Direct selling business: Alternative to employment

CEBU, Philippines - Direct selling companies in the Philippines are encouraging Filipinos, especially the unemployed and the underemployed, to consider the direct selling business as an alternative to seeking employment.

“Employment opportunities (in the country) are getting smaller and smaller. We are here to encourage people, especially the new graduates, to do direct selling. This is an alternative to employment,” said Direct Selling Association of the Philippines (DSAP) chairman Ador Bonquin.

He said in an interview that the direct selling business has already helped a lot of people cope with the financial crisis. People must however exercise caution in choosing the direct selling company to be affiliated with so as not to become victims of the fly-by-night companies or those involved in pyramiding schemes.

Putting a stop to the proliferation of these unscrupulous companies that are taking advantage of people’s desire to earn extra income is one of the advocacies of DSAP, which signed an agreement with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to help the latter police the industry.

Bonquin said direct selling is a unique tool in enabling the Filipinos cope with the global crisis. This is why DSAP, a nationwide trade and industry association of companies in the business of person-to-person direct selling, has embarked on a nationwide campaign to introduce the business of legitimate direct selling and multilevel marketing to more Filipinos by holding one-day certificate courses in direct selling and network marketing.

Dubbed as “Lakbay Hanapbuhay,” the campaign seeks to promote better appreciation of the extra income opportunities that the direct selling business offers, especially at this time of global economic crisis. It also seeks to empower the public against pyramiding schemes of individuals and entities that approach customers in the guise of legitimate multilevel marketing and direct selling.

“This certification course is designed to promote the direct selling and network marketing as one of the best options among entrepreneurs and people looking for extra source of income,” Bonquin said.

DSAP launched the provincial run of Lakbay Hanapbuhay last year in Cagayan de Oro. The Cebu leg was held yesterday at the Crowne Regency Hotel. 

“Through this program, DSAP would like to reach out to more Cebuanos and offer them a unique learning experience where they will have better understanding of how the industry works. We have also invited industry leaders to share significant tips and tricks to succeed in the business,” Bonquin said.

By reaching out to more people, DSAP aims to uplift the industry’s reputation as a profession and educate the public on how to determine legitimate direct selling companies from pyramiding companies.