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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DSA Advocacy Alert, Delaware HB 162: The Time to Act Is Now
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From Direct Selling Association’s (DSA) Advocacy Advisory Alert:
Delaware Legislature to Take Action on Anti-Direct Selling Bill Tuesday Afternoon
Dear Network Marketing Professional,
I’m reaching out personally to share an urgent development that affects the entire direct selling community—DSA members and non-members alike.
This is no longer a threat: this is now real and moving forward.
On Tuesday, June 17, the Delaware House will vote on HB 162, a bill that poses an unprecedented threat to our business model. While DSA’s advocacy efforts have helped remove some of the most extreme provisions, the bill still contains harmful mandates that would burden even the most ethical companies.
Please review the alert below and take action immediately. We must mobilize our community in Delaware—and across the country—before it’s too late.
With appreciation,
Dave Grimaldi
President
Direct Selling Association (DSA)
The Time to Act is Now
Delaware HB 162 would impose costly, unworkable restrictions on direct selling—affecting even the most compliant companies—and could set a dangerous precedent for other states to follow.
The Threat
Unprecedented disclosure mandates not found anywhere else in the U.S.
A three-month right of rescission—ten times the national standard
A 90% inventory buyback with no time limit
Applies to all companies regardless of size or history
Fails to acknowledge existing industry self-regulation
This is not about bad actors—it’s