Without the help of a retail, online, or catalog store, a direct sales agent markets and sells products to consumers. She has the option of calling people in their homes without prior notice. A salesperson frequently promotes her products hosting a sales-oriented social gathering at her home.
She also frequently sells her wares to coworkers at a regular job during her lunch break or before or after regular business hours. Some agents rent short-term spaces in the middle of malls and shopping centers to sell items to passers-by. Others frequently rent booths at flea markets or trade shows to promote their products.
Previously known as door-to-door salesmen or saleswomen, these workers typically worked for a single manufacturer and sold products knocking on people’s doors. Cleaning supplies, household tools and gadgets, and encyclopedias were the most commonly sold items when the profession was in its infancy. Male sales agents would typically call on potential female customers who were at home during the day at the time.
Cosmetics, clothing, and innovative food storage containers were the focus of the next phase of direct sales. Many females found satisfaction in selling these items to individual customers in their homes and through home selling “parties” that usually included light refreshments as more females sought income sources that would not interfere with the demands of homemaking and child rearing. These sales were usually held in the evenings and on weekends.
A direct sales agent could be found selling a wider range of products in the coming decades. Some companies have added personal hygiene products like shampoos and lotions to their home cleaning product lines. New vitamin, food supplement, and dietary aid companies sprouted up. Gourmet cookware, bakeware, and flatware, as well as candles, china, crystal, and jewelry, are among the most recent products sold direct sales agents. The practice of holding sales parties rather than going door-to-door became increasingly popular.
A positive attitude and an upbeat, engaging personality are required for success as a direct sales agent. Because people prefer to buy from people they like, having a personality that appeals to a wide range of people improves an agent’s chances of success. Having ties to various segments of the local community can also help you sell to a wider demographic.
For this position, there are no educational requirements. It is advantageous to have good oral and written communication skills. Because a direct sales agent’s responsibilities include a lot of cash and credit card transactions, math skills are a plus.