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Direct selling enables over-50s to supplement income
July 18, 2011
The Direct Selling Association says that a growing number of older people are opting to take on flexible part-time work.
A growing number of over-50s are choosing to supplement their retirement income by taking on flexible part-time work, new research suggests.
The Direct Selling Association (DSA) has witnessed a 29 per cent increase in the number of direct sellers aged 50 and over during the past 12 months.
Direct selling now contributes £2 billion per year to the UK economy and is experiencing a shift from its traditional core of working mothers.
There are now thought to be 120,000 older direct sellers in the UK, up from just 93,000 in 2009-10.
Paul Southworth, director general of the DSA, said that many over-50s are struggling to get back into work, despite the recent fall in unemployment.
"In terms of quality of life, from what our member companies tell us, many in the plus-50 age bracket enjoy the social side of direct selling, which allows them to continue to work and network with a variety of people," he revealed.
One company that employs a direct selling model is Herbalife Europe, whose managing director Ric Hobby confirmed the recent rise in applicants from older people.
He added: "It will be interesting to see if this trend continues to develop or if it is a temporary result of the recent squeeze on pensions and standards of living alongside increasing living costs."
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