In the February 2010 Direct Selling News “Top Desk” column, Southwestern Company President, Dan Moore, addresses a new idea with very old roots.
It has to do with the introduction of entrepreneurialism to young people. According to Dan, this is something that has been happening at Southwestern Company for a long time – 142 years to be exact.
One [...]
Now and then, I’ll receive a correspondence from someone a Southwestern Company independent student dealer has met in the course of running their business who does not have a complete understanding of our summer sales program or the dealer’s intentions. Why? My experience leads me to believe, more often than not, they are not listening or wanting to understand. That’s a shame. It [...]
In an article on December 16 by Reuters titled, “Avon calling: More US workers try direct sales,” there is an interesting dichotomy regarding the direct sales industry.
With the economy dipping the way it has, more U.S. workers have tried their hand at running a direct selling business. In fact, 15.1 million – 100,000 more than [...]
The holiday season brings a time of thanks, joy, cold air, and… of course, holiday scams. While none of these are anything new this time of the year, you have to be cautious.
Just the other day, we had a stranger lurking around Southwestern Company’s corporate headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, boldly taking personal objects, including an employee’s credit [...]
I just got back from the Direct Selling Association’s (DSA) Communications & Internet Marketing Conference in Las Vegas.
This is a conference I have been proud to be associated with since it was established about five years ago as an attendee and presenter. This year, the entire conference was about social media and the direct selling [...]
I would like to point out something multiple traveling magazine sales crews are using as a pitch at the door. Although I know it has gone on for some time, it is still shocking every time I run across it.
Various traveling sales crew members are scamming homeowners by saying the subscriptions they buy will go [...]
This week, the National Consumers League (NCL) issued a press release in response to the discovery of the remains of Jennifer M. Hammond, a young traveling sales crew member who disappeared in the summer of 2003.
Hammond was dropped off by the magazine-selling crew in a trailer park in Milton, NY. It was the last time she [...]
In yet another article about magazine scams, Scott Whipple, staff writer for The Bristol Press wrote something that caught my eye in his October 12 article, “Magazine scams hit front doors.”
Whipple paints the picture of having a young person at your door claiming to be raising money for something or other. The scam? The young [...]
In a follow-up to my last blog, New York Times reporter Ian Urbina has brought the dangers of traveling sales crews into the national scope once again in an article on October 15, “Six charged in beatings of salesmen.”
I say “once again,” as Urbina penned one of the most complete features I have read regarding [...]
As frequent readers are aware, one purpose of this blog is to serve as an educational resource about the hazards posed by traveling sales crews – both for potential young people who may consider engagement and the potential victims/consumers they prey on. These rogue groups are in no way associated with legitimate direct sellers as [...]
