Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Make money as an Avon Lady
Reading Time: 4 minutesBeing an Avon Lady is not just for yummy mummies. More and more men are getting into selling cosmetics around the neighbourhood (although they tend to call themselves Avon Representatives). Some professionals also run their Avon businesses to supplement their income.
Now Avon is targeting students and graduates looking to increase their earnings and try out an alternative career path.
If you would like to run your own business and you have an interest in cosmetics, read on below!
- What does an ‘Avon Lady’ actually do?
- Earn 25% on all products you sell
- The pros and cons of working as an Avon Lady
- An employee’s view
- Getting started with Avon
what do ‘avon ladies’ actually do?
Avon is a cosmetics company selling beauty, fashion, home and kids products. Their Representatives sell Avon products to customers all over the world through brochures and online, and through the recently introduced My Avon Store, the brand’s social selling platform in the UK.
Avon has almost six million Representatives worldwide that sell products directly in their communities and online.
While this covers various ages and demographics, the average age of a Representative has fallen. Younger men and women are coming on-board as the desire to have a portfolio career and entrepreneurial spark increases for those in the earlier stages of their careers.
According to the DSA (Direct Selling Association) under-25s now make up 22% of the direct sales industry (2015), and 62% of direct sellers have more than one job (2016).
Avon claims that selling their products is a good way to set yourself up in business and make your own money, rather than waiting to get a traditional full-time job.
They have a point – as we often say on this site, there are lots of ways of making cash for yourself either as a ‘bit on the side’ or as a full-time occupation. Working through Avon is just one of them.
There are two main ways you can work with Avon:
- as a Representative
- or as a Sales Leader.
A Representative takes Avon orders from clients directly or online, while a Sales Leader will manage a team of Representatives and earn commission from their sales. It’s a type of ‘social selling’ which can work for those who are highly motivated and enthusiastic.
Being an Avon Representative is good for people who only want to work part-time with flexible working hours. The amount of work you put in is entirely up to you – some people even work as an Avon Representative while holding down a full-time job. The next step up is to become a Sales Leader, who manage the people working under them.
How much can you make?
Avon Representatives buy products at a discounted price and then sell the products on to customers at the brochure price, making their profits through the difference. The discount level offered to Avon Representatives varies according to order size.
When you sign up, your personal Area Manager will contact you with the Minimum Order Value (MOV) and the Higher Order Value (HOV). When your order is above the MOV, you can enjoy a 20% discount, while an order above HOV attracts a discount of up to 25%. Sales leaders earn commission from those working for them and there is no upper limit on the amount of commission that can be earned.
Avon has a joining fee of
- £16 for Representatives
- £25 for Sales Leaders
These fees are to cover the training.
the pros and cons of working for avon
The working hours are very flexible because you choose them for yourself and you can decide how much money you want to earn in a week. It’s a very sociable activity as you’re constantly meeting new people. If you put a lot of work in you can make plenty of profit – but be aware that it’s something you do have to put a lot of energy into, at least in the beginning, to get enough reward.
You really do need to be good at selling, as your profits depend entirely on your ability to sell Avon products. Sales can be tricky, especially when targeting your friends is going to be your first port of call. Would you be comfortable asking your friends to buy Avon products from you?
Real life Avon lady: Libby Reynolds
It is fair to say pink blood runs through the Reynolds’ family. Fifteen years ago, Libby’s mum and dad joined forces and began running their own Avon team. They now have 2,500 Representatives working under them.
Libby was always fascinated by her parent’s business with Avon and for as long as she can remember, she would always accompany her mum on visits to Avon customers.
When Libby turned 16 she began working for her mum as an admin assistant, helping her process her orders and arrange deliveries. Fascinated and motivated with the idea of running her own business, as soon as Libby turned 18, she started to sell Avon products herself.
Libby, now 20, has been working with Avon for almost 3 years and reached the esteemed role of Sales Leader. Accountable for 130 Representatives, her Avon business is her main source of income. Libby is a perfect example of how University isn’t a necessary requirement to lead a successful business.
Getting started
If selling Avon products is your calling, or you just fancy making a bit on the side from it, go to the Avon website now.
Been an ‘Avon lady’? Share your tips and experiences by commenting below.
Do I need a car to be able to work for Avon?
Not necessarily, no. It depends where you live. You need to be able to get about but a car isn’t essential.
A lot of Interesting comments. It’s fair to say that 80% or more of these comments are negative. Avon is a company that’s over 100 years old. Yes you can earn money but you sure have to put the work in. Anyone who think they can join a company that is over 100 years old and earn thousands of pounds a month does not understand the business. The real big money was earned years ago before we were all born when the company was new. As current avon lady says you have to be really really lucky. Even if you… Read more »
what a load of rubbish (sorry) I joined Avon when I was just 19 and I ended up being one of five senior exec sales leaders within the UK in 2006. Yes it was hard work but it is achievable, you can learn more about me and my team
I have been selling avon for around 3 month now and i thought it’d help with the situation i am in. 1 im trying to make enough money to give my son a good christmas, birthday etc and thought a extra bit of cash wouldd help and 2 i have extremley low self confidence and thought this would help but i actuallyt have a fear of going to peoples doors and none of my family want to buy although i have got 3 regular orders just from posting the avon !!!!! if any1 no’s of anything i can do to… Read more »
dont be scared but dont knock on doors leaves books in mail box (if u have some old books that r still valid)or vista print has free buisness cards……best thing i did was go to hobby lobby buy vinal stickers 1 letter pack 1 #er pack stuck :AVON….MY # AND MY WEBSITE …..everyone in my neihborhood know i sell every wher the car goes i get stoped for a book at least 2x a week…..just remember this is ur buisness go for it!u r not selling cookies for a school this is for u ….everywhere u go bring ur avon… Read more »
Hi All, I started with avon a few weeks back i am on the second campaign now. I have done brochure 5 2011 and currently on brochure 6 2011. I though it was gonig to be really hard as i work a full time job all week of 40 hours. and decided to this on top to earn from it. and make new friends etc. My first campaign was excellent even my sales leader was surprised – i had about 15 customers – with about 186 pound order so earning my self nearly £50. I know have started my second… Read more »
I signed up to do Avon 2 years ago in June. I used to like it and was very confident going to people’s houses and collecting the brochures, however I hate it now and I seriously want to quit. I just need to find another job first, as I am a student (wish I had gone to work full time). Avon is stupid, it doesn’t give anything to its reps for doing the work and some of its products are absolute rubbish. It should pay you more comission (for example £1 for every £4 sold) instead of the whole you… Read more »
If you dont like Avon maybe you would like to start selling for another company. The rewards reflect the effort you put in and there is no ‘you will get so much if you sell over a certain amount?’ Where are you from btw? If you want more info then email me at [email protected].
Cheers and hope i can help you,
Brad
Thanks sorry for ranting, I guess I wasn’t in a great mood. I’m not very confident sometimes, but I’m going to find a part time job to help finance my studies. Other people manage it, so why can’t I?
Thank you anyway.
Hi Brad (and everyone else)
I am new to this, I have a reasonable job (40 hours per week) but with the way things keep increasing in price I am looking for a flexible second job to supplement my income. Judging by the messages on this site (and many others) even when a lot of effort is put in the rewards are quite small. Does anyone know of anything I could do? Please help! Desperate newbie ([email protected].)
I just signed up to sell Avon on a small scale selling to family, friends and a few work colleagues. I initially was mislead by thinking i would get £1 for every £4 sold, however, two days after i signed up, The Lady who called with me, phoned to say ‘Oh i forgot to tell you but your order has to be over £78 for you to get any commission’! I would have seriously not have signed up if i had known this was the case, as i cant guarantee il always get an order over this value! can i… Read more »
Maybe give it a go see how you’re first order goes. If you don’t get over £78 then just quit.
by law You have 14 days to cancel the contract from your date of signing, you get back any money outlaid and owe them nothing it’s written on the green contract just above the box where you signed.
I would like to reply to anyone who is negative about Avon. Yes you have to put a bit of effort in to get the rewards, the brochures come out every 3 weeks and within 3 weeks you may do a few hours work, which I think is very reasonable for the rewards you get. In life these days people seem to want everything handed to them on a plate and we have created a lazy society and people who are not willing to put any effort in to a task. Well Avon do reward you IF you work hard,… Read more »
i need help with tips on how to make sure i getthe most out of it. i am becoming a sales leader too how can i get peopkle to sign up to be representatives?????
Hi
We have put loads of useful tips for both Avon reps and Avon sales leaders in the “agony Aunt” section of our website mybignetwork.uk.com/category/agony-aunt/ we update this quite often, so if you can think of anything else you need to know please let us know and we will try to support you 🙂
Hi! I’m 15, and have been an avon rep for around 2 months now. Yes, I know you have to be over 18, but I have the account under my mums name. I have just completed my fourth campaign, and I earned £51. Yes, that may not be much, but considering I am just starting out, and I am not in the most affluent of areas (ok, its a bit of a dump), its pretty good! The best thing to do, is to just stick with it. Its well worth while, and you’ll have fun too!! Good luck to anyone… Read more »
Nice – thanks for letting us know Sophie!
Avon doesnt take tons of time.Not anymore,not with the rep websites. Most all your ‘duties’ can be done online. The bonus of this is, if you get a lot of ecustomers, then LESS BUYING OF BROCHURES is needed. I spend approx. $8-$10 a campaign on my Avon supplies. Can’t beat that! People love that they can order 24/7 through your webstore and have items delivered to their door! It’s a whole new age – and it WORKS.
youravon.com/kellydyer
We are an Intl fragrance company selling top quality products at reasonable prices we are looking for Team Leaders and Distributors. Commission is excellent !!!! Their is no joining fee.
Please visit fragrances.fm/biz for full details