The Southwestern Company Internship Difference Blog
Educational Resources
Southwestern Advantage remains steadfast and consistent with our messaging, educational resources and dedication to outreach and awareness efforts of informing and educating consumers and potential participants regarding the following:
(1) the differences between disreputable sales organizations and legitimate ones
(2) traveling sales crews
(3) useable and relevant safety tips
(4) direct selling in general
I hope the following educational resources are informative and helpful!
National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA); list of helpful options for consumer complaints and information: http://www.nacaa.net/consumerinfo.htm
Traveling Sales Crew Brochure – Is This Job Right For You?
http://www.dsa.org/nonindexed/travelingsales-youth.pdf
Door-to-door Safety Brochure – When a Sales Person Comes Knocking http://www.dsa.org/nonindexed/travelingsales-consumer.pdf
Oklahoma Department of Labor: Door-to-Door Sales Youth Awareness Q & A http://www.ok.gov/odol/documents/ChildLaborDoor2DoorBrochureTriFold20081021.pdf
Other Educational Resources
Informative and detailed articles on the inside operations of traveling sales crews and other useful articles and news stories:
Better Business Bureau
“BBB warns against a summer scam going door-to-door nationwide”
November 20, 2010, www.bbb.org
Savannah Morning News – Savannah, GA
“Some door-to-door salespeople are scam artist”
October 26, 2010, by Joe Doyle
http://savannahnow.com/west-chatham/2010-10-27/some-door-door-salespeople-are-scam-artists
The Herald-Review – Decatur, IL
“Human Service Agency Consortium meeting hears presentation on human trafficking, modern day slavery”
September 10, 2010, by Theresa Churchill
http://www.herald-review.com/news/local/article_32cac7ba-9dbe-5d94-8757-7493f828fc61.html
IowaWatch.org | The Iowa Center forPublic Affairs Journalism
“Magazine scammers prey on the sympathetic”
September 21, 2010, by Tyler Harris
http://www.iowawatch.org/?p=1735
Houston Press
“What Mainstream Publishers Don’t Want You To Know About Door-to-Door Magazine Sales”
July 15, 2008, by Craig Masilow
http://www.houstonpress.com/2008-07-17/news/what-mainstream-publishers-don-t-want-you-to-know-about-door-to-door-magazine-sales/full
New York Times
“For Youths, A Grim Tour of Magazine Crews”
February 21, 2007, by Ian Urbina
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/21/us/21magcrew.html?ex=1329714000&en=be91678aaac7038d&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Times Union – Albany, NY
“Door-to-door Danger”
February 14, 2010, by Dennis Yusko
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=900678&TextPage=1
WSMV – NBC Channel 4, Nashville, TN
“Students Are Self-Employed with Southwestern Company”
April 12, 2009
http://www.wsmv.com/video/19440950/index.html
Southwestern Company’s President, Dan Moore, discusses the merits of students being self-employed in a tough economy. Two independent student dealers also discuss why the program has been beneficial for them.
WSMV – NBC Channel 4, Nashville, TN
“Safety First When Dealing With Door-to-door Salesmen”
June 2, 2008
www.wsmv.com/video/16463966/index.html
Southwestern Company’s President Dan Moore speaks about door-to-door safety for consumers.
National Consumers League – Press Release
“Knock-Knock: Don’t Let Deception in the Door”
June 1, 2008
http://www.nclnet.org/news/2008/june_calendar_06012008.htm
The NCL’s 2008 Consumer Calendar focuses on tips to help consumers avoid unethical door-to-door sales people for the month of June. (Sponsored by Southwestern)
National Consumers League – Press Release
“Job-hunting Teens: Is This Summer Job Right for You?”
May 22, 2008
http://www.nclnet.org/news/2008/doortodoor_05222008.htm
NCL and the Direct Selling Educational Foundation offer advice to young workers considering door-to-door sales jobs.
Southwestern Company – Press Release
“Summertime Safety Advice: stay cool, wear protective clothing, recognize legitimate door-to-door sales people”
May 12, 2008
Tips and more educational resources
Tips on how your family can remain safe by distinguishing between legitimate sales people and scam artists.
Direct Selling Association – Press Release
July 7, 2008
“National Consumers League Creates Brochures on Traveling Sales Crews”
http://www.dsa.org/press/press_releases/index.cfm?fuseaction=show_release&Document_id=1844
Many dishonest companies capitalize on the positive reputations of established door-to-door sales companies and the generous response of consumers in supporting charities.
National Consumers League – Press Release
“This June (and Year-Round!) Be on Lookout for Traveling sales Crews
June 1, 2007
http://www.nclnet.org/news/2007/june_calendar_06012007.htm
The NCL’s 2007 Consumer Calendar contains tips to help consumers spot, avoid illegitimate Door-to-door sales people. For the month of June (Sponsored by Southwestern)
Direct Selling News
“Traveling Sales Crews: A Threat That Shouldn’t Be”
May 2007
Dean Heyl, Attorney and Manager of Government Relations – Direct Selling Association
http://www.directsellingnews.com/new_perspectives3.php
The threat of traveling sales crews is real – and must be addressed by all legitimate direct selling companies.
Direct Selling Education Foundation
Featured Publication: “Is That Traveling Sales Job Right for You?”
March 1, 1989
http://www.dsef.org/Publications/index.cfm?fa=show_release&Document_id=776
A very good educational resources article that covers a variety of topics of interest regarding traveling sales crews, including recruitment, the contract among other useful information.
