Continued Optimism for Future Growth

We are pleased each year to provide you with an analysis of he World Federation of Direct Selling Associations’ global sales data. Writer Beth Douglass Silcox identifies the 24 global markets with retail sales of $1 billion or more from direct selling. She also digs into the 2019 numbers to not only extract industry is having on economies around the world but also about the future:

• $180.5 billion (Constant U.S. Dollars) in estimated retail sales globally for 2019. Excluding China, worldwide retail sales showed a year-over-year increase of 1.4 percent with all regions around the globe up from 2018.
• Global sales results, including China, resulted in a decrease of 4.3 percent, which was hampered by China’s 100-Day review on wellness companies earlier in the year.
• Last year’s list of 24 Billion Dollar Markets remained the same in 2019 with some minor shifting in rank.
• The top ten countries on the list—led by the U.S.—generated 78 percent of global estimated retail sales.
• The industry’s global sales force dropped 1.7 percent from 2018’s 122 million to 119.9 million in 2019 but showed a solid 1.8 percent CAGR.

This month we take a look at three international direct selling organizations who are leaning on their strengths throughout our current circumstances and planning for a future of growth:

• Oriflame—Active in 60 markets and over three million brand partners, Oriflame is a leader with eyes on a beautiful, sustainable future.
• PM International—Investments in R&D positions the company to deliver on their founder’s vision of growth.
• Atomy—Proving that work and play aren’t mutually exclusive.

Next, we check in to see what Neora has been up to. Known for its powerful skincare products and exponential growth rates, the company continues to innovate, both inside their company and now on behalf of the industry as they take on the FTC. “We’ve been very open to what the facts are,” says Co-CEO Deborah Heisz. “This is not about NEORA; it’s about the industry. The industry is under attack, and unless everyone advocates, it is a potential issue for every single company, regardless of what your numbers are.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Young Living COO Jared Turner was never a big fan of remote work. He’s singing a different tune now. Gone are his notions, held over from a background practicing law, that productive collaboration, strategic thinking, and innovation can only best be accomplished by a 9-to-5, in-office work environment. By allowing staffers to telecommute, he expects that retention will be improved as employees appreciate the perks of working from the comforts of their home, or anywhere.

I hope you enjoy this issue as much as we loved putting it together. Thank you to all the companies who were so generous with their time helping to make this issue one of the year’s best.