How to Sell Avon - becoming an Avon rep

If you're looking for a work-from-home business and don't have much money to invest, it's worth investigating becoming an Avon rep. It costs little or nothing to become an Avon representative, depending on where you live, and it's a very flexible way of earning an income - you can put as much or as little time into it as you like. You don't need any qualifications and you don't have to be a born salesperson.

So, it's easy to join Avon, but to be realistic, that doesn't mean you'll have a successful Avon career. The first step - and the most important - is to assess whether joining Avon is right for you.

People often have misconceptions about what you need to be a successful Avon rep, so let's dispel the myths and look at what you do need.

Myth #1 - "I need to be a good salesperson"

False. Avon is not about selling - in fact, if you take a hard sell approach, you likely won't sell much. Avon is about establishing a personal relationship with potential customers: they'll buy from you because you're a local, or because you're a friend, or because they like you, and therefore they trust your recommendations. If you can be polite and smile, you can be an Avon rep.

Myth # 2 - "I need to be knowledgeable about skincare and make-up"

False. Surprisingly, some of the best Avon reps in my area know next to nothing about how to apply make-up, and only basic knowledge of skincare. Customers rarely ask tough questions! Besides, Avon sells much more than cosmetics - they sell shoes, clothing and gifts too, and they often have higher profit potential.

Myth # 3 - "I need to be well-groomed"

False. Customers buy from you because you're just like them, not some intimidating beauty consultant. Of course, it's important to look smart, but not catwalk ready!

There are lots of hints and tips to becoming a successful Avon seller, but there's one fundamental truth that will make or break your chances of success:

Truth #1 - "I need to like Avon products"

If you're contemplating becoming a rep but you've never tried Avon products, stop right there. Before you do anything else, get your hands on an Avon brochure.

If you're not tempted by the products in the brochure - if you can't see lots of things you'd like to buy if you had the cash - then selling Avon is not for you.

Why? The most obvious reason is that it's hard to sell products you don't believe in - but there are a couple of others which are even more important:

1. "Wear it to Sell it"

As an Avon seller, you don't have a store with a nice display window. You're the display window - as Avon says, you have to "wear it to sell it". That's less effective for skincare and cosmetics (except lipstick) because they're virtually invisible - but you should wear the jewelry, the shoes, the clothes, the handbags. And not just while you're working your territory, but as often as possible, because you never know when you might meet a prospective customer.

And it shouldn't stop there! For instance, have Avon ornaments and gadgets around the house, so friends can see them, like them and buy. Use the baby products on your little one at your mothers' group, and send the kids to sport with Avon soap.

That doesn't mean you need to invest big dollars upfront in buying up whole outfits or redecorating your house. Just stop and think every time you need something for yourself or your family - can I buy it from Avon instead? And clearly, if you don't like what you see in the brochures, the answer will usually be no - and that means you'll either not own enough Avon products to display, or you'll find yourself living with clothes, jewelry and other stuff you hate!

2. Maximising your Commission

When you're an Avon rep, you make commission on everything, even on products you buy for yourself. What's more, commissions are on a sliding scale - the bigger the order, the higher the commission. So the more you buy for your family, the more money you can save.

But buying for yourself can also make you money.

Let's say, for instance, that you're about to place an order for four customers, totalling $140. You'll earn a commission of 15% on that. But if you can find another customer to bring the total over $150, your commission will jump to 25% (on the total $150, not just on the last $10).* It can be tough finding that extra customer - unless it's yourself!

This becomes even more important when you're starting out, and have only a handful of customers - because if your order falls below the minimum threshold, you'll make no commission at all. For instance, you may have only two customers with a total order worth $50. That falls below the minimum order threshold of $75*, so you'll make no commission - in fact you're out of pocket, because you had to pay for the brochures, and you'll have to pay for delivery! But if you and your family like Avon, you can order $25 worth of products for yourself, to reach the commission threshold.

*_{(These figures and commissions are for illustrative purposes only: commission percentages and thresholds vary from country to country and from time to time)}

I should emphasise, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with Avon products. It's just that we're all different, and we all have different preferences. Personally, when I decided to join Avon, I discovered that my preferences made it very difficult for me to make a profit.

• I can't "wear to sell": I have wide feet so "faux leather" shoes rarely fit (they don't stretch); I'm allergic to cheap earrings; and I'm too lumpy to look good in thin jersey dresses and tops (even ones with "slimming panels").
• My husband is a collector so I don't have room for ornaments in my house!
• Their shampoos contain plasticizers (like Pantene), which can give normal hair smoothness and shine, but take all the volume out of my fine hair.
• I trialled the Anew skin care ranges (the main reason I joined Avon) and did not see any improvement in my skin.
• I'm conscious of the environment, so I buy liquid soap, shower gel etc in large refill sizes - which Avon doesn't offer.
• I can't convert my husband to Avon because he has rosacea and has to use specialist products.
• I am impressed with Avon's make-up and nail polish, but I don't wear either of those much - which means I hardly ever need to order anything for myself.

All of which means, not surprisingly, that in almost a year I've barely broken even with my Avon career - and I'm probably going to "retire" next month.

However, there are lots of people out there who aren't allergic to earrings and who look great in sleek jersey. There are many women who actively prefer "faux leather" handbags and shoes because they're cheaper, which means they can afford to update them regularly as fashion demands. Those women are enthusiastic Avon customers and could be equally successful as Avon representatives - and good luck to them!