About Birdie Jaworski
Birdie's Favorite Avon Adventures
Birdie's Personal Stories
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Listen to The Avon Prison Blues
Avon As Big As Your Head!
Today's Avon Lady Sales Tip is from Barbara, who sells Avon in Toledo, Ohio. Here is Barbara's tip:
"Dear Birdie,
This is a really simple tip for Avon Representatives. Include a little post-it pad imprinted with your name and number and a pen with every Avon brochure. This will make it easy for your customers to remember to write down their orders and call you."
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Today's Avon Lady helpful tip is from Bobbie Roland, an Avon Representative in Oklahoma City. Bobbie has been selling Avon for thirteen years. Bobbie sent in her favorite sales technique:
"Dear Birdie,
As you know, sometimes it's difficult to get a new contact to open that brochure. Often times our Avon brochures will end up in a pile of mail on a coffee table, or stuck in the backseat of a car with a pile of other forgotten materials. Birdie, you have written some wonderful ideas of how to get your customer to open the brochure. Here is my favorite way to get that prospect to stop, look, and open:
Personalize the brochure for your specific prospect. Now, this takes a little research and time. It isn't as easy as labeling multiple brochures and giving them out to any person. But this can pay off in a big way, because it shows you care about your prospect. Find out her name, and what she does for a living. This is easy to do if you are canvassing doctors' offices, for example. Then hand write a note on a pretty piece of stationary and tape it to the front of the brochure:
Dear Dr. Carol,
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Bobbie Roland, and I am your local Avon Representative. I would like to provide you with a selection of hand-picked Avon samples. Please peruse this brochure and circle the items you are most interested in, then give me a call."
Birdie, this works every time. What busy professional woman wouldn't want to choose her own samples, and have them delivered to her door?"
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Today's Avon Lady Sales Tip is from Jessica, who lives and works near Washington, DC. Jessica counts U.S. Senators and Representatives among her customers! Here is Jessica's tip:
"Dear Birdie,
Around here, many business people use their vehicle license plates like a business card. I think more people have vanity plates than the regular state-issued plates! I decided to get my own "Avon" license plate, so I just registered "AvonLdy" for my brand-new Lexus - which, I'll have you know, I am purchasing strictly from my Avon profits. I think most states allow you to have seven letters or numbers on a vanity plate. How about registering AvonLdy in your state? Or AvonGrl, Avon4U, MyAvon, I can think of many others."
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Today's Avon Lady Tip is from Vicky D. of Martinsville, Indiana. Vicky sells Avon part-time to help pay for her children's sports and music programs. Here is Vicky's tip:
"When Avon discontinues an item or reformulates it, sometimes I am left with half a dozen tubes or so of the older version. It can be difficult to sell these. I have to deal with the hassle of returning items, so I came up with a great solution. I donate any of these older products to my church's rummage sale. I make sure to put a big sticker with my contact info on the side of the items that says "Donated by Your Avon Lady, Vicky." If someone is buying Avon at a rummage sale, they probably use and enjoy Avon products on a regular basis. It's a great way to make some new customers and help your church or other organization out at the same time."
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Today's Avon Lady Tip is from Pam V. of Vancouver. Pam has been selling Avon for five years - first in Seattle, and now as a Canadian Rep after her marriage and subsequent move. Here is Pam's tip:
"Dear Birdie,
This isn't a new tip, it's an old tip that came from you! It has worked so well for me that I had to tell you how much your idea increased my business.
I started making a CD each campaign of the best deals in the brochures, plus a few customer testimonials for both me as an Avon Rep and for some of the new products. My customers love listening to the CD. Some of them slip it into their car deck on their commute to work. It has increased my sales by at least 30 percent, Birdie. Thank you."
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Today's Avon Lady Tip is from Elle "Duckie" Dupre, an Avon Representative in Toronto. Elle is just beginning her Avon business again after taking three years off to have a set of triplets! Here's Elle's tip:
"Dear Birdie,
I have triplets, two boys and one girl. It can be very crazy around my house, and I need to keep all of my Avon extremely organized otherwise I would never keep up with it.
Some customers call me with their order, and some of them send me emails. Often times a customer will forget to say which brochure she is ordering from. Sometimes she might forget her product number or the color of the makeup. I used to give customers the order form that Avon sends us for our customers but it is so small and the print is too tiny for some of my older customers. To help keep me organized I made a simple LARGER PRINT easy-to-follow order form for my customers. It has a clearly-marked space where customers fill in which brochure they are reading so I can match up product prices, and each line instructs the customer to fill in product number, color, size, and quantity. So much easier! I rarely have product mixups now."
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Today's Avon Lady helpful tip is from Jill Williams, an Avon Representative in Los Angeles. Jill has been selling Avon for six years. Jill sent in her favorite sales technique:
"Dear Birdie,
I don't ever visit a customer unless I bring a snack to share with me. Even if I'm just dropping off an order or a brochure, I bring a little bag with homemade biscotti. It's a small gesture, but it really makes my customers see me as a real person. I bake biscotti once a week and wrap them in that nice colored plastic wrap, and tie it at the top with a pretty color-coordinated ribbon. A few biscottis can make a customer's day. Some of my customers are addicted to the goodies, and I even think they order sometimes just to get one of my double chocolate biscottis! Here is my recipe. I would like to share this with all of my fellow Avon Representatives because these biscotti taste so good and they really keep those customers wanting more Avon.
Double Chocolate Biscotti
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup ground cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup walnuts, chopped
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
Preheat oven to 350°F. and butter and flour a large baking sheet.
In a bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat until combined well. Stir in flour mixture to form a stiff dough. Stir in walnuts and chocolate chips.
On prepared baking sheet with floured hands form dough into two slightly flattened logs, each 12 inches long and 2 inches wide, and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Bake logs 35 minutes, or until slightly firm to the touch. Cool biscotti on baking sheet 5 minutes.
On a cutting board cut biscotti diagonally into 3/4-inch slices. Arrange biscotti, cut sides down, on baking sheet and bake until crisp, about 10 minutes. Cool biscotti on a rack. Serve to your Avon customers. "
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Today's Avon Lady Tip is from... me!
One of my customers up and moved without telling me, leaving me holding a super-size bottle of Skin So Soft and six tubes of hot red lipstick. I left the Skin So Soft in my backpack for a few days, thinking perhaps I would try to sell it to one of my Skin So Soft regulars - the good Lord knows I will NEVER resell that gaudy firetruck lipstick.
This morning I grabbed my backpack and shoved my guitar music in the back flap, forgot the Skin So Soft was resting in its depths. As I walked into the classroom, I noticed that my students were huddled in a corner. One of the boys had a fat wad of Juicy Fruit stuck in his hair. I opened my mouth, ready to tell him to run to the kitchen and fetch the peanut butter, when I remembered.
Skin So Soft!
I twisted the top and removed the safety seal, poured a capful into my hands and rubbed them together.
"Sit still! C'mon, stop squirming!"
I massaged that poor kid's hair until the gum released its death grip. Yay for Skin So Soft! By this time a small crowd had gathered around us, including two moms who were assisting the younger children with remedial reading. They each ordered a bottle, and the school ordered six bottles!
On the two-mile walk home I stopped in every shop and demonstrated how Skin So Soft can clean, erase, soften, shine any dirty, scratched, dull surface. I'm the Skin So Soft Sales Queen!
So many times we read that carrying a demonstration product can create a sale - but I never realized I should be doing this EVERY time I leave the house, not just on my regular door-to-door cosmetic jaunts. Get a big bottle of Skin So Soft, fellow Avon Reps, and pour it wherever you go! Once a customer purchases Skin So Soft, he or she is more likely to consider other items, too.
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Today's Avon Lady Tip is from John - who has never been an Avon rep, or used Avon of any kind! Here is John's tip:
"Dear Birdie,
I want to add a helpful tip to your growing sales advice column.
As the sales manager of a BMW dealership, I often meet with men and women who have many questions they want answered before they are ready to make a purchase. I see too many new salespeople interrupt their potential customers in order to handle an objection. They think they are being smart, but they are, in fact, turning off their customer.
If your customer - whether it's for a high-end BMW or an inexpensive lipstick - has something to say, just take your time and listen. Wait until your customer is finished speaking before you voice any portion of your sales pitch."
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Today's Avon Lady Tip is from Caroline, who has been an Avon Rep for 41 years! Caroline is new to the internet, and is excited about all the new Avon Rep connections she is making. Here is Caroline's tip:
"I made a one-page flier with my contact info and the latest Avon brochure specials, and then place one in every book and magazine related to beauty, in every library within driving distance ;-)"
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Today's Avon Lady Tip is from Drew, who is a brand-new Avon Representative in Thousand Oaks, California. Drew just placed her first order, which included over $200 in customer sales - AND she signed up two new reps! Way to go, Drew! Here's what Drew sent in:
"Dear Birdie,
I signed up to sell Avon because my husband was laid off of work three weeks ago after he had some health problems that caused him to miss several weeks of work. I am working full-time as a bank teller. There is already a coworker who sells Avon in the office, so I can't bring my brochures to work without causing a problem. I have such limited time, as I also have a little girl in the first grade. We need some extra cash to help get us through the next few months while my husband gets better and is looking for a new job.
My husband, Brian, is actually the one who came up with my idea. He has been at the unemployment office every day this week, looking for what new jobs are posted. I spent my lunch hour every day over the past two weeks at the unemployment office, too. I handed out brochures and samples to every person. I didn't care if they were a man or a woman. I had to get some extra brochures and samples from my upline since I went through my kit's books in the first day. I'm going to continue canvassing here. There are so many people laid off or looking for work. Avon is a great way to earn a little extra money while you look for another job. It's working for me, so why not anyone else?"
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Today's Avon Lady helpful tip is from Georgina, an Avon Representative in Austin, Texas:
"Birdie,
My tip is about recruiting. I recently made Unit Leader. I have had a lot of luck recruiting. I make a folder for each potential recruit. I put all of the regular recruiting literature in it, but I also add a booklet with your daily sales tips. I can't believe how much these make new reps feel like they can do Avon. A lot of new people find the recruiting literature to be a little intimidating, and a little home spun humor helps make them much more comfortable. Of course I credit you in my booklet and tell my new people to read your site every day. I think you should make a PDF file of all of the tips that Leadership reps can download and print out. Would you consider it?"
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Note from Birdie: Yes, I love this idea, Georgina! I will put together a booklet of all the helpful tips - both from the Avon Lady Quote of the Day posts and from my large archive of newsletters and published articles. I never thought of offering these tips in a printable format, and I love the idea. I will make it easy to follow and understand, as well as pretty to hold and read.
Today's Avon Lady helpful tip is from Ronda, an Avon Representative in Paris, Texas:
"Birdie,
Around here, some of the restaurants have those drawings for a fee lunch. You have to drop your business card in a fishbowl or can, and one card a week is drawn. I drop my card in every restaurant's bowl, but I tape two samples on it so that it will get looked at, and on the back I write:
I don't want the free lunch, I want to treat YOU instead!
I get calls every week from these business cards! I hope this helps other reps, I just love your site."
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Today's Avon Lady helpful tip is from Trini, an Avon Representative who just made Unit Leader in Miami.
"I was still afraid to go door to door or to speak to strangers, and as a stay-at-home mom with a six month old boy and a two year old girl, I don't get out often enough to make new friends. I didn't think I could ever make Unit Leader when I started Avon a few months ago. I made up my mind I was going to do it, and I figured out a way to get potential Avon Reps to come to me. I remember that the hospital gave me a gift basket filled with samples of baby lotions, formula samples, and smoothie mixes as well as some literature and coupons from businesses around town. I found out who put those baskets together and made an arrangement to give them Avon samples and a letter. I printed the letter on nice parchment paper I bought at Office Depot. I rolled them up like a fancy scroll and tied a pink and blue ribbon around them. The letter said:
Dear New Mom,
Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby! As a new mom myself, I know how hard it is to make friends and to find time to pamper yourself. I am starting a group of new moms who want to make some extra money and who want to connect with other new moms in the neighborhood. Give me a call when you are feeling rested and strong, and I will make sure that you get some more Avon samples to enjoy while you are enjoying your new precious bundle.
Birdie, I made Unit Leader in just three weeks! I also made a lot of new friends with new babies!"
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Today's Avon Lady helpful tip is from Julia T., a fifteen-year-in-the-business Avon Representative in Indianapolis:
"Sponsor an Easter Egg hunt in your yard and have eggs for the kids with treats inside, but have special eggs for the parents with special Avon goodies. You can stuff the eggs with special coupons and samples and small, inexpensive products like the Easter-themed lip balms. Choose a specific color for your Avon Eggs so that the moms know which eggs to find! Watch those women run!"
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Today's Avon Lady helpful tip is from..... me!
This past month I had a serious medical situation that kept me from servicing my regular customers. Good thing I have collected all of my customers' emails addresses, even though I service most of them in their homes! I managed to keep my customers updated on my condition through my email list, let them know that they could order through avon.com until I was back on my feet, and that I would surprise them with a little gift when I was back to work. I called the few customers without computer access and gave them the name of another local Avon Representative who could handle any lotion emergencies. It's okay to take a break when you need one. We are all human, and most folks understand when you have an emergency.
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From Jenny who has been an Avon Representative for eighteen years in the greater Orlando area:
"I live near the big Disney park. I know not everyone lives near a big tourist destination, but if you do, I have a good tip. We have so many small hotels around here. I go to the hotels that don't belong to a big chain and give them a big basket of sample cards stapled to brochures. Some of these hotels can't afford to offer complimentary trial size lotions to their guests, so the Avon samples can make a hotel guest feel pampered. Housekeeping puts my brochures in each room. I have gotten a lot of new customers this way."
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From Mimi who is an Avon Representative for eleven years in Boca Raton, Florida:
"I found that a winning combination is to place some food item in a little baggie and place that in the plastic bag with the brochure. A favorite in some of my neighborhoods, is a bagel. You should see the husbands wrestle the wives for the Avon brochure! I'd stay away from the onion bagels, but trust me, bagels work."
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From Bessie who is an Avon Representative in Palatine, IL:
"Take your brochures and go on a Saturday or a Sunday morning to barber shops and walk in and give them to the men to give to their wives or girlfriends. Tell the men "Let me give you a tip. Are you married or have a girlfriend?" and when they say "Yes," you say "Tell your wife or girlfriend you'll give her fifty dollars to buy anything in this brochure. They won't believe what a great guy you are!" Birdie, this works every time."
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From Britta who is an Avon Representative in Amherst, Massachusetts:
"I live in a neighborhood with lots of young children and here's what I do whenever there's a birthday party. I got a small tank of helium at one of the party supply stores, and a big package of small balloons. I make up a bunch of labels for my brochures that point out the pages where stuff for kids is available. Then I punch a hole in the corner of some brochures and tie the string of the balloon onto the brochure to use it like a weight for the helium. When it's time for the mommies to come pick up the kids, as each kid comes out I give them a balloon and hand a sample to the mom."
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From Linda who is an Avon Representative in Loveland, Colorado:
"Birdie! I live just outside of Denver, in Loveland Colorado, and we've had tons and tons of snow this winter. Most of the time as soon as the snow stops, the sun comes out and everything melts, but this year we've seen a lot more accumulation than usual. The last time it snowed, I was out shoveling and realized that half my neighbors were out shoveling too. Even though I've been around my own neighborhood a lot, I ran inside real quick and brought out a tube of Avon Sun Sport Sunscreen. I walked all around my neighborhood demonstrating the sunscreen, with brochures of course, and reminding everyone that even though it's really cold here right now, the sun can be very strong at our altitude this time of year. Every single person thanked me, almost everyone put the lotion on right away, and one elderly man, who probably shouldn't even have been out shoveling in the first place gave me an order for two more tubes right on the spot! I felt so good about helping my neighbors, and the next time it snows I'm gonna forget shoveling my driveway and will start early to make the rounds of other neighborhoods right away."
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From Claudette who is an Avon Representative in Minneapolis:
"Hi Birdie, I don't think enough Avon ladies realize how big the market is for men's products. There's a park near me where a big group of older retired men gather several times a week to fly remote control model airplanes. I stopped to watch one time when I was coming home from a run, and started talking to one of the men who was putting his stuff away and getting ready to leave. I noticed his hands were kind of rough and neglected looking, so I told him I sell Avon and that I have samples of some things that might help. Maybe it was just because he was pleased to have someone hold his hand for a minute (or maybe it was because of my cleavage, who knows?!) but he agreed to let me come back the next time he was there so I could give him some samples. Before I did, I made up a bunch of flyers saying "Avon's not just for the ladies!" and highlighted the pages of men's products. My new friend was waiting for me right on time, along with a few of his buddies, and I ended up leaving brochures on the windshields of all the cars parked where the RC guys were gathered. I got quite a few big orders from these man (this was right before Christmas) and it was real easy to deliver since they were all in the same place at the same time. This idea would work for all sorts of places where men gather for things like Chess and Checkers, Lawn Bowling, maybe even golf. I read your story about the time you went to the bowling alley and that's a great idea too, but unfortunately there's no bowling alley around where I live. And besides, I don't think I'm quite as brave as you are about trying stuff like that! I hope you can print this suggestion, since it will make me feel great to maybe help some of the other reps as much as their ideas have helped me. Thank you, and good luck to all our fellow Avon Ladies out there!"
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From Rita who is an Avon Representative of fifteen years in Houston, Texas:
"Hi Birdie, I have a feeling this tip isn't really sanctioned by Avon corporate, but since your blog isn't either, maybe you can print it anyway. In my town the drugstore is right next to the grocery store, so every time I have to go for groceries I allow a few extra minutes to stop by the cosmetics section of the drugstore. There's almost always someone standing in the aisle looking over the beauty products, and it's real easy to strike up a conversation with them. "Have you tried that product? Do you like it? Have you ever tried Avon? You know, they have a line that offers something very similar. I can arrange to drop off a sample for you to try if you want to find out whether it would suit you." If they don't want to give me their contact information, I just hand them a brochure and ask them to pass it along to a friend after they are done with it. People always seem open to talking about the different products, and heck, I still even cheat on Avon and buy some stuff from there too so I'm real honest about my opinions. You've set a good example that way for all us other reps, Birdie. Good luck with your own sales!"
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From Betty, who is an Avon Representative with #1 Sales in her district, and recipient of the prestigious Spirit of Avon Award:
"Last week on the CBS Morning Show, they did a segment on skin care products. Some of the products cost up to $250.00! Avon's Anew Clinical Thermafirm was the only product showing a noticeable difference!!"
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From Janice who is a brand new Avon Representative in Detroit:
"Hi Birdie,
This weekend my neighbor had her dog entered in a dog show, and I remembered the story you wrote on your blog about how you were in charge of getting a customer's dog ready for one of those. When I went to the show to see my friend's dog, I stuffed my bag with Skin So Soft since it's great for repelling fleas, brochures and my contact information.
As I walked around I talked to lots of the owners and told them I was an Avon lady and that these products could be used on dogs. So many of them asked questions, that when I went home, I made up a bunch more cards with the URL for your site and the story you wrote about the dog show, and I went back on Sunday to hand them all out. I hope you don't mind, but I figured it would help my sales if people could read about how this stuff has already been "tested on animals", so to speak, and really works.
So, if you get a lot of questions now from readers who have dogs and live in the Detroit area, I guess you can blame me for it. Thanks a lot, Birdie for all the help you give us "newbie" Avon reps. The corporation may not appreciate you as much as they should, but we sure do!
Love, Janice"
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From Carry Anne who is an Avon Representative in Albany, New York:
"Birdie, the hardest thing for me is keeping all my orders organized. I just started selling Avon three months ago and already have twenty customers. That might not sound like a lot but I have a hard time figuring out which product goes to which customer. Here's what I do to help keep myself organized:
I set out all my delivery bags the day before my order arrives. I write my customers' names in red marker on the bags, and I tape a copy of their invoice to the bag. That way when my order comes in I'm not scrambling so much, everything is in place. I also try to give samples of things they have never tried. So if a customer regularly buys lipstick and eyeshadow and hasn't tried the face creams, I will give her a sample of the new ThermaFirm. And if a customer buys body lotions and fragrance and isn't buying the makeup, I will give her a couple of those mini lipsticks in the new shades."
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From Bette who is an Avon Representative just starting the Leadership program in San Antonio:
"I accept coupons from all other beauty product companies. If my customer hands me a coupon for fifty cents off of Jergens body wash, I'll give her fifty cents off the corresponding Avon product - a Naturals body wash."
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From Kris who is an Avon Representative and Unit Leader in Los Angeles:
"I am building a big downline and so I hold meetings several evenings a week. Once a week all of my downline gets together and we talk about the latest Avon products and how to help other people who want to start their own Avon business. Sometimes my people can get a little tired, as they work all day and then go to the meeting at night. I bring along a bag of chocolates and toss them to the crowd occasionally. Keeps everyone laughing and on their toes!"
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From Britta who is an Avon Representative in Vancouver, Canada:
"This is a little different. It's not a tip on how to make sales. If you're like me, you end up with an assortment of samples that you can't really use for customers anymore because the products have been changed or discontinued. When I realize I have a bunch of these, I bring them to the local women's shelter where they can do some good. "
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From Connie who is an Avon Representative in Orlando, Florida:
"This is a tip for your Avon quote of the day. I hope you like it. I live across the street from a bus stop that gets very busy at certain times of the day. When I see a group of people standing there, I just go over and hand out samples and tell them about Avon stuff. One day I realized I was seeing the same people over and over again so I'd better stop. But then I thought of going to a different bus stop. So one day I made up a big shopping bag full of samples and just rode around on the bus all day getting off at different places and waiting for new people to come along. It was fun. People waiting for a bus don't have anything else to do and they usually don't mind having a stranger start talking to them. I got my biggest order ever after that day and some of the people have become regular customers. Any time my orders start to slow down, I just hop on a bus and go for another ride."
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From Julie who is an Avon Representative and a Unit Leader in Boston:
Birdie, some of the best tips are those that are simple. Sometimes people forget to do the basics. Here is a list of ten things every Avon Representative should be doing on a regular basis. Remember, it's consistency and professionalism that makes the difference:
1. Always carry business cards with you. Give them freely and ask permission to leave them in places your potential customers may visit.
2. Include customer testimonials in your personal notes or newsletter.
3. Join a Chamber of Commerce where you can network with area business owners.
4. Send hand-written thank you notes to good customers every chance you get.
5. Provide extra customer service training for your downline. Boy can this make a difference.
6. Offer your customers discounts for each referral they provide.
7. Create a loyalty program to reward existing customers.
8. Have a Yellow Pages ad listed under Avon in your local phone book.
9. Donate some nice new products to a charity event or auction.
10. Pair up slow moving items you might have on hand with related products and repackage as a special buy.
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From Kate who is an Avon Representative in Tallahassee:
"My friend has a regular booth at our weekly Flea Market where she sells handmade ladies tops. Once in a while when I have some of my craft stuff to sell I take the booth next to hers, and every time someone buys one of her tops I go over with a lipstick sample that would look nice with that top. I really play it up and talk about how great the outfit would be with matching nailpolish too and I show them where they can order just the right shades from the brochure. They're always surprised to have somebody give them something for free."
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From Sherry who is an Avon Representative in Des Moines:
"With Valentine's Day coming up, I plan to make up a bunch of flyers that say "I would LOVE to have you order some Avon from me!" followed by my contact information. Where the "o" is in the word "LOVE" I'm drawing a red heart and sticking a Hershey Hug candy in the center of each one. "
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From Lindsey T. who is an Avon Representative in Flagstaff:
"I'm a hard-working student, trying to earn money from as many odd jobs as possible to pay my way through college. Besides waiting tables at night and working as a nanny on weekends, I sell Avon. I read that tip you printed the other day from the rep who gave her customers manicures, and it reminded me of a very cool thing I did on campus last winter. I had a bunch of lotion samples left over after the holidays and I was planning to just give them out to girls in my classes. At the beginning of the quarter I was waiting in the drop-ad line at the Registrar's office, and I started talking to the girl in line behind me. She wanted to try two of the samples, and I offered to rub them in for her so she wouldn't get the fragrances mixed up. We were all goofing around, and I gave her a nice hand massage while we talked about classes and stuff. Well, the guy behind *her* started asking a bunch of questions about Avon and all, and I offered to give him a sample of some of the men's products. He was all "do they come with massage services like that too?" so I said sure! Well, one thing led to another, and it turned out he was trying to add the class I had been planning to drop. I changed my mind and we ended up taking the class together. We've been dating ever since and I really think he might be "The One"!
"Another idea is to put flyers around on college campus bulletin boards like the ones people use with things for sale or rooms for rent where they cut "fringe" along one edge so people can tear off little pieces of paper with the number to call. Only on the flyer you write "free sample -- your choice of one product sample, lipstick, lotion..." (whatever samples you have a lot of and want to get rid of) "No purchase necessary and no sales talk!" On the tear-off pieces you print "free sample" and your number. Then when people call you arrange to meet them (I usually tell them I'll be studying at a certain place in the library between certain hours so it's not inconvenient for me and it's not a special stop to make) and let them choose the sample they want, and you give them a brochure. That way you know your brochures are only going to people who have already expressed an interest instead of just leaving them lying around where someone might throw them away, and it gives you a chance to talk to a potential customer in person. When I hand them a brochure I usually point out the section inside that carries stuff like the sample they selected and I mention one or two other things they might like to consider. I've gotten quite a few customers this way for hardly any effort on my part!"
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From Tanisha S. who is an Avon Representative in Grand Rapids, MI:
"Hi Birdie,
I live near a dog park, but the place where they used to have plastic bags available for people to scoop the dogs' poop is always empty, and a lot of people forget to bring bags of their own. So every time I take my dog there, I save up a bunch of the plastic bags that come with our newspaper. While my dog runs around and plays, I stand right next to the empty bag machine and hand out bags along with Avon brochures and samples to anyone who comes looking for a waste container. They're always real surprised and grateful, and I've made a lot of customers that way."
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From Jamie F. who is a brand-new Avon Representative in the Bay Area:
Birdie, guess what? I DO have a tip to share with your readers. I'm so excited! This afternoon I called on a lady who had really beautiful nails, but I noticed she wasn't wearing any polish. On the spur of the moment, I offered to give her a free manicure and she took me up on it. I really took my time, gave her hands a good Moisture Therapy massage and polish, so we had plenty of time to talk about the latest Avon products. She asked me what I thought about a couple of the new ones, and I was honest with her - told her I hadn't had a chance to try them myself yet, but I quoted two of your reviews and said that I heard from a very experienced and honest Avon lady that the Avon SuperShape really wasn't so good, but that she would probably love the Lift and Tuck. She thanked me for my honesty (and for the manicure!) and gave me a really big order. I told her to tell any of her friends who would like free manicures to give me a call. I figure it gives me a good long chance to "sell" them on some of the products they might not have thought of otherwise, and I know I left her feeling happy. That's got to be good for repeat business, right?
So, my tip is...offer to give customers a free manicure and then take advantage of your time with them as a "captive audience" to talk up some of the products they might really like.
Gosh, Birdie, thanks to you, maybe I'll get the hang of this Avon thing after all :)
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Today's Quote of the Day comes from an Avon.... Man!
Ricky, an Avon Representative in Baltimore, writes:
"I buy a box of chocolate-dipped fortune cookies from e-fortunecookie.com customized with racy fortunes and pop one in with every order. ...try something new tonight!"
Thanks, Ricky, for such a creative and fun idea! I'm enjoying all these wonderful (and funny!) tips and Avon sales ideas!
Please send your Avon sales tips to Birdie and get featured at Beauty Dish!
