Why didn’t network marketing explode after the pandemic?

Network Marketing Breakthroughs with Rob Sperry

I’ve been asked this question a lot lately…
“Why didn’t network marketing EXPLODE from the pandemic and recession, like so many expected? Why are we seeing declines instead of massive growth?”

Let’s get into it…
There’s no single reason — it’s a combo of things. Yes, the pandemic created a surge for many companies in 2020–2021. But what people don’t talk about is that growth was artificial.

It was more of a sugar rush than it was sustainable momentum. People were home.

They had more time.

More stimulus checks.

Ecommerce in general saw record-breaking numbers.
But then what happened?
Life returned to “normal,” attention spans shrank, wallets tightened, and expectations changed.
Here’s what I believe are the top reasons we’ve seen double-digit declines across many product-based companies:

1. Artificial Pandemic Bump
Many companies grew from a moment, not a movement. Growth wasn’t built on deep belief or long-term behavior—it was built on convenience and timing.

2. Lack of Innovation
A lot of companies got lazy during the good times. They stopped innovating. Compensation plans didn’t evolve. Products didn’t stay ahead of the curve. Messaging got stale. And when consumer priorities shifted, companies weren’t ready. This is a GENERALIZATION. I know many of you did evolve.

3. We’re in the “Options Era”
Let’s say someone used to buy 100 things. Now their budget forces them to cut back. 10–30% of those go first. Did your product make the cut?

Uber. Airbnb. Affiliate. Creator economy. Ecom dropshipping. All legit options now. If we don’t create real, unique value, we lose.

Those options weren't avail in 2008.

4. Poor Customer Retention
Most companies still don’t do a great job reselling the customer after the sale. The fortune isn’t just in the follow-up—it’s in the retention experience.
5. False Expectations
People heard “work from home” and thought “easy income.” They weren’t ready for rejection, consistency, and leadership development. So they quit early.

Lazy on Leadership Development

We stopped developing leaders because it was so easy!

Companies and leaders have been back in the trenches. Some for the last 2 years but you don't just plant a seed and expect a tree to grow the next day. It takes time to see the fruits of your labor. We are starting to see some of those results already and we will continue to see more. This is the WEEDING out season.

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Zero risk. Most programs drown you in fluff—this one’s built to get you results fast, without the overwhelm. I’ve taken people from $400 a month to millions (not normal but possible) with this exact framework. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain—go to www.rankandbanksystem.com and lock it in before you miss out. Let’s make your bank account match your hustle.