How to Succeed in (Your Avon) Business Without Really Trying

Hello, blog-of-mine-I’ve-ignored-for-four-months!  I hope you’ll take me back!  Pretty please?

The last time I published a post was just before Christmas, and I’m ashamed that I haven’t kept it up.  To be honest, I haven’t been this busy since final exams in college (which, by the way, will soon be a year ago).

The great news is I started my career in New York in January!  Since then, all my efforts from the moment I have my Grande Nonfat No Whip Mocha in the morning to when I come home on a late train after the sun goes down, have gone toward my media job.  I love my media career, and so I work hard during the day and dedicate a few nighttime hours and most weekends to running my Avon business.  I’ve been so busy selling the products themselves that writing and reflecting on those sales feels like an exhausting task.

All that hard work paid off though; I’ve reached President’s Club!

Here’s where you ask, “What’s President’s Club?”

Avon’s President’s Recognition Program (PRP) awards the top sellers in the company for achieving a set standard of goals.  The first level, known as President’s Club, is attained after selling $10,100 worth of Avon products within one sales cycle.  Because I started in Campaign 16 2011 (July), I only had 17 two-week campaigns to reach that amount (instead of the full 26).

Only a small percentage of representatives make the PRP in their Avon career, so I’m honored to be receiving such an award.

Anyway, I recently saw the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway with a few of my closest college friends, and it’s amazing how the advice in the script of the show can be implemented in my everyday Avon business!  (If you haven’t seen it yet, you should!  It was a great show.)  I won’t get into plot details, but I spotted three main ideas that I use to sell Avon.

How to Succeed in Your Avon Business Without Really Trying

Step 1:  Find out your customer’s interests.

I’m one of the first employees at work every day.  Because of my commute from New Jersey, I have to wake up much earlier than my city coworkers in order to get to work on time.  I get into the office at around 8:30 and chat with my favorite receptionist, Pat.  One day I was wearing the blue mark Lighten Up earrings, and she complemented me on my style.  I told her that I was an Avon/mark representative on the side and she was ECSTATIC.  It turns out this self-proclaimed “Avon junkie” was looking for a new rep because her previous one was rarely around.  I found out that she was a big fan of Avon’s jewelry line, and now Pat orders the new jewelry pieces that come out nearly every campaign.

Step 2:  Slip in your business in everyday conversation.

You’d be surprised how easy it is to switch from a listener of a conversation to the leader.  When you absolutely love a product, it’s only natural to share it among friends (unless you’re in some sort of beauty pageant against your BFF, but that’s a completely different story).  In media planning, sales reps from other companies take you out to eat or treat you to mani/pedicures on a Friday afternoon.  When those reps talk about how their nail polish chips two days after a manicure, that’s when you step in and give them your Avon testimonial.

I truthfully tell them that when I use Avon’s Nailwear Pro, my polish stays on for two weeks without touch ups.  The frequent response, “do you type on the computer at all?!?”  Why yes, I am on the computer all day.  I also use my nails as tools, and I play guitar once in awhile.  The stories I tell about my nail polish amazes them.  The best part is that I don’t have to lie about Avon; the product sells itself if I just listen for the right moment to talk about my hobby.

Avon Nailwear Pro in "Illusion"

Step 3:  Product placement is key.

The more in tune you are with your brand, the better you’ll be able to sell.  I’ve become a walking, talking human Avon cosmetic experiment, and I’m proud of it!  I get compliments on my mark outfits, ladies ask where I get my jewelry, and others want to know how to get great skin like mine.  Sometimes I think that my love for Avon is a little bit obnoxious, but then I remember that if i didn’t model the products I sold, potential customers might not have faith in ordering.

I not only wear everything there is to wear from Avon, but I love to find press clippings relevant to cosmetics or mentions of the products in some of the biggest media publications out there.  My neighbor, who purchases Anew Rejuvenate from me, saw an article in a magazine about Anew Genics and immediately wanted the night treatment cream.  I had given her samples of it before, but sometimes people have a trust in the media.  The timing was perfect.

So, that’s how I succeeded.  That is, when based off a Broadway show.

If you would like to succeed in business, please email RedheadedAvonRep AT yahoo DOT com.

10 Reasons I’m Thankful for Avon

There are many things I am thankful for: family, friends, food, shelter, etc.  However, instead of being thankful for these staples in life just one day a year, I am happy to have these things 365 days out of every year.

Which is why this year I’m thankful for Avon.  Here are 10 reasons why:

In a tough economy, I have a job.

Instead of blaming Wall Street for the reasons why I’m not employed, I took an opportunity that would help me become an entrepreneur under a well-respected Fortune 500 company name.  I’m thankful for the networking experience, income, and conversation-starter on my resume that has helped me land an internship in a book publishing company that I hope to work for in the near future.

My skin has never been clearer.

I didn’t have acne as an adolescent, but my pores rebelled against me during my stressful college years!  I was using prescribed topical acne products that my dermatologist gave me, and they still couldn’t get rid of those volcanoes.  My skin was always peeling, dry, raw, and the blemishes were painful!  This past summer, I decided to try the Anew Rejuvenate skincare regimen.  I figured I had nothing to lose, because I’ve tried everything on the shelves of my local pharmacy and had yet to see results.  After just one week, my pores looked smaller, my skin felt baby-smooth again, and the potential pimples remained dormant.  I also tested out Anew Genics, which has also yielded amazing results!

I get my favorite products at a discount.

I’m a bargain-hunter, and most of the time refuse to buy anything full price.  With Avon, there are always great deals!  I get a 40% discount on most products that are already on sale in the catalog.  For example, if I need a new Advance Techniques Lotus Shield treatment, it might be on sale for $9.99 in the catalog and I only have to pay $5.99.  Pretty sweet!

I meet new people all the time.

Whether I’m talking to the cashier that’s ringing up my grocery purchase, or attending Avon sales meetings, I’ve met a bunch of great people within the past 4 months.  It’s a great way to network and make new friends along the way.  I’m thankful for meeting inspirational people every day.

I’ve learned how to market myself as a brand.

I studied advertising in college, and now I get to take my marketing ideas and put them to good use for my business!  I’m your friendly neighborhood Redheaded Avon Rep, and that’s how I’m branded.  I gain new customers through interacting on Twitter, Facebook, and any time the media mentions something about Avon, beauty, or the sales business.  And of course, I write on this blog as well!  I’m thankful to finally use my skills to reach an audience!

I’m part of a company that gives back.

Ever heard of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer? Speak Out Against Domestic Violence? Avon Voices? Did you know that Avon has helped the families of 9/11 victims recover from the horrible tragedy in 2001?  Avon does so much to give back and more!  It’s great to sell nail polish and other products that help support these projects!

I learned how to fund raise.

With Avon, I can provide an easy-to-use fundraising outlet that benefits both the organization I’m helping out and myself.  I learned how much work goes into these fundraisers!  I’m thankful for the lesson!

I get paid to talk about cool stuff!

Do you ever recommend hair products to your friends?  Before Avon, I did all the time!  Now, I can make a sale from these testimonies.

My family supports me.

One of my aunts hosted a party, my mom helps me take inventory, and other relatives and friends see how happy I am to reach my goals!

My holiday shopping is complete.

I always have a gift on hand, whether it’s for a party host or birthday, there’s something for everyone from Avon.  I’m thankful to avoid Black Friday like the plague and sit down, relax, and let the shoppers head over to my site to complete their shopping lists.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Stock-up 17

I was going to publish a Halloween makeup post this year, but thanks to a random snow storm on one of my favorite holidays, I had no power.  Without power, I was eating dinner by candlelight and reading Water for Elephants in front of the fireplace to keep warm and toasty.  The 24 hours away from all things electronic was nice, but the timing was not what I had planned!  It seemed silly to post a “how-to” story for Halloween when anyone following my advice would have to wait another year to use it.

So here I am, catching up on old campaigns!

Campaign 17 catalog

Campaign 17 started in the beginning of August, when the majority of my town was on vacation.  Though the summer savings that the catalog was offering at this time were fantastic, there weren’t many customers around to take advantage of the great deals.  I lived in a ghost town.  So what did I do?  Stock up, of course!

It was during this campaign that I decided to try out the clothing, skin care regimen, bug repellent…you name it!  And it was a good thing that I did, because I had my first party at my friend’s house and my expertise in the products helped me build more sales.  I was able to recommend specific fragrances and give testimonials about the ever-popular mark. peony apple body butter.  Guests valued my opinions on the extensive mascara selection, and knowing the products helped me up-sell and cross-sell leading to more cha-ching!  It was a small party of about 10 guests, so I was able to give each lady one-on-one attention to her beauty needs as well as enjoy the (strong) Sangria and snacks.  Getting paid to talk about products you already recommend is pretty great!

Anyway, back to stocking up!

Skin care: I started the Anew Rejuvenate skin care regimen by using their 2-week trial kit, which at the time was only $19.99 (reg. $34).  The mini cleanser lasted a full two-and-a-half months, the mini day cream lasted nearly three months, I’m almost finished with the night cream, and I still have plenty of the 24 hour eye moisturizer left!  The trial kit was a great way to see how my sensitive (and acne-prone) skin reacted to a new regimen.  Want to know a secret? I used to use a prescription to clear my blemishes and it barely worked, but somehow Anew Rejuvenate has made my face feel fresher, firmer, and look clearer like never before.  I’ve moved my prescription topical medications under the sink, where they are probably collecting dust.

Hair care: My red locks were getting tangled, knotty, and the split ends resembled some kind of tumbleweed you would find in the middle of the dessert.  I basically wanted to shave my head because I was so frustrated with it, but I didn’t because I tried a new hair treatment in the Advance Techniques Damage Repair line called 3D Rescue.  The ad copy claimed that one application could “repair 3 years of hair damage in 3 days.” I had a few samples and tried it out.  After just one application, I decided that I didn’t need a haircut yet and that I could once again donate to Locks of Love in the future.

Makeup: I was running out of an old Wet N Wild eyeshadow compact and wanted to find something similar to the daytime neutral colors I usually wear.  The Anew Youth-Awakening Eyeshadow and Primer Kit was on sale, and I gave it a go.  I use “Sunset Pink” every day (how fitting for me, because I LOVE sunsets!), and looks great with my Smooth Minerals Mascara.  I also got myself a mark. customizable palette that I use for my nights out.

I could go on with more products I’ve been using since C-17, but then I wouldn’t have product reviews to write about in the future.  You’ll just have to stay tuned!

Highlights of Campaign 17

I acquired new customers from my first Avon party!  Success!  And many of the products I started using back in the summer are still being used today!

On the downside…

The townspeople were all down the shore somewhere for two weeks before the high school sports seasons started.  It was so quiet that I could hear ants crawling on the concrete pavement.  There was no one to stop and say hello to!  Networking with strangers would just have to wait!