The rivalry between online and direct selling – Is there a winner?

Orientation: With the advancement of technology and intense competition, many traditional direct selling companies have had to include an online sales channel to their offerings. Research purpose: This study investigated the adoption of technology concerning online selling in the direct selling environment. Motivation for the study: This study investigated whether there is a ‘winner’ between direct selling and online selling, as well as identifying the threats, impact and future of online selling in the direct selling environment. Research design, approach and method: The study adopted a qualitative approach. A postcard-type, open-ended questionnaire was used to collect data from the directors of the direct selling companies. The collected data was analysed using inductive content analysis. Main findings: The main results indicate that online selling is here to stay and there is no winner between these two forms of selling. Practical/managerial implications: Managers should adopt a flexible approach to multichannel retailing as consumers dictate the consumption of sales channels in a multichannel sales arena. Contribution/value-add: Although this paper contributes on three levels – namely, theoretical, methodological and practical – it is the practical contribution that adds the biggest value and there is no golden formula in the structure of this multichannel sales system.