Direct Selling and Multi-Level Marketing PDF

Direct Selling and Multi-Level Marketing 12 Practical ways to define/describe DIRECT SELLING 1. A method of marketing and selling consumer goods directly to the consumer, mainly in their homes or the homes of others, at their workplace and other convenient places away from mass merchandise retail...

Direct Selling and Multi-Level Marketing 12 Practical ways to define/describe DIRECT SELLING 1. A method of marketing and selling consumer goods directly to the consumer, mainly in their homes or the homes of others, at their workplace and other convenient places away from mass merchandise retail outlets, usually through explanation, demonstration, "sales talk" of the products supplied by the company by independent salespeople who may be called: distributors, sales representatives, agents or consultants on a part-time or full-time basis earning percentage-commissions or margins to pay for their own expenses and taxes. 2. A system of retailing consumer products in customers homes or away from the usual business jungle like departments, trading and other retail outlets, also known as "door-to-door" or "person-to-person" selling by roving peddlers, independent distributors or enterprising individuals operating a business of their own where their personal rewards are a direct reflection of their own enterprise and efforts, where risk is minimal, cost-effective distribution eliminating the need for traditional retail stores and media advertising. Consumer products sold through direct selling includes personal products and high-quality households which are not found in retail shops and offers the advantage of consumer convenience and personal attention. i A form of "non-store retailing", "person-to-person", "door-to-door" or "party-plan selling" by way of product demos to a group of prospective customers by a salesperson usually in the home of a hostess who invites other persons for this purpose (enhancing the growing importance of such services as demonstrating, advising, personal selling and communications). 4 A communication process which utilizes information persuasively, presented in a face-to-face manner designed to achieve instantaneous customer response for goods and services which are not provided through retail outlets in the area by such companies as AVON, Tupperware, W. Brown, Electrolux, Triumph and many others. 5. A personal approach of retailing consumer goods directly to the consumer which do not depend on such marketing avenues as product advertising, direct mail or fixed retail store outlets, and these are done by salespeople, entrepreneurs, direct sellers who value freedom and independence in having a business of their own, an envious alternative to the usual 8-hour office job, and where unlimited earnings are largely dependent on the volume of their sales, not on their working hours. Direct selling provides the critical element in the fight against unemployment and without discrimination whatsoever be it, sex, age, socio-economic status, race, religion, nationality, or cultural factors 6. A persuasive communication approach by independent sales agents in bringing the products directly to the end-users/consumers but without the "Network" or "pyramid" structure that of an MLM, and is best suited to consumer products that benefit from detailed explanation, personal demonstrations, or those already tried/used by the consumer, or the use of a left with a customer to choose the products and whose orders will be collected later by the assigned/designated distributor in the area. 7. A marketing approach characterized by initiation of contact, demonstration and one-on-one transaction through the direct seller, thereby allowing a short and direct route from the factory/manufacturer/producer to the final consumer, allowing companies greater elbow room to respond fast and proactively to the need and wants of its customers. 8.The "eye-to-cye" contact between an independent salesperson and the final consumer of products and services that cannot be purchased through other distribution channels, directly offering the end-users the opportunity to actually see, touch, feel, test and judge a product at their leisure time in their homes,offices or among friends in the neighborhood. 9. A personal demonstration and professional advice by a well-trained sales consultant on consumer products that appeals most to the mass-based consumers, paying utmost attention to each customer (as if he/she is the only living customer in the world), developing trust and confidence and pleasure in buying the products right in their homes and away from the hazels of driving long distance, parking problems and costs, air pollution's and traffic jams, queuing at check-out-counters and carrying around heavy merchandise. 10. A marketing concept that satisfies, delights and surprise customers directly in their homes or of their neighbors when personally visited announced or unannounced by direct sales agents or sales counselors of consumer-based companies for a wide array of product lines such as: paintings, air cleaners, dishwashers, encyclopedias and reference books, furniture's, ceramics, toys, vacuum cleaners, home decors, cosmetics, food, cable installation, chinawares, clothes, heating appliances, cookwares, wines and liquor, cutlery, home improvements, nutritional supplements, TV sets, records & cassettes, built-in kitchens, radios, cooking ranges, glass and crystals. 11. A way of life of either part-time or full-time sales distributors on personal contact with the customers practically everyday, pioneering, creating new markets or extending small ones for common household and personal care products. Direct sellers visits their customers at any time they wish, and personally ensuring that customers are satisfied with the products and services and so become permanent and loyal customers. Direct sellers follow-up leads to potential customers provided by Direct Selling Companies or create their own customer contacts. 12. A direct transactional exchange initiated and concluded by the travelling salesmen or itinerant traders bringing the modern world of mass-produced consumer goods to consumers even in far-flung communities, in church halls, "door-to-door", "house-to-house", person-to- person", "one-on-one", "village-to-village", "barangay-to-barangay", "plush subdivisions" or "depressed colonies", earning fat commissions on product sales alone; the most dynamic and fastest growing marketing channel in the world among men and women to work on their own, at their own pace and time.