The Industry
A dynamic segment of our economy with 1.3 million Canadian workers associated with it, direct sales boasted a vigorous 25% growth in the last two years – from $1.57 to $1.96 billion – and sustained a 10% to 20% increase over a decade. As a delivery channel, because direct sales isn’t restricted by a permanent retail outlet, consumers can access hundreds of product choices:
- food and nutritional products
- cosmetics and skin care products
- clothing
- candles
- jewelry
- toys and educational items
- telephone and Internet service
... among others
Certainly, while non-store retail is common (catalogues, Internet sales, etc.), direct selling is the only personalized, interactive channel. And, for many who can’t find what they need in local stores, or don’t have Web access – 26% of direct selling consumers live in rural areas and 13% are over 65 in age – direct selling brings them goods they might not otherwise find.
Of the 60+ companies in Canada’s robust direct sales industry, more than 2/3 are DSA members, including global firms with household names such as Avon, Mary Kay, Nu Skin, Quixtar, Shaklee, and Canada-based companies like Epicure Selections. The DSA also represents more than 600,000 Independent Sales Contractors (ISCs) whose sales were more than $1.96 billion.
[For a full listing of what DSA member companies have to offer, click here]
