~Avon Hints & Tips (Part 7) ~

chalkswindon

Off out to pick up the Brochures today, I have high hopes for this campaign as I have had three extra brochure requests from Facebook these people have actively seeked me out and requested a Brochure so expecting them all to order.

Last campaign was a knightmare had several normal borchure items out of stock, one necklace delivered broke, and a charm sent instead of a broach!

I had a small complex of flats added to my patch to replace some of my terrority which already had a rep, I went to collect the brochures and was met by the warden who advised he had spoken to all the residents and known of them want any brochures in the future so please do not come on the estate again. It is a strange private housing development which has signs everywhere saying Private do not enter and tresspassers will be prosucuted.

Oh Well.

dean72

This is first campaign (C) and it ends on Thursday so had to do quick turn around to cover as many houses as possible so did a drop Friday evening and picked them up today and got £52 of orders hoping to cover another 140 house's by wed so should meet targets next campaign should be easier as will have 3 weeks instead of 5 days but with speed walking I should get weight down.

MarsdenCuckoo

dean72 wrote: »

This is first campaign (C) and it ends on Thursday so had to do quick turn around to cover as many houses as possible so did a drop Friday evening and picked them up today and got £52 of orders hoping to cover another 140 house's by wed so should meet targets next campaign should be easier as will have 3 weeks instead of 5 days but with speed walking I should get weight down.

Ask your F&F too - when you start in the middle of a campaign and don't have much time, chances are your friends and family will support you with orders (even at the expense of their own/current Avon rep). Also, if you're tight for time it's worth asking your upliner if you can have a few extra days before needing to input your order.... There are ways and means to make sure you at least hit MOV i.e. your upliner may even pass some of their customers on to you (I do it all the time).

Good luck!

MarsdenCuckoo

chalkswindon wrote: »

Off out to pick up the Brochures today, I have high hopes for this campaign as I have had three extra brochure requests from Facebook these people have actively seeked me out and requested a Brochure so expecting them all to order.

Last campaign was a knightmare had several normal borchure items out of stock, one necklace delivered broke, and a charm sent instead of a broach!

I had a small complex of flats added to my patch to replace some of my terrority which already had a rep, I went to collect the brochures and was met by the warden who advised he had spoken to all the residents and known of them want any brochures in the future so please do not come on the estate again. It is a strange private housing development which has signs everywhere saying Private do not enter and tresspassers will be prosucuted.

Oh Well.

Good luck; have a similar complex on my patch - the key is to find someone on there that you know and/or find someone you know, who knows someone on there. Won't be an overnight miracle but if you can identify 'a friend' there then they'll hopefully spread the word. The 'warden' is probably protecting his more vulnerable residents but chances are there will be some people on that estate, who would love to see an Avon book. Perseverance is definitely called for....

MarsdenCuckoo

drinkupretty wrote: »

My first rep sign up was a lead given by my asm she showed me the ins and outs of the SL website and to conduct the sign up meeting with the new rep to be. She sat in on my first sign up too. She has said that we will go out again but not sure when as she has been off sick and I have not had many rest days off from work. I am mainly asking for tips so I can get started myself. I have Friday off from work and would like to go out recruiting. I did make some flyers and put them through doors in my street, I have advertised on facebook, made my own website, posted on twitter and put an add on gumtree but so far nothing.

Oh bless, you're a perfect example of why it's better to sign up with a SL rather than direct to Avon/ASM. ASM's are sooo busy they just don't have the time to nurture 'newbies' the same as SLs do (or at least some of us). Anyway, it's done now so.... how best to help...

Go out during the day in your local area and stop/ask likely candidates if they're interested in being a rep and/or even if they already have an Avon lady? If you get one of the latest fragrances that's a good 'in-road' too i.e. "Would you like to try the latest Avon fragrance?" Get a full size Demo product rather than the samples - looks more professional. Take a clip-board too (again looks more 'business-like') - easier to write down people's details. Make sure you get the name, contact no and post code of any likely candidates. If they're happy to give you their address too then all the better but not necessary to push that - ask if they're happy to let you know what street they live on so you can check where the nearest rep to them lives.

Have loads of notes, which may help you too - email me if you'd like them: [EMAIL="avonchris@live.co.uk"]avonchris@live.co.uk[/EMAIL]

neffy58

Campaign 12 has been my worst in months and I don't think it is due to people being on holiday either......will be lucky to get a fiver out of it by the time I take off the cost of brochures and stuff. Hopefully this is just a blip..........

MarsdenCuckoo

neffy58 wrote: »

Campaign 12 has been my worst in months and I don't think it is due to people being on holiday either......will be lucky to get a fiver out of it by the time I take off the cost of brochures and stuff. Hopefully this is just a blip..........

Oh dear, sounds like you need to look at minimising your costs as well as increasing your sales. A few tips:

1. Split your customer base between current/back campaign and don't leave the books out too long. I stick to a routine so only get them out twice every campaign but if you limited it to 3 days you could get them out 4+ times i.e. with 20 books you could cover 140/160 houses or even more.
2. Start a 'Bargain Box' and let your customers know. (Have only bought one of Avon's own bargain boxes and never again - still have some of the stuff in stock and am stuck with it.) Buy current products, which of course you can return under the 90 day no quibble guarantee if you don't sell it.
3. Talk to your customers about their favourite products and let them know you're happy to keep an eye out for any special bargains. (Reps get to know the brochures inside out but a lot of customers just don't have the time - or can't be bothered - so if you notice a product on special offer that you know could be of interest to one of your customers, they'll be delighted if you point it out to them
4. Look at doing parties, car boot/table top sales, fayres/fetes.
5. The 'professionals' advise to talk to 3 new people every day about Avon - try it - chances are you will deffo pick up some new customers. Reps can only canvass their own territory but if you've mentioned it to someone in the pub/club/hairdressers/dentist/creche/playschool etc etc you can offer to drop them a book and add them to your F&F
6. Similarly, if you have little ones in school, why not take a bottle of the latest or your favourite Avon fragrance and offer the other mums a spray whilst you're waiting at the gate? Gives you a starting point to talk about Avon and you're offering them something free so very few will refuse....

Hope that helps a little. Good luck.

dingdongavoncalling

Hiya all!
I am hoping to recanvas my teritory and want to include some flyers. I have looked on vista print as that usually has good offers but can't find any on flyers. Does anyone know of anywhere else I could order some for cheap?
Thanks

missminx

dingdongavoncalling wrote: »

Hiya all!
I am hoping to recanvas my teritory and want to include some flyers. I have looked on vista print as that usually has good offers but can't find any on flyers. Does anyone know of anywhere else I could order some for cheap?
Thanks

It depends what you mean by cheap, and how many flyers you want. They tend to be cheaper wholesale, in quantities of about a thousand is the best value. however, that doesn't make it cheap in the short term when you have to pay for them. They are an expense, and you can use the receipt in your tax return. If you keep all the information on your flyer so that it doesn't go out of date, then they are a good investment. I bought them when I first started out from a professional printing company, and it was well worth the outlay. They are smart, professional and far cheaper than losing brochures. Look for a small, local printing company and see what they can offer you. HTH

nicki_2

Can anyone help me with breaking down my invoices for tax returns?:o I haven't managed to get around to contacting HMRC about a course yet, and I'm struggling to get my head around things. Is this break down right:
- Items ordered for customers is "Cost of sales"
- Bags, rep cards, brochures, pens are "general admin"
- demo items (bought specifically for demo) including the plastic ring sizers, colour swatches etc are "Other Business Expenses"
- My earnings count as "drawings"

How do I record returns? As a credit I understand, but what catergory would they come under?

I've spent 3 days now racking my brains trying to sort this out and I'm no closer :mad: ANY help would be appreciated.