Direct Selling Association is the name for several national trade organizations that represent companies marketing goods and services through group demonstrations or person-to-person methods. Products sold by companies in such organizations include clothing, food, appliances, toys, housewares, jewelry, cosmetics, and reference books. Direct selling associations may conduct marketing research or offer seminars and workshops on consumer affairs, marketing, and sales training. They also monitor legislation that affects companies involved in direct selling. The United States organization called the Direct Selling Association was founded in 1910. The Direct Selling Education Foundation is the public service branch of the organization. The U.S. association’s headquarters are in Washington, D.C.
Both the United Kingdom and Australia have similar organizations. In the United Kingdom, the Direct Selling Association was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in London. In Australia, the Direct Selling Association of Australia was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Sydney. In Canada, the organization is called the Direct Sellers Association. It was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Toronto.
