Tag: home based business

How to Join Avon in 2024

Updated April 1, 2024

Are you looking to earn some extra cash this year, and into the future? The time to get started is NOW! And it couldn’t be easier, because you can join Avon completely FREE, for a limited time! Read on to see what you’ll get.

You will make the right choice with Avon – a company that has been empowering women (and a few good men) since 1886! How many direct sales companies can say that? And how many direct sales companies can offer you all of this:

  • Sign up for ZERO dollars!
  • NO minimum orders required
  • NO inventory stocking required
  • NO assigned territories
  • FREE personal online store that is open immediately
  • FREE training and team support by your mentor (that’s me!)
  • Great incentive programs to earn cash, prizes, and all-expense-paid vacations
  • The opportunity to earn even MORE by building your own team and getting leadership checks!
  • It’s YOUR business to run how it fits into YOUR life!

You will be part of the Avon Family – and we are a family of sisters and brothers who nurture each other and cheer each other’s successes. You are never alone as an Avon Representative, and I will be here to help and guide you along the way.

Your earnings are based on your level of achievement:

Achievement LevelBeautyFashion & Home
Contender (< $5,000 annual sales) with $40+ campaign sales25%20%
Premier ($5,000+ annual sales)30%20%
President’s Club ($10,000+ annual sales)40%25%

Right now, you can join the team for FREE!

**(Please note that the previous options for a $30 starter kit or a $5 donation to the American Cancer Society are discontinued as of April 9, 2024. But no worries! You can create your own economical starter kit with the many value bundles available at a given time. If you need help with choosing, just reach out to me!)

How does Avon work in 2024?

You can choose to sell Avon virtually or in person (or both, which is what most Representatives do)! For more than 135 years, Avon has been leading the way in direct beauty sales. Joining Avon gets you access to the best prices, new products and allows you to earn commission when you share your favorites by creating online content or sharing our easily shoppable brochure.

Once you sign up, I’ll be sending you emails with all the information you need to get your business started. And, of course, I’m always available by phone, text, or email to answer your questions and guide you along the way!

How much time does this take? I’m pretty busy!

Part of the beauty of being an Avon Representative is that you fit it around YOUR schedule – you can sell Avon part-time or full-time. You put as many hours into your business as you see fit. Of course, the more time and energy you spend, the more money you can earn. But you decide your schedule. You’ll get discounts when you place your own orders, and earn commission when you share your favorite products with your networks or when you sell Avon using the brochure (available in paper form or digitally).

Besides commission, are there any other benefits to selling Avon?

Glad you asked! Yes, there are many benefits to becoming an Avon Representative!

  • Avon Perks and Rewards – Exclusive offers and discounts at many retailers and travel companies that you probably already use, plus amazing gifts as you reach your goals!
  • LG Partner Store – Major discounts on LG electronics, appliances, and tech products.
  • Advanced Education Opportunities – Grow with professional development courses through Avon’s education partners.
  • 24/7 Telemedicine – Access to licensed medical professionals, affordable group health insurance, and health care discounts.
  • A digital fundraising platform that you can share with your favorite charities and community causes.
  • Your own FREE website for your customers to shop! (Many direct sales companies charge a monthly fee for their websites.)
  • A monthly Sweepstakes for your customers to enter. (YOU are eligible, too!)
  • The BEST network of women (and a few good men) to be a part of, where you will make lifelong friends!

What business support will I receive when I sign up?

All Representatives receive FREE online support, training, social media tips, and lots more to help you get your beauty business started:

  • Your own personalized online store where your customers can shop 24/7
  • A user-friendly mobile app so you can sell anywhere on the go
  • Your mentor (aka upline), who will help you get your business off the ground and whom you can contact at any time for assistance (that’s me!)
  • Cutting-edge marketing tools to help you connect with more customers online
  • Best-in-class online training on Avon’s YouTube Channel to build skills at your own pace right from home
  • The opportunity to attend (either in person or virtually) the annual AvonConnect conference (this year in Boston!)
  • Access to a huge community of amazing and supportive beauty lovers like yourself
  • Expert customer service support through the Avon Care Center
  • Exclusive discounts for a wide variety of services and offers via the LG Partners Mall and Avon Perks programs

How do I earn and get paid with Avon?

First off, you’ll get 25% off your own orders of $40+ of beauty products (that includes makeup, skin care, personal care, health and wellness and more) as an Avon Representative, and you’ll earn 25% commission on beauty orders of $40+ from customers.

Getting paid is simple. You’ll get most of your earnings — from your online store orders, bonuses, incentive pay-outs, account credits, etc. — paid quickly and easily through the Avon Wallet payment portal.

For orders you deliver, your commissions are based on the difference between the discounted amount you pay and the full price your customer pays you. For example, you sell a lipstick to a customer for $10.00. If your commission level is 40%, you pay Avon $6.00, plus tax, and the rest is your profit.

How often do I have to place orders?

You can order as often as you want, whenever you want! Our most successful Representatives place orders each campaign (every two weeks), as well as share their online store link for 24/7 sales and commissions. To keep your account active and to stay up-to-date, we suggest placing an order in each campaign, or at the very least, once in every six campaigns.

Ready to sign up?

Isn’t it time you started your side hustle? Click here to go straight to the signup page!

Avon 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business

August 19, 2023

Are you thinking about signing up as an Avon Representative? Or maybe you’ve already signed up and don’t know what to do next. Either way, this post can be your guide!

In it, I will show you simple steps on how to get started and attempt to answer any questions you may have. There will be a contact form at the end of the post in case I miss something. Just send me a quick message and I’ll get back to you shortly!

You’re In Business!

Congratulations! You have made the right choice with Avon, the company that has been empowering women (and a few good men) since 1886! How many direct sales companies can say that? (Here’s a hint: ONE.) There’s a reason why a company has been around for that long, and that reason is SUCCESS! And now, you have the opportunity to share in that success.

First things first!

  • The first thing you should do is edit your online store. Just log in to avon.com with your new account number and the password you selected. Click on your online store at the top of the page and hit Edit. You can then upload a photo of yourself and add a brief bio. Customers like to shop with a real person, so your photo is key! You can also add personal videos and product photos to your online store.
  • Then, complete your profile information on Avon.com. To find it, click where it says “Hi, YOURNAME” at the top of the page and go down to My Profile.
  • Now, start sharing your online store URL with your friends and family! Click on My Store at the top of your home page. Above your name and picture is a Share button. It’s that easy to get the online side of your business up and running – and it takes less than five minutes!

What is your “WHY”?

Think about why you joined Avon. Do you want to get a discount on your personal orders, make a little extra money for a specific expense like a vacation, or do you need more money to make ends meet? Keep your “Why” in mind as you plan your business strategy, and let me know if I can help you set goals or make a plan to achieve them!

Take the free training

After you’ve entered the site, you should immediately begin taking the Avon U courses for New Representatives. The link to Avon U can be found at the top of the page on Avon.com, in the black bar. Here are a few important courses to start off with:

Lesson 1 – New Representatives: How to Get Started

New Representative Welcome Lesson

What’s a Campaign?

Your Avon Address Book

Customize Your Profile and Online Store

Find Your Way in Avon U

Once you’ve completed the first few courses, make it a point to do a course or two every day to continue learning about your business – there are literally hundreds of courses on Avon U, and most can be done in ten minutes or less. This is the best way to learn and build on your knowledge base. You’ll be an expert in no time!

Be aware of the rules!

It is very important that you take the time to read the Business Policies and Procedures document, which can be found under Manage Business > Seller Central > Documents and Resources.

You will want to familiarize yourself with Avon’s policies so you don’t accidentally violate any of them.

The Nitty-Gritty: How Avon works

There are two ways to sell Avon: traditional and online.

Ding Dong! Avon Calling!

With the traditional way, you pass out brochures during each two-week campaign. When your customers place their orders, you collect the money from them up front, order the products on avonnow.com (along with any demos, samples, bags, brochures for the next campaign, etc., that you need), and pay the wholesale cost. When the order comes in, you bag the orders and deliver to your customers. Your pay is the difference between what your customers paid you and what you pay Avon for the items (retail price minus wholesale cost).

Online selling

With the online method, you simply share your custom URL via text, email, and social media. Your Avon online store website is FREE (many other direct sales companies charge a monthly fee for this). When your customers shop online with you, they pay for their order through the website, Avon ships the order directly to them, and Avon pays your commission through your Avon Wallet (see the Avon U training on Avon Wallet). You choose where you want your money to go from the Wallet – i.e., checking or savings account, Venmo, or PayPal. You can set it up for automatic transfers or manual transfers. I have mine automatically deposited into the checking account I use for my business so I don’t even have to think about it once I have it set up. Please note that you MUST sign up for the Avon Wallet to receive your online sales commissions (and leadership earnings if you choose to go into leadership).

When customers order $60 or more, they get free shipping, and some of that shipping charge will be charged to your account. This is usually $8.00 but can be more on larger orders.

Online selling has its benefits:

1. Avon currently prints 3.5 million brochures every two weeks, and all of that paper ends up in landfills. Online is much more environmentally friendly.

2. You don’t have to worry about collecting money, driving all over town delivering orders, trying to schedule convenient delivery times, etc.

3. Your commission lands in your Avon Wallet immediately!

But, it’s entirely up to you. Whether you choose to sell in person, online, or a combination of both, you will earn money!

Placing your order

When taking customers’ orders, be sure to collect their payment up front. Just say, “How did you want to pay for that today?” If they balk, remind them that no other company lets you pay after your items are received. This is important, because you will need to pay for your order online with your own credit or debit card when you place it.

Orders are placed every two weeks (or more often – the choice is up to you). Each campaign runs from a Wednesday to 11:59 p.m. on a Tuesday. A campaign schedule is attached to this email. You may place your order on the day of your choosing within the two-week period, but I would advise you NOT to wait until the last day, in case of unforeseen circumstances like the website going down or popular products being sold out. Note that you will be charged a shipping fee for each order that you place during a campaign.

As you get customers, add them to the Address Book section in your Web Office. Customers must have a valid phone number or e-mail address in order to be added to the Address Book.

To enter customers’ orders, go to “Shop by Product” on the Home Page, choose your customer’s name from the drop-down list, and enter her items. This way, you will be able to create invoices for individual customers through the Web Office. When ordering your sales tools, demos, and personal items, choose the customer name that is YOUR NAME in all caps in the drop-down list.

Keep your store open at all times with brochures!

To invest in your business, you will need to purchase your most important business tool every campaign – your brochures! After all, that is YOUR STORE! Keep in mind that you need to order brochures for two campaigns ahead of the one you are in (i.e., when placing your Campaign 6 order, you will order brochures for Campaign 8). Look at the attached Campaign Calendar to see what campaign we are currently in, and order brochures for the second one after that in your first order. That way you’ll always be ahead of the game.

Brochures are ordered in packs of 10 – not individually.

If you want 20 brochures, you would enter the number 2 on the order screen. Keep in mind that the more packs you order, the cheaper they are! And the more brochures you put into the hands of people, the more customers you will get!

You should also purchase some “popcorn bags” (paper bags) in different sizes for packaging up your orders. There are also the nicer shopping bags with handles, which are good for higher-end and heavier items. These are all found in the Sales Tools section of the order page.

In any campaign, you can order demos from the next two campaigns’ What’s New flyers. Selected samples are also available for purchase. Representatives can purchase up to ten of each product from What’s New unless specified.

Build your own team for even more earnings!

Tell your friends and family about the Avon Opportunity! If they sign up under you, you earn a percentage of their sales too! Watch your income grow with your team!

Ready to get started? Of course you are!

I know there is a lot to digest – take your time, take the Avon U courses, NEVER hesitate to call, text, or email me with questions! I am here to help you succeed, and I know you are going to do GREAT things!

Haven’t signed up yet? Click here to go to the signup page!

Still have questions? Send me a message!

Are You Ready to be a Beauty Entrepreneur?

*This is an update of a previous post. New publication date 06/17/23.

Are you looking to earn some extra cash for vacation, a new car, or just to help with everyday expenses? The time to get started is NOW! And it couldn’t be easier, because you can join Avon completely FREE, for a limited time! Read on to see what you’ll get.

You will make the right choice with Avon – a company that has been empowering women (and a few good men) since 1886! That’s 137 years!! How many direct sales companies can say that? And how many direct sales companies can offer you all of this:

  • Sign up for ZERO dollars! Or, sign up for just $30 and get a starter kit valued up to $137! (no starter kit with free signup)
  • NO minimum orders required
  • NO inventory required
  • NO assigned territory
  • FREE online store that is open immediately
  • FREE training and team support
  • Great incentive programs to earn cash and prizes
  • Earn even MORE by building your own team and getting leadership checks!
  • It’s YOUR business to run how it fits into YOUR life!

You will be part of the Avon Family – and we are a family of sisters and brothers who nurture each other and cheer on each other’s successes. You are never alone as an Avon Representative, and I will be here to help and guide you along the way.

Your earnings are based on your level of achievement:

Achievement LevelBeautyFashion & Home
Contender (< $5,000 annual sales) with $40+ campaign sales25%20%
Premier ($5,000+ annual sales)30%20%
President’s Club ($10,000+ annual sales)40%25%

Right now, you can join the team with any one of these options:

  • $0 free sign-up with no starter kit (perfect if you want to do online-only).
  • A contribution of as little as $5 to the American Cancer Society.
  • Or, choose the $30 starter collection packed with best-selling products and brochures.

ALSO, for a limited time, when you join, you get a unique coupon code to redeem for an Extra 15% Off your first order as a Representative! (That equates to a 40% discount on Beauty and Jewelry, so make that first order count!)

Isn’t it time you started your side hustle? Click here to go straight to the signup page!

Your Side Hustle is Waiting…What Are YOU Waiting For?

Are you looking to earn some extra cash for the holidays? The time to get started is NOW! And it couldn’t be easier, because you can join Avon completely FREE, for a limited time! Read on to see what you’ll get.

You will make the right choice with Avon – a company that has been empowering women (and a few good men) since 1886! How many direct sales companies can say that? And how many direct sales companies can offer you all of this:

  • Sign up for ZERO dollars! Or, sign up for just $30 and get a starter kit valued up to $137! (no starter kit with free signup)
  • NO minimum orders required
  • NO inventory required
  • NO assigned territory
  • FREE online store that is open immediately
  • FREE training and team support
  • Great incentive programs to earn cash, prizes, and all-expense-paid vacations
  • Earn even MORE by building your own team and getting leadership checks!
  • It’s YOUR business to run how it fits into YOUR life!

You will be part of the Avon Family – and we are a family of sisters and brothers who nurture each other and cheer each other’s successes. You are never alone as an Avon Representative, and I will be here to help and guide you along the way.

Your earnings are based on your level of achievement:

Achievement LevelBeautyFashion & Home
Contender (< $5,000 annual sales) with $40+ campaign sales25%20%
Premier ($5,000+ annual sales)30%20%
President’s Club ($10,000+ annual sales)40%25%

Right now, you can join the team with any one of these options:

  • $0 free sign-up with no starter kit (perfect if you want to do online-only).
  • A contribution of as little as $5 to the American Cancer Society.
  • Or, choose the $30 starter collection packed with best-selling products and brochures.

Speaking of FREE.all new Representatives get serious rewards with their first order!

Here are the details:

  • FREE full-size Isa Knox LXNEW Clinical Booster Moisture Lock ($40 value) with your first order of any size.
  • When your first order is $60+, you’ll get a $10 credit towards your second campaign.
  • Place a first order of $100+ during Campaign 19 (August 17-30, 2022), and I will personally send you $50 in FREE PRODUCTS and a bubble mailer full of samples to help you gain new customers.
  • Join before September 27, 2022, and participate in the Summer Blast Incentive where you can earn an extra 5% on cumulative Beauty sales of $100 or more in your first 8 campaigns. (Extra earnings paid at the end of the campaign.)
  • Through Campaign 26 (December 6, 2022), earn FREE SHIPPING on your next order when you place a $150 order.

Isn’t it time you started your side hustle? Click here to go straight to the signup page!

Time to Start Your Side Hustle

(It’s FREE!)

It’s back! Join Avon completely FREE, for a limited time!

Right now, you can join the team with one of these options:

  • $0 free sign-up.
  • A contribution of as little as $5 to our partner the American Cancer Society.
  • Or, choose one of our new $30 starter collections packed with best-selling products and brochures.

Speaking of FREE.all new Representatives get serious rewards with their first order!

Here are the details:

  • FREE full-size belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb ($38 value) with your first AvonNow.com order of any size.
  • When your first order is $60+, you’ll get a $10 credit towards your second campaign.
  • And new Representatives who join in Campaigns 16 to 20 will also get FREE SHIPPING on their first order when placed by the end of their second campaign. (Free shipping will be reflected as an $8 credit in your account.)
  • Earn up to $2,000* in Pathway to Premier bonuses in your first 8 campaigns (wouldn’t that help with your holiday shopping?)

Isn’t it time you started your side hustle? Click here to go straight to the signup page!

*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).

This post updated August 9, 2021. Free signup offer good through September 14, 2021.

New Avon Rep? Here’s How To Get Your Business Off the Ground!

So you’ve just joined Avon – CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW BUSINESS! You have made the right choice! This post will give you a little help getting your business started and hopefully answer some of your questions. Please note that the following information is current as of May 7, 2021, and is subject to change at any time.

First things first! If you haven’t already done so, register your account online:

  • Go to www.avonnow.com and click on “Register Now.”
  • Enter your account number and the last four digits of your SSN (if you opted out of using your SSN when registering, you will enter 0000 here). But be aware, if you did not provide your SSN, taxes will be withheld from your future earnings.
  • Verify your information and say Yes to becoming an e-Representative. This will set up your web store where your friends and family can shop. EXAMPLE: www.avon.com/pammymurphy
  • Edit your Online store – upload a photo of yourself and add a brief bio. Customers like to shop with a real person!
  • Complete your profile on AvonNow under the My Account tab.
  • Go to the “Get Paid by Avon” section under My Account and enter your direct deposit information so you can get paid for your online store sales.

Pathway to Premier

You are automatically enrolled in the Pathway to Premier Program, where you can earn up to $3,300* and 285 FREE lip balms during your first 8 campaigns, and get you to those higher Premier Level earnings quickly! Read on to find out how.

*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).

  • First Order Bonus! When you place your first order on AvonNow.com, you will receive a full-size Isa Knox Anew LX Ultimate Rejuvenating Serum ($50 value) and a 3-pack of Isa Knox Serum samples. And, if that first order totals $60 or more, you also get a $10 credit towards your second order PLUS 135 FREE lip balms! Think about all the new customers you can get when you share those lip balms along with your brochures!
  • Mini Milestone Bonus gets you on your way with a bonus of $50 when you hit $500 in award sales during the incentive period, plus a FREE assortment of 50 lip balms (a customer favorite!).
  • Stepping Stone Bonuses reward you with a $20 bonus for every $200 in award sales within a campaign (order $600 in a campaign, earn a $60 bonus… you get the idea!), up to a total of $500 in Stepping Stone Bonuses.
  • Milestone Bonuses reward you with a 10% ($100) bonus — plus a FREE assortment of 100 lip balms — for your first $1,000 in total sales during your first 8 campaigns, up to a $500 bonus for $5,000 in sales and a total of $1,500 in Milestone Bonuses.
  • All Avon.com/online store and AvonNow.com sales count towards Pathway to Premier.

As a new Representative, you will receive commission of 25% on Beauty & Jewelry, 20% on Fashion & Home, as long as your total sales for a campaign are at least $40 (including your order and any Direct Delivery orders). Once you reach Premier Level of $5,000 in a calendar year, your commission will increase to 30% on Beauty & Jewelry, 20% on Fashion & Home. The Pathway to Premier Program is designed to help you get to that higher level quickly!

Reach President’s Club level of $10,000 in a year, and your commission goes up again – to 40% on Beauty & Jewelry, 25% on Fashion & Home!

Training

After you’ve entered the site, you should immediately begin taking the Avon U courses. The link to these online training courses can be found under Avon U Training at the top of the home page. Click on Avon U and then click on Course Catalog and begin with at least the first four courses listed for New Representatives. These short video lessons will help you get on board quickly!

Also, please take the time to read the Policies & Procedures document which can be found on AvonNow under Seller Central > Documents and Resources > Business Policies & Procedures for Avon Independent Sales Representatives. It is very important that you read and understand the company’s policies.

How Avon Works

There are two ways to sell Avon: traditional and online. With the traditional way, you pass out brochures during each two-week campaign. When your customers place their orders, you collect the money from them up front, order the products on avonnow.com (along with any demos, samples, bags, brochures for the next campaign, etc., that you need), and pay the wholesale cost. When the order comes in, you bag the orders and deliver to your customers. Your pay is the difference between what your customers paid you and what you pay Avon for the items (retail price minus wholesale cost).

With the online method, you share your custom URL via text, email, and social media. Your Avon online store website is FREE (many direct sales companies charge a monthly fee for this). When your customers shop online with you, they pay for their order through the website, Avon ships the order directly to them, and Avon pays your commission via direct deposit two days later. You don’t have to do a thing! Beautiful, right? All you have to do is sign up for direct deposit! (If you don’t sign up for direct deposit, a commission credit will be applied to your account two days after the order ships.)

Online selling has its benefits:

1. Avon prints 3.5 million brochures every two weeks, and all of that paper ends up in landfills. Online is much more environmentally friendly.

2. You don’t have to worry about collecting money, driving all over town delivering orders, trying to schedule convenient delivery times, etc.

3. Your commission check lands in your bank account two days after the customer’s order ships.

But, it’s entirely up to you. Whether you choose to sell in person, online, or a combination of both, you will earn money!

Placing Your Order

When taking customers’ orders, be sure to collect their payment up front. Just say, “How did you want to pay for that today?” If they balk, remind them that no other company lets you pay after your items are received. This is important, because you will need to pay for your order online with your credit or debit card when you place it.

Orders are placed every two weeks (or more often – the choice is up to you). Each campaign runs from a Wednesday to 5 p.m. on a Tuesday. A campaign schedule is attached to this email. You may place your order on the day of your choosing within the two-week period, but I would advise you NOT to wait until the last day, in case of unforeseen circumstances like the website going down. Placing your orders early will also help prevent disappointment from items being sold out. Note that you will be charged a shipping fee for each order that you place during a campaign.

As you get customers, add them to the Address Book section in your Web Office. To enter customers’ orders, go to “Enter Items” or “Order Products” on the Home Page, choose your customer’s name from the drop-down list, and enter her items. This way, you will be able to create invoices for individual customers through the Web Office. When ordering your sales tools, demos, and personal items, choose the customer name that is YOUR NAME in all caps in the drop-down list.

Keep Your Store Open At All Times With Brochures

To invest in your business, you will need to purchase your most important business tool every campaign – your brochures! After all, that is YOUR STORE! Keep in mind that you need to order brochures for two campaigns ahead of the one you are in (i.e., when placing your Campaign 6 order, you will order brochures for Campaign 8). Look at the Campaign Calendar on AvonNow to see what campaign we are currently in, and order brochures for the second one after that in your first order. That way you’ll always be ahead of the game.

Brochures Are Ordered in Packs of 10, Not Individually!

If you want 20 brochures, you would enter the number 2 on the order screen. Keep in mind that the more packs you order, the cheaper they are! And the more brochures you put into the hands of people, the more customers you will get!

You should also purchase some “popcorn bags” (white paper bags) in different sizes for packaging up your orders. There are also the nicer shopping bags with handles, which are good for higher-end and heavier items. These are all found in the Sales Tools section of the order page.

In any campaign, you can order from the current brochure as well as the previous brochure.

In any campaign, you can order demos from the next two campaigns’ What’s New flyers. Selected samples are also available for purchase. Representatives can purchase two of each product from What’s New unless specified.

Build Your Own Team for More Earnings

Tell your friends and family about the Avon Opportunity! If they sign up under you, you earn a percentage of their sales too! Watch your income grow with your team!

Not an Avon Representative Yet?

Click here to learn more!

Ready to Sign Up?

Click here – it takes just five minutes to start your new business!

Is Direct Sales for You?

Let’s be real here. 

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 businessYOUR 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. 

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