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

nicki_2

Email from them this morning saying I've been re-credited and also that the stuff has also been marked as received. No proof required this time

Someone on connects said something about there being a backlog in the returns department and that's why there's been so many problems. I bet it because all the reps have been clearing out their stock & returning what they can before the shorter returns period kicked in and balancing their books for the end of the financial year. Not to mention Easter holidays have probably caused delays as well. Lets hope its settled down and things can return to as normal as they can be :rotfl:

LadyXYZ

Hi everyone, I have been thinking of joining Avon for a couple of days and I have had a good look on this thread, Youtube and elsewhere on the internet. I would be very grateful if anyone already doing Avon would help with a couple of queries before I actually make contact.
Firstly, having now realised that Avon is an MLM business do you have a choice as to whose 'team' you join and does it make a difference? I have watched a number of people on Youtube and I would like to try and join with either Gail Reynolds or Debbie Carter (I would have included Yogeeta Mistry but it seems she's no longer with Avon). Both of whom live nowhere near me so I know I wouldn't ever be dealing directly with either of them, I would just like to be part of a successful team. If I make contact on either of their websites are my details just going to be directed to my local exec?
I am planning on being in this for the long haul and I would like to know if you go down the Leadership route is it as lucrative as it's made out to be in the media?
My last two queries are related to when you first join. What's the initial contact with your Sales Leader like, do they come to your house or give you any training? With regards to your territory, how big is this likely to be and what would happen if you canvassed outside of it if you know that no-one is already providing a service?
I best stop now, I think I am getting a bit cheeky! Please feel free to DM me (if you can do that on here - just joined so not had a look to see if I have an inbox) if you feel you have something to share but don't want to on the forum. Thanks Again.

pixtotts

nicki - that is probably exactly it!

LadyXYZ - Hello Please bare with me this is a long reply..... It makes no difference who you sign under, my personal approach would be to look on facebook search for someone in your area, and look how active they are. I signed using the link on the avon website, I ended up under the Area Manager, rather than a SL (ASMs are actually employed by avon on a wage), she can be awesome like she gave me more streets, 40books, samples, and all sorts of free stuff this week... But also as an ASM she is so busy I can't get in touch with her for AGES, it takes a good month to get a reply at the best of times...
You want someone helpful someone who is active. I think you can contact anyone you like online where ever they are, but it wont benefit you having someone a million miles away.... Every Sales leader wants a successful team, but it doesn't make much odds really, its all about how much work you put into it. I get near to no contact from my asm except when I corner her at avon meetings, but she told me I'm over achieving anyway, I'm selling more than my streets are predicted for. It doesn't matter who you join under as long as you put the work in...

Second No, A lot of avon reps are VERY angry when they read the things in the media, it's a lot of hard work, and you aren't going to be making your millions. But you can put in as much or as little time as you want...

Advanced leadership as it's now called it seems, or sales leadership what we are all used to it being is something I don't do but have been looking into. I would advise joining as just a rep first. You need to know how it works before you can show someone else the ropes... I've been doing it since last September and thinking of stepping it up now I know how most bits work and that I could support someone more than my upliner is able to.

Sales leader comes to your house, they go through the basics of what avon is about, they give you your first lot of books, they are then supposed to return and give you your second lot of books and go through how to order I believe... wouldn't know my ASM never came back the second time. I figured my way through it places like here and the Avon facebook groups are super useful!
Your territory is limited to start, to I think 100 or 150 houses? not sure, but it increases as you get sales so the more you sell the more houses you can have, capped at 500 I believe. Canvassing off you streets is a big no no, rogue reps are the most annoying thing, you would have other reps very upset with you. If someone asks for a book though that's fine, you just can't approach them. If you find someone on a street without a rep who has asked you for a book ask them to mention to their neighbours that they know someone who does avon . But consider them friends and family customers, I currently have 4 houses on a street thats without a rep, one is my godmother, one is a family friend and 2 of their neighbours. The reason it's so annoying if someone canvasses a street when they aren't supposed to even if it's free, is you never know when that street could be assigned to someone....

What area are you in LadyXYZ? wondering if I know any good sales leaders near you X

LadyXYZ

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply Pixtotts! It's a great thing to be over achieving, but not so good if your upline (I didn't even know what that was until a short time ago) sees it as an excuse to leave you to get on with things and you maybe want to be doing more.

I understand why it would be frowned upon to go canvassing in out of bounds areas, I was just asking as we have been here for a very long time and we've never been canvassed before. I don't think there is actually anyone doing Avon around here. I suppose I could try advertising in the local retail spots though, then if people want to buy they can contact me. I would never poach people, that's a crappy thing to do and I wouldn't like it done to me later on.

Do you mind if I ask you another question - I am very cheeky?!

I am trying to get my social media all set up before I start, has anyone ever found you from your online presence and started ordering from you? I suppose I am asking how do other marketing methods compare to knocking on doors? Like being active on facebook, twitter etc or placing business cards/posters in shops?

I am just north of Manchester and so far as I can see there is no-one active nearby. I will search in the little suburbs on facebook and see what I can find.

Thanks again x

pixtotts

LadyXYZ wrote: »

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply Pixtotts! It's a great thing to be over achieving, but not so good if your upline (I didn't even know what that was until a short time ago) sees it as an excuse to leave you to get on with things and you maybe want to be doing more.

I understand why it would be frowned upon to go canvassing in out of bounds areas, I was just asking as we have been here for a very long time and we've never been canvassed before. I don't think there is actually anyone doing Avon around here. I suppose I could try advertising in the local retail spots though, then if people want to buy they can contact me. I would never poach people, that's a crappy thing to do and I wouldn't like it done to me later on.

Do you mind if I ask you another question - I am very cheeky?!

I am trying to get my social media all set up before I start, has anyone ever found you from your online presence and started ordering from you? I suppose I am asking how do other marketing methods compare to knocking on doors? Like being active on facebook, twitter etc or placing business cards/posters in shops?

I am just north of Manchester and so far as I can see there is no-one active nearby. I will search in the little suburbs on facebook and see what I can find.

Thanks again x

It could well be that near you is free and you can have it allocated to you . Or it will bring it to their attention and they will ask the people its allocated to to canvas or to give up the streets so someone else can have them. Some areas just get through reps so fast they never get canvassed.
Some people do really well with their online presence, facebook profile, selling groups on facebook, Avon also have find a rep system where you can search for someone near your postcode, you have to meet certain criteria to qualify for that though its only something like place however many orders in a row or something. we also have what they call POB, personal online brochure. Where customers can order directly through you, mines https://www.!!!!!!!.com/olhxxtt if you wanted to see what they are like.
For me personally though I haven't picked up anyone online... Word of mouth has been my only way to pick up other customers. I have notices in a few of the shops near me, the ones that aren't expensive... one was £1 a week the other asks for a donation to charity, It's been up since last September I just add my change to the box when I go in I've yet to pick up any one from those though.

I'm just trying a recommend a friend offer with my regulars, they recommend a friend get a free gift, friend gets a goodybag (few samples, sweets making it up as I go along....lol). Using showergels and bubble baths I was able to get for 70p and samples I've collected along the way, so hopefully might pick up a couple more that way.
x

selement

I'm considering becoming an Avon rep, I've always liked the products (though admittedly rarely buy them, but I'm not a big make up person), I have a full time job but would like to shift some debt and boost my savings for getting married. I'm just not sure if it's worth me doing it - I did a search on the Avon website and there's 9 reps in a 0.5mile radius of me! I've never had anyone come around though so don't know if anyone is doing this road (despite 3 reps being in a 0.1mile radius!).
I remember where I previously worked there were some catalogues left in the staff room which seems like a simple way of doing things. I don't think anyones currently doing that where I work now and I'm about to change jobs so will have a new workplace to try and get potential out of... but would I be allowed to do that?
I'm a bit worried because I'm naturally a bit shy and would feel a bit nervous going door to door so perhaps it's not for me... just want a way of improving my income

pixtotts

selement Hi .
firstly - don't expect to make loads, don't expect to make your millions, but Avon is a great way of making a little bit of money for a little bit of effort. More effort you can make more obviously, but a bit here and there is what most of us are happy with I think it's fair to say . The pennies do soon add up after all
Find a rep is a bit iffy, it includes people who are no longer active sometimes, and isn't always that accurate on locations. But there are a lot of reps about, but don't let that put you off at all. We get allocated streets, so you know noone else should be giving books on that street (unless they are giving to friends or family). So the number in an area doesn't really effect sales, only what streets are available.
You can leave them in your staff room as long as noone at that workplace minds , you can also give them to friends to take into their staff rooms

I am very shy too, currently pooping myself over having to phone a couple of customers tomorrow to arrange delivery, eek! But... I love Avon and I really do think it is helping with my confidence
I personally choose not to knock on doors. I have my street, I drop a book to every house with a note introducing myself saying when I will be to collect books, when delivery will be and a tick boxes so they can say if they don't want any more, or already have a rep (useful to know because you know that house likes avon, and a lot of reps only do it for short periods ).
If their book isn't out on the day they say I leave another not saying I will be back the next day. Usually I get all my books back that way without having to talk to anyone . Only time it forces me to make human contact is when I have deliveries or when they are gardening or something when I arrive.... damn them! I try and go middle of the day to avoid people! I am bad.... lol.

I think I covered all your questions but if you have just ask
x

selement

Thank you pixtotts.
I was thinking about knocking on doors to allow people to request I never bother them again but perhaps your way of doing a note for this would be better! Even less intrusive. I know some people might prefer to meet the rep properly (and that might be better for sales) but so many people just hate being bothered especially when it's something they aren't interested in.

I know it wouldn't be the big bucks but an extra few quid a month wouldn't go amiss! Might give it a try in a few months, right now I'm learning to drive (part the reason I need the money is to repair my credit card after paying for lessons ) and have enough going on, but hopefully be on it before Christmas (nice extra Christmas boost maybe?). I know you have to pay for the books, but is it fairly rare to actually lose money doing this?

Pleased to know so many reps nearby won't make it a bad idea to sign up.

I,_Geek

Seeing lots of reps nearby isn't a good thing unless they all do friends and family (i.e. they don't canvas streets). If lots of streets in the surrounding area are already covered you'll either not be able to have a territory or you'll have a bit of a trek/drive to reach it.

The drop-out rate of reps is high. This is for different reasons depending on the rep:
- just didn't put the effort in
- wasn't trained properly and as a result had account or territory problems
- put in the effort but couldn't get enough sales (through lack of territory, uninterested territory, friends and family not interested or there's not enough of them to make up your orders each campaign)

I can't comment on how many of those reps who leave made a loss. There will definitely be some who make a loss because they couldn't manage the money and their account properly. If you sign up, make sure your upline trains you on how to do returns, what happens if someone doesn't pay etc... Only spend on expenses that bring in sales or make you more efficient. Some reps spend on frivolous things that are just eating into their profits. If they did their accounts I think they'd be in for a shock.

pixtotts

I have problems seeing how people make a loss unless they spend all their commission on Avon for themselves... I do that occasionally, recently a handbag stole all my commission :P
I put in minimal effort, I don't really have many friends and family who order, maybe 5 or 6 and that is not every campaign. But I've yet to not make something, ok the first couple once books and join up fee was gone it was only £10, but it's £10 I wouldn't have had .

I buy 40 books a time £7.50, and use them twice. Once each for 2 campaigns, current, then to backorder. But if I could be bothered to put the effort in I can put books out and collect back 3 times each campaign easily, and use them 6 times, and just order 15 books (£5). I'm lucky I've always received most if not all of mine back... but for £2.50 I'd rather be lazy...

I agree with I,Geek, it has to come down to reps not keeping track of things and spending on things they don't need... I probably waste quite on printing and paper and card, but as I said I'm lazy... lol
X