Subscribe Via RSSWork From Home Mother in Direct Selling Jobs Over 120,000
Did you know there are now over 120,000 mothers in the UK working in direct selling for companies such as Avon, Amway, Betterware and Kleeneze? Currently women make up 76 percent of the UK’s 400,000 direct sellers.
The Direct Selling Association (DSA), who represents the interests of businesses engaged in the direct sale of consumer goods, said it has witnessed a 20 per cent jump in the number of mothers working from home over the last year (2013).
Many mothers with young children have begun direct selling jobs over the last year due to the need to earn money from home after the loss of their child benefit due to the recent benefits axe.
Much of the work has been taken with companies such as Avon, Amway, Betterware and Kleeneze which sell to people directly, rather than using a shop.
Work From Home Promo Parties
This enables mothers to work from home by holding promo parties to sell products and receive a commission. The commission received will obviously depend upon how much they manage to sell.
Work From Home Catalogue Sales
Other work from home mothers are using catalogues or door-to-door selling. Betterware and Avon are popular catalogues with many direct sales persons. Again the commission received will obviously depend upon how much they manage to sell.
Why Direct Selling
When asked why they had decided to take these direct selling jobs, many said they urgently needed extra money to cope with the rising cost of living and the loss of child benefit due to the new child benefit rules which came into effect January 2013. The new rules mean couples will no longer receive child benefit if one of them earns more than £60,000.
Andy Smith, general manager of Amway UK, which makes everything from cosmetics to washing powder, said:
“The recent changes to child benefit have affected thousands of mums, while the rising cost of living continues to impact on families all over the county.
Families are under increasing pressure at the moment.
We are continuing to see mums being attracted to direct selling as an alternative, and flexible way to generate an income in these difficult times.”
Lynda Mills, director of the Direct Selling Association, said:
“Parents are often faced with an impossible choice.
They can return to work, often under difficult circumstances and face astronomical childcare costs, or they can stay at home resulting in no income.”
Direct selling allows anyone to set up and run their own business, often working from home. It is a flexible option with minimal outlay and allows people to work the hours they choose. Flexibility is the keyword and makes it appealing to parents who wish to look after their children whilst working.
- WARNING: Do not pay to sell other peoples products, they pay you.
National Statistics
Official figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of working women is rising rapidly. More than 70 percent of mothers who are married or living with a partner are working, the highest percentage since records began.
Over the last two years, around 200,000 women in this situation have joined the workforce, an increase greater than the previous 15 years, according to the figures from the ONS.
Many women do go back to their jobs but find it incompatible with family life due inflexible working hours which forces them to miss important family events.
Dame Stella Rimington, former director general of MI5 highlighted this problem for mothers. She said:
“I had so many moments where I would worry about being late for the sports day or late for the meeting because I was at sports day.
It was perpetual really – you take a day off because your child is in the school play and then some drama will happen at the office.
I still had to go home and explain to my child why I didn’t make it.
There were a number of things I missed – I wish I could go back too. When they were growing up I relied hugely on nannies and grannies.”
DSA data shows that revenue generated by its member companies grew 7 percent from £1.5 billion to £1.6 billion in the last year.
What to Look for in a Direct Sales Company
There are lots of sharks out there pretending to help you earn money from home, but most are simply selling you a start-up pack of some kind. Stay away from such companies, you will not earn a single penny. Instead look for the following:
- Product ranges that are highly consumable with high market demand.
- High quality products that will ensure trust between yourself, your customers and the company.
- A commitment to ethical values and quality standards.
- No Fixed Geographical Areas. If your lifestyle requires you to move, your business needs to move with you.
- Affordable start-up costs. Genuine companies will not sting you with start-up fees.
Rise of the Mumtrepreneur Conclusion
I have a real problem with people who do direct selling by throwing parties etc. it simply ruins friendships. I opt to have friends who don’t see me as a potential source of income. This does not mean I’m unsympathetic, it just means I don’t think this is the right business model for most people.
Years ago, the 70’s and 80’s maybe, this might have been a great opportunity to work from home but with the advent of the Internet and remote buying and selling I personally think starting an online business or store would be much better. Of course that also presumes a relatively high level of education, the ability to use computers and the internet and the finances to buy the necessary equipment.
- If you’re interested in starting an online business take a look at Chris Farrell’s web site or one of the opportunities listed here.
Well, I hope you found something useful and enjoyed, Rise of the Mumtrepreneur.
