Most often, most of us aren’t aware of the multiple opportunities surrounding us, especially financial opportunities. Direct selling is similar to that. Until and unless you ask yourself and the world what is direct selling, you will not come to know about it. And more importantly, until and unless you have a real conviction to go through and find out about direct selling, there is a huge probability that you may never come to know about it. So, if you want to be aware of the umpteen possibility and efficient marketing strategy named direct selling, you will have to ask out loud, what is direct selling?
What is direct selling?
Well, let’s start by doing the most sensible thing, answering the question that is troubling you. What exactly is direct selling? Well, the answer to that question will be that it is a business model where you market your goods and services to customers directly. That means a direct selling business will skip the cost they have to expend for advertisements, a retail store and other overhead costs and sell their products at the original manufacturing price to the consumers. So, a direct selling business removes the middleman from the equation.
Now, how do people come to know about these products without the traditional mode of advertisement? So, a direct selling business is primarily driven by word-of-mouth referrals. Products sold by such companies have distinct characteristics exclusive to the company. The method does not use shops or malls and is not influenced by location or traditional methods of selling good]s. I hope now you have a clear idea of what direct selling actually is. Now, let’s retrace some history.
When did Direct Selling first appear in India?
Direct selling as a concept was first introduced in India in the late 1980s. It rose to prominence in the 1990s. QNET, a direct-selling company established in 1998, was one of the first companies in the world to integrate e-commerce into this method. Further, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs is in charge of the Direct Selling Guidelines and Rules.
Currently, the direct sales industry is self-regulated. Various associations in India serve as a bridge between the industry and government policy-making bodies, thereby advancing the cause of the direct selling industry in India.
What is the business opportunity in direct selling?
It is an excellent opportunity for enterprising individuals to start their businesses. Entrepreneurs can capitalize on the potential of direct sales while incurring minimal overhead and operating costs. QNET has given opportunities to millions of Distributors who have successfully harnessed their potential through the QNET direct selling opportunity, which is backed by a diverse set of resources.
What have been the most recent key market drivers in India’s direct selling industry?
The rising affluence of middle-class consumers, combined with the ease of online shopping, has resulted in a gradual shift in spending habits. The new Indian consumer makes purchases that reflect an aspirational lifestyle — high-quality brands and luxury goods.
Consumers are also much more concerned with health and wellness than previous generations. Social media also plays an important role in how people want to be perceived by their peers.
QNET constantly develops innovative offerings and adapts to change to stay ahead of the curve. Moreover, digital sales are extremely important right now, during the pandemic. Now, the primary emphasis is on product opportunity, as direct sellers must persuade their prospects using documents, presentations, and explanations of the compensation model.
There is also cross-channel competition with store-based offline retailers. These companies compete not only with other companies in the channel but also with companies in other channels indirectly. Store-based retailers are included, particularly in the current retail environment, which has yet to recover fully.
Opportunities provided by the direct selling
India is a vast country with abundant talent and a young population. However, finding work for all those who enter the labour force year after year is challenging. The greatest concern in India about unemployment is a lack of skills.
However, India has one of the world’s fastest-growing retail and e-commerce sectors. The direct selling industry has actively contributed to creating income-generating opportunities for millennials and individuals from middle-class backgrounds with an entrepreneurial mindset. They will also benefit greatly from the recently issued direct selling guidelines, which structure the industry within a regulatory framework.
What is the impact of the Customer Protection Act on the direct selling industry?
As the government drafted the Consumer Protection Rules for the sector in 2021, it recommended several other reforms to ensure robust growth for direct selling firms for implementation of the guidelines at the state level concerning the Customer Protection Act under the registration of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
What exactly is QNET’s opportunity?
Through the QNET entrepreneurial opportunity, individuals have the opportunity to begin their careers. Over the years, QNET has helped millions of Distributors who have successfully harnessed their potential through thsi method. Regardless of the lockdowns, the Distributors’ growth has been consistent. In India, QNET has registered over 500,000 Distributors as it continues to provide individuals with a platform for a stable entrepreneurial opportunity.
Visit the QNET India page to learn more about the QNET entrepreneurial opportunity.
