The Direct Sellers Association of Canada (DSA), in a report releasing industry growth data for the channel in Canada in 2020, announced significant growth of 26% year-over-year and $4.15 billion in retail sales. The number of Canadian consultants also grew to 1.39 million, a 20% increase over 2019.
“Direct selling is an important retail channel, which delivers a wide range of products and services to Canadians,” said Peter Maddox, President of the DSA. “Over this past year, direct selling has become a necessary channel for consumers to access goods and services during the pandemic and has played an integral role in helping Canadians find alternate ways to earn extra income.”
The growth of the channel within Canada is much higher than the U.S., which grew 13%, and Australia, which grew 11%. This growth rate will be an important data point to consider as the channel moves into a post-pandemic economy.
“The direct selling opportunity has always been the first step to entrepreneurship,” said Maddox. “With more people re-thinking their careers or looking for supplemental income, this flexible and inclusive channel has provided a fundamental way for Canadians to grow their entrepreneurial skill set.”
