Death of the door to door salesman

IT WAS the training ground for some of the world’s most successful business figures, from US magnate Warren Buffett to Netflix boss Reed Hastings – but the end could be nigh for door-to-door sales.

A huge rise in the number of non- store retailers going out of business is being driven by the rapid growth of internet-based outlets, says accountancy firm Moore Stephens, with an 62pc rise in insolvencies in five years.

Jeremy Willmont, Moore Stephens’ head of restructuring and insolvency, said: ‘A lot of young people would never think to use a retail delivery service that isn’t app-based. Traditional non- store retailers are simply unable to compete.’

Research showed the fall was partly driven by the convenience of online shopping delivery services, such as Ocado and HelloFresh, which made milkmen or door-to- door fishmongers redundant.

Doorstep sales has been a proving ground for entrepreneurs – Buffett sold Coca Cola door-to-door and Netflix’s Hastings sold vacuum cleaners.