What does handselling mean?
Handselling is the business or practice of selling products directly to the final consumer, usually without involving wholesalers, distributors, or retail intermediaries. It is especially associated with a producer, manufacturer, craftsperson, or organization selling its own goods. A bakery that supplies shops is wholesaling, whereas the same bakery selling bread directly to customers at a market is handselling. The word can function as a noun, naming the business model or activity, or as a verb: “They make their own products and survive by handselling them.” Handselling emphasizes the direct relationship between seller and buyer, although it does not necessarily imply that a sale occurs in person; online sales to end consumers may also be described this way. The term is more common in British English than American English, where direct selling is the standard expression, and is somewhat less frequent in modern formal business language.
The business or practice of selling goods directly to end consumers, especially as a producer or manufacturer, without using wholesalers or other intermediaries.
"Direct handselling gives the producers a larger share of the final retail price."
The activity is usually treated as uncountable when referring to a general business method.
To sell directly to end consumers without involving a wholesaler or other intermediary.
"The factory began handselling its products through a company website."
Usually uncountable; the plural is rare and is used only when referring to separate direct-selling activities.
"The annual fair is known for its handsellings of handmade crafts."
Handselling began with goods literally changing hands; today it names a business model in which the middleman gets out of the way.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of handselling
Handselling is an English compound formed from hand and sell. Its literal sense refers to transactions conducted by hand, and its commercial use developed through the idea of a seller dealing directly with a buyer rather than passing goods through intermediate traders. English sell descends from Old English sellan and is cognate with Old Norse selja; sale and seller developed from the same English root.
Related word forms
How handselling is actually used
The term is more common in British English than in American English, where direct selling is more usual. It is appropriate in business and economic contexts but is less common and may sound somewhat old-fashioned in formal writing.