If you have a small business and use a PayPal card reader, you may have recently received an email that PayPal is discontinuing its card reader and replacing it with Zettle (not Zelle). They want you to purchase the Zettle card reader for about $80.
There are alternatives to this.
I have been using the Square card reader for six years and find it extremely easy to use. Like PayPal, you can access your funds immediately. The square fee for standard card processing is 2.6% + 10 cents. PayPal’s fee is 2.9% + 30 cents.
The basic card swiper that plugs into your smartphone is about $10. You can buy this from Square, or even pick one up at Walmart.
The chip card reader is $49 and offers extra security for chip cards.
If your customer has a contactless tap symbol on their card (shown at left), you can simply tap it to your smartphone screen!
If you’re more of a brick-and-mortar business, there are the Square Terminal, Square Stand, and Square Register.
One other thing I love about Square is the checking account. All card sales that I process are deposited into my Square checking account, plus I have arranged for 10% of my sales to transfer directly into my Square savings account. That automatic savings helps me save up for special purchases. I have a beautiful white debit card that I can use anywhere to access those funds. And I received $1,000 in free processing just for signing up for the checking account!
If you sign up for a Square account using this link, you’ll receive your first $1,000 in free processing too:
As an Avon Representative, you know that the most important thing for your business is that people KNOW you’re an Avon Representative. Building a business takes time, effort, consistency, and lots and lots of patience. I see so many new Representatives put out ten brochures for their first campaign, and then give up after they don’t get any orders from those ten brochures.
Well, there are a whole lot more than ten potential clients in the United States. If you’re going to give up after one try, how serious are you about owning a business? Did you know that most new businesses take a year or more before they turn a profit? The first year is about investing in your business to make it grow. And the best thing you can invest in as a new Avon Representative is your brochures.
Of course, you should be sharing your online store (estore) link and the digital brochure via social media, text, and email, but there are millions of people who still want to hold a glossy book in their hands and flip through it, turning down the pages of items they like and want to order. Those are the people we are talking about in this post.
You need to order brochures every campaign and get them into the hands of people. Order them two campaigns in advance so you have time to prepare them (this also helps avoid brochures being sold out), and order as many as you can afford. The more packs of ten you order, the cheaper they are per pack. Here is the current pricing as of September 2021:
6 or more packs: $16.50 (for the first 5 packs) + $3.30 for each additional pack
Put your information on the back of the brochures. You can handwrite or use labels. I have a little Dymo 450 thermal label printer that has paid for itself many times over. It’s so simple to use and takes just a few seconds to create a new label and print out the exact quantity you need. Included on my labels are my name, phone number, email address, estore address, campaign dates, and Facebook page. I also include a small label with my QR code that goes straight to my estore. On the front of the brochure I’ll place labels pointing out special deals in the book or recruiting information.
Once your brochures are prepared, it’s time to get them out there before the campaign starts. If you’re not inclined to walk through neighborhoods and putting them on porches, I don’t blame you. But NEVER put them in or on a mailbox – it is a federal crime and could get you a fine.
Some Representatives do what is known as a “book toss” – where they drive through a neighborhood and literally toss brochures in clear plastic bags out their car window into people’s driveways. This works for some brave souls, but I personally shy away from doing it. Some people are not too happy with having to pick up what they consider trash in their driveway, and your contact info is right there. So I like to stick to letting people find me.
One thing I do is hang a basket of brochures on the back of my vehicle everywhere I go. The zipper bags fit brochures perfectly and keep them dry. I include recruiting information and an offer for online shoppers to receive a free gift in the mail. This has gotten me several clients.
You can also leave brochures at local businesses if they allow it. Think of all the places in your town:
Mom and Pop grocery stores
Beauty salons
Auto repair shops
Thrift shops
Tattoo parlors
Nail salons
Coffee shops
Diners
Doctors’ offices
Laundromats
Gas stations
You get the idea!
How to Reach Out-of-Area Clients
Do you have friends or family members who live out of state? I recommend using Campaign Mailer to get brochures to them. Campaign Mailer is a service run by an Independent Avon Sales Representative (not by Avon corporate) that uses bulk mail to save money on postage. Because they have such a high volume of brochures mailed every campaign, it is much, much cheaper to use their service than to purchase brochures and mail them yourself. If you take a brochure to the post office, it will be more than $3.00 to mail a single one. (Note: you cannot use Media Mail to send advertising material, and the post office is allowed to open and inspect anything mailed under Media Mail.)
With Campaign Mailer, the price varies based on the number of brochures sent and if you want flyers or samples included with them. But to mail a brochure by itself, it runs from $1.89 each for 1-9 brochures, to $1.39 each for 200+. That price includes the cost of the brochure itself, so you are saving quite a bit of money. I recently mailed out 140 brochures for $208.60 or $1.49 each. If I had mailed those at the post office, it would have been at least $500 between the cost of the brochures, envelopes, and postage.
You can also choose what date you want the brochures mailed by picking mail date A, B, C, D, E, or F. I use C or D, and my brochures arrive a few days before the beginning of the campaign.
The point is, you want to get as many of your brochures into the hands of people as humanly possible. Any way you do that is fine, but do it! Your brochure is your store, and if nobody has them, your store is not open and people won’t shop. Order your brochures now, and think of all the places you can leave them. As you drive around town, more and more ideas will pop into your head. Think like a business owner! That is the key.
Not an Avon Representative Yet?
Want to learn more about becoming an Avon Representative?
When you’re just getting started, there is so much to learn, and it can become overwhelming. But no need to panic – just take your time, grab a notebook, and start learning. No business is built in a day, and yours will keep growing as long as you keep learning.
The first thing you want to do, of course, is get your account and your online store set up. Your upline can help you with that. If you don’t know who your upline is, simply go to Support at the top of your home page and click on Contact Avon Advisor. His or her name and contact info will be there. If you don’t have an advisor, no worries! I will be happy to help you out and answer any questions as well.
Then, you need to immediately start taking the courses on Avon U, beginning with the ones designated for New Representatives. There are hundreds of short courses out there, so you can do one or two when you have a few extra moments. The courses are super-helpful in learning the business quickly, and learning how to do the basic tasks like prospecting for customers and placing your order. As you learn, you can move up through the more advanced courses and prerecorded videos, download product one-pagers and other important documents, and more.
If you haven’t already done so, join some Facebook groups for Avon Representatives. There are many out there, just do a search. My favorite is Onward! No Matter What! with Molly Stone-Bibb. You do not need to be in Molly’s downline in order to join her group, but you do have to be an active Avon Representative.
There are lots of tips and tricks you will pick up along the way, either through the Avon videos or from other Representatives, but here are a few that I share with my new team members:
Campaigns
Each campaign lasts two weeks, from Wednesday to Tuesday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. You can choose any day during this two-week period to be your regular order day – BUT I would advise you not to wait until the last day, in case of unforeseen circumstances like website disruptions or power outages. Personally, I give my brochures out early and place my first order for each campaign on the very first Wednesday. That way, I get my brochures and demos well in advance. This method also helps me avoid out-of-stocks on popular items like holiday décor and jewelry. Then, if there are additional customer orders, I place another order on the second Wednesday of the campaign. But you choose to do whatever works best for you and your customers.
Commission
The most important thing, right? How does commission work? Basically, your starting commission of 25% on beauty and jewelry and 20% on fashion and home starts when your total campaign sales are at least $40. That includes both your in-person sales and your direct delivery (online) sales. Campaign sales under $40 do not earn any commission, so you will want to make sure you have at least $40 in orders each campaign. This would include your brochures, sales tools, and any products you order for yourself. If you find your orders add up to a bit less than $40, add on an item for yourself. Here’s why: A $35 order earns zero commission, but a $40 order earns $10 (assuming it’s all beauty and jewelry). Add on a $10 item for yourself and you’ll get it free!
Products
Speaking of purchasing products for yourself, you are getting a huge discount so you need to be your best customer! When I see Representatives with no orders, I shake my head. Why would you buy your makeup, skin care, bath and body products, perfume, vitamins, deodorant, jewelry, casual clothing, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, laundry detergent, dish soap, stain remover, dog shampoo, household cleaning products, feminine hygiene products, etc., from Walmart and put more money in their pockets, when you can buy all of these things from YOURSELF? You not only get your discount, but your sales count towards reaching new sales levels like President’s Club and towards incentives like cash awards and free vacations! Every year, there is a trip to be earned. Last year, I earned a trip to Cap Cana, Dominican Republic, and this year, I am working towards a trip to the Big Island, Hawaii.
Buying and using your products not only earns you a discount and award sales, but it also makes you an expert in product knowledge. When customers ask about a product you’re using and you respond with your own experience, that makes you more credible in their eyes. Be a walking billboard for Avon! Use the skin care and makeup, wear the fragrances, jewelry, and clothing. I promise, it will pay off.
Brochures
Always order your brochures two campaigns in advance – i.e., when placing your Campaign 7 order, you will be ordering Campaign 9 brochures. Avon prints brochures six months in advance, so when they run out, they run out. Ordering early avoids out-of-stocks, and gives you extra time to prepare them for distribution.
If you can, get a label printer. I have a little Dymo LabelWriter 450 that prints on labels that come in rolls. It uses thermal printing so there is no ink to buy, and I have my labels on autoship from Amazon. I have found dozens of uses for that small but mighty machine in addition to putting my information on the back of brochures. When there is something I want to point out in the brochure, I’ll put another label on the front directing customers to the page. I’ve also made little square labels with my QR code on them that I can put on the brochures. You can also use Avery labels in a regular printer too. But the Dymo is so super-easy to use and worth every penny I paid for it.
Demo Products
To view/order demo products, go to Browse Products > View Brochure, and then choose the What’s New catalog to browse through. Click on an item to go to that item’s order page. You can order from What’s New for each of the next two campaigns – for instance, in Campaign 16 you can order demos for Campaign 17 and 18. Demos are priced at your discount rate – which for new Representatives is 25% on beauty and jewelry, 20% on fashion and home. Order demos to show your customers and get pre-orders, make samples from a full bottle, or just use them yourself so you can be an expert when talking about the new products. You may order up to two of each demo product.
Beauty Buzz
Be sure to read the Beauty Buzz email that you get every Monday. That’s where you’ll learn the latest happenings and important updates. Also, follow the Avon USA Representatives page on Facebook! Almost every day, there are free live-training sessions offered on new products, selling techniques, social media, etc. You can check the Calendar on AvonNow for all upcoming trainings.
Be Patient!
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Avon is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but I guarantee you that hard work and consistency will pay off!! Remember that any new business takes a good solid year to get off the ground. Invest in your brochures, samples, and demos; be consistent with promoting your online store, and become a walking billboard. When the compliments roll in, it’s your cue to talk about how much you love Avon products! Your enthusiasm and personality are what sells.
Not a Representative Yet?
Want to learn more about becoming an Avon Representative?
Yay!!! For a limited time this summer, you can join Avon with the $0 signup offer!
You can choose from these options:
$0, FREE signup
A contribution of as little as $5 to the American Cancer Society
Sign up for $30 and receive your choice of two starter kits packed with best-selling products and brochures
And speaking of FREE . . .
You get serious rewards with your first order, including FREE SHIPPING! Here are the details:
A FREE full-size belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb ($38 value) with your first AvonNow.com order of ANY SIZE.
If your firsts order is $60 or more, you’ll also get a $10 credit toward your second campaign, and 135 FREE LIP BALMS ($315+ value)!
If you join in Campaign 16-20 (July 7 – September 14, 2021), you will also get FREE SHIPPING* on your first order if placed by the end of your second campaign.
*Free Shipping will be reflected as an $8 credit on your account. Your first campaign is considered the one in which you sign up.
If you choose to get a Starter Kit
When you choose the $30 option to join, you will get a starter kit worth up to $137. You can choose from two different starter kits:
Each of the starter kits comes with all of the products pictured, plus ten current brochures to help you get your business off the ground. You can use the products as demos, sell them for 100% profit, have a giveaway for customers who place orders, or use them yourself – they’re yours to do whatever you like with.
Love the starter kits? Ready to sign up? Click here!
Choose to donate
Your other signup option is making a contribution of $5.00 or more to the American Cancer Society. This option does not include products or brochures, but no worries – I’ll be here to help you get started, and you’ll also have all the tools and training you need online!
Take the Pathway to Premier to reach $5,000 in sales quickly!
Avon has made it easy to reach Premier level ($5,000 in annual sales) with Pathway to Premier, in which you can earn up to $2,050 in bonuses in your first eight campaigns, ON TOP OF your regular commission, for a total of $3,300* if you meet all goals! Here’s how it works in a nutshell:
Earn $50 Mini Milestone Bonus plus 50 FREE Lip Balms when you reach $500 in sales (this Mini Milestone bonus ends July 6, 2021)
Earn $100 Milestone Bonus plus 100 FREE Lip Balms when you reach $1,000 in sales
Earn $200 Milestone Bonus when you reach $2,000 in sales
Earn $300 Milestone Bonus when you reach $3,000 In sales
Earn $400 Milestone Bonus when you reach $4,000 in sales
Earn $500 Milestone Bonus when you reach $5,000 in sales
PLUS, earn $20 Stepping Stone Bonuses for each order over $200 in your first 8 campaigns (up to a maximum of $500)
Reach $5,000 in your first eight campaigns, and you can earn $2,000 in bonuses, and you will already be at Premier level (and get higher commission)!
As an added bonus, place a first order of $60 or more on time, and get 135 FREE Lip Balms and a $10 credit toward your second order! (limited time offer)
*All new Representatives earned an average of $112 over their first 8 campaigns, but those who participated in Pathway to Premier earned an average of $390 over their first 8 campaigns, based on those who started in Campaigns 5 through 9, 2020 (exclusive of signup and shipping costs).
After your eighth campaign, your earnings are based on your level of achievement:
NO minimum order size is required. Keep in mind, however, that you do need at least $40 in total sales during a campaign (including your direct delivery orders) to earn commission – but it is not a requirement. And $40 is not hard to reach, especially if you are purchasing brochures, demos, etc., in addition to your customers’ orders.
And, you are not required to place an order every campaign, though it is recommended to keep your business growing. Your account will go “inactive” if you miss six campaigns in a row, but you can still reactivate it by placing an order within one year of your last order. After that year passes, you would have to sign up again.
NO inventory is required. You know how some direct sales companies require that you order so much per month to keep your representative or affiliate status? Not Avon! In fact, it is not recommended that you keep inventory on hand, unless you do vendor shows. Of course, once you get familiar with your clients and their needs/favorite products, it’s perfectly fine to have a small stock around for quick cash-and-carry sales.
FREE Online Store!
You get a FREE online store that is open immediately, as soon as you sign up! Many direct sales companies charge a monthly fee of $30 or more for their websites. Not Avon! The online store is personalized to you, and you can begin sharing your custom URL immediately. Customers can shop the entire product line, flip through a PDF of the paper brochure, or enjoy the digital brochure for an interactive experience. A really fun aspect of the digital brochure is the try-on tool – they can use their phone’s camera or a photo of themselves to try on different shades of makeup. So cool! You can even choose to just sell online if you want. Earn commission without doing any work – that’s a no-brainer!
You will have FREE training and support from me as your Avon Advisor, as well as on the Avon U training platform. There are literally hundreds of short courses on Avon U that you can take to learn every aspect of your new business. Start with the New Representative courses, and go on from there, and you will be an expert Representative in no time! And I am always available to answer your questions and assist you with your needs too. Also, there is the Avon USA Representatives Facebook page, where there are live training sessions all the time, and webinars from the Learning & Development Team are happening several times a week. You may be an Independent Sales Representative, but you are NEVER alone!
Did I mention that your commission is also a discount on your products that you buy for yourself? As a new Representative, you’ll enjoy 25% off your beauty and jewelry purchases, and 20% off your fashion and home products. And as you reach higher commission levels, your discount increases too. Take a look at the current brochure and make a list of all the things you want to try right now! From skin care, to makeup, to bath & body products, to fragrance, to trending fashion and jewelry, to cleaning products for your whole house – well, you just have to see it to appreciate it all!
Incentives galore!
So far this year, I have earned $175 in Marriott gift cards, and $100 in free products SEVEN TIMES – yes, that’s $700 in free products, from incentive offers. And, I can’t wait to spend five days in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic, all expenses paid, this November as a result of last year’s trip incentive. You’ve never been on a trip until you’ve been on an Avon trip! And this year, we are working towards a trip to the Big Island, Hawaii, to take place in the spring of 2022. There’s still time to earn it! And, new incentives are being announced all the time!
Build a team and watch your income grow
Want to earn even more money and make a career of it? Build a team and take advantage of Avon’s generous Leadership Compensation Plan! Watch your income grow as your team grows!
If you’re thinking about a side hustle (or a main gig, for that matter), please take a few minutes and read this! I LOVE my Avon business, and I’d like to share with you why you will love it too. Following are ten great reasons to join my Avon team, Pammy’s Fearless Foxes, today. Of course, there are many more reasons, but these are my Top Ten.
One
Join for Zero Dollars! That’s right, free signups are back for a limited time starting July 7, 2021! Or, you can join for just $30, and get this starter kit!
Your starter kit comes with all of the products pictured, plus five current brochures to help you get your business off the ground. You can use the products as demos, sell them for 100% profit, or use them yourself – they’re yours to do whatever you like with.
Your other signup option is making a contribution of $5.00 or more to the American Cancer Society (ACS). This option does not include products or brochures, but no worries – I’ll be here to help you get started, and you’ll also have all the tools and training you need online!
Love the starter kits? Ready to sign up? Click here!
Two
When you Premier level ($5,000 in annual sales), you give yourself a raise! In fact, with each sales level milestone, you will earn more money with each sale you make. You’ll be starting out with 25% on Beauty & Jewelry and 25% on Fashion & Home, but your commission increases with each new sales level and is locked in for the rest of the year and most of the following year.
NO minimum order size is required. Keep in mind, however, that you do need to reach at least $40 in total sales during a campaign (including your direct delivery orders) to earn commission – but it is not a requirement. And $40 is not hard to reach, especially if you are purchasing brochures, demos, etc., in addition to your customers’ orders.
Once you reach Premier level, you no longer have to meet that $40 threshold to earn commission – you’ll earn it on all sales.
And, you are not required to place an order every campaign, though it is recommended to keep your business growing. Your account will go “inactive” if you miss six campaigns in a row, but you can still reactivate it by placing an order within one year of your last order. After that year passes, you would have to sign up again.
Four
NO inventory is required. You know how some direct sales companies require that you order so much per month to keep your representative or affiliate status? Not Avon! In fact, it is not recommended that you keep inventory on hand, unless you do vendor shows. Of course, once you get familiar with your clients and their needs/favorite products, it’s perfectly fine to have a small stock around for quick cash-and-carry sales.
Five
NO assigned territories anymore. Back in the day, when I sold Avon in the 1980s, we were assigned a neighborhood to cover. But now, with the Internet bringing us all together, and online sales, there is no geographical limit to where you can sell Avon within the United States! You can sell to your neighbors, to your friends in the next town, to your daughter who lives 1,500 miles away, and to your high school friends who are spread across the country. Each Avon Representative builds his or her own customer base through contacts, networking, posting on social media, and optional advertising within Avon’s policy guidelines.
Six
You get a FREE online store that is open immediately, as soon as you sign up! Many direct sales companies charge a monthly fee of $30 or more for their websites. Not Avon! The online store is personalized to you, and you can begin sharing your custom URL immediately. Customers can shop the entire product line, flip through a PDF of the paper brochure, or enjoy the digital brochure for an interactive experience. A really fun aspect of the digital brochure is the try-on tool – they can use their phone’s camera or a photo of themselves to try on different shades of makeup. So cool! You can even choose to just sell online if you want. Earn commission without doing any work – that’s a no-brainer!
You will have FREE training and support from me as your Avon Advisor, as well as on the Avon U training platform. There are literally hundreds of short courses on Avon U that you can take to learn every aspect of your new business. Start with the New Representative courses, and go on from there, and you will be an expert Representative in no time! And I am always available to answer your questions and assist you with your needs too. Also, there is the Avon USA Representatives Facebook page, where there are live training sessions all the time, and webinars from the Learning & Development Team are happening several times a week. You may be an Independent Sales Representative, but you are NEVER alone!
Eight
Did I mention that your commission is also a discount on your products that you buy for yourself? As a new Representative, you’ll enjoy 25% off your beauty and jewelry purchases, and 20% off your fashion and home products. And as you reach higher commission levels, your discount increases too. Take a look at the current brochure and make a list of all the things you want to try right now! From skin care, to makeup, to bath & body products, to fragrance, to trending fashion and jewelry, to cleaning products for your whole house – well, you just have to see it to appreciate it all!
Nine
Incentives!!! I have earned things like cold hard cash, $175 in Marriott gift cards, and hundreds of dollars worth of free products, not to mention all-expenses-paid trips to Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and Hawaii! And I’m not even a top Sales Representative. It’s not as hard as you think to earn incentives.
Ten
Want to earn even more money and make a career of it? Build a team and take advantage of Avon’s generous Leadership Compensation Plan! Watch your income grow as your team grows!
2020 was a challenging year for all of us, there’s no doubt about it. And for those of us in direct sales who do vendor shows, it was a pretty substantial blow to our income with most of the shows cancelled.
Vendor shows provide a large part of my income. In 2019, I participated in 23 vendor shows, or about one every two weeks. In 2020, there were only five shows; the rest were cancelled. It’s sad for sure, but things are beginning to get back on track.
I’ve learned that vendor events can be hit or miss. The ones that you expect to be great sometimes turn out to be dogs. But, on the flip side, a show that you expected nothing out of may end up being your biggest moneymaker of the year. You just never know. So many factors can contribute – including the weather (too nice out, too rainy, too windy, too cold, snowing, etc.), and if it’s scheduled at the same time as another large event, like your city’s NFL team game.
One show I did a couple years ago was in a tiny rural village’s library. They had a total of three vendors, crammed into the library’s children’s room. There was a lady who made jewelry, a wedding venue, and me. I thought, “oh boy, this is going to be a huge waste of time.” But it actually turned out to be one of the best events of the year for me.
I live in a rural area, so most of the shows I do are fairly small. I don’t do the big, expensive events near the city; I leave that to the younger reps who have help carrying their stuff. As a 65-year-old, five-foot-zero, 110 pound grandma with osteoporosis (the quintessential “little old lady”), I have to limit myself to what I can physically do. Outdoor events are getting harder, as I can barely lift my canopy, let alone put it up by myself. I have to rely on the kindness of other vendors to help me with it. So, I put on my best “damsel in distress” face until someone offers to help, and if they don’t, I have to approach someone and ask. Thank goodness for nice people! But I will most likely phase out the outdoor shows this year. Not only because of my physical limitations, but also because of weather factors. I’ve had my canopy blown over in a pop-up thunderstorm, where it fell onto my tables and ruined products when they hit the mud. I’ve had face creams and lipsticks melt in the heat.
But for all the hard work and iffiness involved with doing shows, I really enjoy doing them. Why? Because it’s not really about making money with shows; it’s about building relationships. I’ve been to shows where I barely made back my table fee, but the next day someone who picked up a book placed a $75 online order. I’ve gotten team recruits from vendor shows. And I’ve gotten many face-to-face customers from vendor shows.
Here are some things I’ve learned (some the hard way) about doing vendor events. These tips are general and apply to anyone selling at vendor events:
1. Don’t pay more for a space than you can afford to lose. Around here, the norm is $25 – $40, but in more urban areas it can be a lot more.
2. Ask the show organizer how the show will be advertised. I did a show at an elementary school an hour away from me last year. Pulling into the driveway, there were signs all over the place for the school’s book fair. Not a single sign for the vendor show. In four hours, there were maybe 10 customers, and they were all teachers at the school. I think I sold two items, and they were to other vendors.
3. Ask what time they open for set up, and give yourself enough time to get your display ready. It takes me the better part of two hours to do mine (I usually get two tables).
4. Bring a bag lunch or at least snacks. No need to spend money on food provided by the venue, if they even have food. And sometimes, all that’s available is hot dogs and chips. As a vegetarian, I would go hungry if I didn’t bring my own lunch.
5. Wear the most comfortable shoes you own, and comfortable but cute clothing. Put your makeup on, fix your hair, and wear jewelry. Wear your company’s products whenever possible.
6. Be approachable and friendly. When a potential customer approaches your booth, stand up, smile, and greet him/her. Compliment them on something they’re wearing, and ask if they’re looking for anything in particular. If you’re sitting behind your table, looking bored, playing with your phone or reading a book, people will just walk on by.
7. Have plenty of small bills and change on hand. Also, it is very helpful if you have a Square or similar device that accepts credit/debit cards. People are likely to spend more if they can use their card. The fees are minimal (3 to 3.5% normally), a small cost for doing business. Note: Do NOT charge customers a surcharge for using their card. This is illegal in some states.
8. Invest in a wagon. My Mac Sports Wagon is the best $80 I ever spent, let me tell you. It unfolds in a second and holds 150 pounds. I can get 6 Avon boxes in it, with other items on top. The wheels spin in all directions so you can get around tight corners easily. Pull the knob in the center to fold it back up and it fits between your front and back seats. I got this on Amazon.
9. Make a packing list and check it before you leave. If I didn’t, I would forget something every time. Here’s my checklist:
Wagon
Inventory
Tote bag with office supplies, samples, tape, scissors, etc.
Tablecloths
Inventory list
Square & change
Brochures
Business cards
Recruiting flyers
Chinese Auction basket
If the show is outdoors, add:
Canopy
Canopy weights
Tables
Chair
Canopy sides & bungees
10. Last but not least, relax and have fun!
Please let me know if you have any tips to add to my list!
Not an Avon Representative yet?
Just click here to learn more! There’s no obligation. It’s just $30 to join, and you get a starter kit worth up to $137, a free website, and free training. Or, you can join with a $5 donation to the American Cancer Society (with no starter kit).
Are you an Avon Representative looking for a way to get to Premier or President’s Club Level? Do you like to help others?
Avon Fundraising is the ticket!
Fundraising is an easy, rewarding way to boost your business while giving back to your community.
In a nutshell, there are two ways to raise funds with Avon: Printed Flyers and Online.
The Flyer Fundraisers are the “traditional” kind, where people in the organization go around with flyers and take orders, and then the organization delivers the orders to you. This type of fundraiser is typically used by school groups. You gather the orders, collect the money up front, place the combined order with Avon and pay for it, take delivery of the products, sort them into individual orders, and deliver back to the organization with a check for their earnings. Flyer Fundraisers are limited to the products on the flyers, and there are several different ones to choose from. You can view the current ones available on AvonNow under Manage Business > Fundraising Hub. A printed flyer fundraiser generally runs for only one campaign and must be registered in the campaign in which you’ll be placing the order.
Online Fundraisers, on the other hand, allow shoppers to peruse the entire catalog of products and purchase anything they want, which opens the door for higher profits. It takes less than five minutes to set up an online fundraiser, and it can run for up to 60 days. The organization simply shares a customized URL via social media/email, and when people shop, the earnings get calculated on your dashboard. Products are shipped directly to the consumers. So – no work for you! The earnings will be direct-deposited into your bank account (make sure you are enrolled in direct deposit), and you will deliver a personal check to the organization when the fundraiser ends.
With both types of fundraisers, you must decide what percentage of the profits you will donate to your organization. For example, if you are a Contender, you earn 25% on Beauty & Jewelry and 20% on Fashion & Home, as long as your total campaign order is at least $40. If you are at Premier Level, you earn 30% on Beauty & Jewelry and 20% on Fashion & Home. If you are President’s Club or Honor Society, you earn 40% on Beauty & Jewelry and 25% on Fashion & Home. You will need to take this into consideration when committing a percentage to the organization. Also, for online fundraisers, keep in mind that you pay the shipping on online orders of $60 and up, and for flyer fundraisers, you will be billed for shipping just as you are on your regular AvonNow orders.. So, you want to be careful not to overextend yourself and end up committing to more than you earn. So, you may want to offer a percentage slightly smaller than your earnings to give yourself some cushion.
If you wish, you can run a flyer fundraiser and online fundraiser for the same organization at the same time, but they would have to be registered separately. Also, you would have to calculate earnings separately, as automatic reporting is only available for online fundraisers. It could get pretty confusing.
You can run a fundraiser for any organization or entity – it doesn’t have to be a 501c3 charity. Think of schools, sports teams, cheer squads, church youth groups, family reunions, a friend in need of cash for medical bills or funeral expenses. Who do you know that might need some extra funds right now? I have done one for a friend who lost her house in a fire, and I’ve even used the Fundraising Hub to create a Facebook party for someone. Think creatively! It’s great because the Hub keeps track of all the sales through your custom URL.
What are the benefits to you?
* You get new customers! New customers who shop an Online Fundraiser will be added to your Web Office Address Book, if they are not already attached to another rep. You can now reach out to them for continued business. More than half of Fundraiser customers are new to Avon!
* Referrals
* You reach Premier Level or President’s Club (and higher earnings) faster, and the extra sales may help you qualify for incentives, trips, and more!
Learn More
Take the Fundraising training available on Avon U!
Are you interested in becoming an Avon Representative?
Just click here to find out all the benefits of joining Avon! There’s no obligation, ever.
During my four years of being an Avon Representative, I’ve tried many methods of staying organized and remembering all the tasks I want to accomplish during each two-week campaign. At first, it wasn’t too hard — place my order on a certain day, it comes in on a certain day, I put the orders together and call my customers to schedule deliveries and add those to my calendar (both paper planner and phone calendar, because at 60+, I tend to forget things – like looking at my planner. So, the added bonus of the phone notifications is really helpful).
As my business and my team grew, more and more chores were added to my bi-weekly schedule. I was using Campaign Mailer to send out brochures. I was trying to keep up with posting to social media (Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Google) on a regular basis, as well as blogging. I was following up with team members and sending out emails to them. I was actively recruiting. All this and more, and keeping my orders straight too.
I found that I was forgetting things, and I was not consistent with the things I should be doing every campaign to keep my business growing and thriving. Tasks that should have been done were slipping through the cracks. It was becoming a hot mess of inconsistencies.
I have a traditional paper planner book, which I love — but writing down every task in the book every two weeks was too much, as was adding them to my phone as tasks. I don’t know about you, but my phone will remind me once of a task on the list, and then it’s out of sight, out of mind. And I didn’t want to jam up my phone by putting every task in as a calendar event every two weeks.
I tried creating a chart in Excel, but that only works if you actually look at it. Truthfully, I’m a little scattered these days. I’m one of those people who will be in my office in the basement and the overhead light goes out, so I head upstairs to get a light bulb, grabbing finished laundry to take upstairs with me as long as I’m going, put the laundry away, go to the bathroom while I’m up there, notice that the dog’s blanket is all messed up and fix it, on the way back downstairs stop in the kitchen and grab a piece of candy and a bottle of water, and go back down to my office – only to realize I forgot the light bulb. I don’t know what happened, because I spent 25 years as a secretary before I went into higher education administration, and was one of the most organized people on the planet. Well, that may be an exaggeration, but I was pretty darn good at keeping all the balls in the air for multiple people. So it’s frustrating to say the least.
Anyway, one day I saw online somewhere that someone had a simple dry-erase family chore chart, and BAM! That was it! The perfect solution. I got a small one with the days of the week on it (which I overwrote with seven campaign numbers) and ten lines for chores. It also has all the little stars, circles, and hearts to mark your stuff done. I wrote in my recurring tasks and sat it right in front of my face, next to my computer, so I can’t NOT see it staring at me every day. And I have been on task with everything every campaign! Yay!!!
I got my little chore chart on Amazon for less than $7.00. But you can find them anywhere – Staples, Walmart, etc. Such a simple thing, and so incredibly helpful! And the nice thing is, you can add or change your list as necessary.
Not an Avon Representative yet?
It’s just $30 to join, and you get your choice of three starter kits worth up to $137. Earn commission plus Pathway to Premier bonuses, incentive prizes, even fabulous once-in-a-lifetime vacations! Click here to learn more and get started.
It’s true! When you invest in samples and get them into the hands of your customers (and potential customers), they will buy. Maybe not all of them, but enough of them to make it worth your while. One lovely lady, who is one of my best customers, has purchased 8 bottles of PropoliThera Shampoo & Conditioner, 13 Cucina Hand Soaps, and 2 boxes of Fresh Fiji Detergent so far just because I gave her samples and she loved them). That’s over $340 in sales from sampling to just one customer! And that’s not including all the other stuff she buys (she also loves Avon jewelry).
Avon used to provide a lot of samples for purchase, but since LG H&H took over the company, there have not been as many – mostly just the new products. But does that deter me? Heck no! I’m actually getting BETTER results with my own hand-made samples than I did with the prepackaged ones. Maybe it’s because they’re made with love? ♥
Or, maybe it’s because they’re “deluxe” samples, and my customers appreciate that I took the time to make something especially for them.
Each campaign, I pick one or two special items to sample in each of my customers’ orders. That way, everyone gets the same samples so I don’t have to keep track of who got what. I just keep a running list of what I gave out each campaign in the front of my planner. If I want to sample something that prepackaged samples are not available for, I buy a demo bottle or jar of that item to sample out. I usually feature items that will be coming out NEW in the next campaign, so I will order a demo from the What’s New catalog. When delivering orders, I make sure to mention the new product and that there is a sample in their bag.
Depending on what you’re sampling, you can get all kinds of containers on Amazon in bulk at very reasonable prices. I use the little 1 oz. condiment cups for things like body lotion, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and hand lotion. The fancier little hard plastic jars with colored lids can be used for skin care creams. I also used those for the Jeju Aloe Gel. And then there are little plastic perfume atomizers with lids that hold enough fragrance for a week-long vacation.
How to make samples
It’s really very simple and inexpensive to make your own samples. As I mentioned above, you just need to buy one bottle of the product, and the appropriate sampling containers. The 1 oz. condiment cups are available on Amazon for about $7 for 100 cups with lids. I wouldn’t go any bigger on the cups. In the pic above, I used these containers for Cucina Dish Liquid, Cucina Hand Soap, and Cucina Hand Lotion. They’re also good for body wash, body lotions, Foot Works creams, etc. – you get the idea.
Small hard plastic jars with screw-on lids are great for sampling!
A note about labeling: I recommend placing your labels on the containers before filling them! I use a DYMO Labelwriter 450 printer (which I love to death), but you can use Avery printer labels or even hand-write them on the round labels you use for garage sales. With my DYMO, I print 4 to a label and cut them up into little rectangles that fit even the tiny plastic jars. Some people are more creative and artistic than I am and make really pretty labels. I don’t have a color printer, so my labels are simple yet functional.
I place my labels on the containers and line them up on the table, assembly-line style. I usually make 12 at a time, and then more as needed, but a full bottle will make a lot more than that – probably 3 times more. If your product is in a pump bottle, use the pump to fill several squirts into each container, so that is about 3/4 full, and snap the lid on right away.
Safety First!
Be sure to never touch the actual product with your hands while filling your containers. The Avon Defense Nitrile Gloves are good to use.
If your product is a thicker cream or gel, use a disposable cosmetic spatula (also available on Amazon) to scoop and place the cream into the little jars with screw-on lids (50 for $6.99 on Amazon). Be sure to start with a fresh spatula each time. With the tiny jars, I like to make those all the way full because they’re so small. This is how I did the Jeju Aloe Gel samples.
Perfume Samples
To make my perfume samples, I use the little atomizer tubes I got on Amazon (they were $10 for 30 and came with a little funnel). Since labels won’t stick to these at all, I use little 3X4 inch zipper bags (also from Amazon, $7.50 for 200) and my DYMO LabelWriter 450. The zipper bags also prevent the atomizer from leaking in your customer’s bag. I buy a bottle of the perfume, get my tubes and lids ready, and label my bags. (Now that I look at my picture, I should have added my name, Avon Independent Sales Representative, and my phone number to the labels. The next ones will have that on them! In the meantime, I’ll just add another label on the back side of the ones I already made.)
But I digress. Take the funnel, place it into the tube, and squirt right out of your bottle into the funnel. You can get a lot of squirts in there, but I stop at 20. That’s plenty for them to use for a few days. One bottle of perfume can make A LOT of samples, and you can just keep what’s left to use yourself.
Other Samples
Another idea I had was to make samples of the Fresh Fiji Laundry Detergent Sheets. This is super-simple. One sheet, folded at the perforation, fits perfectly into the square snack-size zipper bags you can get at the store. On these labels, I included instructions for use because how would they know? One box of Fresh Fiji Detergent Sheets has 60 sheets in it, so you can do a lot of sampling. These samples were stapled to the page in the brochure when Fresh Fiji was first introduced.
I’m sure there are lots of other great ideas for sampling, too. If you have one that’s been successful, please leave it in the comments!
Direct Sales is not for everybody. It is not a “Get Rich Quick” scheme. Products do not “sell themselves,” despite what your friend may have told you.
The reality is, Direct Sales is a business. YOUR business. It can be whatever you make it to be. BUT, you have to put in the work. The hours. The sweat. And yes, even the tears. There will be ups and downs, just like in any business. Sometimes you will feel like quitting. A month ago, I felt like quitting. But I knew that most businesses have a post-holiday slump and this, too, shall pass. And it did! I kept going, and this month I picked up five new customers, one new team member, and placed my largest order ever.
If you hang in there, and persevere, you will get past the hard times. Be consistent. Do the work, keep doing it, and you will succeed. Give up, and you will have nothing.
As a business owner, you and you alone are responsible for the success of your business. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts that I have learned in my two years with Avon:
DO keep meticulous records of every transaction. This is paramount! Every purchase of inventory or business supplies, every sale, every mile you drive for the business – write it down. I keep an Excel spreadsheet and have a folder that I drop receipts into as soon as I record them, but you can use a spiral notebook, a day planner, whatever works for you. I record every penny that goes in or out, every day, as soon as I get back home. It may seem like a pain at first, but get into the habit and you will be glad you did.
DON’T be lazy. Don’t wait until you are doing your taxes in April and then start asking people in Facebook groups how you are supposed to figure it all out. Those people cannot help you. You should have been keeping your records all year. If you were, all you need to do is total the columns on your spreadsheet and plug the numbers into your tax software or take them to your tax preparer.
DO advertise your business. Tell your friends and family about your new venture. Buy business cards and leave them everywhere you go – the doctor’s office, bulletin boards, restaurants. Every server gets my business card, a couple samples, and a recruiting flyer. When I go shopping, I hang bags with brochures, business card, and samples from my car. I also have a huge sign with my phone number and website in the rear window of my car. Start a Facebook business page and a VIP customer group and post on them daily – not all “salesy” stuff, but mixed with fun things, pictures of your kids or pets, things that will get likes and interactions. Post on Instagram, Pinterest, etc. List your business on Google. Get the word out there. You can use paid advertising if you choose, but you don’t have to. There are plenty of free ways to let people know about your business.
DON’T complain that “nobody wants to buy anything” until you have asked EVERYBODY. Negativity will not help you. Believe me, there are people who want to buy. You just need to find them.
DO learn your products. If it’s clothing or jewelry, wear it, so that when someone compliments you, you can say “Thank you! It’s from the company I represent! Have you seen a brochure lately?” If it’s skin care, cleaning products, etc., use them. Study your product information so you will become an expert and be able to answer questions your customers may have. My customers appreciate that I can tell them first-hand about the products because I use them, or at least have tried them. And they appreciate my honesty when I tell them I didn’t really like a certain product, and why. They view me as a knowledgeable resource and trust my opinions.
DON’T go on Facebook when your customer asks you a question about a product and ask a group of 20,000 people for the answer. My goodness. LOOK IT UP YOURSELF. Open your brochure, go to your website, and find the answer. That’s how you learn. Successful business owners are self-sufficient and resourceful.
DO treat your customers like you would want to be treated. Be kind and friendly. Smile. Offer incentives for customers who bring you referrals. Give samples or small gifts in their bags if you can afford it. Even a piece of candy is a nice touch and sets you apart. I carry a “goodie bag” which is a glittery makeup case full of small items with me when I do deliveries, and let my customers choose something from the bag. They are so excited about those little gifts, and they barely cost me anything. Online customers are mailed a hand-written thank-you note with a small gift. The personal touch goes a long way.
DON’T cop an attitude with customers or spew negativity. Goes without saying.
DO stay neutral on social media. Keep your business page and group light and breezy, with cheerful posts and pictures.
DON’T voice your opinions on politics, religion, and the like on Facebook, Twitter, or any public platform. Why? Because you will alienate at least half of your potential customers. It doesn’t matter which side you are on. If you must talk about these things, do it on your personal profile and don’t have your customers as friends. But I would advise against it altogether. Also, NEVER complain about your company or what they are doing on social media.
DO believe in yourself. Remember that building a business takes time, effort, and money. Yes, it does take money to make money. You will probably have to plow all of your earnings back into the business for the first year or so, but it will be worth it. I promise.
DON’T expect “easy money.” It isn’t easy. It isn’t quick. It’s hard work. What you get out of it will be at least equal to what you put into it.
Are you ready to put forth that effort and be an entrepreneur? Click here to get started – it takes less than five minutes!
The Joy of Lipstick 