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.