How to Sell Avon. Join Avon and Make Money Working From Home. Part One. The Basics

Everyone knows the Avon brand. If you are looking for a recession proof business then this could be just what you need. By joining Avon you will be part of a worldwide business which has been established for over 100 years.

Although I am writing in the UK, and so refer to Avon UK in this hub, the information provided is relevant to Avon sellers in any country, from USA to India, because the Avon business model is practically identical wherever you are.

Avon is NOT a get rich quick scheme. If you are looking for an easy way to earn instant cash by doing nothing then this is NOT for you. However, if you are prepared to put in some effort, if you are ready to slowly grow your business, build up a customer base and see your profits increase over time then you are the kind of person that Avon needs. Too many people think that all they have to do is shove a few brochures through a few letterboxes and expect every person to place a massive order from which they would earn thousands. But Avon is a business, and really, is that how you would expect a successful business to work?

How Does Avon Work?

What Does Avon Sell?

Avon is a business which sells cosmetics, skin care, jewellery, lingerie, gifts, fragrance and accessories. It has products for men,women, teenagers and children. All its products are sold at competitive prices, and each selection of products comes with a premium, mid range or economy price so there really is something for every one and for every pocket. This makes it easy to sell. Women make up the majority of customers but there are so many products for all the family. So you may find that although as an Avon rep you are mostly having face to face contact with the woman of the house, she is often buying products for her partner and children as well as herself. All good news for you!

How Do you Sell Avon?

Avon is sold through a catalogue full of its products. In the UK there are 18 catalogues a year. As an Avon representative you will sell from each catalogue over a 'campaign'. A campaign lasts for 3 weeks usually, and 2 weeks over the Christmas period which is obviously the best time for selling. During a campaign an Avon rep will show the brochures to as many potential customers as possible and hopefully the customer will complete an order form.

When you join Avon you can choose whether you would like to sell to a 'territory', which is a number of streets designated to you. Or you can choose to sell to 'Friends and Family', which is exactly as it sounds, and you can also take brochures to your regular hairdressers, workplace, school, church group and so on.

After collecting the customers orders the rep will submit an online order to Avon. The goods are delivered to the rep within five days via a delivery company. There is always a designated delivery day and they usually come at the same time of day each delivery. The rep sorts out the orders, delivers them to the customer along with a new brochure and collects the money for the order. Once you have been paid by your customers then you will pay Avon for the delivery.

How do I make money with Avon?

When you place an order with Avon you will see that there is a 'customer price' and 'your price'. The price that you pay Avon for the goods is cheaper than the price that the customer pays you, and you keep the difference.

To earn the discounted 'your price' you need to reach a minimum order value. Currently (September 2010) in the UK the minimum order value is £78.00  to qualify for the discount. What this means is that if you sell between £78.00 -£145.00 you will receive a 20% discount. For orders above £146.00 you receive a 25% discount. In monetary terms this means that for every £150.00 you sell you will earn roughly £40.00.

That doesn't sound like much, but you wont have had to do much to earn it! And the good thing is that it doesn't take many customers to make up the minimum order value. You might find at first that it takes a couple of campaigns to establish yourself, but once you can demonstrate to people that you can be trusted and will provide good customer service the orders will follow.

Selling Avon is not difficult but you do have to be organised and reliable. As you prove to your customers that you will collect their orders from them and deliver their products when you say you will, then you will probably find that their trust in your business will grow and they will place regular orders.

How Much will it Cost to Join Avon?

To join Avon you pay a £15.00 charge which you pay over two campaigns, so you hardly notice it because is absorbed from your earnings. This is to cover the admin costs of signing you up, checking your details and setting up your Internet account. You are given 40 brochures to start you off as well as customer order forms, a returns book and calling book. These are all free. Your Internet account is also free. As well as placing orders online you can arrange returns or replacements and print off returns forms, join a forum to share ideas with other reps, view training videos and pay for your order.

Once you are up and running you need to buy your brochures, paper bags and carrier bags to deliver your orders. So there are some costs but they are very small and there are no hidden costs. I tend to never notice the cost of the books and delivery bags because it is paid for from my earnings.

Plus its worth remembering that many home based businesses charge much higher fees for their start up packs. For instance a business selling cleaning products in the UK charges a £124 joining fee, plus an additional monthly fee to place orders online.

As an Avon rep you never have to hold stock at home. You are under no obligation to buy lots of demonstration items or samples. The only time you will have boxes of products in your home is when the orders are delivered to you to sort out. Then it is up to you to take them out to your customers.

 How To Join Avon.

There are a number of ways to join Avon.

• Sales Leaders advertise in local newspapers, job centres and shop windows. Take their details and give them a ring or send an email.
• There will be adverts around this hub placed by Sales Leaders looking for potential reps.
• You can contact Avon directly and your details will be passed to an Avon Area Manager who will get in touch with you. Avon's website in the UK is http://www.avon.uk.com/PRSuite/opportunities_landing.page

High Pressure Selling?

While Avon does organise conferences and training meetings there is never any obligation for you to attend. The great thing about Avon is that you are free to be involved as much as you are happy with. I do know people who are passionate/ slightly obsessed with Avon but i have never encountered any pushy or overly forceful reps or sales leaders.

Once you have become familiar with selling Avon as a representative then you may decide to become a Sales Leader. This would involve your being more open to attending motivational meetings and training days, but once again, the level of your involvement is entirely up to you.

I hope you found something useful, interesting or thought provoking here. If you did...

please vote this article up,

Share it on your facebook or twitter social sites (there is a link at the top of the article) or with stumbleupon, she told me or digg,

and leave a comment below