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Public Perception Of Direct Selling

DIRECT SELLING ASSOCIATION
29 Floral St. London WC2E 9DP
Tel: 020 7497 1234 Fax: 020 7497 3144
E-mail: info@dsa.org.uk
Website: www.dsa.org.uk
The Direct Selling Association Limited.
Registered office as above. Registered in England Number 851537
Member of FEDSA – Federation of European Direct Selling Associations
Member of WFDSA – World Federation of Direct Selling Associations
Direct Selling – briefing on world wide channel of distribution October 2005
The business method
· Direct selling is a channel of retail distribution is which, through personal explanation and
demonstration by direct sellers, orders for goods and services are obtained in face to face
contact with consumers - away from normal retail business premises and normally in the
homes of consumers;
· Direct sellers are predominantly self employed and work part time. They obtain customer
orders, place orders with their company and, a little later, deliver the goods and collect
payment from their customers;
· Although direct selling pre-dates all other distribution channels, it first became the basis
of organised business in the mid-19th century – in the US;
· Although direct selling companies/organisations ( DSOs ) may use a wide range of
marketing methods, the key difference between direct selling and direct marketing is that,
in direct selling, orders are primarily obtained in face to face manner;
· Face to face sales are most commonly made on a person-to-person basis, but the method
also embraces ‘party sales', where direct sellers make demonstrations to groups of
consumers in the home of one of them;
· The products sold by DSOs cover a wide range of personal and household goods. With
the exception of fresh foods, large items of furniture and white goods, the range is similar
to that sold through department stores;
· The growing range of direct sold services includes utilities, telecoms and financial
services - where the opportunity for personal explanation has proved...