Jockey Person To Person Catching On

 The Wichita Eagle

Jockey Person to Person, the new direct-sales division of Jockey International, has come to Kansas.

Judi Thomas, a Wichita State University graduate in women’s studies, is the company’s first sales representative — Jockey calls them “comfort specialists” — in this area. She says the party plan concept is catching on quickly.

“I think part of it is the Jockey name, which has been around for more than 100 years,” Thomas said. “And part of it is the opportunity to try on products in the privacy of the home of a friend.”

Jockey, based in Kenosha, Wis., launched Person to Person in its home state in 2005. It is in more than 30 states.

Jockey Person to Person offers an exclusive and differentiated line of Jockey apparel to women.

“The items that are available for sale at a home party are not sold in retail stores,” Thomas said. “But you can still find traditional products in the store.”

The home party plan is a proven direct-sales platform, with programs such as Tupperware, Mary Kay and Pampered Chef paving the way. The direct-selling industry contributed $27 billion to the U.S. economy in 2004, the last year for which numbers have been compiled.