~Avon Hints & Tips (Part 8) ~ Please read first post :)

retromother

Money_maker wrote: »

No reason why you shouldn't try to get customers from playgroups etc., you can call them friends and family. You may be surprised, however, how many have their own reps. Is there a reason you don't want to canvass? It can be helpful in building a customer base if you are a bit short on female friends and family. The first few campaigns will be the hard work in establishing yourself (especially with a toddler) but will pay dividends once you have gained trust.

Main reason I didn't want to canvas is because I don't live in a particularly friendly area and I'm nervous about people getting aggressive with me. Maybe once I've finished working my notice (I'm becoming a SAHM end of Feb) I'll reconsider - can you request specific areas? There are some nicer parts a bit further away, that are still within walking distance, that I'd be happier going to.

jabaji

Hi I am a SL and I always tell my team to think outside the box when looking for customers as we can only allocate roads as territory. Get out there to the doctors, library, post office, anywhere that has people and ask to leave a book!

lozza1985

You can certainly ask who you joined with to enquire if there are streets available in that area, if it's in walking distance then it'll probably fall within your area in which case if it's free, it can be allocated to you. Best bet is to give them a few postcodes of streets you're interested in so that there is no confusion about where you're looking at.

jabaji

retromother wrote: »

Main reason I didn't want to canvas is because I don't live in a particularly friendly area and I'm nervous about people getting aggressive with me. Maybe once I've finished working my notice (I'm becoming a SAHM end of Feb) I'll reconsider - can you request specific areas? There are some nicer parts a bit further away, that are still within walking distance, that I'd be happier going to.

You can ask and request specific roads but does depend on your area manager and also if the road is already allocated to another rep. Unfortunately mine isnt at all helpful and has her favourites!!

retromother

Thanks for your advice. I'm hoping to have a cocktail party for the girls soon so I'm going to pass out some C5 brochures then (we all turn 30 this year so hoping to get some Anew purchases lol!) and give them some extra order forms for their friends too.

Brown.Owl_2

retromother wrote: »

Main reason I didn't want to canvas is because I don't live in a particularly friendly area and I'm nervous about people getting aggressive with me. Maybe once I've finished working my notice (I'm becoming a SAHM end of Feb) I'll reconsider - can you request specific areas? There are some nicer parts a bit further away, that are still within walking distance, that I'd be happier going to.

I've found a big smile on my face constantly whilst talking to them works (I'm a SL and have managed to get lots of reps door knocking - a good nature goes a long way) if you accept that lots will say no but a simple question of "would you be interested in seeing an avon book? I'm a local rep" can only really generate a yes or no, whenever i get a no i just say "no problem, thank you for your time."

Go for it - grit your teeth, expect lots of nos then be pleasantly surprised by the number of yeses you'll get Good luck and hope you get on well.

Money_maker

retromother wrote: »

Main reason I didn't want to canvas is because I don't live in a particularly friendly area and I'm nervous about people getting aggressive with me. Maybe once I've finished working my notice (I'm becoming a SAHM end of Feb) I'll reconsider - can you request specific areas? There are some nicer parts a bit further away, that are still within walking distance, that I'd be happier going to.

^^^^^^^^
What everyone else says.
But it may help to remember that the houses between the not-so-nice folks probably have really nice people in.

When delivering, you may need to walk through the unfriendly area to make your deliveries.

You will need to consider that customers from playgroups etc. may not live within walking distance for delivery.

MarsdenCuckoo

Great to see the new input :j (I go AWOL occasionally and was really disappointed to see how quiet it was recently). Didn't see the spammers but well done, Lozza - on the ball as ever.

Fabulous idea to get feed back re. a newsletter, etc.; am actually in one of the earlier Mailplans and quite often by the time something is highlighted on the website it's a bit late for us so guess that's something I should work on....

Am undecided re. 'league tables' though so it's not something I do. Just wonder if it's more demoralising for the reps with smaller sales to always see the same names 'at the top' - yes/no? My own upliner (only once I might add, which prob gives a hint....:rotfl:) emailed all her SLs with her own SL commission based on our team sales. TBH I took it more of a rollocking for not earning her more and felt she was complaining about how little reward she was receiving for supporting us. :eek: Could be wrong but I deffo did NOT feel motivated!

Is there a knack to making league tables motivational?

MarsdenCuckoo

jabaji wrote: »

Hi I am a SL and I always tell my team to think outside the box when looking for customers as we can only allocate roads as territory. Get out there to the doctors, library, post office, anywhere that has people and ask to leave a book!

Of course, reps can only do that if they already 'know' people at these places otherwise it's no different to canvassing another rep's territory....

I always recommend that my team members keep a book on them and get it out to look at when they're in the doctors, dentists, hairdressers, opticians, etc. etc. and then try and work it into the conversation that they're an Avon rep. It's easy then to see if there's any interest and take it from there.

I,_Geek

Gaining customers as a F+F rep - canvassing means to be standing on the doorstep of someone you don't know and being about to knock on the door or post them a brochure or leaflet. Places like toddler groups or the school gates are seen as open spaces where you can at least ask. Reps can even stand in the street and hand out brochures (which could lead to customers in other rep's streets) - things to consider before doing this would be whether the council would be okay with it, and where you're prepared to travel so you don't end up with customers too far away to make it worthwhile.