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

jasperconran

hi all,

Ok I would like to ask a question. Please dont think im being rude cos im not.

Is Avon actually worth doing anymore? I have tried (and failed!) twice before but I believe it was because I did not give it the time it needed and deserved.

I have also read some reports online that people are now saying because of the internet, there is now no need for reps anymore:(

Was wondering if anyone could give some of their views? thanks

Brown.Owl_2

I have about 60 customers, not all of them order regularly but they all order from the paper books, there is now a personal online brochure with Avon that allows the customer to order online and the order goes direct to the rep with that link -and they still deliver as normal. None of my customers have used the online brochure yet, they only order when I give them a physical book.

Why they all order via me instead of using the internet? I don't know, I can guess some of them like the personal delivery, some are elderly without computers, I know a couple of them love their catalogues (they have next, kaleidescope etc) so like flicking through a book in front of the tv in the evenings.

missminx

Can anyone please tell me how being a 'personal rep' works? Am considering my options at the minute.... can't decide where to go with Avon. Do you still have to declare it as self employment? Do you get discount in the same way? Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks.

MarsdenCuckoo

missminx wrote: »

Can anyone please tell me how being a 'personal rep' works? Am considering my options at the minute.... can't decide where to go with Avon. Do you still have to declare it as self employment? Do you get discount in the same way? Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Just works the same as a 'normal' rep but you wouldn't have territory, which effectively releases you from any 'obligation' to place an order every campaign. If you stick to ordering from Hello Tomorrow, everything is discounted anyway + orders £10+ are delivered free. Gives you access to HT clearance and all other facilities open to reps. If you don't order any books, Avon will send you one whenever you order (+ hard copy of your HT) and charge you 55p for it. That gives you the option to show it to your F&F if you wish but you will only get discount if you reach MOV/HOV. Provided you don't miss more than two consecutive campaigns, your a/c will remain open for your own personal use.

HTH.

MarsdenCuckoo

jasperconran wrote: »

hi all,

Ok I would like to ask a question. Please dont think im being rude cos im not.

Is Avon actually worth doing anymore? I have tried (and failed!) twice before but I believe it was because I did not give it the time it needed and deserved.

I have also read some reports online that people are now saying because of the internet, there is now no need for reps anymore:(

Was wondering if anyone could give some of their views? thanks

Ask away! (Sure others are thinking the same... :rotfl:) TBH you are never going to get rich as a rep but, having said that I think I earned more as a PC Rep than I do now as an ASL! Versatility is the main advantage i.e. start it off small scale so it fits in with your current life and then gradually build up the parts of it you find best for you. The key really is to have a good, supportive upliner.

At our SL Conference last year one SL won an award for achieving Exec SL status in 6 campaigns - on average that's a living wage of £26K p.a. but she's the exception that proves the rule i.e. it is possible but deffo NOT normal! Our highest earner last year was a man (David Carter), who with his partner earned over £1 million!!:j

So the short answer is YES, it can be very lucrative - not easy though!

As for reps becoming obsolete due to the Internet, personally I can't see that ever happening. Avon have been in existence for 125+ years - not many companies can say that so they're obviously doing something right. Guess again it's all about flexibility and the more routes to market the better.

Give it another go.... you know you want to!

lozza1985

In over 3 years I've only lost one customer who preferred to order online, everyone else prefers the personal touch - free gift for every 6 orders, free samples most of the time, the odd exclusive offer (free gift for x spend). I've managed to save myself a lot of time & fuel lately, using a few ways. I decided the areas that take a while, but which could be done quicker - mainly collecting in brochures. We used to call back the next day if the book wasn't out the day it should be, and we stopped that instead now we pop a calling card through requesting people contact us with their order if they want anything from the current beochure, and we put all our contact info on & a deadline date all orders need to be in by (day before our order is actually due in).

The other thing we've done, is to ask our customers if they'd mind contacting us with their order rather than us collect the book. We did it by putting a note with the brochure explaining due to the cost of fuel, we might have to stop the free gifts, but said if they take up this 'new' ordering method they would get 10% off a selected new product each brochure to pass on savings to them. It's worked really well, we have about 32 people on this method now, and 30 still have their book collected, but it's so much quicker than it used to be. Obviously it costs us more in books, but overall it's much better for us. We try and deliver books at the same as taking orders, then they are all collected on the same day to cut down on trips and therefore fuel.

What I always say is - Avon can be what you make it, you can do it full time if you really want to, or fit it around work/family, or even just do it between family/friends so that you get your products cheaper. Me & Dh have been doing Avon for over 3 years now, and I can't see us ever stopping, we've worked too hard to build up our customer base, and with all the things I've mentioned above, it doesn't actually take us that long anymore. We usually sell as a minimum about £400 (less in jan/ feb perhaps £300 at the most), from September-Christmas it can be as much as £900 as I encourage my customers from September to start getting presents from things on offer (perfumes, jewellery) to spread the cost for themselves, and get it delivered to their door - which a lot of them do which is obviously great for us! If you're thinking about it, give it a try, certainly very few people order from the website when they have access to a rep, they like having a brochure to flick through, and to support someone directly rather than a 'faceless' company.

MarsdenCuckoo

Nice one, lozza! :T

Like your new signature too...

lozza1985

Just to add - if you don't order brochures and get sent one at a charge of 55p - you can return it for credit, using the code for 'not ordered, but been charged' - it's about the only time you can return brochures for credit, as you didn't order it, so you are able to return in. I always do this for Dh, we order all books on my account, and return the single book on his account, avon have never questioned how he reaches pc with no books!

MarsdenCuckoo

Well done again, lozza; just one of the hints and tips on here, eh? Can't understand why it's so quiet....
:beer:

lozza1985

Been very quiet lately hasnt it! Hopefully everyone is just busy enjoying life and their Avon is running smoothly!

Think the new colortrend stuff looks lovely, looks much more modern and grown up, and not so nasty & cheap looking as the old black packaging.

Managed to put my foot in it the other day when arranging deliveries - for ages, one of my customers has had her daughter in laws order delivered to her, although we collect the books from each of their houses. Lately, the daughter in law has written on for the order to go to hers. Didn't really think anything of it, just figured her work hours had been changed or something so wouldn't be visiting as often. So, when she was rearranging he delivery I stupidly say, o I'm going to be delivering to x tonight, want me to take yours there too...turns out her dad and his wife have split up which was why her orders weren't going there anymore. Felt so stupid, That never even crossed my mind, silly me assumes people stay married lol. Thankfully she was ok with it, but then didn't want to put my foot in it when speaking to her (ex) mother in law later that day lol!