Direct Selling is a method of marketing and selling goods directly to the customer through direct contact. 

Is Ann Summers a Direct Sales channel?

Yes. The Ann Summers Sisterhood is the Direct Sales channel of our business, which means that we provide our Ambassadors with an opportunity to sell our products directly to our customers face-to-face or online.

What is Multi-level marketing?

Multi-level marketing is where Direct Sellers (Ambassadors) can, if they choose, grow their business by building their own sales teams in addition to earning commission made from personal sales. 

In doing so, they're able to receive additional commission (downline) that comes from the sales achieved by those they've sponsored, trained and developed.

Does this apply to Ann Summers?

Yes, like most other Direct Selling businesses (Avon, Body Shop at Home…), we have a large number of Ambassadors who have successfully recruited and built their own downline. 

Ann Summers fully supports all our Ambassadors, whether or not they choose to build a team.

What is a pyramid scheme?

A pyramid scheme is a fraudulent and illegal system, where people at the top of the pyramid make money by recruiting others below them to invest their own money into the scheme.

It usually involves false promises of payment, primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme - there are no real products offered for sale.

Crucially, in a pyramid scheme the ‘recruiter’ takes your money and then uses you to get other people to invest their money into the scheme. 

Is Ann Summers Party Plan a pyramid scheme?

Absolutely not.

Whilst a pyramid scheme and a multi-level marketing business have the same triangle structure, that is where the similarity ends.

At Ann Summers, Ambassadors don't invest money into the business and are able to begin selling real products straight away. Each Ambassadors has the same opportunity to earn money, and those who wish to can develop their business by sponsoring members to join their team.

Is Ann Summers part of the Direct Selling Association (DSA)?

No, but we're members of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and as a responsible multi-channel retailer, we follow a very strong code of conduct for all our sales channels.

We're also in contact with the DSA regularly and have a very good relationship with them.

What if I have more questions about Direct Selling?

If you have any further questions, please drop us an email at sisterhoodhelpdesk@annsummers.com and we’ll be happy to help.