Direct Sales Companies Add Workers In Bad Times

MontereyHerald.com:

As times get tough, more women want to make quick cash hawking Satin Smoothie Hand Scrub, Eyesicles eyeshadows and Cellu-Shape Nighttime Body Gel.

After all, even with the economy in the dumps, women wear makeup. How about some Coastal Colors Lip Gloss?

Mary Kay is reporting a significant increase in the number of independent beauty consultants joining its sales ranks. Avon, another at-home makeup sales heavyweight, is seeing a jump — as are other direct sales companies, which rely on independent workers to sell their products.

Many in the new sales force are looking for solutions during these troubling times — such as Mary Dawson of Mesquite, Texas. She has a full-time job as an office manager but wants to earn extra cash. Plus, she likes the makeup.

“Everybody is looking for ways to make ends meet,” said Dawson, 32. “The economy has gone down, and I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. It’s a perfect time to start.”

The $30 billion direct-sales industry offers a variety of products, including goods in home decor, jewelry, cookware and nutritional supplements. Direct sales usually hold steady even when retail numbers drop.

Rhonda Shasteen, Mary Kay’s chief marketing officer, says that more people are turning to direct sales for the “self-control factor.”

“When you’re in a job and how you’ve been supporting your family is in question and you’re not sure whether you walk in the next day and you’ll be laid off or have your pay cut … people feel out of control,” she said. “They look for, ‘How can I gain some control over my situation?’ “

Photo by zzzack