Tuesday / February 7. 2023
menu-logo menu-logo
brand-logo
Subscribe
Subscribe
Tuesday / February 7. 2023
  • Read
    • Daily News
      • Financial
      • Insights
      • U.S.
      • International
    • Digital Issue
    • Cover Stories
    • Feature Articles
    • Company Spotlights
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Executive Announcements
    • Forward Thinking
    • For You | For Your Field
    • Working Smart
    • New Perspectives
    • From the Publisher
  • Listen & Watch
    • Direct Approach
    • Iconic Insights
    • The DSN Podcast
  • Attend
    • Direct Selling University
    • Global Celebration
  • Achieve
    • Global 100 List
    • CCR Program
    • Best Places to Work
    • Bravo Awards
    • Legends
  • Research
    • Digital Momentum Index
    • Stock Watch
    • Stock Ticker
    • Supplier Directory
    • Resources
  • Engage
    • Supporter Program
    • VIP Text Alerts
  • About
    • About DSN
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Store
    • Connect
  • Search
Subscribe

Where We Have Gone and the Vision of Where We Are Going

BY Joseph Aquilina | March 01, 2018 | read / Feature Articles

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” —Benjamin Franklin

Mr. Franklin’s words can be applied to any of his roles: newspaper publisher, inventor, postmaster, statesman and humorist. But his words have an especially keen meaning for DSA’s ethics and self-regulation program that has been a guiding force in direct selling for more than 40 years. Just as Franklin’s bifocals enable one to see farther as well as closer, DSA executives are engaged in examining the existing self-regulatory program and looking ahead to ways to ensure improvement.

Since the Code of Ethics’ creation, DSA has revised key elements, as well as expanded education initiatives and the Code Administrator’s office, to respond to direct selling’s ongoing evolution. As part of this scrutiny, the association has asked important questions regarding its self-regulatory program.

Does the program address the emerging market dynamics? How can we better protect against pitfalls that might arise from evolving technology? Does DSA’s self-regulatory program foster a productive dialogue between direct selling, law enforcement officials and the regulatory community? Does the program implement measures that ensure increased member company accountability and promotion of consumer protection?

DSA has convened a series of deliberations over the past year and half to answer these and other questions. The result has been a framework of a dramatically enhanced self-regulation program. It seeks to be comprehensive, meet consumer expectations and enable elevation of the direct sellers’ reputation with regulators, lawmakers and thought leaders.

DSA’s existing self-regulation is the foundation of the new 2018-2019 initiatives, including anticipated partnership with independent third-party organizations to ensure a robust, comprehensive, transparent consumer protection effort based on DSA’s productive dialogue with the Federal Trade Commission. Acting Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen shared some characteristics of effective self-regulatory initiatives at DSA’s 2017 Fall Conference. She envisions clear, meaningful and fair standards that win industry support, together with adequately funded mechanisms that remain independent from industry members, supported by effective enforcement mechanisms, and that apply to the entire industry.

Details of the enhanced program will be developed by a working group of executives across the industry with input from the entire membership based on a series of design principles, which inform the program’s vision and trajectory. Guided by the insights from the consumer and law enforcement communities, these principles will include: clear industry standards on issues such as product and earnings representations, identification of relevant best practices from other self-regulatory models, and creation of a process that both monitors and enforces the Code of Ethics principles, raising the bar of excellence among DSA member companies with application to non-members. At the direction of DSA’s Executive Committee and Board, DSA is in early conversations with the Advertising Self-Regulatory Council/the Council for Better Business Bureaus (ASRC/CBBB) to explore ways to work with these entities’ long histories of self-regulation.

DSA will continue to engage the greater direct selling community as we chart the path ahead for a stronger self-regulatory program and continued growth and progress for the 21 million Americans involved in direct selling.


Joseph Aquilina is Ethics & Compliance Counsel for the Direct Selling Association.

Posted in Feature Articles and tagged Advertising Self-Regulatory Council, ASRC, ASRC/CBBB, CBBB, Code of Ethics, Compliance, Council for Better Business Bureaus, Direct Selling, Direct Selling Association, DSA, DSN, ethics, Federal Trade Commission, growth, Maureen Ohlhausen, member, MLM, Multi-Level Marketing, principles, progress, self-regulatory, USDSA.
Related Articles
Leveraging the Gig Economy January 26, 2023

Leveraging the Gig Economy

Read more
The Top Skills Every Direct Selling Executive Needs January 10, 2023

The Top Skills Every Direct Selling Executive Needs

Read more
Creating High Performance Teams December 20, 2022

Creating High Performance Teams

Read more
brand-logo
The News You Need.
The Name You Trust.
Subscribe

Breaking global news, emerging trends and powerful stories conveniently curated to help direct selling executives stay informed, engaged and a step ahead.

  • Read
  • Listen & Watch
  • Attend
  • Achieve
  • Research
  • About
  • Connect
5717 Legacy Drive
Suite 250
Plano, Texas 75024
info@directsellingnews.com
Copyright 2023 Direct Selling News | All Rights Reserved
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT