What is Direct Selling ?

Conventional Distribution System & Direct Selling

Types of Marketing Plans of Direct Selling in Malaysia

While some direct sellers/retailers may be employees of a direct sales company, authorised to act for the company in business matters, most direct sellers/retailers are independent business operators or self-employed – they enjoy the advantage of deciding when and how much time will be devoted to selling the company’s products.

And while there is a multitude of direct selling companies in Malaysia, they basically, fall into three (3) categories.

THE DIFFERENCE & SIMILARITIES

CONVENTIONAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM & DIRECT SELLING

While both methods have various price mark – up at each distribution level, the conventional method impose an additional 11% mark-up or so for advertising and promotion.

In direct selling distribution system, a distributor perform multiple roles of wholesaler/ retailer/ promoter etc.

TYPES OF DIRECT MARKETING PLAN IN MALAYSIA

SINGLE LEVEL MARKETING

In this type of plan, the agent or dealer obtains an immediate discount from the company, at the point of purchase. He then makes a profit by selling the product to the consumer at the recommended retail price.

The line of distribution in such plan is simple, involving the direct sales company, the dealer and the consumer.

In some cases, the “dealer” or “agent” is a salaried employee of the company.

MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING

This plan allows the direct seller to manage and service a large direct retail network or distributor network. Those interested in this plan must first be sponsored by an existing distributor of the company. With the help of this distributor, he then builds his monthly sales volume to qualify for higher monetary incentives and higher level of recognitions.

At direct distributor level, he functions both as a wholesaler and retailer, purchasing products in bulk from the company and distributing them to his distributors who in turn sells them to the customers. All income earned by a distributor is based upon the volume of sales and no other considerations. There is one standard distributor price for products to distributors and one standard retail price for products to customers.

MAIL ORDER

Under this type of plan, the direct seller or retailer arranges with a friend who shall act as “hostess” to invite a group of friends for demonstrations of a product or products. In the course of this “party”, orders are received for products. The “hostess’ receives merchandise/products as compensation for the use of her home and her help in getting their friends together.

Become A Member Today

Do you wish to join as a DSAM Member Company ? You can access exclusive content, just for you here !