The Hidden Opportunity to Build a Stronger Business!

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

UPDATE: Avon’s distribution center has reopened!!

 

Greetings, Beauties!

As you’ve likely seen, Avon’s distribution center (located in Ohio, which has instituted a shelter-in-place to slow the spread of COVID-19) is closed until at least April 6, which means no rep site or online store orders will ship until then.

While this is disappointing, it’s not entirely surprising, considering that many businesses have needed to pause operations during this worldwide crisis. The most important thing right now is to focus on slowing the spread of the virus.

Here’s what I’ve personally decided though…

While order shipping is on pause for a couple weeks, I am NOT putting my business mindset on pause!

I have decided to use these next couple weeks to reflect on what I want from my Avon business longterm. I’m going to ⭐️DREAM BIG ⭐️SET CHALLENGING GOALS ⭐️and MAKE PLANS.

Then, I’m going to dive into doing every training and taking every step I can to get myself set up for success with my plan, so that I can jump back in ⭐️STRONGER ⭐️than before once orders begin shipping again!

Are you with me???

Let’s use this temporary time, when shipments are on pause, to define our business goals, outline a clear plan, and develop our skills and knowledge for success!

NOW is the time to dive into that list of things you’d told yourself you’d do someday!

Been promising yourself you’d learn how to use Avon Social soon? Now’s the time!!
Been meaning to set up a Google business profile? Let’s get that checked off your list!
Been putting off watching the incredible Avon skin care specialist training videos (in Avon U)?? There’s no better time to watch them than now!

 

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Check out this list of other things you can do while waiting for Avon order shipments to resume:

1. Put your Avon business goals in writing – What do you want to be able to accomplish (short-term or long-term) with your Avon business? How much money do you wish to be making from your business each month? What would earning that amount of money do for you and your family?

2. Make an “Avon Dream Board” – Make a visual representation of what you want to accomplish with your business. Cut out pictures which represent your goals. Are you saving for a vacation to someplace special? Put a picture of that place on your dream board! Are you saving to send yourself or a child to college? Add a pic to your dream board to represent that. Are you trying to paying off debt with your Avon earnings? Add a pic showing a $0 balance on a bill to your dream board! Hang your dream board someplace visible to keep you focused on your goals!

3. Break down your big goals into actionable steps – If your goal is to earn $500 a month from your Avon business, figure out what it would take to accomplish that goal. How much would you need to personally sell or what would your team sales need to be each campaign to pull in $500 each month? Break your big goal into smaller, actionable steps.

4. Set your space up for success – Spend some time creating or reorganizing a dedicated space to work your business.

5. Plan a consistent routine to follow once order shipment resumes – When will you distribute brochures? When will you post on social media (or plan your posts on Avon Social)? When will you follow-up with customers? When will you submit orders? When will you deliver orders? Take some time to figure out a consistent routine that you can follow each campaign, so you’ll be ready to jump in!

6. Update your customer list – When was the last time you sat down and made a list of all of your current customers (everyone who has ordered from you in the past several months), your former customers (customers who have ordered before, but not in a while), and your potential future customers?? Take some time to make those lists, so that when shipping resumes, you can connect with all of your current customers, follow-up to re-engage former customers, and reach out to new potential customers to make sure that all of those people receive a printed brochure or your digital brochure link.

7. Learn how to use Avon Social – Have you put off learning how to use Avon Social, because it felt overwhelming?? Take some time now to figure it out! You’ll find Avon Social in the top left corner of avonnow.com. The Social Selling by Avon Social Facebook page is an excellent resource for support. When you’re on that page, click “Units” from the main menu to watch a variety of short video tutorials on how to set up an Avon business page, how to use Avon Social, how to use other social media tools, and more!

8. Set up a Facebook business page, Instagram account, Google business profile, or Pinterest account – Have you put off setting up all of these incredible tools for connecting with customers online, because you weren’t sure how?? Now is the time to get them set up! Check out the Social Selling by Avon Social page (mentioned and linked above) for tips on how to use these tools. You can also find very helpful tutorials on youtube!

9. Become an Avon Skin Care Specialist – Selling skin care is one of your best tickets to longterm sales success. Developing your skin care product knowledge is one of the most effective ways to increase your skin care sales. Go to Avon U Training (in the top left corner of avonnow.com) and search for the Skin Care Specialist training (in the Resource Library of Avon U). Watch the 2-part training videos. It’s about 4 hours in total training, but worth every second!!

10. Complete other Avon product and business trainings – Avon U Training is bursting with other opportunities to improve your product knowledge and business skills. Refresh yourself on the basics or dive into special areas, such as Avon fundraising! You could take your training a step farther by brainstorming lists of people or organizations you will contact to offer an Avon fundraiser!

11. Join the Avon USA Representatives facebook page and watch some recent live videos – Avon is frequently hosting live videos on the Avon USA Representatives facebook page to help us build our skills and knowledge.

12. Plan a special customer incentive for when order shipments resume – How will you re-engage customers and boost your sales once order shipments resume. Make a plan for how you will communicate with your customers and what you will offer! You may wish to offer a small discount on orders placed through you or perhaps a small free gift with orders.

Do you have any other ideas for how you will spend these next couple weeks preparing to build an even stronger Avon business?

Share them in the comments!

MORE TIPS FROM AVON

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Time to Stretch Your AVON Wings!

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

We’re living through some very unusual times. In the past couple weeks, our whole world seems to have changed as a result of the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, within the United States. It’s hard to process exactly how much our worlds have changed in such a short time.

Just a couple weeks ago, I got up, sent the boys to school, went down to the gym for a 90-minute trek on the treadmill, followed by a casual stop at the grocery store, which was well-stocked (aside from hand sanitizer) and being calmly shopped by a typical number of patrons. I delivered an Avon order, then went home to quietly work until the boys came from school.

Flash forward and everything has changed. My kids are now homeschooled and I am their homeschool teacher. (They now call me Mrs. DeLine.) We’re exercising as a family through daily walks and bike rides and avoiding the grocery store – due to our new social-distancing routines, but also because it’s been pretty much cleared out of everything.

While good things have come from these new routines (family exercise, reading Harry Potter together, daily family movie nights…), it’s been an adjustment for sure.

Is this our new normal??

If there’s one thing I’ve noticed during these past few weeks though, it’s the tremendous human spirit of RESILIENCE.

After a momentary panic, as states of emergency were announced, business and schools shut down, and people rushed the stores and cleared off the shelves, you could sense a sort of silence, where all of America sat on their toilet paper mountains and asked themselves, “Now what??”

And over the past few days, the answers to that question have become clear…

🍽 Restaurants, forced to close their dining rooms, are now offering curbside pick-up
🚕 Businesses (who never delivered) are now offering delivery
🏋️‍♀️ Gyms are offering online workouts and personal training sessions
☎️ Teachers are offering instruction and communication online and over the phone
👩‍🏫 Parents have adjusted their routines to provide homeschool instruction and engaging experiences for their children at home
👩‍👧‍👦 College students, sent home from college, are offering babysitting services (much needed by many families whose kids are suddenly home from school)
🎟 Movie companies are releasing new films for on-demand rental
🙏 Churches are live-streaming mass
🛒 Stores have adjusted their schedules to provide time to clean and restock, as well as dedicated hours for elderly to shop for the items they need
🥁 Music teachers are offering lessons through video conferencing
🍀 Neighbors are finding ways to connect without contact, through shamrock hunts
🎄 Christmas lights are being rehung to raise spirits and Hallmark is running a Christmas movie marathon
🎨 Famous artists, chefs and Broadway stars are offering free lessons online
🐅 Museums and zoos are live-streaming tours and opera houses are live-streaming performances

As a nation, as a world, we’re finding ways to survive and even THRIVE under these new conditions!

We’re figuring out how to get through this together.

And though I also long for things to return to “normal”, I awoke this morning feeling reassured and confident that we can make this new normal work. There will certainly be challenges and sacrifices along the way, but humans are resilient. I am resilient. YOU are resilient. And we’re going to figure this out together!

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How does this relate to AVON??

Many businesses have been heavily impacted by all of the recent changes. Restaurants have been forced to close their dining rooms and other businesses have been forced to close completely. Business owners have been left trying to figure out how to get through the next few weeks or months, questioning what the the longer-term future holds for their business.

But a remarkable thing has happened as a result. Very quickly, in a matter of just a handful of days, businesses are finding new ways to REINVENT themselves during these strange times – to find new ways to work their business in response to the current challenges and opportunities!! They’re finding a way to THRIVE UNDER THESE NEW CONDITIONS.

Our Avon businesses are no different. If you previously built your business through face-to-face prospecting for customers or team members, vendor events, and/or personal deliveries, you may be wondering how to proceed under our current “socially-distanced” conditions.

My challenge for you is to find new ways for your business to thrive! Reinvent your Avon business. Forget about what you CAN’T do under the current conditions, and focus on new things you CAN do!

Treat these strange times as an OPPORTUNITY to stretch your wings and soar!! Don’t retreat from the challenges – DIVE IN!

Here are a few ideas to consider:

1. Offer No-Contact Delivery – As you and your customers take steps to avoid contact with others, offer your local customers the option of no-contact delivery. Ask them to leave their payment on their door (if they haven’t already paid you for their orders) OR collect payments through PayPal, Venmo, or credit card. When you deliver, leave their order by their door (or in a location of their choosing) and send them a text to let them know their items have arrived.

2. Promote Your Online Store – During these times, customers are turning to online shopping more than ever before. You may find that customers who were previously hesitant to shop online are now making it their preferred method of shopping. Contact everyone you know to let them know about the option to shop your online store, with direct delivery to their homes. Be sure to tell them about free shipping on orders of $60+! Check out the tips HERE and HERE on how to sell Avon online.

3. Use Social Media Regularly – Use the time you used to spend driving around delivering brochures and orders to become a master of using social media to grow your business! As many people across the United States are now isolated in their homes, social media is hopping with activity. It’s a great place to engage with current and new potential customers. Use our social media tool, Avon Social, to promote products on your Facebook business page and personal page. Don’t have a Facebook business page or a Google business profile? Set one up! Don’t use Instagram for your business? Take some time to learn it. There are many, many excellent resources on how to use all of these tools.

Check out my How-To-Avon page for a variety of how-to guides and video tutorials on selling Avon online, using Avon Social (video tutorial), sharing your digital brochure (video tutorial), hosting online Avon parties, and more!

Also, be sure to check out the incredible tips and tutorials on the Social Selling By Avon Social Facebook page. Click on “Units” from the main menu of that page to access many helpful video tutorials, which will help you with promoting your business through social media.

4. Find New Ways to Connect with Customers – Just like other businesses have turned to video-conferencing and live videos to connect with their customers, you can do the same for your Avon business! Stuck at home? Take a couple minutes to clean yourself up and change out of those pajamas you’ve been wearing for three days, then do a Facebook live video to share a few of your favorite products with customers or do a video showing your Avon skin care or makeup routines, filled with tips and helpful product info!

5. Get the Kids Involved – Got a bunch of antsy kids at home like I do?? Get them involved in promoting your business! Take a walk together to hang brochures on doors or deliver orders to customers’ doors. Doing a video? Let the kids share their favorite Avon products too! It’s a fun way to get them involved in the process of growing a successful family business!

6. Focus on What Customers Need – As many of our customers figure out how to function under the current conditions of social-distancing, you may find that the items they’re looking for have shifted a bit. They may be less interested in the more fun purchases like jewelry, fashion, and cosmetics and more interested in basic necessities, like hand soap, hand cream, shampoo, body wash, deodorant, and toothpaste. They may desire some things for relaxation in their homes, such as our bubble bath, candles, or aromatherapy essential oil blends. Missing their hair appointments, they may love our CHI ammonia-free, sulfate-free, gluten-free permanent hair coloring kits! Or they may be interested in shelf-stable items for nutrition, such as our Plant Power Protein, Espira Greens, or Hydration drink mixes. As you promote your business, focus on all of those incredible items that you can offer to your customers, with no-contact delivery direct to their doors when they shop your online store.

Got more ideas on new ways to grow your business during these unusual times?? Share them in the comments!!

How To Build Your Custom Avon Starter Kit

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

If you took advantage of the limited-time FREE sign-up to start your Avon business, then you will NOT be receiving an Avon starter kit in the mail.

The good news is:

  1. You have a full suite of totally FREE digital tools which you can begin using right away, including a FREE online store, FREE digital brochure link, FREE Avon Social (social media tool), and FREE training on how to successfully sell online. You can also set up a FREE Facebook business page, FREE Google business profile, FREE Instagram account, etc. It’s also totally FREE to post as often as you’d like on social media and FREE to send emails, texts, messages, etc. to share your digital brochure link.
  2. You can build your own custom Avon starter kit at any time!

WHY BUILD YOURSELF AN AVON STARTER KIT?

To put it simply, while all of our FREE digital sales tools are incredibly valuable resources, it can take time and consistency to build a successful online business. Contrary to what some people believe, there’s more to it then just posting your link and waiting for the order notifications. (Click HERE for a few MYTHS & TRUTHS about building an online Avon business, along with some very specific actions you can take.)

If you want to put money in your pockets more quickly, as you’re taking the steps to build the online side of your business, it’s a good idea to get your hands on some tangible sales tools, which you can begin using to attract your first customers. That’s where your custom Avon starter kit comes in!

WHEN CAN I BUILD AND ORDER MY CUSTOM STARTER KIT?

Anytime! You can place your first order on avonnow.com (our representative site) at any time. In fact, there’s no better time to start your business than right now! Click HERE for a short video tutorial which walks through how to order brochures, samples, and other supplies.

WHAT SHOULD YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR AVON STARTER KIT?

In the remainder of this post, I’m going to outline a few basic recommendations for what to include in your first order, so that you can build a starter kit which will help you to attract your first customers and get those earnings rolling in!

You’re the boss of your Avon business, so ultimately, you get to choose which items you invest in to grow your business, but I’m going to point you in the direction of the best items to get results (along with a few extra tips peppered in along the way)!

STARTER KIT RECOMMENDATION #1 – BROCHURES

Avon’s beautiful printed brochures are one of our most effective sales tools! As a general rule, the more brochures that you get into hands, the more sales you’ll generate.

Brochures come in packs of 10 and get less expensive the more packs you order, so don’t stop at one pack of brochures – order two or three or more packs!

BROCHURE TIP #1: Order your brochures TWO campaigns ahead of time, so that you always have the materials you need to grow your business.

BROCHURE TIP #2: Following up with every person you give a brochure to helps to boost the effectiveness of the brochures you pass out. (Some successful reps like to put a sticky note on the front of every brochure they pass out, as a reminder to collect contact info from new people.)

BROCHURE TIP #3: To help you grow your business, challenge yourself to pass out more and more brochures each campaign. Perhaps start with two packs (20 brochures) in your first campaign, then increase to three packs, then four, and so on, until you’ve built a strong customer base!

BROCHURE TIP #4: Avon also offers additional small sales flyers, which are quite inexpensive. To keep business costs low, some reps choose to purchase these small sale flyers to give more potential customers a taste of what Avon has to offer. You can stick a label on the flyer with your digital brochure link and/or online store link for customers to browse the complete product collection.

BROCHURE TIP #5: Include your contact info and online store link on the back of every brochure, so that customers can choose how they shop with you.

BROCHURE TIP #6: Brochures are best utilized when you put them into hands of people you can follow up with, BUT if you do choose to leave brochures in some places, stick a label on the front which gives people an incentive to contact you, such as “Contact me for a free Avon beauty sample bundle.” That way, you’ll gain contact info for future follow-up!

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STARTER KIT RECOMMENDATION #2 – SAMPLES

Samples can be a great way to give potential customers a taste of what Avon has to offer. You can offer samples with brochures to attract new customers and/or include samples with orders to introduce current customers to new products.

SAMPLE TIP #1: Not seeing samples available for a product you’d like to share with customers? Make your own samples by ordering the full-size product, then filling small sample containers (available on sites like Amazon)

SAMPLE TIP #2: When passing out samples for a particular item, consider running your own personal sale or deal on that item. For example, you may choose to offer an additional % off of the brochure price or a free Avon item with purchase!

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STARTER KIT RECOMMENDATION #3 – DEMOS

Another great way to introduce customers to Avon products is by using demos, similar to how you may find demos available for sampling at other stores. To demo items, purchase a full-sized item which customers can dispense a small sample from.

DEMO TIP #1: Be sure to keep your demo items sanitary by using disposable applicators for anything which can not be dispensed right from the bottle.

DEMO TIP #2: You can order demos of upcoming products from the WHAT’S NEW catalogs up to two campaigns ahead of their official release to customers. This is a great way to generate interest in Avon’s latest product innovations. You’ll get your normal earnings/discount on your demo purchases, which will be applied at checkout. Demo purchases count towards your sales for the campaign.

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STARTER KIT RECOMMENDATION #4 – PERSONAL “WEAR & SHARE” ITEMS

Nothing speaks more highly about the products you’re selling than your own personal testimonial. Personally using as many Avon products as you can allows you to gain firsthand knowledge of the products you’re selling, while also naturally promoting the products by “wearing and sharing” them.

Do you wash your face each day? Do it with an Avon facial cleanser!
Do you shampoo your hair? Use Avon shampoo!
Wear earrings, necklaces, shoes or clothing? Wear Avon jewelry and fashion!
Do you clean your body with body wash or use deodorant? Avon’s got that too!
Got dry hands? Whip out a tube of one of Avon’s incredible hand creams!
Wear makeup? Make it Avon!
Color your hair? Use one of Avon’s ammonia-free permanent hair coloring kits!

PERSONAL ITEMS TIP #1: Avon offers such a wide range of products, that it might be challenging to figure out where to start. Start with what you need! Running low on shampoo? Don’t buy it from some other store – order it from your own business instead! Each campaign, get to know a few new products, until you find the ones you love most. Then, share those items with everyone you know!

PERSONAL ITEMS TIP #2: Make the most of your personal purchases by sharing them in a variety of ways. Wear the products when you’re out and about, to initiate conversations when people comment on your beautiful necklace, your sparkly lip color, or how lovely you smell. (Have brochures on hand to offer.) Also, share the products you’re using on social media by offering personal testimonials, before/after pics, and selfies!

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STARTER KIT RECOMMENDATION #5 – MISCELLANEOUS SALES TOOLS

Avon offers a couple other optional materials which you might find useful. You can find those items on avonnow.com by clicking “Order Products”, then selecting “Sales and Business Tools”.

Some items of particular interest are the “Clear Literature Bags” which are very useful for hanging brochures on doorknobs and the variety of shopping bags and “popcorn bags” for packaging orders!

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NEED MORE TIPS TO GROW YOUR AVON BUSINESS?

Click HERE to access my HOW-TO-AVON page,

which is filled with tips, tricks, and tutorials to grow a profitable Avon business!

How to Hold a GRAND OPENING for your Avon Business

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

What kinds of things come to mind when you think of a business’ GRAND OPENING??

Perhaps…

  • Balloons, streamers, and eye-catching banners
  • People standing on corners pointing human-sized arrows towards the new business
  • Flyers that are mailed or distributed to all local residents, inviting them to the Grand Opening event
  • Special discounts, free gifts, and other incentives for the first customers
  • Giant dancing tube men, wildly waving their inflated arms in front of the new business
  • Advertising on TV or in local publications
  • Promotions on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media, offering glimpses into what the new business can offer
  • An overall celebratory mood with special incentives to draw people in

Grand Openings of businesses are fun and exciting! Business owners often go all out to introduce their new business to their potential customers, raise awareness of what they have to offer, and incentivize people to come check them out.

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Well, guess what…

When you signed up to become an Avon representative, you became a business owner too! And if you treat your Avon business as a business, it will ultimately reward you like a business!

So, let’s talk about the GRAND OPENING of your Avon business…

Successful business owners don’t typically open their doors on the first day and then just wait to see who shows up. (They also don’t typically close up shop if the customers don’t come flooding in right away.) Successful business owners take steps to ensure that everyone knows about their new business, they give all of those people ample motivation to come check them out, and then they make sure those people have an incredible experience, so they keep coming back (and bring their friends along too)!!

With Avon, your business doesn’t operate out of a physical storefront – it operates out of the brochures and your online store. So, your Grand Opening doesn’t need to be an actual event that people attend at a particular date and time. Your Grand Opening could even last for your first couple campaigns! The main idea is to announce your business loud and clear, offer people a peek at the great stuff you have to offer, and give them some irresistible motivation to become one of your first customers.

Check out these tips for giving your new Avon business a successful GRAND OPENING:

TIP #1 – SHARE YOUR EXCITEMENT

Grand Openings are fun and exciting, so have fun and be excited!! Let everyone know how excited your are to be launching your new Avon business! Tell people you chat with, post about it on Facebook, and share pics when your first Avon order arrives!

TIP #2 – GET PREPARED

Make sure that you have the materials and resources you need to launch your Avon business. Fortunately, there’s not much that you absolutely NEED to have. I’d highly recommend ordering brochures to distribute. As a general rule, the more you pass out, the more orders you’ll generate.  It’s also a good idea to get your hands on some Avon products for your own personal use, so that you can “wear and share” the products, offer your own personal testimonials, and share recommendations. (You’ll enjoy your 25% discount on all beauty purchases, as long as the total of your sales/purchases for the campaign are at least $40.) Aside from physical items, make sure that you’ve set up your online store, learn how to share your digital brochure link, and get to know Avon Social (our awesome social media tool)!

TIP #3 – INVITE EVERYONE YOU KNOW (AND ALSO PEOPLE YOU DON’T KNOW YET)

You just opened up a new business!! Invite everyone you know to be a part of your Grand Opening! How?? Post about it on Facebook, send emails/messages, and pass out tons of brochures! Include a note with brochures that you distribute to introduce yourself as a new Avon representative and invite them to be one of your first customers.

TIP #4 – OFFER A GRAND OPENING SPECIAL

For your first campaign or two, consider offering some sort of special discount or other incentive (free Avon product or samples with order, for example) for your first customers. Let people know about the Grand Opening special by sticking labels on the brochures you pass out, posting on Facebook, sending an email or message to everyone you know.

TIP #5 – MAKE IT A VIRTUAL EVENT

Turn your Grand Opening into a virtual event by setting up a Facebook group to host an online Grand Opening party. Set a date and time for the virtual event to take place and invite everyone to join the group. During the event, post tons of pics to show everyone all of the great products you have to offer. Promote any special Grand Opening deals or incentives that you’ve decided to offer. You can even do a live video in the group to show all of your potential customers some of your personal favorite Avon items! Be sure to share the link to your online store and/or digital brochure frequently throughout your event.

TIP #6 – MAKE IT AN ACTUAL EVENT

Launch your business by inviting some friends over to experience Avon! Make it a fun girls night with some yummy snacks and beverages. Encourage your friends to bring along a friend. Have some products available for your guests to sample and plenty of brochures for them to browse. Be sure to let them know about any special “Grand Opening” offers!

TIP #7 – EXPRESS GRATITUDE (PUBLICLY)

When those first orders start rolling in, be sure to thank your customers and compliment them on their excellent product choices! Share your thanks publicly (such as through a Facebook post), so that other potential customers will be reminded about your new business and the great products and deals you have to offer.

TIP #8 – KEEP GOING, NO MATTER WHAT

Keep going, even if your Grand Opening doesn’t turn out to be as grand as you’d hoped! Think like the business owner you are! What would a business owner do if their Grand Opening was a flop?? Would they close up shop right away?? Or would they go back to the drawing board to figure out some new things to try or some more effective ways to connect with customers?? Give yourself and your business the opportunity and time to succeed!!

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How to Get Avon Customers to Come to YOU

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

Like with any new business, when you first get started with Avon, you will need to actively work to attract and engage your first customers.

Think of it like the Grand Opening of a new shop! There would be balloons and streamers drawing attention to the new business. Perhaps someone would be standing on the corner with a human-sized arrow pointing people towards the new shop or maybe a few of those giant dancing tube men would be waving their inflated arms in front of the shop. The shop owner would advertise their Grand Opening with advertisements on TV and local publications. They may even mail or distribute flyers to all local residents, promoting their Grand Opening. They’d probably offer a special incentive for their first customers, like a discount on their purchase or free gifts with purchase.

New businesses pull out all the stops for their Grand Openings, because that’s what it takes to draw attention and engage their first customers. The same theory applies when we’re launching our Avon businesses. In the beginning, we need to do everything a bit bigger and bolder. We need to promote like crazy on social media and face-to-face. We need to post repeatedly on Facebook, get brochures and samples into tons of hands, offer those special “Grand Opening” discounts and incentives, and make connections with tons of people. Essentially, we need to wave the human-sized arrow towards our Avon business and actively lure those first customers in to shop.

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In the beginning, it may seem like it takes a lot of effort to get those first customers, but I have some very good news for you… IT GETS EASIER!! The more time that you give your business to grow – taking small, consistent actions along the way – the more momentum your business will gain, until suddenly you’ll find that the customers are coming to YOU

Check out these FIVE steps you can take to get customers to come to YOU:


1) ACTIVELY work your business, both online and offline.

Make it crystal clear that your business is open and that you’re ready to help. Would you try to shop at a store that has its lights off and the door closed?? Make sure that everyone knows that your lights are on and the door to your business is open! Post regularly about Avon on social media (it doesn’t have to all be “salesy” shop-with-me type posts) and get brochures into hands each campaign. Send an email once a campaign to everyone you know, inviting them to browse your digital brochure and sharing a few of your personal favorite items or best deals for the campaign.

2) Make yourself VISIBLE, so that everyone knows that you’re the Avon lady (or gentleman)!

How?? Distribute brochures locally, mail brochures (using campaign-mailer) to non-local customers, use Avon Social to promote on Facebook regularly, promote with personal pics on Instagram, boost posts on Facebook, post on your personal page, write an Avon blog, create a Google business page and keep it active, run ads on Google, communicate and follow-up with current and new potential customers, and regularly use/wear Avon (so that you are a walking, talking testimonial to our incredible products). You can also make yourself visible with Avon logo items, car decals, yard signs, etc.

3) Use your current customers to find new customers.

How? Make their shopping experience the best you can (so they tell their friends) and provide extra brochures for them to share with people they know. Offer them a small discount or Avon gift to thank them for any customers they refer to you.

4) Give your business time to flourish and grow.

Successful businesses don’t typically happen overnight. Time and consistency will build your momentum. Sticking with it, even when sales are slow (especially when the sales are slow), is the only way to get to the point where the orders flow in with ease!

5) Take steps to develop extensive, personal knowledge of the products.

How? Take advantage of the many available training opportunities and personally use the products. The knowledge you’ll gain will enable you to authentically share and recommend the products… not just because you sell them, but because you know them and love them. And when you know the products well, you become a trusted source of recommendations and will be able to effectively match customers with the right products for them.

 

From Ding, Dong to Click, Click – Myths and Truths about Selling Avon Online

/ amydeline / 1 Comment

In 1886, the first Avon (then known as “California Perfume Company”) representatives sold fragrance door-to-door.

10 years later, the first printed brochure of the company’s products was issued.

For many, many years after that, Avon representatives traveled door-to-door within their assigned territories, distributing brochures and samples to collect orders.

With the dawn of the internet, a new way to sell became available to Avon representatives. Assigned selling territories were removed and representatives became free to sell Avon anywhere across the United States, using the brochures or their online stores.

That brings us to the current day…

In 2020, all Avon representative have the best of both worlds. While we still have our beautiful tried-and-true brochures, all Avon representatives also have state-of-the art online stores (which customers anywhere across the United States can shop from 24/7), along with an incredible social media tool (Avon Social), digital brochure link (with easy sharing features), and dedicated training on how to promote our businesses online. And all of those digital tools are FREE for reps to use to connect with customers all across the country!

Our online stores and digital tools offer us unlimited potential, but it’s up to us to turn that potential into money in our pockets!! 

 

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Check out these FIVE common MYTHS or misconceptions about selling Avon online, along with some TRUTHS and clear ACTIONS you can take to grow your online Avon business.

MYTH #1: My online business will grow quickly and easily.

TRUTH: Building a successful online business takes time. Have patience, young grasshopper! 

WHAT CAN YOU DO??

You CAN build a successful online business, but it will take time and consistency. Whatever you do, don’t give up before you’ve given yourself a real chance to succeed.

  • Play around with different tools and strategies.
  • Try some of the other ideas presented in this post.
  • Experiment until you find the strategies which work for you!!
  • Do the trainings available in Avon U Training.
  • Join the Social Selling by Avon Social Facebook group. (Check out the “UNITS” section for some very help videos related to selling Avon online.)
  • Follow the Avon U Representatives Facebook page for more training.
  • Don’t give up – You can do this!!

 

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MYTH #2: People who are interested in Avon will start ordering as soon as I post my online store link. (ALSO A MYTH: If they don’t order, then that means they’re not interested in Avon.)

TRUTH: Most people don’t order the first time they see a link. It often takes consumers (of any product or service, including Avon) multiple exposures to new products, in a variety of formats, before they are ready to take action.

WHAT CAN YOU DO??

Most people are NOT going to order the first time you post the link to your online store, or the second, or even the third… In fact, if all you’re doing is posting your online store link, the orders may not come at all. You need to show your customers, in a variety of ways, the products that they can expect to find when they click the link to your online store. Repeatedly give your potential customers a taste of what you have to offer. Use lots of different methods to showcase the products you’re selling. Make them curious enough to click the link, and just keep promoting even if the sales don’t start flowing in right away. Remember, time and consistency are your friends!!

A few ways to show your potential customers what you have to offer:

  • Facebook Personal Page –  When promoting Avon on your personal page, give your posts a personal twist. Post things like Before & After pics which show the products in use, personal reactions to the Avon products you’ve been using, pics which show you wearing/using the products, and pics seeking opinions such as “Which necklace goes best with this outfit?” (Keep reading for more tips about using your personal Facebook page to promote your business.)
  • Facebook Business Page – This is your digital storefront. Fill it up with tons of product pics from Avon Social. Occasionally share posts from your business page to your personal page. (Keep reading for more tips about using a Facebook business page.)
  • Email – Each campaign, send all of your potential customers an email, which showcases a few products and highlights the best available deals. Provide the link to your digital brochure for people to browse and let them know how they can order (online or through you).
  • Text/Message – Send potential customers a short message to tell them about products you think they will love. Texting can also be a great way to share your digital brochure link.
  • Wear & Share – Make Avon a part of your everyday life by wearing and using as many of the products as possible. Avon jewelry can be an excellent advertising tool and “compliment catcher” which opens the conversation about Avon. Gradually switch over your personal care products (shampoo, skin care, body wash, deodorant, lotions, cosmetics, etc.) to Avon, so that you’ll become a walking billboard for your business! (Bonuses: You’ll enjoy your discount on all of your personal purchases. Your personal purchases will boost your sales, making it easier to earn extra rewards, incentives, and sales achievement levels. There’s no better way to get to know the products you’re selling than to use them yourself!)
  • Brochures – Brochures are a tried-and-true sales tool, which are very effective at generating sales. Online customers love printed brochures too. In addition to your digital promoting, order and distribute printed brochures. You can even use a service such as http://www.campaign-mailer.com to mail brochures to people who are not local.

 

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MYTH #3: I can’t be successful selling Avon online if I don’t know a lot of people.

TRUTH: Building a successful online business is all about making new connections and building relationships. Don’t worry about how many people you currently know. Think instead of the people you can get to know as you grow your business.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

If you want to build a successful online business, get to know more people, listen to their needs, and stay alert for opportunities where you have an Avon product which may meet their needs.

  • Join Facebook groups which are interesting to you (hobbies, local community groups, common interests). Be an active participant in those groups. Let people get to know you. Listen to the other members. Build relationships. Stay alert for opportunities to share Avon when it’s the solution to someone’s needs. (DON’T join a bunch of groups and start posting your link everywhere – that is NOT the way to get sales.)
  • Post frequently on your personal Facebook page, but this part is important… Keep the posts on your personal page as PERSONAL as possible. Your friends and family members want to connect with YOU. If your personal page becomes a constant Avon ad, they will tune you out. Post about the things which make you tick – your interests, your kids, your pets, funny experiences you’ve had, favorite recipes, a delicious meal you ate, a fantastic movie you watched… Then, every so often (a couple times a week, perhaps), post something related to Avon, but again… Make your Avon-related posts as personal as possible – pics of you using/wearing the products, pics asking opinions on which lipstick shade looks best on you or which Avon necklace compliments your outfit best, comments about the new skin care product you’re obsessing over and how it’s changed your skin.
  • Create a FREE Facebook business page for your Avon business, and post on it REGULARLY. Your Facebook business page is like your digital storefront. That’s the place that you want to regularly and consistently show potential customers the products you have available to order. Use Avon Social to post product pics (once or twice every single day). Share your own personal insights and comments about the products whenever possible. Post personal pics which show the products in use, along with your testimonials. Post tips and tricks related to the products too – Avon Social has a variety of great tutorial videos which you can share. Every so often, share a post from your business page to your personal page, and invite your friends and family to like/follow your page. TIP: You can schedule your posts through Avon Social up to a month in advance, so if you don’t have time to post new content every day (or are afraid you’ll forget to post), carve out a bit of time once a month or once a week to preschedule your posts. That will ensure that your business page is always hopping with new content!
  • Use the MY SWEEPS feature of Avon Social to promote the sweepstakes opportunities which Avon regularly offers. With “My Sweeps”, every representative has a personal sweepstakes link (which you’ll be able to find in Avon Social). Avon runs the sweepstakes, provides the prize, and selects the winners. All you need to do is share your personal sweepstakes link (using the beautiful images provided to us in AVON SOCIAL) to invite people to enter for a chance to win. Anyone who enters the sweeps through your link will show up in your “PROSPECT CENTER” in Avon Social, along with their contact info, so you can follow-up with your new potential customers. TIP: If desired, you can “BOOST” your business page posts on Facebook to attract more potential customers, outside of the people you already know. Boosted posts are paid advertising through Facebook. It’s pretty easy to set up boosted posts on your business page. (Check out the “Units” section on the Social Selling by Avon Social Facebook page for more tips and info related to boosting posts.)

 

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MYTH #4: Online sales are not as personal as face-to-face sales.

TRUTH: Building a successful online business should be just as personal as building a face-to-face business. 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Finding and keeping loyal online customers is all about building relationships with people, getting to know their needs, introducing them to products which meet those needs, ensuring that they’re happy with those products, then introducing them to complimentary items they may also enjoy!

  • Look for ways to make new connections with lots of new people.
  • Be social and allow people to get to know you.
  • Get to know other people and listen to their needs.
  • Get to know the products you have to offer, so you’ll recognize when you have an Avon product that meets someone’s needs.
  • Check in on your customers to offer help with selecting the right products.
  • Send personal thank you notes to your online customers.
  • Follow-up after their purchase to see how they liked their items and perhaps recommend a few other things they may enjoy.

 

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MYTH #5: My customers don’t like shopping online.

TRUTH: The percent of Americans who shop online continues to rise year after year. There’s a good chance that your customers, regardless of their age, are more comfortable shopping online than you think!

WHAT CAN YOU DO??

Offer your customers options for how they shop. Share your digital brochure link for them to browse, and then when you do your follow-up (the fortune is in the follow-up), let your local customers now that they can either place their order online to be delivered directly to them OR give their order and payment to you for your to submit to Avon and deliver to your customer. For customers who are too far to deliver, ask them if they need any help with placing their online order. Offer to walk them through the simple process until they’re comfortable!

P.S. All of the images in this post came from AVON SOCIAL! If you haven’t checked out Avon Social yet, now’s a great time! Click HERE for a video tutorial I made, which introduces the basics of using Avon Social.

Want even more sales?? Collect orders using the brochures too! Click HERE for the step-by-step process of selling Avon using the brochures.

AVON – How To Find Customers

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

 

**Be sure to read all the way to the bottom, where I have added a special new section of strategies to promote your Avon business in a SOCIALLY-DISTANCED way, to keep you and your customers safe in the time of COVID**

Recently, I asked the members of my Avon team (ranging from brand new to experienced super-sellers) to share their favorite strategies for finding new customers! The responses were incredible!

Check out all of the many ways that Avon reps connect with new customers, then keep reading for a few tips on resources you can use to put these great ideas into action!!

HOW TO FIND AVON CUSTOMERS – IDEAS THAT REALLY WORK!!

I share on social media and like doing vendor shows. I reach a lot of people this way that I otherwise wouldn’t connect with. ~Lisa D.

Through social media and I just started a blog just for avon! ~Miracle T.

I made up a basket of books, free samples and a perfume tester and put it in the breakroom where I work. ~Julie C.

I enjoy putting up posts on my Facebook page and group. I do product photos and info from Avon Social, but also do my own testimonials on the products. I find that putting up “selfies” of myself using the products get the most interaction and interest. ~Danielle L.

I’ve connected with a couple people by offering a free gift for sharing my business page or post on their FB timeline. I also love utilizing Avon Social for my biz page! It’s an incredible tool!!! And… I’ve sent personal messages out to tons of people just letting them know I’m selling Avon so if they or anyone they know needs an Avon Lady I’m their girl. Got my first order with that message! ~Shannon T.

I started with friends and family. I’ve done a couple vendor events also that got me some contacts. Also posting in local community pages. ~Amy C.

Leave the books out on my desk, give out samples of products. In fact, the Himalayan salt mint tooth paste tube is making its way around the office now. ~Betsy L.

Social media and introducing them to new products through suggestive selling. ~Jessica W.

I like to wear the different clothing & jewelry. Many compliments on the grey suede boots! 👢 ~Pam C.

I take my business cards to my work and give out samples too. I also leave brochures on the tables at my restaurant. ~Terri K.H.

I keep a database of all individuals who ordered products and another database of all who received brochures. I deliver a new brochure to everyone and then call them a week later and ask if they would like to submit an order. ~Suzanne R.

I give my card along with a sample to my waiter or waitress when I go out to eat. ~Julie T.W.

I don’t have cards yet, but I take a bag with candy, a sample, and a brochure or pamphlet with my information on it (including my Facebook page), as I run thru a drive thru or restaurant. I ask if they are interested in a book and say they can receive a 10% discount on their first order. I went to my neighbor and she shared with her mom and sister. ~Jessica H.

My go to makeup is mascara & lip gloss. I really like a lot of the clothing & perfumes as well. (Wear and Share the products you love!) ~Lindsey Bronson

I place brochures and samples in the restrooms at work. ~Tracey S.J.

I already use our neighborhood app to keep updated on things in my community and neighborhood and I recently shared a post introducing myself as a new Avon rep and got a good response of people saying hello back so I’m reaching out to them individually now. ~Heidi K.

Definitely upping my wear and share game. Planning to do more personal testimony and pictures. I just got the violet glimmer kiss and OMG!!!! I love it. ~Angela R.C.

Using Avon Social and handing out brochures to everyone I know! ~Lyndsay P.B.

🙋🏾‍♀️ I use Marketing! I have Avon t-shirts with my info on them… (a sweatshirt too)😉
I have flyers and I use my social media platforms, FB advertising and 🗣️ word of mouth & my brochures… 🙌🏾 ~Belinda H.C.

I post on Facebook and Instagram. ~Ally L.G.

I post on Instagram and Facebook. I created a business page – it’s been a slow start but I’m still posting. I’m also going to set up once a month at my local flea market. I’m going to start having a few products available to purchase to get myself out there. That’s my next idea. I also post on my neighborhood page when I get my books. Today I will post on the group page that I have the latest Avon book and pass them out that way. I also post in other local groups that I’m in. ~Gina D.

I started with Facebook and Google business, and now I’m doing Nextdoor app, and leaving brochures at different places. I also talk to different people throughout the day and hand out books that way. I also connect with other reps and one helped me with a recommendation for a customer. I also have 2 customers from one of my doctors offices. ~Amber L.

I’ve been handing out lots of samples. ~Gina T.

Honestly, I’ve just been sharing the ads (from Avon Social) with a link to my shop. ~Suzzy H.

I use social platforms, wear AVON apparel with my logo, and have AVON decal on my vehicle. When we travel for reptile expos, I drop old/current brochures along the way, coming and going! ~Heather A.

I’m new but trying to post on Facebook. ~Heather D.B.

I post on Facebook and bring brochures and business cards everywhere I go. I also try to do events as well. ~Christine K.

I post on Facebook and bring brochures everywhere I go. ~Amy P.B.

I try to promote new products & showcase the benefits of the products. I also use testimonials from my customers on what products they like & why! ~Michele C.C.

Social media, texting and Facebook messaging people. Reaching out to friends who might benefit from working with Avon!!! ~Diana M.

I have made a Facebook page for my friends and family so that they may go there and see our products. ~Tammy W.

I have sent messages to everyone who has liked my Avon page (over 100 people already) and I just started at a new office, so I leave books on the community dining table with samples for the taking. I also wear Avon products like earrings or a ring and use Avon perfume so when I get compliments on them I can always promote that it came from Avon! 💝😊 ~Keri F.

I have my current customers giving out an extra book that I leave with them. So far it’s working. Also my brother is still giving out books for me. ~Laura R.

I haven’t purchased brochures in a while but I take the mini brochures (sale flyers) that I get with my campaign orders and I keep those on hand with my info on them and a recruiting flyer that I made. I have a Beauty Boss button that I got a while back, that I wear and I make sure I have my Avon jewelry and makeup on. I have been getting a lot of comments on my jewelry a lot lately. At my full-time job, I am not allowed to really promote my business BUT… I have purchased bottles of the Skin So Soft lotions and have put one in ALL of the ladies bathrooms with a label on them that has my info. I have some mini brochures in my desk drawer to give to people when they approach me about the lotions. Now that there is hand soap, I want to order some for the bathrooms AND the sinks in the breakrooms (there are 4 buildings for the company I work for). I also promote through Facebook, Instagram and Next Door. ~Shelly K.

I’ve been taping the newer samples in a brochure and passing them out. 😁 ~Sarah M.

I’m new but I have been doing family and friends connections as my practice to sell and attract customers. I’m also keeping up with the many groups to grow in my sales and welcoming customers. I watch the (training) videos and pass some info on to my family and friends. I’m been slow in selling but gaining much knowledge, which is important information to success in my new Avon business. Avon Calling! ~Carol R.

I use the ads that Avon has on the social media part (Avon Social) and share on Facebook. ~Paula C.

My primary customer base are the women (and sometimes men) that I work with. Once a month I will put a basket of samples together and put in our common area kitchen along with some brochures. I have picked up quite a few new customers by doing this… and my name/info has been passed along to others in my building. Everyone loves good samples!! ~Christina B.

My plan is to do door to door, and some friends. ~Charlene G.

Using Avon Social (social media) to promote my business online! ~Kristina P.

Facebook and giving samples to friends, family, and coworkers. ~La Shina R.

I ride around the neighborhood in my Polaris and pass out books! ~Millisa S.

I’m promoting my business on all my social medias. I’m really trying to socialize and ask questions to people when I’m out and about or with my mom’s friends and clients. I’m trying to really get myself out there to the public. I plan on ordering some samples and other things as well!!! I want to take a picture of before and after doing a make over on my cousin saying that I’m using all Avon products or even do a video. I’m so happy with how many people have joined with Avon! It’s exciting!!! ~Michaela N.

TIPS AND RESOURCES

Did you notice a lot of common themes in the responses?? Brochures, samples, Facebook, social media, Wearing and Sharing…

Let’s chat a bit about how you can use those tools too!

1) BROCHURES – You can order printed Avon brochures at any time. Go to avonnow.com, click “Order Products”, then select “Brochures & Flyers” to choose the brochures you’d like to order. It’s a good idea to get in a routine of ordering brochures two campaigns ahead of time, so you always have the supplies you need to promote your business. Brochures come in packs of 10, and get less expensive the more packs you order.

**All reps also have a FREE digital version of the brochure, which you can share on Facebook, through email, in text/messages, etc. To get your digital brochure link, go to your online store, click BROCHURE (from the main menu), then copy that link! Customers can flip page-by-page through the digital brochure to select their items. They can then either give their order to you (for you to submit) or place their order online (to be delivered directly to them).

2) SAMPLES – Samples can also be ordered at any time from avonnow.com. Click “Order Products”, then select “Samples” to view the currently available samples. Not seeing the product you’d like to offer samples of? Many reps like to make their own samples by ordering a full-sized product, then using small sample containers (which can be ordered from places like Amazon).

3) FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM – Social media can be a very powerful advertising tool. The trick to utilizing social media to successfully promote your business is to post regularly and make your posts as personal as possible. (Simply posting the link to your online store and waiting for orders is unlikely to produce the results you’re looking for.) Post pictures of products to offer a taste of what customers will find on your online store, share personal before/after pictures, talk about the products you are currently using and love! Share what you truly love (and share it often) and you’ll generate interest! Keep sharing, even if you don’t see instant results – it takes most customers multiple exposures to build enough interest to take action!

Not sure how to get started on social media, how to set up a business page, or how to use Instagram?? Check out the Official Avon Representative Social Selling Facebook page, which is bursting with tips related to promoting your business through social media THE RIGHT WAY! Click on “Units” from the main menu of that page to access a list of short, helpful tutorial videos. Be sure to also check out the AVON U TRAINING section of avonnow.com, where you’ll find many courses related to promoting your business on social media.

4) WEAR & SHARE – Make yourself a walking billboard for your Avon business by wearing and sharing the products. Get to know the products you are selling by using them personally, so you can offer your authentic testimonial and answer customer questions based on your firsthand experience. Products like our beautiful jewelry are “compliment catchers” which open the door to conversations about your Avon business.

As a representative, you can order new products, two campaigns ahead of their official debut, from the What’s New catalogs. You’ll get a discount on your personal purchases, based on your normal earnings level.

5) GOOGLE BUSINESS – Set yourself up a FREE Google Business profile, so local customers can find you when they search for Avon!

 

**NEW SOCIALLY-DISTANCED IDEAS**

Strategies to Connect with New Customers (and Team Members) while Staying Socially Distanced

  1. Set Up a FREE GOOGLE BUSINESS PAGE – Your Google business page allows people who are seeking a representative in your area to find YOU!! Keeping your Google business page active (with new pics, etc.) can help your page to pop up when people are searching for an Avon rep.
  2. Offer NO-CONTACT Order Delivery/Pick-Up – Stick a label on the brochures you distribute to advertise your safe no-contact order fulfillment!
  3. Speaking of brochures, consider MAILING BROCHURES to limit contact, while getting brochures into customers hands. Brochure mailing services, like http://www.campaign-mailer.com can make it easy and cost-effective to mail brochures. Mailing occasional brochures to your online shoppers is a good way to keep them engaged.
  4. In between safely distributing/mailing brochures, utilize email/messenger to SHARE THE LINK TO YOUR ONLINE STORE AND/OR DIGITAL CATALOG. Your FREE, shareable digital catalog gives you a convenient (and safely distanced) way to share your catalog with an unlimited number of customers across the United States. Don’t have an email list of potential customers to share your brochure with? Start generating your list by collecting email addresses!
  5. Become a SOCIAL MEDIA WHIZ!! Promote your business on a variety of social media sites REGULARLY in a variety of ways! Not sure how to use Social Media to promote your business? Check out the wide range of Socially-Savvy business training in the AVON U TRAINING section of avonnow.com
  6. Ask for CUSTOMER REFERRALS – Use your current customers to connect with new customers! Offer your customers a small discount or thank you gift if they connect you with a new customer!
  7. Host an ONLINE AVON PARTY! Online parties (hosted in a Facebook group) can be a fun and effective way to connect with new customers, promote our incredible products, and grow your sales! Check out the online party tips HERE.
  8. Get to know your FREE ONLINE STORE, so you can feel comfortable sharing it with others. Your online store offers customers, anywhere across the United States, the ability to conveniently shop online, pay online, and have their orders delivered directly to them. Explore your online store and check out the cool tools available there (foundation shade matching tool, virtual makeover tool, tutorials, and more)! You can even place an order through your online store to get familiar with the process, so you can then confidently share the online shopping experience with your customers!

No AVON Credit? No Problem!!

/ amydeline / 2 Comments

For a period of time, Avon (in the United States) offered some representatives a small line of credit, which allowed reps to delay payment (or a portion of their payment) on their orders until the following campaign.

During recent years, Avon has scaled back on the credit program. Though some reps still have a credit limit (remaining in place from the previous credit program) most representatives are now required to pay for their orders at the time of checkout.

While this may be a change from how Avon previously operated, paying at the time of ordering products is the normal procedure for all other direct sales companies. In fact, just about every business anywhere requires some form of payment before turning over the products to the consumer. It’s a standard business practice, and as Avon is not in the credit industry, it makes sense that payment would be expected at the time of ordering.

Fortunately, having (or not having) credit does NOT make or break your Avon business!

Here are THREE simple options (with TIPS) to consider as you adjust your business practices to function without a line of credit from Avon:

PAYMENT OPTION #1: COLLECT UPFRONT PAYMENT FROM CUSTOMERS

When ordering any other products from any other business, customers are used to paying for the items when they place their order. This is a 100% normal practice, so most customers will have no problem with paying for their items when they give you their order.

Common Concern: My customers are used to paying when I deliver. That’s what we’ve been doing for years!
Simple Solution: Simply notify your customers that the procedure has changed and you’re now required to collect payment upfront. Most customers will have no problem with this new procedure. (If they don’t have the money to place the order, wait until they do. It doesn’t help your business to place orders for customers who can not pay for their items.)

Common Concern: My customers email (text, message, call…) me with their orders. I don’t want to make a separate trip to collect their payment.
Simple Solution: Expand your payment options to include digital options such as PayPal or Venmo, so customers can easily pay you without an extra trip. You can also accept credit card payments by phone, which you can enter directly into Avon’s system. (If you prefer, for a small fee, you can also accept credit card payments through a Square account, which enables you to have those payments deposited into your bank, instead of onto your Avon account.)

Common Concern: What if my customer pays me and then one of their items is sold out when I place my order?
Simple Solution(s): Confirm item availability by entering the items on avonnow.com before you give the customer their total. After that point, try not to delay in placing the order (especially if their order includes items which are more likely to sell out, like outlet/clearance items, items marks “while supplies last”, seasonal items, and limited-time fashion/jewelry items). If there will a delay in placing the order, suggest that the customer utilize your online store, so they can secure the items before they sell out. If all else fails and a customer’s item is not available after they’ve paid you, simply give them a refund or a credit towards their next order.

PAYMENT OPTION #2 – GET A PERSONAL CREDIT CARD

If you’d really prefer to not collect payment from customers when they give you their orders, get yourself a personal credit card, with even just a small credit limit of a few hundred dollars. Use the credit card to pay for the order when you submit it to Avon. Pay off the credit card immediately after collecting payment from customers, so that you never incur any interest fees.

TIP: Reserve the credit card exclusively for your business use, so it doesn’t get tangled up with your personal finances.

Perk #1: This option gives you credit for a month, as compared to just one campaign.
Perk #2: Avon’s line of credit was typically only a couple hundred bucks, at most. You may be able to get a higher line of credit through a personal credit card.
Perk #3: If you get yourself a credit card which offers rewards (like airline miles, cash back, Disney dollars, discounts, etc.), you can take advantage of those added benefits.

Common Concern: What if I have bad credit and don’t qualify for a personal credit card?
Simple Solution(s): Collect payment from customers when they place their orders or consider Payment Option #3.

PAYMENT OPTION #3 – BUILD UP A SMALL SAVINGS

Don’t want to collect payment upfront and don’t qualify for a personal credit card? Another option is to set up a free personal checking account, exclusively for your Avon business. Get an account which comes with a Visa/Mastercard debit card. Save your earnings in the account until you’ve saved up enough to cover the cost of your typical order. When you submit your orders to Avon, use the debit card to pay for the order. Replenish the account by depositing your customer payments after you’ve delivered their orders. Always keep enough money in the account to be able to cover the cost of your orders.

TIP: You can link a Paypal/Venmo account to your checking account, to easily deposit payments made that way. If you use a Square reader to accept credit card payments, you can link that account to your bank account as well, so those payments are deposited right into your bank.

In a nutshell, there are many SIMPLE ways to handle payments on your Avon orders without having an Avon credit line.

If you have any questions regarding whether your Avon account, your personal credit limit, or payment options, contact Avon customer service. 

NEW AVON REPS – How to Earn a Cruise Vacation + Nearly $5000 by August!!

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

Greetings, Beauty Boss!!

If you’ve just recently started your Avon business, this post is for YOU!

One of the many wonderful things about Avon is the flexibility. As an Avon representative, YOU get to choose how Avon fits into your life.

For some reps, it’s as simple as saving on their own beauty products. Other reps come to Avon to make a little extra pocket money, while still others come to Avon to replace a part-time (or even full-time) job!

Ultimately, the rewards you reap from your Avon business will vary depending on YOU, your personal goals, and what you’re willing to do to achieve those goals.

If you are a new Avon rep who is determined to make the most of your new business and take advantage of every available incentive to earn the most money and even an all-inclusive cruise vacation, then this post is for YOU!

I’m going to outline how new Avon reps (anyone who placed a 1st order in C24 ’19 or later) can earn nearly $5000 AND an all-inclusive 5-night/6-day cruise, on board Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas between NOW (Campaign 5 ’20) and the end of Campaign 17 ’20 (8/4/20).

Are you ready??

First, there are two current Avon incentives you should know about:

  1. Pathway to Premier
  2. Destination Avon – Caribbean Odyssey

I’m going to briefly explain both incentives below, and then we’ll dive into a plan which would help you to achieve the maximum bonuses from Pathway to Premier AND the cruise vacation!!

PATHWAY TO PREMIER

This is Avon’s new program for new representatives, which began in Campaign 5 ’20. Through Pathway to Premier, new representatives can earn two types of bonuses (on top of their regular 25% commission on beauty, jewelry, and wellness sales; 20% on fashion/home) during their first EIGHT campaigns with Avon (or until they reach $5000 in total sales – whichever happens first).

For representatives starting in C5 ’20 or later, your first “Pathway to Premier” campaign begins whenever you place an order through the representative site (avonnow.com) or a customer places an order through your online store (www.youravon.com/______)

For representatives who already placed a 1st order between C24 ’19 – C4 ’20, your eight “Pathway to Premier” campaigns begin in C5 ’20.

Here is the Pathway to Premier flyer, which outlines the bonuses which can be earned during your eight “Pathway to Premier” campaigns.

At the program’s max, you could be looking at $3250 in earnings and bonuses. That’s what we’re going to aim for in the plan I’ll outline below!

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DESTINATION AVON – CARIBBEAN ODYSSEY

This incentive, which runs from C1 ’20 – C17 ’20 is open for ALL Avon representatives to earn, by achieving a sales goal determined by sales achievement level and length of time as an Avon representative.

Reach your sales goal to earn an all-inclusive 5-night/6-day cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas (November 9-14).

For NEW REPS (in this case, anyone who started in C1 ’19 or later), the sales goal to earn the TRIP FOR ONE is $10,000 between C1 ’20 – C17 ’20. The sales goal for the TRIP FOR TWO is $15,000.

Here’s the official flyer for the Destination Avon incentive…

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So, now that you know about these two exciting opportunities, let’s break down what it would take for you to earn it ALL! After I break down the plan, I’ll outline a few tips for success!

If you’re starting right now, in Campaign 5 2020, you’ve got a total of 13 campaigns to reach the $10,000 in sales necessary to earn the cruise. That means that you need about $770 in sales each campaign between C5 – C17. For simplicity, let’s round up to $800 in sales each campaign (because what’s another $30 in sales, right??).

If you sell $800 each campaign, between C5 – C17, watch how the Pathway to Premier bonuses stack up, as you land yourself on the cruise vacation!

Keep the following in mind:

  1. You’ll earn 25% commission on all beauty, jewelry, and wellness sales (as long as your total sales for the campaign is $40, which won’t be an issue in this plan); 20% on fashion/home. (For the sake of this plan, let’s assume that all of your sales of beauty, jewelry, and wellness items, which make up the vast majority of our product collection.)
  2. Once you reach $5000 in sales, you become a PREMIER achiever, and your earnings on beauty, jewelry, and wellness increase to 30%! BOOM, you’ve given yourself a raise!
  3. Once you reach $10,000 in sales, you become a PRESIDENT’S CLUB achiever, and your earnings on beauty, jewelry, and wellness increase to 40%! BOOM, you’ve given yourself another raise!
  4. Through Pathway to Premier, you’ll earn a $20 “Stepping Stone” bonus for every $200 increment of sales within a campaign (up to $500 total in Stepping Stone bonuses).
  5. Through Pathway to Premier, you’ll also earn a 10% “Milestone” bonus for every $1000 in cumulative sales within your first eight campaigns, maxing out at a bonus of $500 when you reach $5000 in cumulative sales within your 1st eight campaigns.

CAMPAIGN 5 (2/5-2/18)
SELL: $800
EARN (25% Commission): $200
STEPPING STONE BONUSES: $80
TOTAL EARNED (in C5): $280

GRAND TOTAL SOLD: $800
GRAND TOTAL EARNED: $280

CAMPAIGN 6 (2/19-3/3)
SELL: $800
EARN (25% Commission): $200
STEPPING STONE BONUSES: $80
10% MILESTONE BONUS: $100 (for reaching $1000 in cumulative sales)
TOTAL EARNED (in C6): $380

GRAND TOTAL SOLD: $1600
GRAND TOTAL EARNED: $660

CAMPAIGN 7 (3/4-3/17)
SELL: $800
EARN (25% Commission): $200
STEPPING STONE BONUSES: $80
10% MILESTONE BONUS: $200 (for reaching $2000 in cumulative sales)
TOTAL EARNED (in C7): $480

GRAND TOTAL SOLD:$2400
GRAND TOTAL EARNED:$1140

CAMPAIGN 8 (3/18-3/31)
SELL: $800
EARN (25% Commission): $200
STEPPING STONE BONUSES: $80
10% MILESTONE BONUS: $300 (for reaching $3000 in cumulative sales)
TOTAL EARNED (in C8): $580

GRAND TOTAL SOLD:$3200
GRAND TOTAL EARNED: $1720

CAMPAIGN 9 (4/1-4/14)
SELL: $800
EARN (25% Commission): $200
STEPPING STONE BONUSES: $80
10% MILESTONE BONUS: $400 (for reaching $4000 in cumulative sales)
TOTAL EARNED (in C9): $680

GRAND TOTAL SOLD: $4000
GRAND TOTAL EARNED:$2400

CAMPAIGN 10 (4/15-4/28)
SELL: $800
EARN (25% Commission): $200
STEPPING STONE BONUSES: $80
TOTAL EARNED (in C10): $280

GRAND TOTAL SOLD: $4800
GRAND TOTAL EARNED: $2680

CAMPAIGN 11 (4/29-5/12)
SELL: $800
EARN (30%** Commission): $240
STEPPING STONE BONUSES: $20
10% MILESTONE BONUS: $500 (for reaching $5000 in cumulative sales)
TOTAL EARNED (in C11): $760

GRAND TOTAL SOLD: $5600
GRAND TOTAL EARNED: $3440

**Earnings % increased to 30% by reaching $5000 in sales, thus completing the Pathway to Premier member and becoming a Premier achiever!! Woohoo!!

CAMPAIGN 12 (5/13-5/26)
SELL: $800
EARN (30% Commission): $240
TOTAL EARNED (in C12): $240

GRAND TOTAL SOLD: $6400
GRAND TOTAL EARNED: $3680

CAMPAIGN 13 (5/27-6/9)
SELL: $800
EARN (30% Commission): $240
TOTAL EARNED (in C13): $240

GRAND TOTAL SOLD:$7200
GRAND TOTAL EARNED: $3920

CAMPAIGN 14 (6/10-6/23)
SELL: $800
EARN (30% Commission): $240
TOTAL EARNED (in C14): $240

GRAND TOTAL SOLD:$8000
GRAND TOTAL EARNED:$4160

CAMPAIGN 15 (6/24-7/7)
SELL: $800
EARN (30% Commission): $240
TOTAL EARNED (in C15): $240

GRAND TOTAL SOLD: $8800
GRAND TOTAL EARNED: $4400

CAMPAIGN 16 (7/8-7/21)
SELL: $800
EARN (30% Commission): $240
TOTAL EARNED (in C16): $240

GRAND TOTAL SOLD: $9600
GRAND TOTAL EARNED:$4640

CAMPAIGN 17 (7/22-8/4)
SELL: $800
EARN (40% Commission): $320
TOTAL EARNED (in C13): $320

GRAND TOTAL SOLD: $10,400 <——- CRUISE FOR ONE!!
GRAND TOTAL EARNED: $4960 <——– TOTAL POSSIBLE EARNINGS

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There you have it!! Earning nearly $5000 between now and August 4, along with an all-inclusive trip for one on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, is as simple as selling $800 each campaign between C5 ’20 – C17 ’20.

Notice that I said SIMPLE, not EASY.

It will likely not be EASY to sell $800 each campaign, but it IS achievable with a solid plan, efficient use of available resources, a hefty dose of determination, unwavering perseverance, and an unstoppable “can-do” attitude!

Check out these TIPS for making it happen:

Jump in with both feet right NOW. Don’t delay in getting started. The fewer campaigns you give yourself, the more you’ll need to sell each campaign to hit $10,000 by C17.

Know where you are and where you’re going. Be sure to check out your personal incentive tracker under the “Get Details” link for the “Destination Avon” incentive. Track your progress regularly and adjust your plan as needed.

Believe in your ability to earn this trip (because you CAN). Don’t let self-doubt hold you back from giving it everything you’ve got! Jump in and go for it!! Everything you do as you work towards this trip will help you to build a stronger, more profitable business in the process.

Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and try new things. Reaching sales of $800 each campaign will take a bit of effort, creativity, and ingenuity! Be brave! You’ll be thankful you were when you’re relaxing with your feet up, tropical cocktail in hand, on that cruise ship!

Evaluate your progress every campaign and adjust your plan as necessary. If you’re not progressing as quickly as you need to, rework your plan to stay on track. Use the personal incentive tracker, which I mentioned previously, to track your progress and adjust your plan.

Utilize every available resource at your disposal. You’re going to need it all to hit that sales goal! Use your online store, digital brochure, printed brochures, samples, social media, Facebook posts, emails, texting, vendor events, online parties, fundraisers, friend referrals, specials offers, etc. Use it all to hit that goal!!

Take advantage of all training opportunities! Avon offers us a tremendous amount of training and support. Participate in as many opportunities as you can. The more familiar you are with the products, resources, and sales strategies, the more successful you will be at selling! You can find a summary of each week’s training opportunities in the BEAUTY BUZZ section, on the homepage of avonnow.com. Also, check out the AVON U training section of avonnow.com for other valuable resources!

Be determined and don’t let anything stop you!! Start off slower or later than you’d hoped? That’s ok! Keep pushing forward! Look for ways to accelerate your progress! This is worth it and YOU ARE CAPABLE of achieving it!

 

 

How to Earn a $500 Bonus by Becoming an Avon Bronze Ambassador

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There are two main ways to make money with your Avon business:

  1. Your sales of Avon products (online and/or face-to-face)
  2. By growing and nurturing an Avon team

Sales are the heart of our businesses as Avon representatives, but if you’d like to maximize your earnings, growing a team and teaching your team members to be successful with their own sales, can be the way to do it!

There are a variety of ways you can earn bonuses by growing your team.

You can earn:

  • $20 “Qualified New Recruit” bonus each time one of your new team members places a 1st or 2nd order of $150 or more (and pays for it on time).
  • 3% “Sponsoring Bonus” on your team members’ sales each campaign (as long as you personally have $50+ in sales for the campaign).
  • 3%-8% “Generation Bonuses” on your team members’ sales each campaign (at the Star Promoter level and above).
  • Additional 3% – 5% “Leader Bonuses” on the team sales of the Bronze Leaders (and above) you have developed.
  • “Promotion Bonuses” ($500 – $20,000) as you personally achieve and maintain new leadership titles.
  • “Mentor Bonuses” ($250 – $10,000) as you help your team members to achieve and maintain new leadership titles.

You can see an overview of all available leadership bonuses in the image below.

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In this post, we are going to focus on how to earn that first promotion bonus of $500 by achieving and maintaining the leadership title of Bronze Ambassador.

To become a Bronze Ambassador, there are THREE very-achievable criteria:

  1. Personal sales of $200+ each campaign (what you personally sell to customers, including anything you’ve purchased for your own personal use and/or as business tools)
  2. Orders from at least THREE 1st-generation team members 
  3. Total team sales of $1000+ each campaign (includes your personal sales and the sales of team members)

Once you achieve those three criteria for the first time, you officially promote to the title of Bronze Ambassador and receive the 1st quarter of your $500 bonus ($125)!!

To earn the remaining three quarters of the bonus, you need to maintain the criteria of Bronze Ambassador for the following three campaigns. You’ll earn another quarter of the bonus ($125) each time you maintain. Avon builds in one “grace campaign”, which allows you to miss the criteria for one campaign, but then meet the criteria during the next campaign, in order to get your full bonus.

The image below, from Avon’s 2020 Career and Compensation Guide, explains how the Promotion bonus is paid, along with an example of how the “grace campaign” works.

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Ready to start your Avon leadership business, and earn your first $500 promotion bonus??

Check out the tips below for how to make it happen!

Tip #1: While Bronze Ambassador can be achieved with as few as THREE 1st-generation team members, it is easier to reach the $1000 team sales with more than three team members. Invite as many people as you can to join your team! (Take advantage of the FREE sign-up option between C5-C8 2020 to grow your team quickly!!)

**To sign up your new team members, simply have them go to your online store, then click “Become a Rep” at the top of the page! It takes just a few minutes for them to enter their info and join your team! You’ll receive an email which says “You Have a Successful Self-Appointment” once they sign up.

Tip #2: To grow your team even more quickly, encourage your new team members to grow their team as well! There are lots of bonuses available as they grow, and I’m sure your new team members wouldn’t mind earning a $500 promotion bonus too!! Remember, when they are successful with promoting to a higher title, YOU get rewarded too with a “Mentor Bonus”!!

Tip #3: Help your team members to be successful with their sales! Teach them strategies they can use to connect with their first customers and grow their first sales. Make sure that they know about Avon’s “Pathway to Premier” program, so they can earn lots of extra bonuses during their first eight campaigns. Point them in the direction of training and resources to be successful with their sales. The more they sell, the more commission and bonuses they’ll earn, and the faster you’ll get to Bronze Ambassador (and that $500 promotion bonus).

Tip #4: Communicate regularly with your team members to ensure their success campaign after campaign. Remember, to earn your full promotion bonus, you’ll need to maintain the Bronze Ambassador criteria during the following campaigns. Your continued support of your team members will help them to be successful, while also leading to your own success!! In other words, you and your team members win together!!

Next Stop: Silver Ambassador and a $750 Promotion Bonus!!!