Friday, February 1, 2013

Day 22 - First Ever Products Delivered

Yipeeeee the first box of goodies from AVON has arrived! The delivery driver couldn't find me at first, a 2 second panic as I wasn't home, but thankfully hubby was! PHEW!

All the products came in a neat little AVON box with my FULL SIZE free gift of ANEW Genics Treatment Concentrate (worth about £20).

I did have a little concern for about 2 minutes when it appeared that I might have about 10 eye-liners all the same - then I noticed the shades and the fact that half of them were lip-liners etc etc! Phew!

There's also a Campaign 6 brochure (for a preview glance I suppose), 2 Hello Tomorrow Magazines (for me the REP/SALES LEADER), 2 sales brochures, a returns book (hope I don't have to use that too soon), the actual delivery note and order etc and some more order forms.

Quite Exciting! As it's the first order I didn't know what to expect.. and its here!

I kind of expected they might not put everything in - but it IS all here - great.
I kind of expected that when I placed my order online and it asked how many customers this was for, and I said 12, that they would provide me with AVON carrier bags for delivery - whcih are not in there, so presumably I should have ordered those as extras - not so great :(
But, being new, I will apologise to my ladies when I take the products round, explaining that I'm NEW!

So the next step on this is to deliver the products from the customers and collect the cash, then make a payment to AVON for £121.98 (which is 75% of the total)- the rest is mine to keep :) - it says I have 13 days from the invoice date to pay, so that is plenty of time to get round and deliver the items and collect that cash - I just hope all my customers are happy :)

I've posted out my brochures for Campaign 5, only to the houses in my other area that actually returned them last time - so thats a start on this one!

I have three weeks to get them round to everyone to make my orders, and again I am aiming for a minimum of £150. This first campaign I actually achieved £159 in the end, so not bad for a first timer.

I DO wish that I had more Campaign 5 brochures, after the theft, so far my Sales Leader has only given me 20 and I could really do with 40-60. I will make sure I order ample for my next campaign as it makes my life as a REP a bit easier to cover the whole of my two areas and have a couple left for extra friends and family.

I have been working on my SALES LEADER stuff a bit this week and am hoping to get some REPS onto my team really soon - anyone who's said they are interested - lets set up the appointment together really soon - I'm buzzing with enthusiasm!

All in all its been an A1 AVON DAY!

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Day 22 - Facebook Page

I read a fantastic article last night on Avon Connects by Mandy Mathews (an Executive Sales Leader for AVON) and decided that I needed to have a dedicated username just for AVON on Facebook.

So, please come along and add me (click on my name not the logo):

BEAUTYSHOPTODAY YVONNE SPOONER


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Day 21 - Brochures Stolen!!!

I thought things were going along too smoothly!

I spoke to my Area Sales Rep today and she had dropped off my second campaign of free brochures when she was in the area yesterday, she left them on the doorstep apparently.

Unforunately I didn't find any brochures, so they have possibly been STOLEN!

I could be quite miffed as I would've liked to get started on putting them all out and about today. I won't be as she is going to call round tomorrow with some more.

And anyway, I utilised the time working on my other role as Sales Leader.

Which you can read about in my other blog..... CLICK HERE

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Day 20 - Can I add an extra item to my order?

Apparently SOMETIMES it is possible
But usually it will be an extra order at a delivery cost of £2.50.

I have just had a phone call from a lady who put her book out late and has an order for me. I have unfortunately already submitted my order to AVON. I have read on AVON CONNECTS that it is possible to add an order on a Friday evening or over the weekend and possibly to get it delivered at the same time as your main order (because the packing is usually done the following day between 9am and 5pm). My order was submitted last night (Monday).

Therefore I have decided to put my few remaining books around again this week and submit this late order with any others that I am lucky to pick up. Yes, the customer will end up waiting a few extra days, but doing it this way I may avoid lots of extra £2.50 extra item delivery charges for single bits and bobs.

Day 20 - Questions & Answers

I had a lovely email from a lady who has read this blog and is very interested in starting as an AVON Rep, whilst answering the email, I thought, what VALID questions these are and have listed them out below:

Q: Im thinking to do it myself but not sure whether I can manage to make some money.
Answer: Firstly, I don't earn anything from helping like this, I want to make that clear so that you know I'm genuinely kind and I honestly think it is quite a good programme. Avon IS a chance to work independently so that is the ultimate goal. But you won't ever be on your own as there's me and there's some fantastic community and advice on the AVON Connects website, which you will be a part of. The quick answer - Can I make some money? Yes - as you saw from my last post: I've made £37 in 19 days.

Q I am planning to move to Essex, so maybe I could join your team?
Answer: Yes, whether you are in Essex or not you can join through me. I would be more than happy to come and meet you to set you up as soon as you are ready to be a part of it and get you started, supporting you through the first few campaigns and offering advice as you get further along the AVON path.

Q How do I get my catalogs, will I need to buy them?
Answer: On set up I will meet you with the order forms and between 20 and 40 catalogues - which you do not pay for. I will allocate you a local community (a street or two) to start out with. This costs you nothing for the first two campaigns, I will provide the catalogs and deliver them to you. By the third Campaign (approximately 2 months down the line) you will need to purchase your own books - the costs are going to be set out in my blog post for these questions. Basically £5.26 gets you 20 brochures, if you sign up to be a Sales Leader as well as a Rep (recommended) then you can buy 100 brochures for just £11.50.

Here are the costings for Brochures:


Q If customer does not return your brochure, will you lose money?
Answer: The brochures are yours to keep, so you will have less left over to circulate around to other customers. You won't be charged twice for them at any time. Once you've done the first maildrop and worked out who is likely to leave them outside the front door for collection and who is likely to make an order, you will have less 'lost' brochures on future campaigns. I will provide you a special book to make a note of who leaves it out on time, who orders etc etc.

Q The joining fee is £15 pounds, what if I don't manage to make an order, will I still need to pay?
Answer: The Fee will be split over your 1st and 2nd campaign orders (£7.50 on each one). If you don't manage to make an order, you simply won't be charged. You need to remember that you will need to earn over £78 worth of orders to gain some commission. If you manage to get £148 of orders you will get 25% commission (which is how I managed to get £37). From the commission I have earned, there will be a deduction of £7.50 for joining - this is the first half of my fee. I may also be deducted £2.50 for product delivery (this I am not sure about, but will endeavour to find out!)

Q What about all other stationary? Will I need to buy flyers, testers or does AVON give it to you for free?
Answer: At start up, all you really need to begin is the brochures and order forms (that I will provide to you for the first two campaigns). There are lot of free printable flyers online. If you want to purchase some testers and further stationary items they are available to purchase from the website - I haven't done so yet, haven't really seen the need to. They are quite reasonably priced and would be good for parties.

I hope these answers help any would be Reps, if you sign up through me, I will endeavour to guide you along your AVON path and be there to answer all your niggling questions along the way.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Day 19 - First Online Order Submitted

PHEW!

A bit of a sense of relief - I hit the target - over by £3 actually - and submitted the order to AVON with just 55 minutes to spare before the 22:00 deadline.

It was easy to do the order, I have been entering the product numbers as and when I have received an order during the two weeks, so all I needed to do was to review it and follow the four step instructions. These were laid out in a very simple fashion - Thanks AVON!

I guess my Sales Leader will be in touch to deliver me the Campaign 5 brochures soon, and in the meantime I have a little breathing space to think of some new customers whom I haven't approached and get a little time to look into the Sales Leadership.

Today I have managed to set up my Personal Recruitment Page - SEE IT HERE

I've solved a few of the questions about Sales Leadership too - I will be keeping track of that new project in another online blog - You can read it HERE

Well, for a part-time job, a bit of pin money (£37 commission earned), to meet some new friends and neighbours, to get out a bit more and learn a few things, to make some friends online too - I think AVON is quite fun!

What is an AVON Rep?

Role: As an AVON Representative you will be selling the AVON products from a three weekly brochure to your friends, family, work colleagues, and even on an allocated territory if you choose to sell door to door (post the brochure through and collect it at a later date).

Cost: At the time of joining AVON as a Representative, you will be charged an administration fee of £15 which is charged to your own AVON account, you do not pay anything upfront and it will be spread across your first two orders (£7.50 x 2). The idea is, if you sell enough AVON products this fee will be deducted from any commission you earn.

Earnings & Criteria: The amount of commission you earn will depend on the value of your order. Orders under £80 will earn you 0 commission, orders over £80 and up to £150 will equal 20% commission, and orders over £150 will equal 25% commission. (or similar - as defined by your sales leader at the time of joining)

Getting Started: Once you have applied to be an AVON Representative, either your local Avon Sales Leader or AVON Area Sales Manager will contact you to arrange an appointment. On this appointment you will be given your brochures for your first two orders and any other bits of stationary and information which you may need when getting started.

Easy as 1, 2, 3 - If you want to join - please send me an email to:

beautyshoptoday@hotmail.co.uk

Day 19 - How many times can I re-use the book?

The answer is... as many as possible. The AVON book is one of the main tools to showcase the products, so it is imperative to show it to as many people as possible.

Most of my books have managed to get to two or three houses during the campaign. I've cut it a bit close to the deadline by picking up books today (when I need to put my order in), but it's ok - at least I have managed to get to most of the houses in my area and give them the brochure for a few days browsing time.

How many people return their books?

Well, so far not everyone has managed to give them back. If you read through my other posts you will get an idea, from memory it is around 55% who seem to give them back. This is the first time I am covering these areas and I will undoubtedly use my stats when I redeliver on the next campaign. I will put the books out firstly to those people who gave the book back last time - it makes sense, means I will be left with more books for better coverage to more customers.

How many people made an order?

Well, for a first timer, I have managed to pick up 10 orders totalling just under my second target of £150. (Actually I'm quite tempted to choose something myself for £7 to hit that target!)

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Day 18 - Sunday is a day of rest

I reiterate that another great reason for being an AVON Rep, is this time off to spend with family - doing whatever we please!

Tomorrow will be catalogue collection (about 10 mins) and submitting my first REAL order online (about 5 mins) - still need to get at least one more order from tomorrow's collection to meet my £150 target!

Day 17 - Local Customers are like GOLD!

Over the past two weeks, since starting AVON, I have got to know a few of the ladies who live in my street, just by putting the magazine through the door, they've seen me passing and said hi or I have introduced myself to them... which is great, as after living here for a year and meeting barely no neighbours, it has given me the chance to get to know a lot more people!

One of these customers, a really nice lady knocked on the door yesterday to ask for an extra catalogue to give to her sister - which is exactly the sort of extended selling opportunities that I like.

The funny part: It was at a slightly awkward moment, she knocked moments after I had been frying chicken, had just set off the smoke alarm, and was still busy flapping the teatowel beneath the alarm at the same time as trying to guard the newly fried chicken from being eaten by the kitten!

I gave my new friend/customer/neighbour the brochure and will pop by and see her on Monday!

Two phrases spring to mind:
"Fingers in too many pies!"
(RE: door answering/smoke alarm/cat and chicken)
and
"You reap what you sow"
(RE: putting in the effort will bring results!)

Friday, January 25, 2013

Day 16 - 5 orders in less than an hour

So, I started "work" at 1pm, walked around and collected 28 of the 40 books I put out earlier this week. Within the books I got 5 orders! I am now only £7 short of my second (higher) target of £150. (20 mins)

I took the books home, and had a cuppa. (10 min break)

Then I replaced the slip saying I will collect FRIDAY, changed it for MONDAY and took the books back out, posting to the houses in the other half of the street. (20 mins)

I got back and added the orders to my online order. (5 mins)

ALL DONE  :)


MENTAL NOTE TO SELF: I MUST try to make an effort looking into the Sales Leader Stuff soon...

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Day 15 - Quick Pick Up

Yep - exactly as planned: I went back to my other area and picked up 10 of the 12 books that I left earlier in the week. No orders unfortunately but it took 5 minutes! Just a few days left to get my order in (officially). I have already added the items on the order and when I worked out my earnings, I chose just about that amount of makeup ESSENTIALS for myself! (hehe) Will see what tomorrow brings - have around 40 books to pick up and redistribute in my street.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Day 14 - Day Off

The great thing about being an AVON Rep is that you can plan your own time and you do as much or as little as you want to - today I've done nothing (on Avon), tomorrow I plan go and collect some of the magazines I put out in my other area - which should take me about 10 minutes!
(If only the weather was that great in Essex!!!)

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

DAY 13 - Phone Order meets my first target!

This morning I distributed the 40 extra magazines to half of my street (one of the two areas I have been allocated). Just after I got back I received a phone call from someone who was visiting those houses and had picked up the magazine and wanted to make a £30 order - FAB!

This means I have surpassed my first target of £80 and there are still 6 days to go to achieve the higher level target of £150.

I also met one of my new customers in the street, who says she loves AVON and will take the book into work with her to try to drum up some more orders.

I also went back to my other area and picked up a dozen magazines and redistributed those at the same time. All I needed to do was dry off the snow, check for orders (none on this occasion) and put in a new slip stating I will be back to collect them on Thursday.

Now I am thinking I should have a look at the SALES LEADER STUFF - as I have also opted to be a Sales Leader and would like to get that kick started - I feel another blog in the making :)

DAY 13 - AVON Connects

Avon Connects is a group discussion and online social part of the AVON Site which is designed for us Independent Sales Representatives and Sales Leaders to help one another.

It's brilliant! Genius! - Here is a snapshot of the profile screen:


Basically, on AVON Connects you can find out EVERYTHING you might need to know. In addition to all the training, helpful hints etc that is offered on the AVON Website, this is a place where you can get direct answers from people who know.

I wasn't sure about making my first order so I posted a question and within minutes I had two answers to it - here is the question and the replies:



So, thanks to AVON Connects, I have the answer that I wanted a out putting those first few orders on. THANKS :)