Paul Southworth - Director General

Dear Colleagues,

Here we are just days away from our Annual Conference on May 10th 2012 which will be held at The Belfry Hotel and Golf Resort. We do still have a few tickets available and the hotel is holding the last 2-3 bedrooms on our behalf, so if you have not yet registered to attend the event then call the team at the DSA Office today on 01604 625700 where they will be pleased to make these bookings for you. Whats important is that you don't miss out on what I believe will be the best and most exciting DSA Conference yet!

As promised we have now announced our 3 Finalist in each of the 7 categories of DSA Industry Awards, if you don't know who they are, visit our web site www.dsa.org.uk and you will see all of them listed on our home page in the 'latest news'section. I make no apologies for repeating what I said last month, that I was absolutely staggered by the record numbers of entries as well as the calibre of the nominations we received, so congratulations again to all concerned. The winner of each category will be announced during the Conference and at the Cocktail Awards Reception.

One of my key objectives as Director General of our Association is to increase awareness of our Industry across both public and Government sectors. I am especially keen to elevate the status of our Industry at Government level by providing them with proof of how our Industry can contribute to the National Economy by offering opportunities to people who are unemployed or on supplementary benefits. I regularly meet up with Brian Binley, MP for Northampton South who I know well through previous local business partnerships. Recently I attended a National Enterprise Seminar and was able to talk with both Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Vince Cable the Business Secretary. I took this valuable opportunity to make them aware of the size, scope and opportunities our industry can bring and now that initial contact has been established I will continue to network with them and their respective departments on your behalf and keep them up to date on our member companies achievements and progress.

A great example of a prestigious business achievement, which epitomises the entrepreneurial spirit of the Direct Selling Industry, was the news that Cambridge Weight Plan have been granted the Queens Award to Industry. I'm sure you will all join me in offering our sincere congratulations to MD Eileen Skinner and her team who are based in Corby, Northants. As can you imagine we have put the details of Cambridge Weight Plan's success on our website and of course have 'tweeted' extensively about them. The Times newspaper website carried the article and I was also quoted on one of their business blogs about the numbers of male Distributers our industry is attracting. All great PR which builds a positive picture about Direct Selling.

A reminder to you all to be sure to put the date of the 30th May in your diaries as I will be inviting you to attend a complimentary seminar to be held at the offices of Forever Living Products which will feature a new DSA initiative. Called the 'DSA Rewards Programme' this will be launched at the Conference and you will also have the chance to enter a fabulous competition, where you could win a holiday for 2 people in Las Vegas!

So in conclusion we are ready to welcome you to the Conference. I'm personally really looking forward to May 10th as it gives me the opportunity to welcome new members to their first DSA Conference as well as renew old and valued friendships.

Kind Regards

Paul Southworth
Director General
UK, Direct Selling Association