I remember sitting in the conference room at our office meeting several years ago with a group who was starting a new direct sales company. They had questions about tools, compensation plans, leaders, and even events. I asked them if they had a product yet. Their answer was surprising. They said, “We haven’t thought a lot about that. We figured if we get the other parts of the business lined up, the product is just an afterthought.” Fast forward 15 years and I am so grateful for how the industry has changed. Gone are the days where Direct Sales was the vehicle and the product didn’t matter. In the current direct sales climate, you must have a product focus and a customer journey to be successful. So, what does it take to create a successful product, and what are the benefits of releasing a product in direct sales? I recently sat down with Dr. Shawn Talbott, Chief Science Officer at Amare Global, to discuss this very topic. Dr. Talbott has over two decades of experience formulating products in the direct sales industry. He has worked for start-ups and billion-dollar brands. His insights help show what it takes to create successful products that will produce a loyal customer base.
When I was first introduced to the industry, the duplication process was heavily dependent on hotel meetings, powerful presenters, and large enrollment packages. With the advances in technology, it seems that everything has changed. Now you can build a business from your smartphone, from anywhere in the world. In this edition of the Direct Sales Masterclass, I discuss this topic with Stu Finger and Michael Swilling of CTFO.
To view the full video of Kendra Brassfield’s conversation with McKinley Oswald, click here
In 2000, Blockbuster had a chance to buy Netflix for $50 million. By the end of 2018, Blockbuster was down to one store and Netflix was worth $172 billion (that’s billion—with a B). So, what went wrong? Where did Blockbuster lose sight of what the future held? How different would their company’s future have been if they had chosen to adapt, innovate, and change with the times by adopting new technology? As the world became more technologically oriented, Blockbuster as a company failed to follow suit.