Brett Duncan has some beef. He believes allowing distributors to also have customer accounts undermines promotions, skews data, complicates marketing and weakens company strategy—making it a practice the direct selling industry needs to end for good.

As e-commerce exploded, the direct selling industry panicked. Companies split in two directions: stick with traditional reps or go all-in online.

As if you had to choose. As if these were opposing forces. As if the internet somehow made human connection obsolete.

Incentives are evolving from simple rewards into strategic tools for growth—driven by inclusivity, technology, personalization, and human connection that engage more participants and strengthen culture across direct sales organizations.

As of now, there is no clear answer to whether the FTC Non-Compete Rule will ever become effective, or when. As of the date of this article, neither the Non-Compete Rule or Negative Option Rule are in effect or binding upon U.S. companies. So what happened?         

In today’s rapidly evolving tax environment, staying compliant is no longer just a box to check—it’s a critical strategic function. For direct selling companies operating across states or borders, the complexity of managing sales tax, digital product taxability, and global reporting requirements has increased dramatically.

theJuice is launching a newsletter. Our goal isn’t to add noise. It’s to curate the signal ... to point out great content wherever it lives and package it in a quick, scrollable format that respects your time and nourishes innovative thinking.

Too often, subscriptions are built around compensation mechanics rather than customer behavior. The result: rigid workflows that limit adoption. Volume may drive income, but it’s recurring volume that powers commissions, higher AOV and retention.

Companies that lack clear data visibility often find themselves flying blind. When you can’t quickly see your key sales numbers, you can’t make informed decisions. Across the industry, for example, around 22% of customers ….

After years of downplaying the business opportunity, many direct selling companies now face recruiting struggles—while those boldly embracing opportunity messaging continue to thrive.

A personal journey through 50 years of direct selling, Kate highlights timeless lessons in product innovation, relationship building, strategic planning, and how digital tools are reshaping—but not replacing—the heart of the business.