Tag Archive for Industry Associations

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Direct Selling Set To Takes Center Stage At The 18th WFDSA World Congress in Incheon, Korea

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The 18th WFDSA World Congress, the premier and only global summit for the direct selling industry, will take place October 19 to 21, 2026, at the Inspire Entertainment Resort in Incheon, South Korea.
The first time the World Congress is being held in Northeast Asia, underscoring Korea’s prominence and leadership in the industry.
Organized by the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA), the global representative for the direct selling industry in over 55 markets around the world, the triennial Congress brings together CEOs of leading direct selling companies, national Direct Selling Associations (DSAs), senior policymakers, academics, and stakeholder organizations from around the world to shape the future direction of the industry and discuss emerging global trends including AI, workforce development skills, and regulatory frameworks. Since its inaugural event in Montreal, Canada, in 1972, the Congress has been hosted in major global cities including Berlin, Sydney, London, Paris, and Dubai.

Ahead of the Congress, key stakeholders gathered on February 11 at the Hotel Riviera in Seoul during the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Korea Direct Selling Association (KDSA), where discussions focused on Korea’s direct selling market. Keynote speakers included Shaila Manyam, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of the WFDSA; Han-Gill Park,

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Direct Selling Leaders Press Case For Independent Entrepreneurship In Washington, D.C., Meetings

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CEO and Senior Executive Delegation Engages Federal Policymakers Days After Department of Labor Action on Independent Contractor Standards.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A delegation of chief executives and senior industry leaders from member companies of the Direct Selling Association (DSA) met with federal policymakers and national business leaders in Washington to discuss policies affecting independent contractors, entrepreneurship, and the direct selling industry.
The meetings took place days after the U.S. Department of Labor announced a proposed rule clarifying the distinction between employees and independent contractors under federal wage-and-hour law, an issue of significant importance to the millions of Americans who participate in direct selling.
Left to right: Randall Popelka, Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Herbalife International of America; Andrew Schmidt, President, Americas Region, Amway; Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA; Nevena Srebreva, CEO, Pampered Chef; Kevin Guest, CEO, USANA Health Sciences, Inc.; Danny Lee, President & CEO, 4Life; and Dave Merriman, Executive Vice President, ACN, Inc.
Among the day’s engagements was a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith E. Sonderling, the second-highest ranking official at the U.S. Department of Labor. During the discussion, DSA leaders thanked the Department for its recent action proposing a rule grounded in long-standing economic reality principles and emphasized the importance of clear standards

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Korea Direct Selling Association Hosts Annual General Meeting, Plans For 2026 WFDSA World Congress

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The Korea Direct Selling Association held its 34th Annual General Meeting at the Cheongdam Riviera Hotel on February 11, 2026. The meeting reviewed the 2025 business and financial statements, the 2026 business plan, and the budget.
The meeting also included an opportunity to present and share the program and plans for the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) 2026 World Congress on Direct Selling, to be held in October 2026.
The meeting was attended by Chairman Park Han-gil, keynote speaker Shaila Manyam, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the WFDSA, and Incheon Tourism Organization President Yoo Ji-sang, along with representatives from member companies and partners.
Shaila Manyam, who visited Korea from the U.S. to attend the annual general meeting, said that Korea is a major market for the global direct selling industry and a place where a people-centered business culture is alive and well. She also said that even in an era where AI technology is rapidly spreading, the direct selling industry puts people at the center of success and focuses on human resource development, high ethical standards, economic growth, and sustainability based on technological prowess.
It was also emphasized that Korea is a country with significant global influence, accounting for $164

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From Living Room Presentations to the House Floor: Why Direct Sales Needs a Seat at the Table

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OPINION | By Ryan D. Chamberlin, Member of the Florida House of Representatives and 30-Year Direct Sales Industry Veteran
In 1993, at the ripe old age of 19, I attended my first network marketing meeting. Like many people walking into their first presentation, I expected one of two things: either I’d discover the greatest business model ever created—or I’d learn how to politely escape a living room without making eye contact.
What I didn’t expect was that it would make perfect sense.
There was no lightning bolt. No choir singing in the background. No dramatic slow-motion handshake. Just a simple realization: this model worked. It empowered ordinary people to do extraordinary things, and it did so through relationships, initiative, and leadership—not corner offices or corporate titles.
That meeting didn’t just change my career. It changed my trajectory.
Over the next 25 years, I built teams across the country, served on corporate boards, and had the privilege of helping grow companies at the highest levels of the industry. I saw firsthand the life-changing impact direct sales could have—not just financially, but personally. Confidence was built. Leaders were formed. Families were strengthened.
But somewhere along the way, I realized something else.
Growth alone wasn’t enough.
Success without protection is like

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The Human Premium: Why Direct Selling’s Moment Is Now

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By Susannah Schofield OBE
Director General, UK Direct Selling Association
Speaking recently at a major retail conference, I found myself reflecting on something that those of us in direct selling have understood for decades: when the world accelerates, human connection becomes more valuable — not less.
Across the conference presentations, there was much discussion about AI, automation, efficiency, and cost reduction. Retailers are investing heavily in technology to streamline operations, personalise marketing, and optimise supply chains. And rightly so. Innovation drives progress.
But running through every panel discussion and presentation was a quiet, recurring theme: in an increasingly automated marketplace, customers are craving something technology alone cannot provide — genuine human connection.
This is where direct selling stands apart.
For over 60 years in the UK, our channel has been built on relationships. Not transactions. Not algorithms. Not anonymous clicks. Relationships. The consultant who knows your preferences. The person who takes the time to explain, demonstrate, and reassure. The trusted voice who follows up, not because a CRM prompted them to, but because they genuinely care.
At the UK Direct Selling Association, we represent a sector generating around £1 billion in annual retail sales, supported by hundreds of thousands of independent sellers across the country. But beyond

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Direct Selling Association’s Statement on U.S. Dept. of Labor Proposed Worker Classification Rule

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Announcement Comes Days Before DSA Member CEOs Meet with Senior Administration Officials
Washington, D.C. – The Direct Selling Association (DSA) welcomes the recent announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor proposing a rule to clarify the distinction between employees and independent contractors under federal wage and hour laws.
The proposal would rescind the Department’s 2024 independent contractor regulation and restore an analysis grounded in economic reality and longstanding principles recognized by federal courts.
This proposal comes at an important moment for the direct selling channel. In the coming days, DSA member company CEOs will be in Washington, D.C., meeting with federal policymakers, including senior administration officials. This is part of ongoing engagement to ensure a broad understanding of how direct selling operates and the independence that defines the model.

“The Department of Labor’s proposed rule reinforces a fundamental distinction that has long defined direct selling: individuals choose to pursue building independent businesses on their own terms,”

said Dave Grimaldi, CEO of the Direct Selling Association.

“Direct sellers are not assigned work or directed in the manner of employees. They decide whether, when, and how to engage, and their success is driven by their own initiative. Clear and consistent standards grounded in economic reality help ensure

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Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition Welcomes Aspen and Brent Emry to Board of Directors

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Sarasota, Florida – The Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition (FLDSCC) has announced the appointment of Aspen Emry and Brent Emry, co-founders of Florida-based Bravenly Global, to its Board of Directors.
The appointments follow the Coalition’s formal launch at the Florida State Capitol last week, where industry leaders, policymakers, and advocates convened to establish a coordinated framework focused on education, consumer protection, and legislative engagement for Florida’s direct selling community.
Aspen and Brent Emry are the founders of one of the emerging rapidly growing direct-selling companies in the United States. Their company, Bravenly Global, doubled in size last year, growing from approximately $50 million to over $100 million in 2025 annual revenue.
Based in Tampa, Florida, the Emrys bring more than two decades of experience across direct selling, executive leadership, and strategic growth. Their combined expertise represents a perfect balance of visionary culture-building, field development and operational excellence.
Their participation reflects the Coalition’s intent to include active company founders who bring firsthand experience navigating both field-level realities and executive-level responsibilities.

“As founders, Brent and I have seen the impact of direct selling when it’s built the right way.
“We’ve proudly supported the Florida Coalition since the beginning and are honored to now serve on the

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Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition (FLDSCC) Launches at Florida Capitol: A New Model for Advocacy

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The Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition (FLDSCC) officially launched last week with a two-day kickoff event at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, bringing together Florida lawmakers, industry leaders, company partners, and advocacy organizations for a coordinated effort focused on protecting consumers and preserving opportunity within the direct selling channel.
Founded and led by Gordon Hester and Rep. Ryan Chamberlin (R) FL, the Coalition was formed to create a proactive, educational bridge between policymakers and the direct selling profession — one rooted in transparency, ethical standards, and an accurate understanding of how modern direct selling operates.
Direct Engagement With State Executive and Legislative Leaders
Throughout the event, Coalition leadership and participating members held in-depth discussions with Florida’s executive branch and legislative leaders, emphasizing fair regulation, consumer protection, and policies that preserve entrepreneurial opportunity without undermining legitimate business models.


Click to Watch Video (1 minute)
Legislators and VIPs in attendance included:

James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General
Jay Collins, Florida Lieutenant Governor
Blaise Ingoglia, Florida Chief Financial Officer
Sam Garrison, Speaker of the House Designate (2026–2028)
Mike Redondo, Speaker of the House Designate (2030–2032)
Rep. Fiona McFarland, Chair, Information Technology and Budget & Policy Subcommittee (Sarasota)
Rep. Danny Alvarez, Chair, Criminal Justice Subcommittee (Hillsborough)
Rep. Will Robinson, Chair, State Affairs Committee (Manatee)
Rep. Traci Koster, Chair, Civil

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