In many ways, 2020 was an uninvited guest who overstayed their welcome into 2021. Three previous fiscal quarters of widespread lockdowns and hiding from COVID gave way to a year of adaptation for the global direct selling industry. Direct sellers across the globe emerged into the sunlight to face ever-changing, mid-pandemic operational environments and in some markets, post-pandemic business climates that brought fairly large swings in sales performance—some for the better and some for the worse.

Direct Selling News comprised a list of direct selling startup successes—statistical outliers of sorts who have seemingly beat the odds. Some of direct selling’s fastest growing startups, they are all five years old or less and have surpassed the $1 million mark in monthly sales.

The names say it all. Walt Disney. Henry Ford. James Cash Penney. Iconic Founders and CEOs who came to personify the brands they led in the minds and hearts of their employees and the world. This phenomenon is perhaps even more prevalent in direct selling, where there is a long and storied tradition of charismatic leaders who have become synonymous with the companies they helm.

The purpose of the Direct Selling News Global 100 recognition has always been to tell a story of an often misunderstood and maligned channel. We do it each year to share inspiring stories of growth and evolution—stories the channel, its participants and the greater community need to hear.

Thankfully, direct sellers have made impressive strides in recent years, and some companies are truly changing the narrative by taking ownership and course correcting toward more customer centricity, better efficacy and next-level customer experience initiatives.

Highly engaged employees appreciate their coworkers, love the organization they are working for and are fully connected to the overall mission and goals associated with their role. They function like company evangelists, catalyzing contagious enthusiasm to the rest of the team.