The 25th

Direct Selling Edge Conference

The Direct Selling Edge Conference is a school for new and established direct selling, network marketing, party plan and social selling companies.

Due to COVID-19, we are now presenting this conference as a livestream webinar. You can attend live and/or watch the content through November 30!

Hosted by top compensation plan expert Jay Leisner of Sylvina Consulting and leading MLM attorney Kevin Thompson of Thompson Burton, this conference has been held several times yearly since 2011.

15 Reasons To Attend The Direct Selling Edge Conference

Understand what you need to do to grow your company smarter and faster.
Get the information you need to make better business decisions.
Collect buckets of wisdom to be used now and in the future.
Improve how you operate your company.
Learn what you don’t know, that you need to know.
Relearn what you once knew, but forgot.
Find out what you haven’t yet done that you need to do right away.
Identify specific steps you will take now and later.

Discover what you have done wrong, so you can fix these things right away.
Learn what to avoid doing that would harm your company.
Build relationships with top industry experts.
Network with other direct selling company owners.
Just one great idea can change your world. Get ready for many.
Invest in yourself because you’re worth it, and you deserve it.
Now is the time to work on your business.

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Monday through Thursday, October 12-15, 2020
with recordings you can watch through November 30
Free gift for first 50 attendees.

“This conference was jam-packed with practical information on how to start or improve a direct sales business.”

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Conference Preview

Speakers: All
In this fast-moving session, you will hear a few minutes of wisdom from each of our faculty members. Enjoy a taste of what you will learn from each of them over the next two days.

What Is Direct Selling?

Speaker: Jay Leisner
Direct selling is different from other business models. Understand the differences and similarities between network marketing companies and party plan companies. Find out why both are MLM.

Compensation Plan Design 101

Speaker: Jay Leisner
Compensation plans are designed to motivate specific behaviors. Discover the building blocks and understand the behaviors to be motivated by field compensation.

Recruiting and Building Your Field Force

Speaker: Jeff Jordan
In the beginning, it’s your company’s responsibility to recruit. It’s faster when you have your initial leaders in place. Learn what to spend on initial recruiting, and how and what to do to find them.

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9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Nine Things You Need Before MLM Software

Speaker: Jerry York
Before selecting a software provider, get prepared by addressing the nine core operational areas (merchant accounts, paying commissions, and seven more) that every company must tackle. When you do this before obtaining software, the technology implementation process will go smoother and you’ll lose less hair.

Demystifying MLM Law

Speaker: Kevin Thompson
The industry has developed over the past few decades through a myriad of state statutes, regulatory actions and class action lawsuits. Gain a deep understanding of the current status of the law after tracing decades of fascinating history. You will also learn about the September 2015 Vemma and the July 2016 Herbalife FTC actions, and what they mean for all direct selling companies.

Distributor Compliance

Speaker: Donna Marie Serritella
Compliance is one of those things that many companies don’t think about until it is too late. For example, a handful of income claims can generate large, full scale investigations from regulators. This presentation will help you evaluate your current distributor compliance efforts and needs. You will learn why it is so important to implement your Compliance Department before you open. And, you will recognize the role that every distributor plays in keeping your company clean of regulatory issues.

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9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Regulatory Spray

Speaker: Kevin Thompson
Learn ten specific strategies to keep your MLM or Party Plan company safe from federal and state regulators.

Compensation Plan Design 201

Speaker: Jay Leisner
Discover the science behind compensation plan design. Avoid the common pitfalls faced by others. Evaluate your compensation plan in light of wisdom you’ll learn here.

Direct Selling Operations: On Time and On Budget

Speaker: Emily Barr
Operational excellence depends on being efficient and consistently meeting strategic goals within established timelines and cost constraints. Come prepared to learn the best strategies for successful project planning and project management in the key areas of direct selling operations of distribution, inventory management, and support systems.

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9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Tips From Your Field: What They Won’t Tell You But Should

Speaker: Cassie Lewis
Hear seven pieces of direct feedback from Reps in the field that can help you shape your programs and policies for a great Rep experience. Shaped from the experience of both successful and unsuccessful companies that came before you, this session provides the context from your sales force (future or current) and why your executive decisions impact their ability to thrive and succeed in this industry.

Going Global: First Stop, Canada

Speaker: Michael Weinberger
In this engaging session, you will learn about what it takes to expand your business internationally. Michael’s session will focus on two topics: how to first ship your products to Canada, and considerations to give when Canadianizing your MLM system.

20 Secrets of Successful Direct Selling Companies

Speaker: Jay Leisner
Discover these secrets now and use them to be successful.

Speaker Panel

Speakers: All
This is a great opportunity for you to get fast answers to your questions on any of the topics presented or any other areas of interest. Submit your questions on chat. We’ll answer as many as we can for you.

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Reviews

In the first five minutes, this conference had turned everything I knew on its head. It made me ask questions I didn’t even know were topics I needed to know.

– Nikki Lewien

I learned more in 2 days than I have in 25 years selling MLM.

– Karrie Mattia

I would have loved to have attended this seminar 11 years ago when I began my company. It would have saved me hundreds of thousands of dollars and years of work.

– Bernardo Fernandez

Taking the time to fly out for this convention was the perfect decision for myself and my business at this time. I have learned so much amazing info and the connections I have had the opportunity to make are something that will be a total game changer. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity!

-Liz Silver

For what it costs to attend this seminar, it could be the most valuable investment you’ll ever make if you are planning on or have already launched a direct sales company. The legal knowledge and regulatory knowledge alone is worth a lot.

– Dave Austin

Every second was worth the time! I’ve learned more in 2 days that I’ve learned the last 18 months as a president of an MLM. Thank you!!

– Guy Douglas

The 15 minute one-on-one sessions were invaluable. I was able to get my specific questions answered by the industry experts with no sales pressure.

– Legretta Lee

I came to this conference two years later than I should have. Had I come two years earlier, I would have saved over $100,000 AND two years.

-Thomas Baker

This is the third DS Edge Conference that I have attended. I continue to learn more each time.

– Rodney Brandt

I feel that we were given real guidance that was not overly optimistic, but real and presented in a way that was not overwhelming. It was certainly a lot of information given in a well thought-out pace and a friendly professional manner.”

– Karen Bogdan

The things we learned here have been key in preventing us from making some costly mistakes.

– Adrian Alvi

Jay, you gave the best presentation and overview on the different types of compensation plans I have ever seen by anyone in my 30 years of being a part of MLM.

– Mary Lou Venable

Excellent overview of key elements of the industry, and a solid review of the tripwires and pitfalls of an industry that is rapidly changing. Definitely worth attending!

– Robb Heering

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Direct Selling Edge Conference?
A: This conference is a unique school for new and established direct selling company owners and employees to learn how to better operate their businesses. It is currently presented as a webinar with replays available for 30 days after the webinar. Whether you can or cannot attend live, you can still learn from the recordings!

Q: Who should attend?
A: If you currently are, or will be, an owner, executive, or employee of a network marketing, party plan, direct selling, or social selling company, you should attend.

Q: What will I learn there?
A: From the top direct selling experts, you will learn what you need to know, do, and not do to be more successful. Just one great idea can change your world. Get ready for many of them.

Q: What topics do you address?
A: We focus on the most important subjects to companies of all sizes and ages. These include direct selling business models, compensation plan design and improvement, legal regulations, software, compliance, recruiting, field leadership, company culture, and operations. Every Direct Selling Edge Conference includes private consultations with faculty members.

Q: What kinds of reviews have you received from attendees?
A: Excellent ones. You will find all of our reviews here.

Q: How long have you been offering this conference?
A: The first Direct Selling Edge Conference was held eight years ago in September 2011. Since then, we have held 24 conferences throughout the United States.

Q: How often do you hold the Direct Selling Edge Conference?
A: In 2020, we will hold two conferences.

Q: What makes your conference different from others?
A: We focus on delivering pure educational content. Instead of delivering sales presentations, we teach wisdom and actionable steps. Attendees tell us we provide a unique learning experience.

Q: Can you give me just one reason to attend?
A: No, but we can give you 15 reasons.

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Free gift for first 50 attendees.