Re: Avon observations

bonnielu · ‎03-11-2010

I met a very nice Avon rep a few years back and buy "sometimes" I mostly like Cover Girl in the box stores instead. IN the case of CVS products can be returned. I imagine Avon has the same rules,not sure. Never had to do it. I only buy Creme to Powder, liquid makeup, black eyeliner in any case.

pegsue · ‎03-19-2010

Avon has been a part of my life since I can remember! The Avon lady used to come to my mom and grandma's house when I was little and I was soooo excited to get those tiny little lipstick samples! I remember when I got old enough my mom bought me the Sweet Honesty perfume-and I think they still have it!

Then about 22+ years ago I sold Avon. I did it for a couple of years and did ok-I took brochures to work which had about 50+ women, took them to a friend's work and shared with friends and family. I never pushed it-if they ordered fine, if not fine too but I always did ok-even after the expenses of the catalogs, samples, etc. It was always exciting to see what was new and get the products ahead of time. This was all before you could do the online ordering-or maybe it was when it was first coming out but I ended up quitting as I had a baby and it was too much at the time.

I still have an Avon lady and purchase from her regularly. She drops the books off (I like to have a book to look at as opposed to the computer) and use their deodorant, bubble bath, eye liners, nail polish, hand and body lotions, Skin So Soft and a few other products. I have noticed lately the commercials on TV and the push to become a representative. I have never had anyone really bother me about that so I hope this new leadership doesn't become like the Mary Kay reps always hounding you. I hope Avon does well.

AngelPuppy1 · ‎03-13-2010

@mistriTsquirrel wrote:
@AngelPuppy1 I can understand why you have nostalgia about Avon, and like things you've purchased from them. I'm conflicted myself about no longer purchasing Rare Gold and a few other items. Rare Gold is a fragrance I've liked for a long time, and I used to wear it quite frequently.

One thing I can tell you is that the brochures went up in price. Maybe they once were inexpensive, but they went from being kind of pricy to being not really worth it when I was a rep. And from the time I started to the time I quit, there were several changes made that made it harder and harder for me to make money. It's possible they're trying to reverse some of those changes after losing a lot of their people, and that's why they've sent out e-mails saying it's more rewarding to be a rep now. But I don't trust them. The prices and minimums seemed reasonable when I started, and then they changed the terms on me. So I have a feeling the experience of being a rep is different now than it once was.

That said, if you're just in it to get the discount for yourself, friends and family, maybe it's not such a bad gig (I can't say what their minimums or discounts are anymore, as I'm no longer a rep, so I don't know).

But based on my experience, it's not a good way to make extra money, which is one of the claims they make in their recruitment advertisements and literature, and it was something I had hoped for.

I don't talk about my experience with Avon much, but since it came up I wanted anyone who is thinking about becoming a rep to know what they could be in for.

@mistriTsquirrel

I understand what you mean. I haven't sold for many, many years so I am sure that a lot has changed. Like everything! Back then, I made a few $$ but not much but I did it basically to get my own things cheaper so this wasn't a concern for me. But as you say, if you go into it to make a lot of money --- I think it would be very hard!!!

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin

newname0 · ‎06-20-2015

@Lulu Bea wrote:
Word on the street is Avon is ousting it's CEO and replacing with the gentleman who runs Herblife. News sent stock up.

Avon has to get a grip on Ecommerce being the name of the game. Gettng the color right for cosmetics is critical. And how will you get scent described so the average person can understand? I have no idea what "radiant water accord" is nor do I know what a Kyoto Flower smells like. Keep the actual notes but then put it in real words. As far as color, maybe they can start a small sample program that can be purchased.

The possibilities are endless with ecomm technology. Do they charge reps for having an online store or to do email campaigns to their customers. I'd love to get emails with new products in descriptions I can relate to when it comes to color or scent or anything.

I understand why they went after the Herbalife CEO as the selling channel and mulit-level marketing is applicable. I think they should have gone after a mover and shaker in the Ecomm community.

That's the reason they are introducing in Campaign 3, 2018 energy boosting vitamins. Years ago they wanted to sell vitamins but were blocked by Shakley from doing so. Now they are. Hooray. I need the energy sometimes.

suzyQ3 · ‎03-09-2010

Herbalife? Hmm...rather a controversial choice.

~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

In our small town we actually have a lady who has a beauty salon & AVON store in one.So I can go in and get my skin so soft as needed or when it's on sale.

We have purschased Avon at our house as long as I can remember.