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The direct selling industry is constantly looking for ways to enhance its services. Companies like UK-based Just Digital Ltd, marketing service specialists, are helping to push the boundaries with the development of bespoke online ordering facilities, making a difference to the work of Sales Consultants. Just Digital Ltd is a registered supplier member of the UK Direct Selling Association.

It was hardly a ‘eureka’ moment, but the sight of so many different business cards presented by just one management team got print specialist Adam Hill thinking.

Adam, who set up Just Digital, based in Cambridgeshire, six years ago, realised many already successful direct selling businesses were missing an opportunity to make life easier for Consultants while at the same time protecting nd enhancing their brand identity.

The result is a bespoke online facility created for direct selling businesses, with Adam admitting: “Sometimes it is the simple ideas that are the best.”

Left: Owen Purkis and right: Adam Hill

Businesses like The Pampered Chef and skincare specialists Arbonne are already making the most of the opportunities from Just Digital, which operates from offices close to England’s central motorway network.

Each company’s team of consultants can access a custom-made Web site to buy anything from personalised business cards and letterheads to pop-up banners and advertisements that fulfil all design and legal criteria.

It was hardly a ‘eureka’ moment, but the sight of so many different business cards presented by just one management team got print specialist Adam Hill thinking.

Adam, who set up Just Digital, based in Cambridgeshire, six years ago, realised many already successful direct selling businesses were missing an opportunity to make life easier for Consultants while at the same time protecting and enhancing their brand identity.

The result is a bespoke online facility created for direct selling businesses, with Adam admitting: “Sometimes it is the simple ideas that are the best.”

Businesses like The Pampered Chef and skincare specialists Arbonne are already making the most of the opportunities from Just Digital, which operates from offices close to England’s central motorway network.

Each company’s team of consultants can access a custom-made Web site to buy anything from personalised business cards and letterheads to pop-up banners and  advertisements that fulfil all design and legal criteria.

“We have always thought that Gordon Brown (the British Prime Minister) saying no more boom or bust was over enthusiastic, so even in the good times, when we never even thought we were going into a recession, we looked at ways of working as if we were.

Working with The Pampered Chef

“I have always thought direct selling was a sector that we had recognised would weather a recession. There may have been some naivety, but when people are made redundant they look for other ways of earning money. Direct selling is often an option, because people want to have their own businesses and have control over their earnings.

“When we started, we didn’t know a huge amount about direct selling, but we have listened to what people want and then delivered.”

A percentage of each order is paid in commission to the direct selling company, but these innovative partnerships offer more than just monetary opportunities.

One advantage is a reduction in the stock – for example, letterhead and other promotional materials.

Its system means that these costs are not passed on to each company. Just Digital’s decision to develop this sophisticated software with a tried-and-tested formula enables it to be confident in its ability to fine-tune the package to meet each company’s needs and make valued judgements about what will be required.

Adam explained, “We believe we can help direct selling companies retain their Consultants by making it easy and cost-effective to promote and market their own business venture, which, in turn, should have a positive effect on their own sales.”

Testimonials

“Just Digital provides a great selection of Web and print technologies for our Consultants to use to support their business.”—Kelly Lloyd, Marketing, Arbonne

“What makes Just Digital unique is that they understand the direct selling industry and what we as a company need to fully support our Consultants.”—Vanessa Clayton, Director of Marketing and Communications, The Pampered Chef UK

Thriving direct selling companies are constantly looking at ways to meet the needs of their sales teams.

These needs present fresh challenges for the team at Just Digital, which endeavours to be more than just a name behind an impersonal web site.

The company does offer a telephone support service and are regular faces at conferences, where stationery packages and branded marketing materials are sold directly to Consultants.

Senior Sales Manager Owen Purkis said, “We love the conferences. It is a great way to put faces to names and meet Consultants. It enables us to learn more about what they want, and it is a good way to understand more about the direct selling industry and the people who make up the community.”

The face-to-face talks also enable Owen and the team to come up with different ideas that enhance the bespoke packages.

Some companies who want to improve their contact with Consultants are also using the social networking site Twitter. Other companies opt for well-chosen products to reward sales growth and work with the team at Just Digital to ensure these meet all the necessary image and legal requirements.

Promotional products, like aprons, bags or personalised Christmas cards, can be made available online with regular feedback to decision makers.

Owen said, “We are always bringing on new products, but we are in the position to see what does and doesn’t work for different companies. We talk directly to Consultants and we learn all the time about what might work out, without the risk of losing money; and then share this information with companies.”

Recent moves into Europe have enabled more opportunities and a growing understanding of the different cultural needs of each country.

Owen said, “It is important that we work with each company to understand what they need and make sure it is available when they need it.”