Productive path
Priti

A unique career opportunity that is available to one and all today, especially those who want to work from home, is network marketing.

Network marketing entails direct selling of products and services to consumers by using the concept of network distribution. It is also called direct selling since manufacturers provide their products and services directly to the consumers at their doorstep without the help of traditional retail outlets.

The manufacturing companies normally open their own warehouses, pick-up centres or exclusive franchise outlets in different cities of the country to sell and make deliveries of the products and services required and ordered by their consumers. In turn, the consumers get themselves registered with the manufacturing companies to make purchases for their needs and get the benefit of delivery of products at their doorstep. The registered consumers then promote this system of marketing the products with other consumers and educate them for getting registered with the company.

Further, the new registered consumers help in promoting the products and services with other consumers known to them and thus get the new consumers registered with the manufacturing company and eventually create a network of consumers. This process goes on and on to build a big networks of consumers.

In fact, for promoting the sales of their products, the network companies use the help of , not advertisements in the print or electronic media, but 'word of mouth' recommendations of products through the network of distributors by building up their team of sales leaders.

The building up of networks of consumers is a real big career opportunity today. It particularly gives housewives the opportunity to build their own sales networks, with any network company that provides quality products; and a business plan that offers payments as a commission on the sales generated.

As a career opportunity, network marketing offers the following advantages:

* The first and foremost plus point is that it requires very low or rather negligible investment. Whatever registration amount you invest, you get quality products of the company; and the company retains a small part of the amount invested as 'network fee'.

* Since there is no capital involved in this business venture, there is no financial risk to enter into the opportunity in the first place.

* It is a home-based business. There are no extra running costs of the business like other traditional business, on rent of business premises, salaries of the staff employed, interests on bank loans, other day-to-day expenses, etc. In other words, no infrastructure is required to run the show.

* No special qualifications or technical skill is required. All consumers can do it.

* This work is portable as against the traditional business that is location-based. In network marketing, you can create your network wherever you go; the business starts there only.

* The business offers tremendous scope for growth; it is local, it is regional, it can also be developed on a national and international scale, while operating from home.

* Above all, it has flexible working hours and days. There is no regular office to attend, no fixed working hours nor is it a daily affair as well.

* There is no boss in this business; you are the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or the Managing Director of your own business.

* Network marketing work can be done either independently or jointly, without any upper age limit for entry into it.

* The companies bear the burden of all the odd jobs involved in the traditional business like capital investment, production processes, implementation of various government laws, labor problems, warehousing, logistics, accounting matters, undertaking research and development for the quality products, quality controls, technological upgradations, any collaborative tie-ups, ensuring timely delivery of products at the doorstep of the clients, etc.

The idea of networking marketing was initiated and developed in America way back in 1959 by the two high school friends, the great genius of the day, Jay Van Andel and Rich Devos. These two friends established their company called Amway, which used to sell its products directly to the consumer, without the help of traditional retail stores.

This business is fast catching up in India too, though it is still in its nascent stage. There are about 13 direct selling companies operating in India, in the organised sector, which have organised themselves into an Association called the Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) Primarily, the IDSA has been established to regulate, promote and organise the business opportunity of direct selling in India.

At present, the 13 IDSA companies are AMC Cookware, Amway India, Avon, Forever Living, Herballife, Hindustan Lever Network, LB Publishers, Lotus Learning, Medicare, Oriflame, Quantum International, Sunrider India and Tupperware.

According to a survey conducted by the IDSA, the total annual turnover of the direct selling industry in India, during the short span of less a decade is estimate at about Rs 2,311 crore.

But a word of caution. Many fly-by-night operators have flooded the market in the garb of network companies offering fraudulent schemes; one should beware of getting trapped into them. They pose as genuine direct selling companies, offering independent business opportunities to gullible persons. One standard parameter to judge the genuineness of a network company is that it should be an IDSA member.

Broadly speaking, there are two main companies where which offer a good career opportunity. Amway and Hindustan Lever Network. Both of these companies have a good business plan and regular training and support system. Amway started its operation in India in May 1998. Hindustan Lever Ltd., an FMCG giant also entered the direct selling market in India as Hindustan Lever Network (HLN) in January, 2003.

The company is offering a time-tested business plan to its distributors. Its global partner Unilever is supporting HLN in a big way for expanding its network business in India.

It is a work opportunity especially suitable for women as it gives them the option of balancing working hours with family needs by keeping flexi-timings.

It is a career that requires time and effort to achieve success. Remember the adage — Rome was not built in a day. This is not a get-quick scheme' but has tremendous potential.