A Third Generation Direct Sellers' Thoughts on the Industry Now and Then: Mom and Grandma Never Had a Website

Each generation strives to do better than the last. We learn from what we have seen and vow to improve our situations. Yet here I am walking the path that my Mother and Grandmother both walked. I am a direct seller.

I can't tell you how many home parties I attended when my grandmother was part of the sales force that sold Tiara Exclusives to eager housewives trying to earn themselves a hostess gift. There was barely a flat surface in my Grandmothers home that didn't have a candy dish, vase, basket or other glass item on display. There were even a Tiara clock on the wall.

The same could be said for our home when my Mother was knocking on our neighbors door to sell Avon. We had numerous shelves that held decanters of cologne in all kinds of shapes. Cars, pipes, horses...who knows if my Dad even used any of it. Sweet Honesty abounded, but my tastes grew more to the Odyssey cologne when I was old enough to want to want to wear a scent.

Direct selling companies have appealed to women who want to make money but have the flexibility to work when they want to. What better way to supplement the family income than to visit with people in a relaxed setting and share a product or group of products that you enjoy and stand by? You take it to people where they are and how much you are selling is a result of how many people you build relationships with and share with. Women love to gather and many direct selling opportunities are based around home parties, gatherings; whatever the company decides to call them.

I was looking for an opportunity to create additional income for our family, too. I found a product line I loved and was using and knew that I would continue to use it forever. It was a natural progression to becoming involved with the business opportunity.