It Works! Opens New Headquarters In Palmetto

It Works!, a major distributor of health and beauty products including The Ultimate Body Applicator, is expanding and relocating its headquarters to Palmetto, Fl.

With more than $450 million in worldwide sales last year, It Works! has more than 60,000 independent distributors who are paid commissions on direct sales of more than 30 health and beauty products in 18 countries. Inc. Magazine ranks It Works! one of America's 500 fastest growing companies.

Its best known product is the Body Applicator, a contouring body wrap product that company officials say tightens, tones and firms any area of the body in 45 minutes. The company was founded in 2001 in Michigan by former teacher Mark Pentecost. A decade later, he moved company headquarters to Bradenton. The new location, at 908 Riverside Drive in Palmetto, is just north of downtown Bradenton.

"We have loyal customers who keep coming back," says It Works! spokeswoman Kate Martin. 

Company growth in foreign countries also is strong and recently was expanded into Denmark, England, Spain and Germany. Additional countries soon will be added to the list, Martin says.

More than a year ago, the company purchased a 34,000-square-foot building in Palmetto for about $3.1 million, and recently completed an expansion to 50,000 square feet. Lakewood Ranch-based Stellar Development and Palmetto-based Moore2Design collaborated on the project.

Opening day will be in mid-June. Nearly 90 employees work at the new headquarters but by early 2015 company officials anticipate hiring another 50 or so employees.

About 10 positions are open now, says Martin. Most jobs will be with IT, social media, marketing and customer service.

It Works! offers some unique perks for employees including a putting green on the roof, a bumper pool on the top floor and an indoor slide for employees and guests.

Writer: Kathy Steele
Source: Kate Martin, It Works!
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Kathy Steele is a freelance writer who lives in the Seminole Heights neighborhood of Tampa. She previously covered Tampa neighborhoods for more than 15 years as a reporter for The Tampa Tribune. She grew up in Georgia but headed north to earn a BA degree from Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. She backpacked through Europe before attending the University of Iowa's Creative Writers' Workshop for two years. She has a journalism degree from Georgia College. She likes writing, history, and movies.