The Work At Home Blog

In what has become a $30 billion industry, it’s no longer just the Avon lady knocking.

Instead, direct selling has expanded to a variety of items and services sold by millions of people.

Be they “advisers,” “consultants” or “demonstrators,” those peddling products do so in a business that has grown by nearly 39 percent in the past decade.And instead of going door-to-door, they’re now selling living room-to-living room.

“People love the opportunity to get together with friends and shop,” said Amy Robinson, spokeswoman for the Washington, D.C.-based Direct Selling Association.

“It really gives people an opportunity to shop for something they love in a relaxed atmosphere, an excuse to get together with friends and family,” she said. “So many people have full day planners. The first things to go are social engagements.”

Those gatherings can be rather fruitful. Between 1997 and 2006, direct sales in the United States grew from approximately $22.21 billion to an estimated $32.18 billion, according to figures compiled by the Direct Selling Association. Sales did drop slightly last year to about $30.8 billion, Robinson said.

And for the people working from home, the money definitely doesn’t hurt.

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