Our opponents are rewriting their strategies and uniting. We must do the same.
Hello readers! Since taking over as Publisher of SSN, I have remained committed to keeping you informed on the topics and trends that have the greatest impacts on the direct selling channel and its future.
Over the past year, we have brought you stories of resilience and innovation as companies were forced to pivot after COVID-19 shutdowns. We covered the rise of the anti-MLM movement as well as the role of social media in shaping both positive and negative views of network marketing.
However, there is no current topic more consequential to our channel than the Federal Trade Commission’s shift in objectives and enforcement strategies regarding direct selling companies and their representatives, which has been detailed over the past year in official statements, congressional testimonies, and academic publications. More than one observer has classified this shift as an existential threat to the direct selling channel as a whole.
With that said, it is by no means a time for pessimism, as direct sellers have many factors working in their favor and millions of delighted customers around the country and world. What is required now is a continued commitment to staying informed and knowledgeable about the concepts, procedures, and statutes that make up the FTC’s imminent plan for engagement against this channel.
To that end, we have put together, in this edition, a series of articles to summarize and simplify the key concepts, laws, and court decisions that will be shaping the FTC’s actions toward the direct selling industry in the months and years ahead.
In addition, I am thrilled to offer you contributions from some of the most insightful voices in our channel. I encourage you to read their analysis and thoughts about the FTC’s revised gameplan that will directly impact your company.
The FTC Act is certainly not light reading—so hang on to this edition! I hope that it can be a tool for you to reference in the year ahead as regulators continue to muddy the waters with new rules, revised policies and novel enforcement strategies.
Finally, I want to take this opportunity to remind you of the importance of participating in the public comment and due process opportunities afforded by the FTC Act itself.
The critics of direct selling have demonstrated that they have the FTC’s ear. I urge you to join our representatives and supporters at each opportunity to make your voices heard.
I sincerely thank you for your support of SSN, and I welcome your thoughts and feedback.