
There is no better time than now to build a global network marketing business.
Despite recent economic events the network marketing industry continues to prove itself as an attractive home based business and dominant worldwide trend.
To demonstrate the strength of the global network marketing industry in this article we will review some prominent network marketing countries and things to consider when trying establishing an international network marketing business.
International Direct Selling Statistics
To start with, a review of the Direct Selling Industry as a whole shows that it has had consistent growth for more than 50 years with the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations now representing 58 countries around the globe and more than 62 million independent direct selling distributors.
Whilst not all network marketing companies are a member of the Direct Selling Association (DSA) for varying reasons, the DSA represents the largest international governing body of the network marketing industry and therefore it is able to provide us with the most accurate (although modest) reflection of international growth and sales figures for the industry.
A recent DSA publication (2009) suggests that across the globe the direct selling industry totals approximately $115.1 billion US in annual retail sales contributing significantly to both national and world wide economies.
There is no disputing the fact that Network Marketing is one of the fastest growing industries of all time, creating more millionaires today than the ‘dot-com’ industry did before the bubble burst and it comes as no surprise that the network marketing business model is now being endorsed by many business leaders around the world as a proven business system for anyone who wishes to achieve financial success.
Building an International Network Marketing Business
Traditionally network marketers have been reluctant to build an international network marketing business due to the expense and difficulties in international communication. Today however through improved communication strategies and the internet almost anyone in the industry has the potential to build a global network marketing business, limited only by which countries your company operates.
General

World Direct Selling Report 2009
Direct selling is a dynamic, vibrant, rapidly expanding channel of distribution for the marketing of products and services directly to consumers.
Benefits of Direct Selling
Research shows some of the most popular reasons people choose direct selling are:
- Direct selling is a good way to meet and socialize with people.
- Direct selling offers flexible work schedules.
- Direct selling is a good way to earn extra income.
- Direct selling is a good way to own a business.
- Earnings are in proportion to efforts.
Anyone can do it.
There are no required levels of education, experience, financial resources or physical condition.
People of all ages and from all backgrounds have succeeded in direct selling.
Direct sellers are independent contractors. You’re your own boss, which means you can:
- Work part-time or full-time - you choose when and how much you want to work.
- Set your own goals and determine yourself how to reach them.
- Earn in proportion to your own efforts. The level of success you can achieve is limited only by your willingness to work hard.
- Own a business of your own with very little or no capital investment.
Receive training and support from an established company.
International Statistics
|
| February 28, 2009 |
| Country |
Year
|
|
Retail Sales (in US$)
|
|
Number of Salespeople
|
| Argentina*** |
2007
|
|
992 million
|
|
765,000
|
| Australia*** |
2007
|
|
1.2 billion
|
|
610,000
|
| Belgium |
2007
|
|
87 million
|
|
14,231
|
| Brazil*** |
2007
|
|
9.1 billion
|
|
1,900,000
|
| Canada |
2007
|
|
1.42 billion
|
|
550,831
|
| Chile*** |
2007
|
|
435 million
|
|
240,000
|
| Colombia*** |
2007
|
|
1.2 billion
|
|
771,360
|
| Croatia*** |
2007
|
|
55 million
|
|
54,332
|
| Czech Republic*** |
2007
|
|
326 million
|
|
218,143
|
| Dominican Republic |
2006
|
|
51 million
|
|
73,250
|
| Denmark*** |
2007
|
|
149 million
|
|
80,000
|
| Ecuador*** |
2007
|
|
280 million
|
|
250,000
|
| Estonia*** |
2007
|
|
36 million
|
|
31,000
|
| Finland*** |
2007
|
|
251 million
|
|
96,000
|
| France |
2007
|
|
2.393 billion
|
|
223,000
|
| Germany* |
2006
|
|
8.297 billion
|
|
713,537
|
| Guatemala |
2006
|
|
85.9 million
|
|
39,664
|
| Hong Kong |
2007
|
|
182 million
|
|
110,000
|
| Hungary |
2007
|
|
203 million
|
|
240,155
|
| India*** |
2006
|
|
691 million
|
|
1,400,000
|
| Indonesia*** |
2006
|
|
800 million
|
|
7,557,328
|
| Ireland*** |
2007
|
|
60 million
|
|
17,000
|
| Italy*** |
2007
|
|
3.58 billion
|
|
335,000
|
| Japan*** |
2006
|
|
20.39 billion
|
|
2,700,000
|
| Korea*** |
2007
|
|
9 billion
|
|
3,187,933
|
| Latvia*** |
2007
|
|
35 million
|
|
30,000
|
| Lithuania*** |
2006
|
|
49 million
|
|
26,000
|
| Malaysia*** |
2006
|
|
2.06 billion
|
|
4,000,000
|
| Mexico*** |
2007
|
|
3.986 billion
|
|
1,900,000
|
| Netherlands |
2005
|
|
148 million
|
|
46,576
|
| New Zealand*** |
2007
|
|
180 million
|
|
115,000
|
| Norway |
2007
|
|
160 million
|
|
60,000
|
| Panama |
2006
|
|
31 million
|
|
12,500
|
| Philippines |
2006
|
|
378 million
|
|
1,906,172
|
| Poland*** |
2007
|
|
854 million
|
|
670,000
|
| Portugal |
2007
|
|
89.151 million
|
|
35,391
|
| Romania*** |
2007
|
|
300 million
|
|
210,000
|
| Russia |
2007
|
|
2.78 billion
|
|
3,375,849
|
| Singapore*** |
2007
|
|
325 million
|
|
575,000
|
| Slovenia*** |
2007
|
|
52 million
|
|
41,500
|
| South Africa |
2007
|
|
708 million
|
|
934,000
|
| Spain*** |
2007
|
|
747 million
|
|
144,000
|
| Sweden*** |
2007
|
|
400 million
|
|
100,000
|
| Switzerland |
2003
|
|
355 million
|
|
6,885
|
| Taiwan*** |
2007
|
|
1.7 billion
|
|
4,530,000
|
| Thailand*** |
2006
|
|
1.363 billion
|
|
4,100,000
|
| Turkey*** |
2007
|
|
864 million
|
|
649,000
|
| Ukraine |
2007
|
|
449 million
|
|
708,347
|
| United Kingdom*** |
2007
|
|
3.564 billion
|
|
419,500
|
| United States*** |
2007
|
|
30.8 billion
|
|
15,000,000
|
| Uruguay |
2007
|
|
42 million
|
|
43,000
|
| Venezuela*** |
2006
|
|
887 million
|
|
980,000
|
| Other** |
|
|
534 million
|
|
179,946
|
| Total |
|
|
115.1 billion
|
|
62,976,430
|
Source: WFDSA
Sales figures exclude VAT * Figures are from the German DSA and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Home Service
** Other includes 2003 or prior figures from Austria, Costa Rica, Israel and Peru
***Retail sales include both DSA and non-member companies
|
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