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EU Regulatory Challenges Top Priorities for Seldia in 2023
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EU Regulatory Challenges Top Priorities for Seldia in 2023

By:  Laure Alexandre, SELDIA, The European Direct Selling Association.

The EU (European Union) is on a constant regulatory cycle. As direct selling companies transitioned to being omnichannel, we now follow, inform and represent our members in more policy areas than ever before. 

Seldia (The European Direct Selling Association) is currently active on proposals regarding employment status, consumer rights online and alternative dispute resolution (rules framing the robustness of our codes of ethics and consumer complaints). 

Current sustainability proposals are also directly impacting all EU businesses supply chain, and new rules for VAT (value-added tax) in the digital age have just been published. 

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February 1, 2023 0 comment
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3 Fundamental Transitions for Direct Selling
InnovationVoicesVoices from the Channel

3 Fundamental Transitions for Direct Selling

Embracing direct selling as a channel of distribution provides us with great freedom

Brett Duncan is a managing principal at consulting firm Strategic Choice Partners.

Being driven by what people can sell versus what people will buy may sound similar, but they’re actually very different concepts.

Direct selling is changing. We’re in the middle of a shift from point A to point B. We may not be exactly clear on what point B is, but we definitely know that point A is in the rearview mirror. 

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November 1, 2019 2 comments
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California Assembly Bill 5 Passes
InnovationVoicesVoices from the Channel

California Assembly Bill 5 Passes

The California state capitol building in Sacramento, CA.

Building on our success with an uncertain future

Brian Bennett is the vice president of government affairs and policy at the Direct Selling Association in Washington, D.C.

In February, AB 5 was amended with its first set of exemptions. Direct sellers were in that first group.

On April 30, 2018 a different kind of earthquake shook all of California. This one wasn’t contained to a specific geographic area; rather it resonated across the state and rocked all those who’ve built their livelihoods with independent contractors.

The California Supreme Court handed down its decision in Dynamex Operations West v. Superior Court of Los Angeles. In a strange twist of events, the court had not only ruled on this case, but completely upended all companies using independent contractors in the most populous state in the U.S. States.

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October 1, 2019 0 comment
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Facebook Seeks to Minimize Spread of Misleading Health Claim
InnovationVoicesVoices from the Channel

Facebook Seeks to Minimize Spread of Misleading Health Claim

Zach Arrington

Direct sellers of wellness products should prepare for a new normal on Facebook

By Zach Arrington

Given direct sales’ huge presence in the health and wellness market, this change is sure to affect one of the channel’s biggest marketing tools.

Facebook took health-related direct sellers by surprise in a recent announcement of new changes to its algorithm which could have a significant impact on companies and their independent consultants who use Facebook to promote their businesses. 

In the July 2 announcement, Product Manager Travis Yeh wrote, “We know that people don’t like posts that are spammy, and misleading health content is particularly bad for our community. So, last month we made two ranking updates to reduce posts with exaggerated or sensational health claims and posts attempting to sell products or services based on health-related claims. Posts with sensational health claims or solicitation using health-related claims will have reduced distribution.” 

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September 1, 2019 0 comment
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Can Empathy Help in Understanding the FTC’s Approach?
InnovationVoicesVoices from the Channel

Can Empathy Help in Understanding the FTC’s Approach?

Reevaluating the way others look at our industry can change our perspective

By Michel Bayan is co-founder and CEO of predictive analystics firm DirecTech Labs.

Different people need different experiences with our brands in order to maximize the value we get from them and the value they perceive from us.

There recently has been a lot of thoughtful talk about the evolving regulatory landscape concerning direct and social selling. One perspective important to consider is that of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). We are inclined to dismiss those who oppose the direct selling industry without understanding their motivation and view them as “wrong.” However, it’s likely they consider their work to be noble. 

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August 1, 2019 0 comment
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Innovation Leadership: Why We Need to Get This Right
InnovationVoicesVoices from the Channel

Innovation Leadership: Why We Need to Get This Right

A company dominates when leadership creates and employees innovate

By Steve Jamieson, founder and CEO at Dallas-based consulting firm Working Social.

Innovation does not happen in a suggestion box, it’s a culture, and a system.

Edison invented the process whereby leadership creates and employees innovate so a company can dominate the competition.

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July 3, 2019 0 comment
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Redefining and Repositioning Who We Are
InnovationUncategorizedVoicesVoices from the Channel

Redefining and Repositioning Who We Are

John T. Fleming

Direct sellers must become a bigger part of the gig conversation
By John T. Fleming

John T. Fleming is a veteran direct selling industry leader, writer, executive and consultant. A member of the DSA Hall of Fame and DSEF Circle of Honor, he currently focuses on helping direct selling companies reposition their opportunity as a proven and attractive option in today’s gig economy. His first publication will be released in summer 2019, along with a book later this year.

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June 3, 2019 0 comment
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