Recent years have seen major changes in the home shopping sector. These changes include the development of digital technology, with the use of various means of communication, as well as the use of remote transactions. Here's a closer look at the new profession of independent home salesperson (IHSS)!
Home sales go digital
A door-to-door salesperson is defined as a self-employed person who uses an alternative sales method to conventional ones. Like an employee of the company whose products they sell, they can act as an agent under the non-commercial profits tax regime, or as abuyer-reseller. VDIs are therefore covered by the general social security system.
Because his workplace is his customers' home, he enjoys greater autonomy and involvement. This sales mode offers many advantages, such as freedom of schedule and organization.
During the various confinements linked to the coronavirus crisis, door-to-door sales methods changed radically! No more going to customers' homes or inviting them in to discover your products. Today, 75% of independent door-to-door salespeople have gone digital, and are using new tools to sell: videoconferencing, emailing, SMS, communication on social networks...
Multi-channel communication for independent home sellers
While this change of working method has sometimes been radical for some freelancers, it has become unavoidable, at the risk of no longer receiving a salary. And with good reason: their income is proportional to the number of product sales. So they had to adapt to the unprecedented situation to keep their business going. The home sales specialists had no choice but to learn how to use social networks and their many communication possibilities.
These multi-channel means of promotion enable the home-based salesperson to interact with his or her regular customer network, share important information, and sell through the online store. The various brand pages can also be used by the salesperson in real time, for organization and advice. The use of social networks, and Instagram in particular, is finally being democratized in the professional world!
How has the independent home sales profession changed?
In 2022, distance selling practices and tools are increasingly being applied to direct selling. This phenomenon is occurring so regularly that home selling could almost be described as "distance selling". According to an Ifop 1 study, 62% of direct sellers today opt for home delivery, 49% offer online online paymentand 48% have created or use an e-shop.
While the evolution of the profession has become much more pronounced since the crisis, it was already perceptible before 2020. Indeed, the use of social networks was already proving to be an excellent way of broadening the VDI's field of action. Tools previously reserved for distance selling are now part of the VDI marketing strategy.
The rise of home delivery
When it comes to delivery, the change in practices is obvious. Whereas the first VDI customers left directly with their products, this is no longer the case. Following a remote meeting, the independent salesperson prepares the orders at home and offers different delivery methods to his or her customers. So there's no more hand-delivery.
This modernization requires flexibility and efficient organization to ensure that orders reach their destination quickly. The challenge: a satisfying customer experience!
The emergence of remote payment
The digitalization of society and the rise of e-commerce have democratized remote payment. With a connected clientele constantly on the lookout for new, different and rewarding payment experiences, online credit card payment is no longer enough.
Difficult to set up because it requires the creation of an e-commerce sitenew solutions have emerged. Pay by link" makes remote transactions easier! The customer receives a payment link which automatically redirects them to the secure payment gateway, where they can validate their purchase.
The other dematerialized payment method used by VDIs is contactless payment, made possible by the use of mobile or fixed payment terminals and various remote connection technologies such as Bluetooth.
The digitization of sales methods is one of the top criteria used by Internet users when choosing the site on which to make their purchases. These methods enable sellers to offer easy payment options so as not to upset their customers' monthly budgets. From now on, VDIs can offer alternatives to cash payment , such as fractional or deferred payment. While the former allows customers to spread their financing over several monthly instalments, the latter allows them to pay for their purchases at a later date.
Creating e-boutiques
E-boutiques are becoming real opportunities for home sellers, enabling them to reach a wider customer base. The social networks Facebook and Instagram now have an e-boutique functionality that's easy to understand and get to grips with. Putting products online is astonishingly quick! All you need to do is choose the right photos. A word of advice: the more you take care of your communication on the networks, the more you'll develop your business.
The development of the independent door-to-door sales profession has seen phenomenal growth since the health crisis. New remote payment methods have enabled VDIs to expand their customer portfolios, and attract a more connected clientele. Increased use of social networks is opening up a whole new world of possibilities for these sales professionals.
Source1: Ifop survey conducted for the Fédération de la Vente Directe (FVD) - 2021.
Who we are
With more than 60,000 customers, Easytransac capitalizes on a decade of expertise in various payment solutions (distance selling, ecommerce, convenience selling, cashless, mobile payment...).
Recently integrated into the HOPPS group and in strategic alliance with InEvents, Easytransac is at the forefront of innovation in the ecosystem of electronic payments and hybrid and cashless solutions that meet the requirements of e-tailers, event professionals and SMEs.
Our platform simplifies transactions and enriches the user experience, thanks to an intuitive interface and real-time tracking, while ensuring security at every payment.
