Should I become an Avon Rep?

[Katianne]

This is a very random thought that has only popped into my head this morning!

I just wondered if anyone else has been or is an Avon rep? I was wondering if I should look into doing alongside work and my crafts, to earn some extra money? As far as I'm aware, we don't have an Avon rep in my area but I don't really know the ins and outs - e.g. how much time it takes, commission etc? I

I have looked on their website but it just really asks for your details and says someone will contact you, but I'd rather find out more before I do that.

Sorry - very random!!!

[Recycled Bag Lady]

I did it for a while.
There can be a lot of footwork involved - dropping off books, collecting them, distributing orders. It does get a little easier if you have a specific place to collect orders from, ie a playgroup or work, otherwise you are doing door to door. Then you have the problem of people not being in and having to call back. There are 18 books a year, so more than once a month!

Once you have identified your regular customers it does become easier. Avon usually give you a specific territory to cover, but you are able to expand that if no one else is doing it.

Commission is not a great deal however - I used to spend more than I made

Good luck with it!

[dee_liteful]

I did it when I was younger as one of my first jobs,it was great around christmas time but between was a bit poo! I also had a bit of a dodgy area to cover! Funnily enough, i was thinking of doing it again as there is no rep in my block of flats so I thought would be ideal. And I wouldnt have to travel far. There's no harm in trying and the extra cash might be good if you can get it, just be aware like recycled bag lady, if you start spending more than you earn.

[Bath-Bomb.Com]

Hi,

This might not be an appropriate thing for me to say on the forum - if so I apologise profusely...

I am looking for 'reps' to sell one of my range (I have a couple of friends and my daughter interested so far) but will hopefully have more over the next few months.

I spoke to an Avon rep recently and she told me you have to reach a certain target before you earn any commision and you have to do it for 3 months before they will pay you any commision at all.

My terms are better and (dare I say) my products are incredibly saleable...

Just PM me if anyone is interested in finding out more...

If you decide to go with Avon I do (genuinely) wish you good luck

[silvermaid]

I haven't seen Avon around here for years though I'm sure people are still buying. I'm not keen on their stuff I think it's overpriced.

Melanie

[Recycled Bag Lady]

I've also gone off Avon - would much rather buy from some of the lovely hand made stuff! However,Avon does have a very strong following still with some very popular products. If you can identify the regulars, you've cracked it!

[nikkisnoveltygifts]

I have to disagree with the earlier posts because I am an AVON rep. I started after my son was born and have been doing it for a year (having done it for a few years in my teens also) and I do really well from it. You put in an order about every 3 weeks. Minimal work for me - I have about 50 regular customers who dutifully leave their books out for me to collect after they've had them 4 days. It's great for me as I moved into the area and didn't know anyone and now I know loads of lovely people and its more a social thing than anything!! You get 25% commission on your orders. I have at least 5 customers who always spend at least £50 a campaign so I think it is well worth doing. Also as a rep, you get a catalogue with rep only offers, and end of line bargains which are incredibly cheap. AND if you order from the main brochures, you are really only paying 75% of the brochure once when you discount your commission.
The other thing is that you can back -order from earlier brochures so you can always find the cheapest way of ordering the products. Its up to you whether you pass these discounts on to valued customers or not
I do hope this helps. If you have any questions just message me

[nikkisnoveltygifts]

Also I meant to say re. bathbombs post - you pay an admin fee for the first two months. It £7.50 a month which is deducted from your commission. You do however start earning commission from your first order! There is, as bathbomb says, a minimum that you must take before you earn commission. This is currently £76 (which is easy to acheive). If you take between £76 and £146 on a brochure, you get 20%. If you take over £146, you take 25% commission (which I have every time).
You'll be given an area supervisor who will come and explain it all but will then stay out of your hair unless you phone and ask for advice.
You will get free brochures for the first few campaigns so you can 'canvass your area' in your given territory. After that you pay for your brochures. For my 50 brochures I pay about £6 a campaign (every 3 weeks). I could of course buy half as many and recycle the brochures but that means more leg work and I am lazy!!
You place your order on line and it is all really easy. Also with all the current TV advertising you will do really well. I sell loads of TV advertised perfume like Ungaro and Bond Girl.
Sorry if I am blowing AVONs trumpet too loudly but I think it is really worthwhile to earn some extra pennies. Now I've given up my day job to follow my crafting dream I don't know where I would be without the pocket money I get from it.

[Cazpanda]

I was an Avon rep for 5 years till I gave it up last year. the commssion was good but as has been said before it was a lot of leg work & I got fed up having to keep repeatedly going back to people who forgot to put books out or weren't in when I tried to deliver their order. Having said that it was just hard for me having 3 young children as well & I gave my round (or territory) as its known to one of my customers & she is doing far better that I did & made the Presidents Club which means she sold & earnt a great deal in her first few campaigns! The problem she & I know may other reps have is 'territory wars' over who does what streets & has come to blows with other reps but that may just be bad managment in our area.

[nikkisnoveltygifts]

territory wars!

I came across that only once. My sales leader gave me an extra street and when I went to collect brochures they all said they already bought from another girl. (her mum lived on the street) So I backed off immediately as its not worth fighting for - there are plenty of houses in the town after all - but one lady said she didn't likr the 'other girl' and now orders from me at least £50 each brochure. It's not a bitchy business - much less so than having the 'politics; in a real workplace....

[Seahorse]

I did it too.I wasnt suited to it but it was ok.

[Katianne]

Has anyone done this or something similar alongside working full time? If so, how did you find managing it time wise? If it went well, I would hope to reduce my hours at work, but I would have to try it out before I did this, to make sure it worked financially.