'Sales' is an integral part of the business process. Its primary function is to find and turn prospective customers into actual ones. Simply speaking direct sales involves the selling of products or services straight to the consumer, with no third party or middleman involved. It is a simple yet effective way to market a business' products or services directly to a customer on a person-to-person basis. Most of the products sold through direct sales involve in-home product demonstrations, parties, group meetings and demonstrations, over the phone sales and now more recently over the internet direct sales.
The internet has revolutionized the concept of direct sales. This is because by selling your products and services directly online to your customers, you not only get to keep all of the profits to yourself but, you also get to target a much larger global audience and expand your customer base. Direct selling on the internet is ideal for anyone as it involves minimal start up capital and can be done by anybody having a website online.
At the moment direct sales is a growing industry in the US with bright future prospects. It is estimated that around 13 million people are involved in direct sales. Over the last ten years in particular direct sales have literally doubled to nearly $30 billion, and involve more than $82 billion in worldwide sales. So the question that now needs to be asked is do people actually purchase products via direct sales? The answer is quite simply yes.
Direct selling is a rapidly growing industry especially in the States where sales totaled $28 billion in 2002, while today is it estimated that more than 55 % of the American public has purchased goods or services through direct selling. What this means is the people have confidence and trust in direct sales and that they value the products available via direct selling. In fact if you look at the figures, direct sale purchases are only exceeded by purchases made via retail stores and through mail order catalogs.
Here are some reasons why consumers benefit from direct sales:
Direct sales offer a consumer one-on-one attention that they can never get in a store or shop, thus building a personal relationship with a seller built on mutual understanding and trust.
'Direct sales' accommodates a consumer's busy schedule so that they can choose to make their purchases in a relaxed and confident manner and can have their purchases delivered to them directly.
Direct sales people possess more information about their products and services and can offer consumers personal demonstrations on how to use the products.
Since direct sales involve the products/services going directly from the seller to the consumer, there is substantial savings in the form of processing and shipping payments that is passed on to the consumer.
Since direct sales is on a person-to-person basis, the consumer knows at all times who they are dealing with and can feel more comfortable doing business with someone they know.
So then what are the benefits of direct sales for a businessman?
The benefits of direct sales are:
You get to be your own boss.
You can have your own working hours, as you get to choose your own personal work schedule. You can work the whole day or even just part time.
You get more personal satisfaction, as you know that you are working hard to help yourself.
The profits go directly into your own pocket.
You can earn extra money by making this a side business.
You can afford your own business, as the start up capital required is limited.
You know that your success is directly related to the amount of effort you put into your business.
'Direct sales' is a great way to meet new people and develop business and social contacts.
Best of all you do not need any business degree or formal education to get involved in direct sales. All that is required is that you are motivated and committed to making your business a success.
As your business grows you get to give yourself regular raises and other benefits.
A lucrative career for many and with plenty of benefits, direct sales is not as easy as it seems. Yes, you do get to own your own business and keep the profits, however it is also critical that you are a good salesperson and that you are determined to make your business a success.
