Global Industry

International statistics from the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) compiled from statistics received from its affiliated 58 National DSAs worldwide and the Federation of Eurpean DSAs reflect global retail sales of US$114-billion through the activities of 65-million sales people (direct sellers).

The WFDSA affiliated national DSAs include the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Direct Selling companies are seeing growth in recruiting and retention rates in Q1 2009 with statistics reporting that 600,000 new distributors (direct sellers) are joining the industry across the globe each week.

Global trends show that there has been greater industry self-regulation, greater Government regulation, more press coverage and a greater use of technology and the Internet.

In South Africa, 1.11 million direct sellers were involved in the industry with annual sales increasing to R 6,34-billion in 2009 (annual reported figures July 2010). The industry currently provides full-time employment for over 3,600 people in South Africa.

The first DSA was founded in the United States in 1910 – celebrating 100-years this year! The first Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF) was established in the United States in 1976, and the WFDSA was founded in 1978.

The World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA)

The WFDSA is a non-governmental, voluntary organization representing the direct selling industry globally as a federation of national Direct Selling Associations. The United States Direct Selling Association serves as the Secretariat for the Federation and is based in Washington DC.

The mission of the WFDSA is to support direct selling associations in the areas of governance, education, communications, consumer protection and ethics in the marketplace and to promote personal interaction among direct selling executives regarding issues of importance to the industry.

Background and Objectives

The WFDSA:

• Seeks to exchange information among its members, foster the highest standards of direct selling practices by adoption and promotion of the Codes of Conduct for Direct Selling and encourage personal relationships and cooperation among people in direct selling.
• Promotes direct selling education through various programmes and funding, relying on the United States Direct Selling Education Foundation as a "centre of excellence" to meet this objective. Every three years a World Congress is held at different country locations to which delegates are invited from direct selling companies around the world.
• Publishes an electronic newsletter every two months, which is available to all DSA members (distributed by email and on-line, access password needed).

For further insight and information go to: http://www.wfdsa.org

Further resource about direct selling www.directselling411.com