GRAND RAPIDS ? Quixtar, the eCommerce web site run by the former Amway Corp., posted its third consecutive billion dollar fiscal year, but for the first time in the company?s six-year history, sales and bonus incentives declined.

Quixtar, the online presence of Alticor, announced 2005 sales ? for the 12 months ended Aug. 31 ? of $1.058 billion, the third consecutive year in which the company surpassed the billion-dollar mark. Some $76 million of that total was generated for Quixtar’s online Partner Stores.

The down line of Independent Business Operators that sell products through Quixtar ? rather than directly to consumers like other eCommerce web sites ? earned $345 million in bonuses and other incentives.

“This was a solid year for the Quixtar business,” said Jim Payne, who became Quixtar’s Managing Director in 2005. “Obviously, you always want to see the sales figure go up, but we were pleased to see the continued growth of IBOs at all levels in the business. We also bolstered our number-one ranking in health and beauty online sales by converting more of our sales to the web channel and introducing an outstanding collection of new products.”

The strongest sales came from Health and Beauty brands. Online transactions resulting in more than 70 percent, or $753 million, of Quixtar’s overall sales, up from $748 million the prior year.

“Excellent new products and the energy that they create in the marketplace will continue to position Quixtar as an industry leader in e-commerce and among companies providing business opportunities to the public,” said Payne. “We continue to focus on providing the best business opportunity in the U.S. and Canada, rewarding entrepreneurs for their efforts to market our high-quality products and develop others who will do the same.”

Total sales since Quixtar’s launch in 1999 are now about $5.3 billion, with nearly $400 million in additional revenues generated for Quixtar’s Partner Stores during that same period. The parent company, Alticor ? formerly Amway ? reported revenues of more than $6.4 billion for fiscal 2005. The privately owned company does not report earnings.

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