Direct Selling: Breaking Down Barriers for Female Entrepreneurs

By Violetta Zlatareva, Regional Vice President for North West Europe, Herbalife

The number of women determining their own success by becoming their own bosses has increased over the last decade with an estimated 252 million females running their own businesses.  With this number continuing to climb, it’s clear that more women than ever are feeling empowered to become entrepreneurs, giving them the opportunity to enhance their incomes and achieve their lifestyle goals.

For many women, especially those with caring responsibilities, the traditional world of work is often inflexible, resulting in a balancing act of many tasks, which can make navigating a successful career challenging. However, becoming a business owner can offer women the flexibility to bypass some of these impediments and is a prospect that appeals to many.  In fact, a recent survey from leading nutrition company, Herbalife, of 9,000 women across 15 countries, found that a massive 72% of women want to own their own business.

Whilst starting a business from scratch can be appealing, it can also feel daunting and it’s often difficult to know who to turn to for help and advice.  By contrast, companies like Herbalife that sell their products via a global network of independent distributors, offer a great option for those who want to begin their entrepreneurial journey with a reassuring element of safety, support and protection.

You don’t have to start from scratch

Building a recognised brand take years and capital investment. For many entrepreneurs, this is simply too big a task to crack, especially if you need to generate an income quickly. By contrast, working with an established direct selling company allows you to build on the success of a brand that’s already established, well known and with a significant share of the market – a supercharged start for those who want to be their own boss.

A flexible option

Direct selling gives you the flexibility to take control of your own career by building a business that you can fit around other demands, freeing you up to work in a way that best suits you and your lifestyle choices. Over half of Herbalife’s independent distributors are women which reflects the fact that Herbalife provides the ideal entrepreneurial opportunity for women worldwide who want the flexibility, confidence and opportunity to start their own businesses.

You’re not alone

Entrepreneurs can feel lonely at times without the comradery and support of a team or peers, however, the beauty of joining a multi-level marketing company like Herbalife means help and support from the day you join.  Herbalife gives its independent distributors on-going training and development to empower them on their business journeys – ensuring that they have the right skills to tackle whatever challenges come their way. This includes product and sales training, marketing and social media training.  All of this is delivered at in-person seminars, online and via specially designed apps.  These vital skills are also portable and can be used in any other business ventures you might wish to enter into – now or in the future.