of product when they sign up or
  2. sign up with an Advantage Pack for $659.

The Advantage Pack also increases income potential through the Touchstone Essentials compensation plan.

Conclusion

There are some rather odd characteristics to the Touchstone Essentials compensation plan.

In particular, the requirement that affiliates be on monthly autoship to qualify for Rank Achievement Bonuses.

Typically these are tied directly to rank but Touchstone Essentials go a step further and require an autoship order.

This stands out like a sore thumb, because Rank Achievement has nothing to do with autoship. Rank criteria can sometimes require autoship (pay to play in and of itself), but a Rank Achievement Bonus is payable when the rank is qualified for (no additional criteria).

So in that sense Touchstone Essential’s autoship requirement for the Rank Achievement Bonus sticks out like a sore thumb.

More importantly though, forcing an affiliate to purchase products to earn commissions in MLM is “pay to play”.

Pay to play is universally frowned upon by regulators and is a key factor to determine if pyramid recruitment is taking place.

Pyramid recruitment is definitely possible via the Referral Bonus, which directly compensates affiliates for recruiting new affiliates.

In addition to pay to play, the problem is there’s no meaningful differentiation between affiliate purchase of products and affiliate membership fees.

$19 is a token amount, with a 500 PV order the fastest way to Advantage qualification. making the manual purchase of products redundant (pseudo-compliance).

The Advantage Pack boasts savings of $426.15, which the manual purchase of products doesn’t offer. In effect this makes the manual purchase of 500 PV worth of products to Advantage qualify redundant (pseudo-compliance).

Either way, the Referral Bonus is paid when new Touchstone Essentials affiliates sign up and pay fees to be fully commission and bonus qualified.

This is chain-recruitment and for obvious reasons a regulatory red flag.

A third “generate 500 PV” option exists for Advantage qualification, but with autoship required for rank advancement bonuses anyway, is unlikely to be utilized.

Still, it wouldn’t hurt to check with a prospective upline whether or not they self-purchase qualified for Advantage status or if they just bought it.

This is important to clarify because it establishes a foundation for the rest of the compensation plan.

Technically a Touchstone Essentials affiliate can sign up for $19, sell 500 PV in retail orders and ignore the Rank Achievement Bonus (no autoship), although this scenario is highly unlikely.

To prove a point, here’s how one Touchstone Essentials affiliate markets the Advantage Pack:

Use Touchstone Essentials to create a second income. This would best be done with an initial investment in a ‘Advantage Value Pack’, providing a 25% commission on referrals.

The very first time you order is important as there is a one time opportunity.

Paying for Advantage qualification is fool-proof and obviously the easiest method.

Unfortunately this sets the stage for autoship recruitment, which typically comes at the cost of retail sales focus.

That’s not to say retail sales aren’t being made, just that on average a Touchstone Essentials affiliate is more likely to be earning more from downline autoship orders.

Even more so when you consider the Star Rank Bonuses can lock an affiliate into autoship for at least twelve months

The regulatory concerns with Touchstone Essentials compensation plan are a shame, because otherwise the company appears to offer a solid product line.

There’s nothing particularly innovative about Touchstone Essential’s range, but the focus on ingredients that go into the supplements somewhat sets it apart.

We seek out certified organic ingredients wherever possible and pick them first. Several of our products feature ONLY organic fruits and veggies.

We also pay special attention to “other ingredients” using only clean, plant-based sources (if needed), and never any nasty additives.

All ingredients undergo stringent quality assurance testing before they ever get close to the bottle.

This protocol includes testing to verify they are very low in any heavy metals.

With science as our guide and nature as our pantry, we carefully craft proprietary formulas you won’t find anywhere else.

That’s not to say comparable products can’t be found in a local health shop, just that with Touchstone Essential’s range it’s universal across the range.

Make what you will of the Waiora NCD debacle, but I think the timing of Eddie Stone’s departure speaks for itself.

To what extent Stone can be tied to Waiora’s quality assurance failures as co-founder of the company I can’t say, but his commitment to it not happening again in Touchstone Essentials is self-evident.

More’s the pity if the glaring compliance issues with Touchstone Essential’s compensation plan remain unaddressed.

 

Update 19th May 2017 – Eddie Stone has been in touch and advised that since this review was published, Touchstone Essentials have gotten rid of affiliate autoship requirements.

This is reflected in Touchstone Essential’s compensation plan and affiliate policies and procedures, both of which were updated after this review was published.

In place of the autoship is a 100 PV requirement, which can still be satisfied with autoship. The difference is it can now also be satisfied with retail orders.

As a prospective Touchstone Essentials affiliate, first thing I’d do is check how my potential upline is generating 100 PV a month.

If it’s via autoship that means the affiliate is not selling even 100 PV worth of products to retail customers each month. This is a strong indication they are earning on downline autoship orders, with the same being true of their upline.

In that case the original conclusion of this review stands.

If the affiliate is generating 100 PV or more through retail orders, that’s a good indication Touchstone Essential’s products are viable at a retail level.

There is no stronger measure of legitimacy in MLM than genuine retail demand and sales of a product and/or service.