make money

What I DIDN’T Know About Becoming an Avon Rep

/ amydeline

In May of 2013, I was taking a walk around my neighborhood with my three little boys. My youngest (2-years-old at the time) was in a stroller and my older two sons (4 and 6-years-old) walked beside me.

As we enjoyed the lovely spring afternoon, a memory popped into my head; one of the very few memories I have of my mother before she passed away from breast cancer when I was four years old.

In the memory, my mother holds me in her arms as my younger sister rests beside us in a pretty yellow baby buggy. Across from us sit two older couples at a picnic table. We’re in their backyard. My mother’s arm is extended towards the table, offering one of the women her Avon order.

71479297_10218488302993191_6611620149487206400_n

My mother, Suzan, with my sisters and I, shortly before she passed away. (I’m the one in the middle, sucking on my blanket.)

It was in that moment, as I reflected on the happy memory of my mother delivering an Avon order with her young children in tow, that I decided to become an Avon representative.

I was an Avon rep by the time my husband got home from work that day.

WHAT I KNEW ABOUT AVON WHEN I SIGNED UP…

  • I knew Avon had been around for a very long time (133 years to date).
  • I knew Avon offered a wide selection of great products.
  • I knew that it was very inexpensive to sign up – $10 at the time (It’ll be FREE for a limited time, beginning 2/5/20).
  • I knew it was flexible, that there were no order quotas, and that I didn’t have to keep an inventory.
  • I knew that I didn’t need to host parties (which relieved me as a busy mom of young children).
  • I knew that there would be samples and brochures to pass out to customers.
  • I knew that I could likely make a little extra money and at the very least get a discount on my own purchases.

The things I knew gave me the comfort I needed to take a $10 risk on signing up. What I realize now, about 6.5 years later, is that there were so many things I didn’t know about becoming an Avon representative.

Ready to start your own Avon business?? Click HERE to begin your Avon journey!

Or keep reading to discover what I DIDN’T know about becoming an Avon rep!!

964844_10200751516504614_706345812_o

My Avon starter kit, from May 2013. I was so excited on the day that kit arrived! I already had customers waiting for a brochure!

WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT BECOMING AN AVON REP…

I didn’t know that Avon would lead me to some of the dearest and most special friendships I have ever experienced.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I didn’t know that my Avon business would provide me with the sense of personal accomplishment, pride, and recognition that I was missing as a stay-at-home mom.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I didn’t know that in addition to the printed brochures, I’d have my own online store and a wide variety of digital tools, which would allow me to easily sell from home, whenever it fit into my busy days with the kids.

I didn’t know that Avon could become my full-time job, with an income to match. At best, I’d expected a little extra spending money. I never imagined that it could make a substantial contribution to my family’s income, while still allowing me to stay home with our kids.

I didn’t know that I could earn all-inclusive vacations, just by doing the things I was already doing to build a stronger business. To date, I’ve enjoyed vacations to Playa del Carmen and Los Cabos, Mexico , Bahamas (Atlantis), Maui, Disney World, and a cruise to Bermuda. Jamaica is up next! I’ve been able to share many of these incredible experiences with my husband, sister, and sons.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I didn’t know that I’d also get to visit other fun cites for Avon’s annual conventions and leadership conferences, including Orlando, Nashville, San Antonio, Chicago, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Columbus, and Scottsdale.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I didn’t know that I’d earn other fun rewards, like an HDTV, Apple TV, family games, a KitchenAid mixer, beautiful jewelry, cash bonuses, a diamond necklace, and more!

I didn’t know about the other incredible opportunities Avon would offer me, like the time I got to meet Barbara Corcoran (from Shark Tank) or  when I was asked to represent Avon on the Today show, to present Avon’s donation (over $450,000 worth of toys) to their annual toy drive.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I didn’t know that I would have the opportunity to represent the voice of my fellow representatives as a member of advisory councils, as a speaker during national conferences, and on a variety of panels.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I didn’t know that my mentor, my team members, and my customers would become such important parts of my life, fulfilling that basic human desire to feel valued and connected.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I didn’t know that I’d be able to raise money (with the help of my sons) for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (a cause which is near and dear to my heart) as part of Team Avon.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I didn’t know that I’d be able to offer Avon fundraisers, to help other individuals, teams, and organizations raise money for their valued causes.

I didn’t know that Avon would become such an important part of my boys’ lives and that they’d become the best business partners ever!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Had I known all of those things about Avon, I would have signed up a long time ago!

Ready to start your own Avon business?? Click HERE to begin your Avon journey! It just may take you to some unexpectedly wonderful places!

It’s FREE to sign up, beginning 2/5/20 (for a limited time)!!

Avon Summer Survival Guide

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

cool_summer-wide-1.jpg

It’s SUMMER!!

The sun is shining. The kids are home from school. Cool pools and the sound of crashing waves beckon.

When the temperatures rise, it can be easy to let your Avon business drift to the wayside. Don’t let your Avon business wither away in the summer heat. Help it sizzle with summer success, by implementing a few of these summer survival tips for your Avon business!

SUMMER SURVIVAL TIPS for your AVON BUSINESS

  1. Be Consistent – Make sure to get your brochures to your customers every campaign. If doing your normal brochure delivery becomes a challenge during the busy summer, consider using a brochure mailing service, such as campaign-mailer.com. Consistent brochure delivery assures your customers that you are open for business!
  2. Plan for Vacations – Taking a family vacation? Pass out brochures ahead of time and let your customers know if there’s a change to your order schedule. Be sure to also let your customers know that they can shop through your Avon web store anytime at all, and have their orders delivered directly to them! Let your business grow while you’re away!
  3. Promote Summer Products – Avon offers a wide selection of summer products that everyone needs, such as our Skin So Soft Bug Guard, adorable flip flops, and beach-perfect tote bags. We’ve also got illuminating moisturizers, bikini line hair removal creams, and the entire FootWorks collection for pedicure-perfect feet and toes! Use post-it tabs to mark these pages in the brochures before you pass them out. Consider offering a special discount on the identified items.
  4. The Fortune is in the Follow-Up – Your customers are likely as busy with summer fun as you are. Be sure to follow-up with your customers a few days before you’ll be submitting your order. Let them know you’ll be submitting the order and ask if there’s anything they’d like. They’ll appreciate the reminder. Use the opportunity to suggest a great deal on a fun shade of summer polish!
  5. Utilize Your Own Web Store – If you have a slow campaign, consider submitting your order through your web store. Avon representatives get guaranteed 20% commission on web store orders of any size, even small orders! You can also enjoy free shipping on orders of $40 or more through your web store.
  6. Seize the Season – Promote your Avon business during your normal summer fun! Heading to the park with the kids? Bring a few brochures and samples packs to pass out to the other parents there! Going camping or golfing or kayaking? Bring along some Avon Bug Guard for on-the-spot sales. (The Bug Guard towelettes make GREAT samples.) Attending a BBQ? Bring along a basket of brochures for guests to browse.
  7. Become a Walking Advertisement – Advertise Avon as you enjoy your summer fun, by wearing Avon clothing and sandals. Use Avon polish on your sandal-perfect toes. Wear Avon jewelry. Carry an Avon tote. When people comment (and they will!) tell them it’s Avon and offer them a brochure!
  8. Be Social – Avon’s new and improved, mobile-friendly social media center makes it easy to advertise your Avon business on the go! Check out the new social media tutorial on youravon.com!
  9. Go Public – Summer is prime season for flea markets, yard sales, and other outdoor vendor events. Set up an Avon table to promote your business. Offer great deals on summer products that everyone loves, pass out brochures, and offer a small raffle basket to collect contact information from potential new customers!
  10. Keep Your Eye on the Prize – Sales may slow during the summer, but the peak fall/holiday season comes up right after. Keep your eyes on the prize. Be sure to keep your Avon account active during the summer, by placing an order of any size every few campaigns. This will ensure that you’ll be able to enjoy the high earnings of the peak holiday sales season!

New Rep. Exclusive – Building Your Customer List

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

Once you’ve taken that first step, and signed up as an Avon representative, the next most important thing you need to figure out is…

Who will your customers be?

Many people sign up to become an Avon representatives because they love Avon themselves and they know other people do as well.

YOU may be your very first Avon customer!

You may also have friends and family who already use Avon and are anxious to have you as their Avon representative. There may be other friends and family who haven’t seen an Avon brochure in 30 years and will be surprised to see what a wide variety of products Avon now offers. Other friends or family may be brand new to Avon! You will offer their first introduction.

Whatever your situation is, taking a few minutes to develop and expand your list of potential customers is a great first step on the road to success.

I’m going to walk you through some steps for developing and expanding your Avon customer list!

How to Develop and Expand Your Avon Customer List

  • Take out a piece of paper or use the spaces provided in the booklet, which was included in your Avon starter kit.
  • Start by listing the first people that pop into your head who you think might be interested in seeing an Avon brochure. Most people’s first customers are friends or family. Add those people to your list. **Remember that the people on your list do NOT have to be local to you, since you can sell to anyone across the nation through your Avon web store!
  • Now, think about other people you know, like neighbors or co-workers that you see on a regular or semi-regular basis. Add them to the list too.

Starting to get a little harder to think of people??

  • Pull out your cell phone or pull up your Friends list on Facebook. Who did you miss? Add them to your list. **Remember, Avon is not just for women. There are plenty of products for men and children as well! Everyone you know is a potential Avon customer!
  • Ok, now let’s think for a second of other places where you see people. Perhaps they are people who you are familiar with, but haven’t formally met yet… like people who attend your church or other moms picking up their kids from school or other parents at your child’s soccer game or dance class. These are all potential customers, so go ahead and jot down, “Moms at soccer” or “Ladies in book club”.

How’s that list looking so far? Let’s expand the list even more!

  • Think about places you go during any given week or month, like the doctor’s office, the gym, or the playground. Are there receptionists there who might be interested in seeing a brochure? Could you perhaps ask about leaving a stack of brochures in those offices?
  • Are you part of any clubs or organizations, in your local community or online? Add those people to your list too.
  • What’s near you, in your local community? Are there any senior centers or assisted living communities? What about community rooms at a local apartment complex? Think about places where you may be able to leave a few brochures.

You should have a pretty good looking list right now, but let’s take it one step further…

  • Look through the list you just made. Who on your list might be willing to take a few brochures to share with their co-workers and/or family and friends, in return for some free Avon gifts or a discount on their own order? Mark those people with a “*”.

One last step…

  • Who on that list might be interested in starting their own Avon business? Go through the list and mark them with a “$”, so that you remember to let them know that you can sign them up to your Avon team!

Now that you should have a pretty long list of potential customers, it’s time to get out there and start building your Avon business!!

The key to growing your business is to get your online store link and Avon brochures (printed or digital) in front of the eyes of as many people as possible.

Go through your list to figure out how many brochures you need in order to reach out to everyone on your list, then get those brochures labeled with your contact info and start letting people know your Avon store is open for business!

 

New Rep. Exclusive!! – How Do I Get Paid??

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

If you’re like most of us, you signed up to become an Avon representative to make money!

Am I right??

Maybe you’re looking to make a little extra cash on the side or maybe you’re looking to replace your full-time income.

Whatever your goals are with Avon, I’m guessing that money figures into it somehow!

smart-money-saving

With Avon, we can earn money on our sales in two ways:

  • Through face-to-face “traditional” orders
  • Through our online sales

We earn the same percentage, no matter how you choose to sell, but we get paid the earnings differently. Let me walk you through how you’ll earn your money with your Avon sales.

Traditional Face-to-Face Orders

Two_Ways_Earn_Sell_Face_To_Face_Header

Traditional orders are the orders that we collect from customers local to us, typically after they’ve browsed a printed brochure or your digital brochure link. These orders are typically submitted once each campaign (two-week sales period).

With our flexible ordering schedule, you can submit the orders you’ve collected on any day within the two-week campaign ordering window. (You’re welcome to submit multiple orders each campaign, though many reps prefer to submit all of their orders at the same time, to save on shipping fees.) Once you submit your orders, you can begin collecting orders for the next campaign.

TIP: Submitting your orders early in each two-week campaign ordering window can help to ensure the best product availability, particularly for limited-supply items, such as fashion, holiday, and home items.

We enter all of our customers’ orders, personal items for ourselves, demo items for upcoming campaigns, samples, future brochures, etc. into the representative site (http://www.avonnow.com), then submit the orders to Avon. Avon sends all of the items to us to be sorted and delivered to our customers.

Click HERE for a video tutorial on how to enter and submit your orders through the representative site.

For our traditional orders, Avon charges us a discounted price for the items in our order. The discount percentage depends on your sales achievement level. As a new representative, you are considered a “Contender”, which qualifies you for 25% discount/earnings on beauty, jewelry, and wellness items (as long as the total of all of your sales for the campaign is at least $40); 20% on fashion/home items.

Once you reach $5000 in total sales for the year, you’ll become a Premier achiever, and qualify for a boost in earnings (to 30%). You can achieve even higher sales achievement and earnings levels as you grow your business!

Screen Shot 2020-02-10 at 5.03.23 PM.png

We collect the full brochure price from the customers, pay Avon the discounted rate, then keep the leftovers as our earnings!!

Take this simplified example:

Let’s say that you’ve collected exactly $200 in customer orders (of beauty, jewelry, and wellness items) for the campaign. As a contender, Avon would discount the items in your order by 25% and bill you $150 for the items. You would collect the $200 from the customers, pay Avon their $150, and then keep the remaining $50 as your earnings!

The more you sell, the more you earn!

**In an actual order, Avon would also collect sales tax and shipping and you would charge your customers sales tax and a .75 order processing fee, to help cover shipping. Demo items from the What’s New catalog are also discounted based on your earnings level (25% as a Contender). Business supplies, such as brochures, samples, bags, etc. count towards your sales total, but are billed at the listed prices.

TIP: Be sure that you are collecting the correct amount of money from your customers, based on the brochure price of the items they orders (not the discounted price that Avon will charge you), with your local sales tax and the 75 cents order processing fee added. Click HERE for a photo tutorial on how to calculate your customers’ order totals.

Online “Direct Delivery” Orders

Two_Ways_Earn_Sell_Online_Header

Online “Direct Delivery” Orders are orders that are placed by customers through our personal web stores. These orders are EASY MONEY in your pocket!! Customers pay Avon directly. Avon handles the processing and shipping. YOU get the earnings!!

For online orders, we earn the same percentage as our face-to-face traditional orders!!

Our commission on online orders gets credited to our Avon account as soon as the order ships. Then, with Avon’s new RAPID-PAY system, if you sign up for Direct Deposit (under the My Account section of avonnow.com), your online order earnings will be deposited directly to your bank within TWO DAYS after the order has shipped to your customer.

NOTE: If there is a balance owed on your Avon account, your online order earnings will apply as a credit towards that balance. To ensure that your earnings go directly to your bank, make sure that there is no remaining balance from the orders you submit through the representative site.

**You can view if anyone has submitted a Direct Delivery order through your online store, by clicking the Web Office link, under the Manage Business tab of avonnow.com. Look for the box on the right which says, “You have…” Avon will also send an email notifying you of any online orders on the day after the order was placed.

**You can view a record of your Direct Delivery earnings by logging into your business site at avonnow.com, clicking on the Manage Orders tab, then clicking on Order History.

**Use social media to promote your online store and increase your direct delivery orders!

**Putting your online store address on every brochure you pass out is another useful strategy for boosting your online sales!

SALES TIP – Trick or Treat!

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

Halloween is a super-charged opportunity to connect with tons of new potential customers (or team members).

And the best part is… they come to YOU!!

trick-or-treat

This Halloween, as you’re preparing your bowl full of candy or treat bags for the costumed ghosts, ghouls, and vampires, don’t forget to prepare some Avon goodies for the adults!

Stock up on extra brochures to pass out to the parents chaperoning their children as they trick or treat, or hand it to the kids to bring home to their moms.

Make it extra fun by putting together Avon treat bags, containing a current/upcoming brochure, a recruiting flyer, a few samples, a piece of candy, and maybe even a special Halloween discount for your new customers!

**If you’re the one walking around with your kids, bring along your Avon treat bags to pass out.

SALES TIP – Harness the Power of Avon’s Guarantee

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

Avon stands behind all of their products with a 90-Day Satisfaction Guarantee! If your customers aren’t satisfied with their purchase for any reason, they can get a full refund within 90 days.

12038159_158120907868617_1055644753275246627_n

Harness the power of that guarantee. Avon’s guarantee makes trying Avon’s products risk-free for our customers!

Consider making flyers with special offers such as:

Try Avon’s Anew Skincare products for 30 days! If you’re not completely satisfied, I’ll take back the unused portion and give you a full refund!

If you ARE satisfied, I’ll give you 10% off your next order of Anew!

This offer highlights the risk-free nature of trying Avon! Avon’s Anew skincare line is AMAZING, so once your customers try Anew, the odds are that you’ll have a skincare customer for life!

Team-Building Tip – Focus on Savings

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

Not everyone joins Avon to start their own business or make a lot of money. Some people just want to save some money on the things they’re already buying.

As you approach people to offer the Avon opportunity, FOCUS ON SAVINGS!

prod_2015UAR_xl

Are they already spending money on skincare, haircare, and cosmetics? How would they like to save 20-50% on those costs?

p2t1

Will they be buying holiday gifts this year? Decor for their home? Teacher gifts? How would they like to save 20-50% on those costs as well?

p114t4

How about items for the home, like slow cookers, wine glasses, serving platters, vases, and MORE? With Avon’s new Avon Living product line, they can save on those things too!

In addition to Avon’s well-known skincare, cosmetics, and fragrance items, Avon offers beautiful sterling silver jewelry, housewares, and name brand items from Cuisinart, Disney, Mikasa, Lenox, and more!

Some representatives sign up just for the savings on items they are already purchasing. Becoming an Avon representative can be a great way to save on holiday shopping and maybe even earn some money by passing out the brochures and sharing their webstore link with a few friends. It doesn’t need to be a big commitment of time or energy or financial investment to join Avon.

Team Building Tip – It’s THEIR Choice

/ amydeline / Leave a comment

You may not even realize it, but we sometimes fail to offer the Avon opportunity to people because we decide that it’s not right for them.

We subconsciously decide that someone is too busy or doesn’t need the money or isn’t interested in what Avon has to offer.

We decide that they will say NO, before we even give them a chance to say YES.

yes-238375_640

Avon is our opportunity to offer. It’s THEIR choice to make.

Offer the Avon opportunity to everyone you know. Let them make the choice about whether or not it’s right for them.

Your most unlikely prospect may become your most successful new team member!!

Avon is for EVERYONE!

Avon is for women and for men.

Avon is for busy people or for people with tons of time on their hands.

Avon is for people looking for a hobby or people looking for a career.

It’s for people who want to do it for a few months to save on their holiday shopping or for people who want to build a profitable business.

Avon is for people who never leave the house without their mascara and favorite lipstick or for people (me) who rub on a little lip balm and call it a day!

Sales Tip – “Hire” Helpers

/ amydeline / 1 Comment

As the Beatles like to say, “I get by with a little help from my friends.”

A little help from your friends can be the key to achieving the highest levels of sales success!

Old_wood_help_wanted_sign_2

An Avon helper is simply someone who is willing to take a few brochures into their workplaces, neighborhood, or social circles. Helpers distribute the brochures, collect the orders, collect payment, and deliver the orders. You submit the orders to Avon, organize the orders, and deliver to your helper.

In return for their assistance, you reward your helper! You can reward your helper with a discount on their own order, free gifts, or a percentage of the commission. That choice is between you and your helper!

Ideal helpers may be people who love Avon, work with other women, or have a different social circle than your own. Your best customers may appreciate the opportunity to earn a discount on their own orders or FREE Avon!

To find a few helpers, start by making a little “Help Wanted” advertisement to include with your brochures. State the responsibilities and the rewards in your ad. Also, talk to your best customers to offer the opportunity!

Fun Tip – During the holiday season, you can make a “Help Wanted” ad in search of Santa’s Elves!

Avon Holiday Helper

Extra Bonus – Your helper may someday become your Avon team member! Be sure that all of your customers know that you’d be happy to sign them up to start their own Avon business!