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Direct Selling: Powering America Forward
The U.S. economy thrives on the entrepreneurial spirit – it’s an American value, through and through. Our country takes pride in advancing the pioneering business ideas and ventures of its people, strengthening our position as a global economic leader.
Of the major sectors fueling America’s economy, there is one industry that is sometimes overlooked that represents small business owners in communities across the country: direct selling.
Like other direct selling companies, Amway offers an onramp to business ownership – with low to no startup costs – and compensates Independent Business Owners based on product sales to customers. Business owners enjoy flexibility, skill-training and other modern economic benefits.
According to a new report from the Direct Selling Education Foundation, the industry’s retail sales in 2022 totaled $40.5 billion, with a total economic impact of $111.4 billion added to the national economy. To put that into perspective, that’s higher than the economic impact of golf in the U.S. which amounts to $102 billion.
As we all know, business owners contribute more than just the products they sell to their local communities: they pay taxes; invest in their local economies; and give back philanthropically. The direct selling industry produced $15.5 billion in total tax revenue in the U.S., including $6 billion in state and local taxes. This includes all of the entrepreneurs, business owners and distributors who are paying their taxes, shopping at their local stores, eating at local restaurants, buying gym memberships, sending their children to karate class, singing lessons or otherwise investing in their communities. And it includes the 290,000+ Amway Independent Business Owners (IBOs) in the U.S.
That’s a lot of small business owners making a big impact.
But what does this mean for individuals like you and me?
Flexible Work Opportunities:
Since direct selling occurs outside of a fixed retail establishment, it offers flexible work hours. From managing an online storefront to connecting friends, family and neighbors with high-quality products, direct sellers earn a little extra income, all on their own terms, beyond a typical 9-5 structure.
Amway champions non-traditional work opportunities for Americans because it fills a need in today’s work environment, where making business ownership flexible and accessible is important to people, families, neighborhoods and communities.
The vast majority of IBOs are part-time. They’re members of the “slasher economy,” which empowers each individual to pursue their many passions and to earn a living through multiple income streams. For example, a person can be a dad “slash” guitar teacher “slash” seller of Amway vitamins. As new work trends continue to emerge, the direct selling model is alive, well, relevant and accessible to all.
An Inclusive Path to Business Ownership:
The direct selling industry advances inclusive entrepreneurship by removing the barriers that often come with opening a new business. Beyond selling unique products and services to consumers, it gives Americans – no matter their background, education, religion, income or ethnicity – the opportunity to activate their entrepreneurial spirit and start a business with low-to-no start-up and overhead costs.
With Amway, there is no registration cost for a business owner’s first contract year; and the company makes business ownership straightforward. Amway manages a global supply chain, offers an online marketplace, and provides training resources for its independent business owners. That way, they can focus on building their businesses at their pace, and as part of a diverse community of IBOs around the world.
The entrepreneurial spirit. Personal growth and a sense of community. An impact that is meaningful to families, communities and society. That is Amway. That is direct selling.