INDUSTRY
One-to-One Marketing is changing the face of business, one customer at a time
FACT: IN 2004, 13.6 MILLION ENTREPRENEURS PARTICIPATED IN DIRECT SELLING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
Direct selling companies do an estimated $30 billion annually in sales. The entire direct selling industry has grown 6.1 percent since 1994.
The vast majority of the industry still relies on relationship selling, with 73.1 percent of all sales done face-to-face and 10.8 percent of sales coming via the Internet.
FACT: THE DIRECT SELLING INDUSTRY HAS TOUCHED A MAJORITY OF ADULT AMERICANS.
In 2000, 55 percent of American adults reported having, at some time, purchased goods or services from a direct selling representative. That is more than the total number of both computer-based shopping and television-based shopping combined. The number is only exceeded by catalogue sales at 83 percent and traditional retail sales at 96 percent of the population.*
FACT: DIRECT SELLING COMPANIES SPAN ALL TYPES OF PRODUCTS.
Direct selling companies sell products ranging from vitamin and mineral supplements to cosmetics, travel, insurance, jewelry, computers, cars and even home appliances.
FACT: PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, OF ALL AGES, CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN DIRECT SALES.
About 73 percent of those working in direct sales are women, 10 percent are African-American, 6 percent are Latino and 3 percent are Asian, Native American or other. Many people start part time and later leave their other careers when direct selling becomes more lucrative.*
FACT: MANY PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN DIRECT SELLING TO SUPPLEMENT THE INCOME FROM THEIR TRADITIONAL JOBS.
A 2003 survey found that 85 percent of people involved in the direct selling industry spent less than 30 hours a week managing their business. These people have discovered that direct sales is fun, easy and profitable way to enhance their income without taking a second, traditional job.*
FACT: THE DIRECT SELLING ASSOCIATION IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION FOR DIRECT SELLING COMPANIES.
The association's mission is "To protect, serve and promote the effectiveness of member companies and the independent business people they represent. To ensure that the marketing by member companies of products and/or the direct sales opportunity is conducted with the highest level of business ethics and service to consumers."
The cornerstone of the association's commitment to ethical business practices and consumer service is its Code of Ethics. Every member company pledges to abide by the Code's standards and procedures as a condition of admission and continuing membership in the association.
Market America’s founder and CEO, James Ridinger, serves on the Board of Directors for the DSA. His work on the board helps maintain the high ethical and business standards the DSA was formed to protect.
*Source: Direct Selling Association
