Being driven by what people can sell versus what people will buy may sound similar, but they’re actually very different concepts. Direct selling is changing. We’re in the middle of a shift from point A to point B. We may not be exactly clear on what point B is, but we definitely know that point A is in the rearview mirror. The three transitions below encompass the most important areas for a direct selling company to address as quickly as possible. These aren’t meant to be new concepts, but … [Read more...]
Sweat the Details: 5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Working with a Back Office Provider
If you’re reading this article and you’re in the process of launching a company in the direct selling space, it’s fairly safe to assume at least two things: One, you’re not planning to be a “nonprofit” organization, and two, you’ll be working with a back office provider. Suffice it to say, how you establish things upfront with the latter will greatly impact how well you avoid being the former. As a company that sells a product, being able to actually sell products and scale well are the two … [Read more...]
How Direct Selling Companies Can Conduct a Straightforward Financial Tune-Up
Anyone who is a veteran of the direct selling industry generally loves the industry. This is one of the few business models where you can do good while you do well. For this reason, it is necessary to conduct periodic financial reviews for direct selling corporations, to safeguard a company’s position and to ensure its long-term success and viability. Dan Murphy, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Strategic Choice Partners, discusses how direct sales companies can conduct a … [Read more...]
4 Ways for Direct Selling to Compete as a Modern Distribution System
Sooner or later this question pops up just about every time I have a conversation with a direct selling executive these days: What will direct selling look like in 5 years? 10 years? Can we compete with the online sales onslaught? If so, how? As a method of distribution, direct sales has some real challenges ahead. However, let's take a look at the basic competitive advantage direct sellers have always had over traditional fixed-location retailers. Alan Luce, Co-Founder and Managing … [Read more...]
5 Critical Mistakes that Plague New Party Plan Companies
“What are the mistakes I should avoid?” At Strategic Choice Partners, this is one of most common questions we hear from a start-up or young party plan company. I’d like to say that the best answer is “Avoid them all!” But unfortunately, by the time we’re brought in to help, it’s often too late. Avoidable mistakes have already happened. It doesn’t have to be this way. Alan Luce, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Strategic Choice Partners, recently outlined five of the most detrimental … [Read more...]