Direct selling distributors as transnational entrepreneurs - the case of Amway and Mary Kay Cosmetics (Sprzedawcy bezposredni jako przedsiebiorcy transnarodowi - przypadki Amway i Mary Kay Cosmetics)

The aim of the article is to present concepts of transnational connections and transnational entrepreneurs as a useful analytical frame for description of actions of direct sellers engaged in a multi-level marketing. The two presented narratives - about Beata from Chicago and Piotr from Toronto - show how migrants faced with generalized uncertainty use their social capital - especially connections with people residing in the country of origin - for business purposes. For those entrepreneurs transnational business operations, apart from an economic value, are the means for strengthening family and social ties. The article is based on findings from an ethnographic research that was conducted among Amway and Mary Kay direct sellers.