Direct Sales Make it Your Own

According to the Direct Sales Association website, Direct Selling is defined as “the sale of a consumer product or service, person-to-person, away from a fixed retail location. Products are sold primarily through in-home product demonstrations, parties and one-on-one selling.”

Many people would agree that when they hear “Direct Sales” they immediately think of Home Parties.  That doesn’t necessarily conjure up a warm and fuzzy, inviting feeling for some. If you enjoy hosting or attending home parties, then you likely embrace direct sales and either are, or would possibly consider becoming, a direct seller.

Remember though, that direct selling also consists of one-on-one selling.  Consider all of the various ways you could sell one-on-one:  Vendor Events, Direct Mailings, Catalog Parties, Setting Up Displays and Internet Marketing. None of those options involve cleaning your house, putting out a spread of snacks and hoping 5 of the 50 people you invited show up for a formal presentation – or finding hostesses who want to do the same.

The direct sales venue offers many opportunities to sell products.  It’s important chose one or two methods that will work for you.  Don’t try to force a round peg into a square hole; you simply won’t produce favorable results doing it that way. If you’ve never been into home parties then trying to become the hostess with the mostess may not be the best decision for you.

It should go without saying to check with individual company policies and procedures to determine which party-alternative methods are available to you.  If you don’t feel comfortable searching for potential home party hostesses, how do you feel about approaching business owners who have regular foot traffic?  Perhaps the shop owner would be willing to allow you to set up a small display with your products and contact information.  Or better yet, she/he could act as a catalog show hostess and collect orders as well as earn hostesses benefits.

The point is before you immediately write off any direct sales opportunity as a viable option to earn an income, carefully consider available home party alternatives.  If you’re an independent business owner, representing a direct sales company, find out what you can and cannot do, and then make it your own.  Do what works for YOU.  You’ll find that doing so is much more enjoyable and profitable if you sell to fit your personality.