Multi-Level-Marketing of Niche Products in Papua New Guinea: Hop Rocket and JM Ocean Avenue

Introduction

Papua New Guinea has some of the poorest social indicators in the world. Despite over 10% increase in the annual GDP (2012: 15.4%, 2013: 16.2%, 2014: 18.7%, 2015: 24.7%), PNG is not significantly progressing on its development indicators (Millennium Development Goals). There is essentially no transformation industry in PNG and the country is highly dependent on imports. Moreover, most people live below the poverty line, wages are low and there is a lack in social protections.

According to UNDP (2012) thirty-seven percent of PNG's population live below the national poverty line and PNG is one of the poorest countries in Asia and indeed the world. Low income households in Papua New Guinea typically exhibit low or low-moderate levels of financial competence across all financial domains and activities.

Poverty is the direct result of high unemployment rates and low income earning opportunities. Most of the employees in Papua New Guinea are middle to low income earners. People resort to other means to generate income such as selling of betel nut, cooked food, cigarettes, etc. to make ends meet. Thus, showing how susceptible and gullible Papua New Guineans are to get-rich-quick schemes as a solution to our current financial woes.

Papua New Guineans have been exposed to numerous ‘get rich quick’ schemes and niche products over the years. These range from the U-Vistract days to all the miraculous and magical products of Forever Living, Pro-Ma Systems, 4Life, Ardyss, BHIP International, JM Ocean Avenue and now the latest craze is travelling the world with Hop Rocket! A get-rich-quick scheme is a plan to acquire high rates of return for a small investment.

The term niche is not very popular in PNG but the term is gaining traction with few Papua New Guineans venturing into niche marketing. A niche is a focused, targetable part of the market. It is about providing a product or service that focuses on specific client group’s needs, which cannot or are not addressed in such detail by mainstream providers. A niche market is a more narrowly defined group seeking a distinctive mix of benefits. Marketers usually identify niches by dividing a segment into sub segment.

There has been a considerable growth in niches that PNG can capitalize on for economic development and innovation such as online marketing, fashion and modeling, designer clothing, entertainment and cinemas, tourism and travel, perfume, cosmetics, herbal medicine, health care and education, digital television, agricultural products, etc. There is also a small but notable niche market for PNG handicrafts.

I will evaluate two (2) of the niches that are currently wide spread in Papua New Guinea. They are Hop Rocket and JM Ocean Avenue. Both are Multi-Level-Marketing (MLM) companies of niche products and services.

JM Ocean Avenue is a joint venture between two multi-national direct sales companies, Ocean Avenue and JM International, creates opportunities for distributors and customers by expanding to 25 new markets in six continents. It offers a broad range of products in the nutritional supplement, personal care, and lifestyle categories. It specializes in the wellness and health supplement niche. Like all network marketing companies, members get paid commissions to refer people in the business.

Hop Rocket is an exclusive online booking engine and travel membership club where unpublished discounted rates to the world’s finest accommodations. Its members take advantage of unbelievable prices on their travel offerings including hotels, condos, cruises and more! To be more accurate it is also a member’s only on-line travel company using its members to on-sell its membership through a pyramid style scheme. In return it offers them a commission of the membership fee. Similar to a pyramid scheme the people at the bottom help the people at the top get rich in this case extremely rich. 

Stakeholders Views and Opinions

Since the launching of Hop Rocket in Papua New Guinea earlier this year, social media has been abuzz with a significant number of social media users enquiring about what all the fuss is about while those who have already joined as members are doing their best to convince friends and relatives to sign up. My wife who attended a meeting said it was the hot topic on the streets of Port Moresby. She said the organisation was offering everyday Papua New Guineans great opportunity to make a lot of money in US dollars and fast.

Shirley Lotu Sangul, a Senior Director of Hop Rocket in PNG, posted on her Facebook page explaining the success and growth of her business. She says it’s an online membership portal that offers member-only discounts on travel related products and retail products worldwide. Hop Rocket members have access to a booking engine that provides discounts on travels, hotels, cruises, condos, vacation packages and local products and services. You can even earn points that can then be used as payment for condo/timeshares, cruises, and tour packages.

‘I joined Hop Rocket and I am not at the top of the pyramid but me and everyone under me are earning what most of the working class people here don't earn within a month. I even have been travelling on wholesale rates and it’s just too good to be true but it is true’. (Carolyn Sharany Kila, Facebook comment, 25 May 2016)

‘Over a period of time, I've come to notice the varying products sold by Network Marketers’ and I’ve been wondering how this opportunities that sound so enticing at first don’t deliver as promised, to be honest I am a great skeptic since I am yet to witness any network marketing product liberate and transform an ordinary Papua New Guinean into financial freedom. I feel for people who try one Network Marketing Product for a while spending their personal earnings only to fall out to try another Network Marketing Product. It’s a waste of energy, time and money. That much needed funds could have been better utilized in doing something that is within your control rather than making someone rich over the internet, someone you don’t know personally, to me that sounds like a perfect scam’.

‘Over the years we had varying Network Marketing products sold. First we had Pro-Ma products, then came BHIP then we had SWA with their e-books, and there was Javita Coffee where you suppose to loose weight after drinking, how does that work I don't know. Then we had JM Ocean Avenue with their magical disk that acts like Supernatural force that eliminates all sorts of radiation etc. And now the latest craze is Hop Rocket, you become more or less a travel agent earning points by making bookings and getting discounts in the process’. (Jacob Manase, Facebook comment, 30 May 2016)

‘What Hop Rocket is, in this particular case, is simply a Search Engine! It is no different to Expedia, Wotif, Bookingdotcom Vroomvroom, Webjet, etc. but they are making out that they are more than this by way of playing on the ignorance of our people. A Mitsubishi is a Mitsubishi (no harm intended to Mitsubishi owners) and it should not try to fool people that it is a BMW! The problem, as I see it, with Hop Rocket is that it ascribes to itself much more than what its reality is’. (Anis Donald, Facebook comment, 26 May 2016)

‘I’ve since confirmed beyond question it’s a scheme and worse than expected. Please don't be foolish enough to buy into it. My only regret is not exposing it back in January 2016. I will explain why it is a scheme in my next article. I also intend to write to the central bank and relevant authorities to investigate and shut it down’. (Bryan Kramer, Facebook post, 24 May 2016)

‘I'm so amazed to see you thinking so low about Hop Rocket. Infact, you got your facts all wrong, it’s not about being rich or the money I'm after in Hop Rocket, I've just joined a month ago and have not benefitted a single toea from Hop Rocket. I joined because I saw the bigger potential of Hop Rocket in changing the lives of ordinary people like you and I’. (Danny Stains Nekitel, Facebook comment, 26 May 2016)

‘Hop Rocket is a get rich quick scam. The quick returns come in two forms. 1. Cash benefits from signing up the unsuspecting Papua New Guineans 2. Unbelievable discounts lower than wholesale prices’. (Wawen Tokua, Facebook comment, 1 June 2016)

From the views gathered, a lot of peoples initial response was it sounds like a ‘get-rich-quick’ pyramid scheme as it sounds too good to be true. The Hop Rocket members were defensive, however there was no post from them with proofs demonstrating what they claim to help ordinary Papua New Guineans earn a better life. Several promoters were asked for more details of such schemes to be posted on social media but were reluctant to provide them. For many others, it was a lesson learnt from previous schemes that made them skeptical.

Advantages & Benefits

There are several advantages of Hop Rocket and JM Ocean Avenues marketing and niche products that many people don’t know and ignore, simply because they are not aware of the huge potential going forward.

JM Ocean Avenue aims to create a business platform where people can start their own business through simple steps. Regardless of the individual’s educational background or current financial resources, everyone can join and realize their dreams of health, wealth, and personal freedom. The business platform of JM Ocean Avenue provides its distributors with the opportunity for limitless success. The compensation plan and numerous other rewards ensure that, with hard work, distributors are guaranteed profit.

JM Ocean Avenue doesn’t only sells and distribute nutritional type of products. They actually have a wide variety of niche products that support a healthy and full life. Members buy the product at wholesale price and sell it at retail price. The difference between them is theirs to keep. The pure high-packed nutrition found in their Wav and Alpha-Meta products promote a highly efficient and chemically balanced body.

They offer innovative products that have been specifically designed by to interact with specific genes to support high physical and mental health. The pillows, mattresses and quilt insist to provide customers with the comfort they need and the improved health desired.

The therapy series for the neck, shoulder, waist and knee stipulates the area of pain and relaxes blood vessels, which promotes optimal blood circulation for improved healing. The therapy helps reduce muscle spasms and needless tension without negative side effects. There are various personal care and skin care products too.

Hop Rocket is an online search engine (website) that provide great travel deals - discounted flights, cheaper accommodation and hire car rates, cruise ships etc. However to access these special rates on their one-line website one must become a member by paying them a fee.

There are three levels of membership; standard, elite and premium. Each level of membership offers a number of benefits, they are quite complicated given the multiple marketing and point of sale schemes they use to entice people to join. Now if you travel alot as most do in the developed countries, US, Europe or Australia then becoming a member of Hop Rocket may be beneficial on the account of the discounted travel rates on offer which may offset the costs to maintain your membership.

The Hop Shop service of Hop Rocket provides members the ability to receive discounts on shipping, freight, cell phones and basic consumer goods. In addition, they are also working on providing local internet services to reduce costs for members. Members are encouraged to ‘Give a Day of Hope’ in their community every month.

Income is earned in the form of commissions by helping Hop Rocket sell its membership to other people like your family and friends. Hop Rocket will in turn share some of the membership fees with you. The commission fee structure is quite complex using a number of schemes available to to its elite and premium members. Members have the potential to earn commissions not only from the members they sign up but also from the members they sign up and so forth.

Basically, it’s for anyone looking to start a home based business or simply trying to supplement his or her wages and salaries with an extra monthly income.

Disadvantages

There are drawbacks I see in Hop Rocket and JM Ocean Avenue niche products and services that will be elaborated in the subsequent paragraphs.

Both Hop Rocket and JM Ocean Avenue use the pyramid scheme and multi-level-marketing (MLM). A pyramid scheme is a business model that recruits members via a promise of payments or services for enrolling others into the scheme, rather than supplying investments or sale of products or services. As recruiting multiplies, recruiting becomes quickly impossible, and most members are unable to profit; as such, pyramid schemes are unsustainable and often illegal. Under a pyramid scheme in the short term people receive benefits however in the long term it is unable to sustain itself and most will end up out of pocket.

The scheme benefits those who are at the top of pyramid passing on the cost of their membership to the people under them. Those who are gifted at sales and marketing will benefit the most by convincing unsuspecting people to depart with their savings or worse borrow funds to sign up. They make the commission fee and pass on the burden to their members to on-sell to other new members.

Under the Hop Rocket elite membership you have to pay $300 up front and $60 every month to maintain membership. In total this adds up to $1080 per year ($300 + $60 x 12 months) or K3, 311.00. To maintain your membership every year thereafter you will be required to maintain $60 monthly fee which adds up to about K2, 337.00 per year. Thus, Hop Rocket will only benefit the well-to-do people only such as businessmen, politicians and top bureaucrats who frequently travel abroad.

Majority of the people in Papua New Guinea are middle to low income earners and don't travel as much so there maybe little or no benefit other than earn a commission from on-selling their membership or recruiting more members. Simply put, if you and your family don’t travel in a year, it would of no value and a total waste of money against what you spent or continue to spend on monthly membership fees. Throughout much of the country, internet access is simply unavailable. Mobile coverage into 2016 is extensive, though most rural areas still have only 2G services.

While there is much potential for people to make alot of money from this scheme in the short term its important to note Hop Rocket doesn't sell any tangible products or services, it doesn't employ people or pay taxes. It uses you to sell its membership paying you a commission the money is then sent overseas further reducing our foreign reserves. You benefit off the one-off fee while it benefits of the long term monthly and annual membership subscriptions. Hop Rocket will syphon our foreign reserves because all membership fees are paid in US dollars.

Doing networking and multi-level marketing requires patience and dedication. It takes time and learning process to build a system and organized things in place. This is where people leave and choose to give up because most Papua New Guinean employees are accustomed to receiving money every fortnight or month.

Promoting to people you know isn’t called a business. This will eventually come to a dead end, and you will start to think about what to do next. Eventually, you will have to promote to people you have never seen before. Direct sales are only a small problem. Persuading people to join your team and promote is a bigger problem. If you don’t put in the effort and recruit members, you are not going to make much money.

They are so many scam artists with misleading information. Unsuspecting people are told to get rich quick by many cheesy money making schemes coming up with all sorts of niche products. They promise you little work with a lot of money in return. The information can be overwhelming and exaggerated. This is caused by people who are blindly chasing for get-rich-quick schemes and without proper arrangement of where to start. As the result, they tend not to weigh out the pros and cons for the sake of making money as fast as possible.

Suggestions to improve Benefits & reduce Disadvantages

In general, Hop Rocket and JM Ocean Avenue provide opportunities for anyone looking to start a home based business or simply trying to supplement his or her wages and salaries with an extra monthly income. People are really making a good income but it doesn’t mean that this opportunity is the right one for everyone.

It may seem like a work from home business, but the truth is most of the time you have to move around and find people because sitting at home will never get you any returns. You need to step out of your comfort zone and meet new people to buy your product and also have to recruit members to your team. The majority of your earning will greatly depend on how successful you have recruited members under you. Only a handful of people are doing well probably because of their business background, ability to cope and build a relationship and maybe even simple because of the drive to succeed.

From the various pros and cons presented, I’ve deduced the following suggestions to improve the benefits and reduce disadvantages and give justice to both Hop Rocket and JM Ocean Avenue:

o   People should only pay for services or products that are provided. In the case of JM Ocean Avenue, people can order the products in bulk and resell to make profit just like any other retail business. For Hop Rocket, there is no need for membership fees since most airlines such as Air Niugini have Destinations Loyalty Program and membership is free. Or you can book special or discounted flights via a reliable travel agent and save yourself money from not paying any membership fees. 

o   Dedicate 3 to 10 hours per week to your business, if your goal is to work part-time in direct sales, so you can earn extra money. Devote 15 or more hours per week to your business if you intend to recruit others and build a large direct sales business. Do not think “get rich quick” here. Change your mindset and mentality. That’s how a winner does in order to succeed in life!  

o   Multi-level marketing companies design training to help you with business success. Most companies provide training in both sales and product knowledge. Training materials may include brochures, manuals or recorded audio and video classes Participate in seminars or training sessions that the company offers. At these training events, you can learn about new products and the latest business success strategies. Or you could study some business management or marketing courses at local institutions to acquire the necessary skills to succeed in MLM businesses. It is crucial that you must become educated about the network marketing business. 

o   Be wary of scam artists. Do some research, ask questions and weigh out the pros and cons before making a decision. Don’t get involved in this business program just because someone else made good money doesn’t mean you or the next person behind you will see similar success. 

o   Seek expert advice from the Department of Health. If you’re a member of JM Ocean Avenue, do not exaggerate health benefits of the products offered. We all know that there is no cure for AIDS, or any supplement that makes a 50 year old look like a teenager.  

o   JM Ocean Avenue should register the business with Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) and Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) and tax imposed on all membership fees paid, profits or commissions made. 

o   Hop Rocket will only benefit the well-to-do people such as businessmen, politicians and top bureaucrats who frequently travel abroad. So target these people only and not the average Papua New Guinean who struggle to make ends meet.   

o   Members have to travel frequently to utilize the said benefits.  

o   Hop Rocket should register the business with Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) and Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) and tax imposed on all membership fees paid, profits or commissions made. 

o   The Bank of Papua New Guinea has to monitor payments made to Hop Rocket. An immediate solution is to establish a business office in PNG. This way, tax is remitted to the Government, employment opportunities created, etc.

Further Information

For every MLM type company, the foundation is always the same. You need a very good product to market to people. If the product is going to be average that you could buy off the shelves or stores, it is going to be very difficult to sell the product because people rather buy a cheaper product that does the same functions then buy an expensive product.

Hop Rocket was only launched on 15th July 2015 making it a relatively new venture or start-up company. However, it's management certainly isn't, it’s made up of former executives of JM Ocean Avenue a Multi-Level-Marketing (MLM) company based in Hong Kong and operations in the US (Utah), JM Ocean Avenue was formed in June 2014 after a joint venture merger of JM International and Ocean Avenue. JM International is another MLM company run by Chinese nationals and based in Hong Kong while Ocean Avenue was based in the US Utah. Following the merger the company changed its name to JM Ocean Avenue. Ocean Avenue was established in 2012 and founded by Fredrick Ninow and Kenn Dunn. The company sold health and life style products using an extensive direct sales and network marketing.

 Seba Sapau, a member of JM Ocean Avenue stated: ‘Multi-Level Marketing is the most successful business in the world today. I was a prominent member of JM Ocean Avenue, one of giants of MLM. Attended conferences, loved the products and yeah, getting a commission was a bonus really. I thought it was good business as the products genuine and working wonders. But then I realized inefficiencies in their products delivery. Their shipping lead time worsened and members’ interest started declining. I left and do not know if it's still around. I got an invite from a friend days ago to attend a seminar for Hop Rocket, another MLM company selling its products in the form of a gift travel discounts, etc. I googled it and bang! The Canadian (JM Ocean Avenue) founder is apparently one of the founders of Hop Rocket. I do not condone nor undermine the power of MLM and the genuineness of the products/services but I think we are being used as cash cows by these type of entrepreneurs. They ride on our marginalized population to raise capital if you like and venture into another business. I'm not concerned about the genuineness of their products/service lines but I'm irritated by the longevity of these businesses. They don't last! I'm starting to wonder, how long will Hop Rocket last?’

‘A recent search of the Global Brand Database operated by the World Intellectual Property Office reveals that Hop Rocket’s brand was only filed for protection last year.  24 April, 2015 to be exact.  To date, their brand remains in the application stage.  Even more interesting is that it has only applied to register its brand in Canada and the US’. (Kramer, 2016)

Air Niugini website doesn’t state any arrangement with Hop Rocket. Hop Rocket is not trying to give people a fair go. In fact Hop Rocket is playing on the ignorance of our people who may not necessarily have the benefit of being able to ask critical questions; crunch numbers; compare information and know where to go to find information to begin with.

PNG Air is also not an agent to Hop Rocket. An employee of PNG Air confirms and says: ‘I received a call from one Hop Rocket member saying she wants to purchase a ticket using Hop Rocket. I had to tell her that we PNG Air is not an agent to Hop Rocket but advised her that I can give her a best special fare if she like. She told me she paid her ticket from POM to Hagen through Hop Rocket with Air Niugini and it cost her PGK477. Now she wants to try PNG Air using Hop Rocket. He told her that instead of Hop Rocket, he can book her on a special which will only cost her PGK413.80. She was so surprised!’

The Bank of Papua New Guinea has recently become aware of certain multi-level-marketing programs like that promoted by Hop Rocket in some parts of PNG. Bank of Papua New Guinea Governor, Loi Bakani has warned people not to be fooled into paying fees and to avoid doing business with fast money schemes. In a statement, Bakani said the Bank strongly advises the public against putting money in fast money schemes, as they are illegal and fraudulent. “People who place their money with promoters or agents of these money schemes risk losing their hard earned cash.” (Bakani, November 30, 2015)

Tim Richerson, the Chief Executive Officer of Hop Rocket in his letter with regards to the recent commentary posted in PNG News by Bryan Kramer about Hop Rocket says that it is certainly not accurate, and would like to take the same opportunity now to set the record straight. ‘We too want to make sure the people of PNG are protected from what he calls “schemes” and we do, and will continue to do everything on our end to care for, in this regard’.

‘We also work hard at Hop Rocket to provide the absolute best for all our Members and to give back to the economy and people of Papua New Guinea. We base the services we provide centered on “consumption based economy” of which in simple terms is to provide value in goods and services bought by people. If PNG wants a healthy economy, then we need to have or create the conditions under which businesses can accelerate the process of creating income opportunity and value in services that are consumed and then money put back into PNG. We would also like to let people know a very important fact, that is 100% of every dollar received to date and then some has, and is being poured back and invested into the local PNG economy’.

Mr. Richerson reiterated that Hop Rocket is making a big investment with local vendors in both time and financial resources into PNG. Examples of this are as follows:

o   Hop Rocket is in the process of opening 2 local offices in PNG (pay monthly rental to the landlord, security or bond fee deposits, supply the office with computers purchased locally in PNG and other supplies required and needed to run an office)

o   In the process of creating jobs in PNG and will employ four (4) full time employees with many more to be added in the future.

o   Hop Rocket has had corporate staff employees in PNG that have spent and paid for over 80 nights in the past 2 months alone in local hotel rooms, food, car rental, etc. They will add another 30 nights of payments to local hotels next month as well.

o   They have hired a local PNG law firm to register and complete all regulatory compliance licensing for PNG so this is money invested into the local PNG economy.

o   They will hire a local accounting firm as the next step. Again, more money invested into the local PNG economy.

o   They are also establishing a local PNG bank account where membership fees will be paid to.

o   Any commissions paid out to PNG members are spent back into the PNG economy.

o   Tens of thousands of dollars were spent on hosting events in preparation of opening offices to support the local PNG economy.

o   Hop Rocket will be hosting one of their trips to PNG next month (there will be over US$ 50,000 spent locally on this trip).

o   Hop Rocket has completed 4 PNG specific charity projects in the past few months. This will be a continued effort to give back to the local PNG economy and community. An example with full donation, the company painted Coronation school in Port Moresby along with giving over K30, 000 in cash and supplies to other efforts in PNG.

The CEO has invited Mr. Kramer and others to join Hop Rocket in Kokopo next month and participate in their projects to see first-hand what they are doing and what the projects are all about. This is a long term approach that they expect can translate to good things for the local economy.

Most importantly, Hop Rocket sees an opportunity as a company that can make positive impact on the lives of the people of Papua New Guinea. This is an amazing country with amazing people and Hop Rocket wants to be a part of its future.

Final Suggestion

Hop Rocket and JM Ocean Avenue must register the businesses with Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) and Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) if they are genuine in contributing to the development of PNG. Tax must be imposed on all membership fees paid, profits or commissions made. Business offices must be established in Papua New Guinea and local staff employed. Bank accounts with local banks must be established to keep the membership fees paid within the country.

The Bank of Papua New Guinea has to closely monitor payments made to Hop Rocket so we do not lose money to foreign bank accounts.       

Final Judgement

Pyramid schemes are unsustainable and often illegal and thus have to be discouraged. Bank of PNG has warned people not to be fooled into paying fees and to avoid doing business with fast money schemes. It is up to the people to decide whether or not to take the risk to invest in such schemes.

Why not just book directly through reliable travel agents and save yourself from any membership fees, subscription fees, recruiting of people, compensation rules, and the like? Air Niugini has Destinations Loyalty Program and membership is free. Other airlines provide similar services. It would be wise to utilize the free membership with the airlines.

It doesn’t cost a kina to check the airlines, ships, hire cars or hotels website for any specials or discounts. There may be special discounts for callers and you can negotiate a lower price over the phone before paying. Plan your travel in advance, do your homework with due diligence and be a smart traveler.

‘I helped registered a family member in Pro-Ma in 2006 and BHIP in 2014. To this date, I have not received the so called commissions or other fancy benefits they promoted on their websites and Flyers. Could have been a Gold or Diamond member by now. I still walk the streets of Port Moresby and still live a simple life. Lesson Learnt. I am not going back to any such schemes’. (Maxwell Makui, Facebook comment, 27 May 2016)

‘A booking engine is freely available on the web. Nothing new here. You can find any booking portal on any of those recognized travel agents or airline companies. Why pay membership fee just to have access to a booking engine?’ (Yak Walum, Facebook Comment, 6 June 2016)

‘Tim Richardson, we are not stupid nor are we blind. Piss off with your Pyramid Scam. A leopard is not able to change its spots. A pyramid scam may be dressed up in fancy attire nevertheless it is still a scam. (Anis Donald, Facebook comment, 2 June 2016)

I lost K6000 to BHIP in 2010. It's also pyramid business like Hop Rocket but I won’t be fooled again. No more! (Sam Leonhard, Facebook comment, 6 June 2016)

A lot of people still doubt and question the authencity of Hop Rocket and JM Ocean Avenue.

My views on the Outcome

It is amazing how susceptible and gullible Papua New Guineans are to get-rich-quick schemes and how logical they seem at first. Every year thousands of families risk and lose money they can’t afford to lose, while seeking to become rich overnight. There never has been a get-rich-quick scheme that didn’t sound terrific on the surface. However, the promoters are a great deal better at disguising the bad deals than most people are at detecting them.

Each time it’s a different product with astounding benefits and promises. If you are still keeping your options open then that’s great. After all, business is all about taking risks and it’s your money. The ultimate decision is totally up to you to make. But do keep in mind what you are getting yourself into. Weigh it out and see if you're getting the desired returns from your investments so that you’re comfortable to know it’s a calculated risk.

I do not disapprove of Hop Rocket and JM Ocean Avenue but for me personally, get-rich-quick schemes are a ‘no-go’ zone. Whatever you would love to believe, there really is no quick way to get rich. Wealth is generated by hard work and good investment over a long period of time. There is no such thing as free lunch!

References:

Asian Development Bank (2002) Priorities of the Poor in Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 30 May 2016 from http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/29745/hardship-png.pdf

Bryan Kramer (2016) HOPROCKET: A great deal or steal? Retrieved 30 May 2016 from http://tech.pngfacts.com/2016/05/hoprocket-great-deal-or-steal.html

Business Advantage PNG (2011) Selling PNG’s produce to the world. Retrieved 26 May 2016 from http://www.businessadvantagepng.com/selling-pngs-produce-to-the-world/

Chandy, L. (2009) Linking growth and poverty reduction in Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 30 May 2016 from http://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/linking-growth-and-poverty-reduction-papua-new-guinea

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Hop Rocket (2016) Travel more – it’s your business. Retrieved 30 May 2016 from http://hoprockettravel.biz/  

JM Ocean Avenue (2016) Company Profile. Retrieved 30 May 2016 from http://www.jmoceanavenue.com/

John Cox (2011) Deception and Disillusionment: Fast Money Schemes in Papua New Guinea. (Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne, 2011). Retrieved 6 June 2016 from http://www.academia.edu/2385284/Deception_and_Disillusionment_Fast_Money_Schemes_in_Papua_New_Guinea_2012

Loop by Trend Media Inc. (November 30, 2015) Bakani warns against fast money schemes. Retrieved 30 May 2016 from http://www.looppng.com/content/bakani-warns-against-fast-money-schemes

Oxfam Australia (n.d.) The Power of People against Poverty. Retrieved 30 May 2016 from https://www.oxfam.org.au/country/papua-new-guinea/

Ripoff Report (2016) Complaint Review: Hop Rocket Travel. Retrieved 6 June 2016 from http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/HopRocket-Travel/internet/HopRocket-Travel-Booking-Engine-Scam-Internet-1269931

Stan McKenzie (2000) Papua New Guinea fast money schemes: a financial house of cards collapses. Retrieved 6 June 2016 from https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/07/png-j06.html

Thilmany, D.  (n.d.) What are Niche Markets? What Advantages do They Offer? Retrieved 30 May 2016 from http://www.valueaddedag.org/nichemarkets/01whatarenichemarkets.pdf

UNDP (2012) UNDP in Papua New Guinea: Poverty Reduction. Retrieved 30 May 2016 from http://www.pg.undp.org/content/papua_new_guinea/en/home/ourwork/povertyreduction/overview.html

Work at Home Ideas (2011) MLM or Multi-Level-Marketing - Pros and cons of Network Marketing. Retrieved 30 May 2016 from http://www.work-at-home-ideas.com/mlm.html