What is direct selling?
The Direct Selling Women’s Alliance feels that the profession has had some confusion as to what and who we really are. Some who participate in network marketing look at party plan methodology of selling products as a slow growth proposition. Some participants that are in party plan, see network marketing as a scheme and do not understand the business model.
Direct selling is defined as, “The sale of a consumer product or service, person-to-person, away from a fixed retail location.” It is the selling model used to distribute Herbalife products. Although direct selling has been around for thousands of years, it has become increasingly popular since the 1950’s. Today, many shoppers prefer the higher level of personalized care afforded by direct sales.
Direct selling, which is also called network marketing, is a form of sales where a product or service is sold face to face. Companies that participate in direct selling hire people that are given the title of independent contractor, representative, distributor, consultant or other similar terms. People that are very outgoing and social make the best direct sellers. Many times, direct selling occurs in the home by hosting parties where an independent sales representative performs a product demonstration. Sales is one of the world’s oldest professions. There has always been a basic need to exchange goods and prior to today’s conveniences, direct selling was practiced by merchants that traveled along caravan routes and many other cultures throughout history. Merchants, peddlers, gypsies and others have all benefited from selling their products to consumers without a middle man. Today, direct sellers have multiple vehicles to sell their products or services. Most direct sellers depend on h
Direct selling is a dynamic, vibrant, rapidly expanding channel of distribution for the marketing of products and services directly to consumers. The purpose of this paper is to describe direct selling and the benefits that it brings to the marketplace. Founded in 1978, the WFDSA is a non-governmental, voluntary organization representing the direct selling industry globally as a federation of national Direct Selling Associations (DSAs). There are presently over 59 national DSAs represented in its membership, and in 2007 it is estimated that worldwide retail sales by its members accounted for more than US$114 Billion through the activities of more than 62 million independent sales representatives. The World Federation and its national DSAs have always understood the necessity for ethical conduct in the marketplace and as such the WFDSA has developed a World Codes of Conduct for Direct Selling which all national DSAs have approved and implemented in their national codes. All direct selli
