Public urged to engage in direct selling

There are more opportunities to earn extra income in engaging in the direct selling of products.

Bong Valenzuela of Forever Living Products Philippines said that these opportunities to earn would make direct selling sustainable. He encouraged the public to engage in this activity.

Valenzuela and representatives of the members of the Direct Selling Association of the Philippines (DSAP) were in Cebu City on Friday as part of the group’s nationwide information drive called  DSAP on the Road: Livelihood Caravan or Lakbay Hanapbuhay

“This event is designed to promote direct selling and multilevel marketing to people who wanted to earn extra income,” said Perry Mogar, DSAP chairman.

Valenzuela said that direct selling isn’t about earning money through membership recruitment but through product selling.

“We discourage our members to earn through recruitment membership. Our goal in this association is to promote product selling,” he said.

The organization was founded in 1983 and is the national trade association of legitimate direct selling and network marketing companies engaged in the business of person-to-person selling.

It has 26 member companies which include  Amway Philippines, Avon Cosmetics, Inc., DXN International Private LTD., Dakki Classics Concepts, Inc., Tupperware Brands,  and Forever Living Products Philippines, Inc.,

During the event last Friday, Mogar allayed fears of the legality of the DSAP companies.

“The public should not be afraid on any problems about the legality of our member companies because our members passed the eight-point test that the organization gives. And these companies are also registered at the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry),” Mogar said.

He said that the 8-point test would show the company’s marketing strategy and the safety of their products.

He said the test would assure that DSAP firms aren’t engaging in pyramid scams.

Mogar and Valenzuela gave some tips from the eight point test, which would help determine if the direct seller was legitimate or engaging in pyramid scam.

“First, the consumer should look if there is a product. Direct selling will not exist without products,” Valenzuela said.

Mogar said direct selling aims to earn money through product selling and not membership recruitment.

“Direct selling’s intention is to sell a product not a position and makes sure that there is no direct correlation between the number of recruits and compensation,” Mogar said./Correspondent Careen L. Malahay