Last year the total sales of Estonian Direct Selling Association’s (EDSA) member companies increased by 2,5% and amounted to 33,3 million euros excluding VAT. Meanwhile, the number of people involved in direct sales increased by 1% exceeding thirty-four thousand and five hundred persons.
“Last year the direct selling market experienced sustainable growth, while according to the last 4 years compound annual growth rate, direct selling companies experienced higher than 7,4% yearly average growth. It is one of the best results among the different sales channels of retailing”, says the General Secretary for Baltic Direct Selling Associations Gintautas Zaleckas.
According to G.Zaleckas, direct selling is not losing its attractiveness as a way of shopping, where each client can get a personal service and advice from the direct seller/consultant and is able to acquire high quality products. The slower growth of sales in 2015 was mostly determined the fluctuations in consumer expectations and changes in consumer spending due to possible external threats and geopolitical tensions. Looking into the future the sales of direct selling companies should grow due to higher internal consumption and increasing incomes of consumers.
Comparing the Baltic States, direct selling market experienced the biggest growth in Estonia, meanwhile in Lithuania it grew by 3% up to 41,6 mln. euro excl. VAT and in Latvia – by 5% till 31,2 mln. euro excl. VAT. The number of people involved in direct sales both in Lithuania and Latvia increased over 2% respectively up to more than 51 and 44 thousand people.