doortodoor

Door-to-door refers to a method of delivering goods or services or soliciting customers by visiting premises at their doors. It encompasses activities such as sales, canvassing, surveys, fundraising, and home maintenance or installation services. In logistics, door-to-door delivery denotes the end-to-end process of delivering a package or service from the sender to the recipient’s doorstep, as opposed to curbside or depot delivery.

Common applications include sales and marketing campaigns, charitable or political fundraising, survey research, product sampling, and on-site service calls or installations. It is used by manufacturers, retailers, utilities, non-profit organizations, and courier or logistics firms to reach customers directly or to provide in-home services.

Historically, door-to-door selling emerged in the 19th century and expanded in the 20th, shaping consumer culture in many countries. Its prevalence fluctuated with regulatory changes, privacy concerns, and shifts in marketing channels. In modern practice, it remains a complementary channel alongside digital and retail efforts, and in logistics the door-to-door concept emphasizes complete delivery to the customer’s residence or business address.

Benefits of door-to-door approaches include direct, personalized contact and potentially higher engagement or conversion rates. Challenges include high labor costs, safety and training requirements for workers, potential negative perceptions, and regulatory constraints. Many jurisdictions regulate solicitation hours, require clear identification, and maintain do-not-solicit lists to protect residents’ privacy.

See also: door-to-door sales, canvassing, direct selling, last-mile delivery, doorstep delivery.