Companies share tips for opening new markets abroad

By:  Ramneet Kaur

These are real people—they are not numbers. They are heartbeats. These are people that are doing this for their own family, for their own hopes, for their own dreams and for their own aspirations.

—Bo Short, CEO, Elevacity Holdings LLC

There are four important pillars of importance to consider, with trust overarching: planning, basic business infrastructure, consumer expectation and the people.

—Greg Martin, Founder, Japan Power and Gas

There are many things for direct sellers to consider when making a global expansion—from timelines, rules, and regulations to cultural differences, compliance issues and compensation plans.

The World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) reports that direct selling is a $180.5 billion industry worldwide that encompasses 119.9 million independent representatives, based on its 2020 release of global statistics. What does it take to enter a completely new market, and what important factors should be considered?