THE WELLNESS REVOLUTION...

09 april 2008 What is Direct Selling? Direct selling is a dynamic, vibrant, rapidly expanding channel of distribution for the marketing of products and services directly to consumers. In today’s world, products and services are mainly sold through enormous marketing and advertising campaigns after passing certain channels of distribution. This method involves high costs which the customers need to cover later in the form of high-prices. However, Direct Selling is the sale of a consumer product or service, person-to-person, away from a fixed retail location. These products and services are marketed to customers by independent salespeople. Products are sold primarily through in-home product demonstrations, parties and one-on-one selling. It’s driven mainly by the power of word-of-mouth advertising, which has proved to be the most effective over the years. Direct selling provides important benefits to individuals who desire an opportunity to earn an income and build a business of their own; to consumers who enjoy an alternative to shopping centers, and to the consumer products market. The cost for an individual to start an independent direct selling business is typically very low. This stands in sharp contrast to franchise and other business investment opportunities which may require substantial expenditures and expose the investor to a significant risk of loss. Consumers benefit from direct selling because of the convenience and service it provides, including personal demonstration of products, easy online shopping, home delivery, and generous satisfaction guarantees. Moreover, it provides substantial training on Personal Development and Leadership which helps individuals in all areas of their lives. Direct selling enhances the retail distribution infrastructure of the economy, and provides consumers with a convenient source of quality products. An important component of the Direct Selling industry is multilevel marketing. It is also referred to as network marketing, structure marketing or multilevel direct selling, and has proven over many years to be a highly successful and effective method of compensating direct sellers for the marketing and distribution of products and services directly to consumers. Direct selling should not be confused with terms such as direct marketing. Bounama Diallo The Revolutionary Network Marketer