My dear friend Stacey signed up in July 2018, and sent me the link to her estore in case I was interested in buying anything. She explained she would earn a commission on the sale. No pressure. If I decided to buy, I knew I would be helping out a friend.
Of course I knew about Avon, but hadn’t thought about it for years, remembering my mom bought a few things here and there over the years when I was a kid. Everyone knows about Skin So Soft bath oil and the iconic bubble bath bottles and hook shower gels. Some even remember the perfumes and colognes in collector bottles in the shape of cars and even animals. I was curious, so I asked Stacey how it worked to be an Avon Lady in the age of the internet and proceeded to do my own research as well.
I was working on various acting projects in my home state of Texas and one in Louisiana, but as anyone in the arts knows, many of the gigs are contract-based and sadly, low-paying for small scale projects. I needed a side gig to earn some extra money. I signed up just a week or so after my friend did in July 2018. Fast forward to 2020 – my husband, cats, and I moved from the suburbs of the second largest Texas metropolis back to my childhood home on my family property in a secluded, rural area one year ago. Our nearest neighbor is about half a mile down the road separated by hills, fences, and livestock. The nearest big box grocery store is 20 minutes away! Due to the global pandemic, I haven’t even looked for paying acting gigs due to production shutdowns. I would have to travel an hour and a half to two major cities if jobs were available., which I will gladly do once things open back up!
So, that’s why my blog and brand is Beyond the Stage Beauty. I am still an actor (forever will be), but my blog and my beauty business are now my stage. My goal is to showcase products Avon has to offer in my own way, especially products that are affordable, non-toxic, and for sensitive skin. My next challenge is to get videos going on YouTube of product reviews, holiday gift ideas, and silly beauty-related skits I have in the works!
My Top Ten Reasons Why I Love Being an Avon Rep:
1) No Quotas
- We DO NOT have to make a certain amount of sales each campaign (every two weeks) or month to stay active. If that had been the case, this would have been a no-go for me.
2) No Inventory
- We are not required to purchase products or brochures to have on hand.
- Some reps purchase on-hand inventory for in-person vendor events or make cute gift basket bundles for their private groups. Some sell strictly online. Whichever method is entirely each individual rep’s CHOICE.
3) No Door to Door Sales
- As an introvert, I HATE the idea of imposing on someone at their own home. So, door to door is not my thing! Thank goodness for the internet!
- Reps can choose to do Rep Delivery (Rep receives the order and delivers in person) or Direct Delivery (customers order online and products ship directly to them).
- Social Media has been my best friend! I post on my Facebook personal page, business page, VIP group, Instagram, Pinterest, and of course, my blog. (YouTube coming soon!). Other reps use all of these as well as TikTok, Twitter, and whatever else is out there!
- I have gained my customers from friends and family I personally know, customers I met at in-person markets/events, random customers assigned to me when they shopped online, and people I met over the internet through groups with shared interests!
4) Rep Discounts
- I earn commissions on each direct delivery sale as well as receive a discount off of my own personal orders I choose to buy for myself.
- I love to try new products. We can purchase exclusive full-size demos at a discount weeks in advance of a product launch to try out or pre-sell to customers.
- For basic necessities like shampoo, deodorant, and even toothpaste and household cleaners, buying from MYSELF and getting a discount off the price is a no-brainer!
- To be honest, it was the product discount that reeled me in! I am a shower gel/body wash addict, and love trying new makeup. I have also upped my skin care game, and am able to try things I never would have before.
- I love buying from myself, not having to leave my house (even before the pandemic I was a homebody), and having everything shipped directly to me. Unboxing my items is a highlight, especially now. Little affordable luxuries bring me joy, and hopefully for my customers too!
5) Free Online Store, Tools, and Training
- Did I mention how much I love FREE and a good deal?
- Customers can shop my estore at their convenience. My estore has tons of amazing products complete with customer reviews, articles, and offers. (Check out my article about navigating my estore Freebies & Deals HERE!)
- Avon provides free product training and tools for me as a rep to help me best serve my customers.
- I am also part of many amazing Facebook group communities of Avon reps (including men) who support each other/lift each other up. We don’t see each other as competition, but as resources for each other.
6) Freedom to run my business how I want
- I can choose to recruit team members and become a leader, or do my own thing and enjoy my discounts.
- As I mentioned, I CHOOSE how I market my business, who I reach out to, what I want to purchase and promote, and when and where I want to work my business.
- I enjoy the creative process of developing engaging content through my photos, blog, and videos, as well as fine-tuning my video editing skills.
7) I was looking for Solutions for my Sensitive Skin
I am all about natural beauty/working with what you have and aging gracefully without sticking needles in my face or drastic measures which aren’t true to who I am. Many people over the years have complimented me that I look younger than I am when I have revealed my true age. I am going to keep riding that train for as long as I can! So, over the past few years, I have really upped my game on my skincare routine, especially since I have sensitive skin prone to redness, and it is my mission to help others with sensitive skin as well.
8) I am not a HUNBOT!
HUNBOT (noun): A hunbot is typically a young to middle aged mother who proclaims to have her own business but actually fell prey to multi-level marketing schemes….The hunbot can often be seen trying to sell their wares to other unsuspecting ladies by luring them in with the frequent use of the word hun. Source: Urban Dictionary
So many other direct selling companies have strict stipulations/shady practices, and Avon gets lumped with them and gets a bad rap! I would not have joined if I had to meet a quota, purchase tons of inventory, or hound anyone for sales. Not my style!
Like I mentioned, I never hound anyone for sales. When I first started, I of course let my friends and family know and offered brochures and samples. Some bought from me, other politely declined, or most didn’t respond to my public posts or page/group invites. I DID NOT and would never direct message someone I haven’t talked to in 20 years.
Anyone ever get an obnoxious message from a direct sales “friend” like this:
“Heeeey, girl! How are ya? It’s been like forever, and you def need a good wrinkle cream by now! I totally stalked your Facebook and Insta and you look pretty tired managing all those kids, sooooo wanna buy some? I can recommend like 50 of them and they are all so totally awesome, so you wanna buy some? Check out my estore, like my page, join my group, join my team, TALK SOON, kthanks byeeeee!”
Yeaaaahhh, NO. If you have ever had an Avon Lady do that to you, give me her name and I will nicely let her know to knock it off! With me, you will get genuine interaction (sometimes communicated through snarky memes) and honest reviews of products.
9) I Provide Excellent Personal Customer Service
- I’ve been an Avon Independent Sales Representative for a little over two years now. My business, Beyond the Stage Beauty, is still growing. I am an actor who is now navigating the world of beauty. I am also an advocate for physical and mental health. Theatre has immensely helped me express myself and feel good about myself, and a good skin cream or lipstick can have the same effect! I want everyone to find what makes them feel beautiful and be their best self.
- As a former Theatre, Speech, and English teacher, I am an avid researcher and I have a servant heart. My goal is to educate customers on products they need and help them to find what will work for them, as many of the products have for me. I look up everything before I buy, and love to educate others on products and help them problem-solve on finding what works for them. I have sensitive skin prone to redness, and many drugstore and big box store products weren’t doing my skin any favors! I have found several product lines available through Avon that have helped my skin so much.
- I love to spoil my customers! I send them thank you notes, samples, special offers, and even product freebies based on their likes or previous purchases to let them know how much I appreciate them. I listen to their needs on what products they are looking for and help them find the right product within their price range. When was the last time a big box store really listened to your needs and did that for you?
10) Not Your Grandma’s Avon Anymore
- The biggest misconception is that Avon is an “old lady” brand or outdated. (Sorry to all the Grandmas out there!) This is the furthest from the truth!
- Even though Avon has been around for almost 135 years (It started in 1886 as a perfume company), so much has changed for the better just in the past few years!
- In September 2019, LG H&H, the innovative Korean company, acquired Avon in the United States. Avon in other countries are owned by different companies and are separate entities from Avon in the United States. LG H&H is committed to bringing the best of Korean Beauty to the US market.
- We still have classics like Anew skin care and Skin So Soft, but now have amazing collabs with The Face Shop, Isa Knox, belif, VDL, FMG, The Therapy, Dr. Belmeur, Physiogel, & CHI hair care.
- Most of the makeup and skin care lines now include vegan options as well as natural ingredients, and many are paraben, sulfate, and phthalate free, which my sensitive skin loves!
- Avon in the United States DOES NOT conduct animal testing. You can read about Avon & LG’s commitment to animal welfare here.
Let Me Be Your Avon Lady!
- I Personally use & believe in the products. I am always happy to provide gift and product recommendations!
- *Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains links to my estore where I may earn a small commission from purchases.
Join My Team! (My Troupe! ;-))
- Are you interested in becoming a rep?
- Through the end of 2020, it is FREE to join, or $30 if you’d like a Start-Up Kit with amazing full-size products.
- Click CONNECT WITH ME under my profile pic on my estore. Fill out the interest form, or text me on the business number listed on my estore profile any questions you have! Once we chat, I can send you my referral link if you are interested in joining my team.
