We’ve all heard the expression “thinking outside the box.” As direct sellers, innovation drives us, and we must always embrace this thinking. But another type of thinking–“thinking outside the bubble”–is different, and it poses an idea worth considering. Our own corporate cultures breathe life into our brands and shape how our brand ambassadors compete. These […]

Most of us know the game “Telephone” where one person whispers a statement to their neighbor, and that person turns to their neighbor and repeats the statement as they heard it. The further down the line, the more the statement is misinterpreted and altered. In today’s fast-paced digital environment, unchecked or even false information can […]

A recent story by the Chicago Tribune noted two direct selling companies—Hempworx and Zilis—that are giving moms new side hustles selling CBD oil. According to the article, CBD oil is the latest in a string of products that women, many of them mothers, are selling and recruiting others to sell. In the U.S., the availability of CBD products grew by […]

In our January 2019 issue of Direct Selling News, we published a story on some best practices to employ when responding to misleading facts about your company or negative criticism of the industry. The article illustrates that sometimes it’s better to leave things alone because it can just bring more attention to the story. But, there are times when […]

Vigilance, continuous learning are industry’s best defenses against cybercriminals. It has become a painfully common headline: “Cyberthieves breach company’s system, steal credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, birthdates, passport numbers . . .” High-profile corporations such as Target, Equifax and Marriott all have been robbed of massive amounts of valuable consumer data in recent years, proving […]

Some years ago, on this page, I wrote about a “defining moment” for direct selling. And during last year’s DSA Annual Meeting, I spoke of the changes that were taking place in direct selling, and those changes I predicted we could see over the next few years. Now, as we move full ahead into 2019, […]

Last week, Washington state Attorney General Robert Ferguson filed an injunction against LuLaRoe, Inc., which the Attorney General described as an unlawful pyramid scheme. The complaint alleged that the LuLaRoe plan violated the Washington state Anti-Pyramid Promotional Scheme statute, made false and misleading earnings claims to potential and existing participants, and otherwise violated the state’s […]

The US Direct Selling Association (DSA) has announced that its Board of Directors unanimously approved the establishment of a third party self-regulatory program. The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (Direct Selling-SRC), which will be administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB), is designed to ensure high standards of integrity and business ethics which remain the guiding […]

Just as the arrival of a new year allows us start a new chapter and usher in new ideas, we too at Direct Selling News are excited to present to you a few new items for show and tell. As you can see we have added a new coat of paint to our look and […]

LegalShield recently announced that it has promoted Don Thompson to co-president of the firm’s Network Division, effective immediately. Thompson will report directly to LegalShield CEO Jeff Bell. In his new role, he will be responsible for creating and driving sales and network marketing strategies that elevate LegalShield in the marketplace. He will play an instrumental […]

When I worked at my first job on the Hill, I had the privilege of working with Neil Offen, the DSA’s president at the time. He was kind enough to help young staffers envision where our professional lives would lead. He encouraged us to become involved in the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Years […]

With over 37 million people, Canada has excellent potential for continued development and expansion. Given the close geographic and cultural relationship between the U.S.A. and Canada, it is no surprise that many U.S.-based direct selling companies have a long and established presence north of the border. Add a number of successful Canadian and international companies […]