Avon - is it worth it?

climbgirl

digitalsigma wrote:

It is funny that I came across this post

My wife has just signed up to be a Marry Kay consultant... and what a deal they are giving us too... A bottom price of $2400 for the "starter kit".

I love my wife dearly so I said "what the heck". I believe in her.

My opinion is that it takes money to make money. I truely believe that the business model of Marry Kay is genious. And I plan on helping her succeed in it so she (we) can have a little more fun money - to save i mean.

God, are you kidding me?! $2400 for a starter kit?! Their business model isn't "genius" it's shows elements of a pyramid scheme. Only the very few early starters make any serious money. Usually off the people "recruited" further down the line.

http://www.smartmoney.com/smallbiz/askedandanswered/index.cfm?story=20051024

Sammz

I started Avon in the Summer and found I make most of my money through people at work. I have about 6 or 7 customers out of 105 flats in my complex so if I had to stick to that I'd make nothing. I sent an email round all the departments at work and had a great response. The last two campaigns I've made about £60 which is a nice amount for me. I also get much needed exercise when delivering!

rls1973

gerturdeanna wrote:

Personally, I got a bit peeved with the people who left their catalogues in the rain or through them in the bin!!! They cost loads!!!

we get brochures every week, either kleeneze, bettaware, avon etc. (as well as the charity collection bags) i put them all back out to be collected, i always stick them in a freezer bag (sealed with sellotape to keep the rain off and everything) but they never come back to collect any of them so in the end i have to throw them in the bin (i give it a few weeks first....)

my avon career:

i 've tried avon .first, i only made an initial enquiry and felt harassed into doing it by the area manager. you have to buy all your books etc. and no sooner you've delivered them all etc., it's time to buy them all over again. the area co-ordinator collects the orders off me, with payment, except for the last time when er... my payment disappeared between me and the office, hmmmm.....

then there was the customer who actually phoned me at home at about 10.00 at night: she had taken up a special offer where it was buy one bubble bath, get one (random choice ) free.

she was really cross because the free one didn't match the colour of her bathroom :rotfl: and actually expected me to do something about it. ( i was tempted to do something with it .:mad: ..)

on the plus side: there's a lot of exercise involved traipsing round the cold dark streets.

stick to ebay!

Emmzi

can someone report digitalsigma for spam link in sig? I'm on internet caff pc with no email...

lemontart

you pay for books, you pay for bags and need a decent sized area to make it work, xmas is good time to make a little but jan dies off .........lot of hard work involved. and returns not great.

Beth
xx

honey

Emmzi wrote:

can someone report digitalsigma for spam link in sig? I'm on internet caff pc with no email...

Have done Emmzi

Gemmzie

Waste of time I think.

If you don't make profit on your first two orders, it still costs you £8.50

I've been trying to cancel and close my account for a month and they won't do it :rolleyes:

I think it can only work if you have a strong Team Leader and work your way up to being one yourself

PigginSkint

I do Avon myself. I quite like it actually - I make approx £50 per month, though of course my earnings vary from month to month. It helps, that's all I can say! And also I use it to help towards Christmas - I get presents for people for a lot less than they would normally cost, sometimes for free! Avon do lots of special deals - buy 2 get 1 free, buy 4 for £5, that type of thing. You often get people people who don't go for the deal and then I can order something for myself for nothing or very cheaply - e.g. in the case of buy 2 get 1 free, if I get 2 people just buy one item,then I can order 1 for myself (or if 3 people just buy one item, the 3rd one costs me nothing so I make more money!)

I will say though, that I have been doing it a long time and have built a rapport with my customers so they are more likely to buy from me! My sales from the same territory are now roughly double what they were a year ago. So it pays to stick it out!

Re costs - yes you do have to buy your books but make do with as few as you can. When I put books out, I go back to collect them 2 or 3 days later, not more. Then those same books can be put back out again.

Delivery bags are the other main cost (though some Avon reps don't use them) but they are not that expensive and I always make do with the smallest one I can get away with - the smallest size is 24p for 50 I think.

Samples do cost but they are not compulsory - I occasionally give them away with deliveries but not always. The best way I have found of boosting sales is buying a body spray of a particular fragrance and just taking it round with me when I am collecting books or doing deliveries and letting people try it. Or taking a bottle of bubble bath round and giving those that want it a small amount in a cup or egg cup (one of their own). I must say that I haven't done that for a long time - I work full time now as well so just can't be bothered!! It does work though!

If you want any other info just let me know!

bananakinz

I do Avon aswell, have done for the past 3 years. I started in a January, all I wanted to do was have enough put by for the following Christmas. For the hours that I spend on it/return I wouldn't get it by working in a shop. Its flexible for me, if the kids are sick I don't go out, I can do it whilst kids are at school, or in the eves when Hubby is home. It can be a pain sometimes but if you are organised and 'train' people well than it can work I only use that Avon paper bags, bigger orders get Morrsions, tescos whatever bag I can get hold off, and do not very often buy the samples.

I said that I would give it 4 books and if I wasn't making anything then I'd give it up - since the outlay is quite minimal compared to other schemes!

My Avon money pays for the extra ... Christmas, Birthdays, Holidays, Haircuts, nights out and that lovely pair of boots in the shop that I've seen ....

misfire

Our avon rep does alot in our school - she is a mum so most of the other mums buy of her. The staff also put in orders. She holds parties at her home so you can sample the goods (these are lovely as she does lots of nibbles and although i buy stuff its still a cheap night out!) she says she spends alot of her profit on buying avon stuff!

I know loads of people who have done similar party plan things and none of them made mega money out of it. In our area there are lots of avon reps - so i am sure it will be harder to make money round here.

Knowing the work my rep puts in i wouldnt do it! she is a fab rep though.