To become a direct sales representative, you must first approach a direct sales company or one of its representatives to inquire about the process of becoming a representative. Typically, you will be expected to pay a modest application fee and complete a product and sales training program. In addition, you may be required to purchase a sales or sample kit so that you can show or demonstrate your products and services to potential customers. Success as a direct sales representative is usually dependent on your ability to interest prospective customers in your line of products or services.
Direct selling is a marketing strategy in which a company relies on independent representatives rather than salaried employees to work as its sales force. The structure of a direct selling company can vary considerably. Some companies require their representatives to work directly under the company's supervision, while others use a network marketing, also known as multi-level marketing, approach in which the sales force is responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising other members of the sales force. As the approaches to operating a direct sales company vary so greatly, there is no one way to become a direct sales representative. Instead, you need to determine the representative approval process for the company for which you are interested in selling.
If the direct sales company in which you are interested is organized according to a network marketing structure, you will typically need to find a member of its sales force to approach with your desire to become a direct sales representative. In general, the person you approach will be happy to assist you, as there are strong financial incentives for sponsoring you into the organization. If you cannot find a representative, you can contact the direct sales company and ask them to put you in touch with one. In cases where the company does not utilize a network marketing approach, you may be required to ask the company correctly for application materials.
Working in direct sales can be very different than conventional jobs. While you will generally be able to set your own hours and sales goals, you will not receive the types of benefits that employees of conventional businesses usually expect. For example, you will be expected in many cases to schedule and even pay for your own training and sales materials. Laws in some areas restrict the amount that you can pay for this type of training as well as the amount of promotional material you can buy to get your business started. When you become a direct sales representative in these areas, you will typically be informed of these legal restrictions and be provided with alternatives for getting the training and marketing material that you need.
