What is Direct Selling?

Direct Selling is a method of marketing and retailing goods or services directly to Consumers, through personal contact away from permanent retail premises.

Today, Consumers have access to just about any product or service through Direct Selling somewhere in the world. Many people think of cosmetics, cleaning products, nutritional products and homeware as products that are available through Direct Selling.  However, there is an ever increasing range of products and services marketed via Direct Selling, either person-to-person, via party-plan or online.

In the UK, over 500,000 people are involved with direct selling. It is a vibrant, growing industry offering a flexible earning opportunity to all, whatever age, culture, gender or ability.

BENEFITS TO THE CONSUMER

  • Quality of service
  • You can try and test the products before buying them
  • Your consultation can be tailored to your exact requirements
  • The products are delivered to your home
  • You have the right to cancel the order within a given period
  • You have direct personal contact with the seller
  • Your purchases are guaranteed

BENEFITS TO THE DIRECT SELLER

  • Rewarding: not only financially but also socially
  • Flexible: choose your own hours
  • Social: build relationships with fellow direct sellers and customers
  • Fun: party plans, person-to-person as well as recognition events
  • Life changing: manage your own business
  • Empowering: increased confidence, strength of character, in control
  • Diverse: so many different direct selling companies worldwide

METHODS OF DIRECT SELLING

PERSON-TO-PERSON

Usually by prior arrangement or introduction, an explanation or a demonstration is given by a Direct Seller to a Consumer

PARTY PLAN

Explanation and demonstration of products to a group of prospective Consumers by a Direct Seller, usually in the home of a hostess who has invited other people for that purpose

ONLINE

A Consumer purchases from the Direct Seller through a website, rather than face-to-face

What is Multi-level Marketing?

Many Direct Selling companies are now organised on multi-level principles. This is where Direct Sellers are given the opportunity to build their own sales teams, in addition to the rewards from making personal sales.  In doing so, they are able to receive additional rewards that come from the sales achieved by those they have recruited, trained, helped and motivated.