The way our channel responds to three specific market forces—competition from gigs, smart technology and hypersegmentation— will make the difference between our survival and extinction. Remember when customers learned about new products mostly from three television networks—or maybe from a magazine or mail-order catalog? Avon came calling, too, with lipstick samples and sometimes a presentation […]

Zija International announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Jeremy Redd as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. “During this transformative growth period at Zija International, there is no one better to take the reins than Jeremy Redd,” said Ryan Palmer, Zija’s former president and current member of the Board of Directors. “Jeremy is an empowering leader with […]

USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE: USNA) announced financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and full-year ended December 29, 2018. Fourth quarter 2018 net sales were $299.0 million, compared with $273.1 million in the prior-year period, or a 9.5 percent increase year-over-year. The company’s total number of active customers increased 9.0 percent year-over-year to 616,000. […]

E-commerce giants and the gig economy are fierce opponents, but direct selling’s unique marketing strategy could be its best chance to weather the competition. Meaningful human interaction can seem like a dying art in this digital age. Front porches have been replaced by neighborhood Facebook groups, teachers assign homework by email, and political candidates rely […]

According to the 2018 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report, nearly 20 percent of the world’s entrepreneurs are working with family members. The report, sponsored by Babson College, Universidad Del Desarrollo and Korea Entrepreneurship Foundation, also stated that 6 percent of individuals aged between 18-64 in 27 countries are part of the gig economy and the sharing economy. “The Global Entrepreneurship […]

What used to be friendly territory is now a battleground. The gig economy is no longer an outlier. According to a recent McKinsey Global report titled Independent Work: Choice, Necessity and the Gig Economy found that 162 million people in Europe and the United States—or 20 to 30 percent of the working-age population—engage in some […]

Direct selling is strongest when we come together as a family and share our experience, insights and strengths. We all know how Amazon has impacted competition on the product side of our business, and the emerging gig economy players that rely on independent contractors have brought even more disruption to the marketplace. We delight in […]

The Direct Selling Association (DSA) announced today that it supports enactment of the Preserving Direct Seller Independence Act of 2018, H.R. 7029. Introduced by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), the legislation would clearly define direct sellers as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) consistent with the Internal Revenue Service Code. DSA President Joseph N. Mariano […]

A new survey of more than 1,000 women with side hustles reveals that the top three reasons women choose independent work are flexibility (44%), income (38%) and entrepreneurship (25%). “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Her Side Hustle: Women in the Gig Economy 2018” provides an in-depth look at a cross-section of women who make income working […]

We’ve analyzed the data on thousands of direct sellers and millions of their actions. One thing is clear: sales increase when you close the gap. The risks involved with not closing the gap When direct sellers are left asking the question “What’s next,” three clear challenges present themselves. These challenges don’t just kill sales, but […]

They may not be losing the war, but traditional American retailers sure are taking a beating in battle. Forbes has reported that malls and shopping centers lost more than 10,000 stores in 2017, “perhaps the worst year on record,” wrote Ben Gamse, Market Research Manager for the U.S. Direct Selling Association (DSA), in our July issue. […]

…That which we call a rose; By any other name would smell as sweet… —William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet Names are essential: They carry meaning derived from the legacy of past actions and an ability to reliably deliver. While names conjure an image that may be easily recognizable, looks alone can deceive. Even Shakespeare notes […]