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Tag: startavon

How the Journey Began: Turn Hobby Into a Business

April 5, 2016April 23, 2016 chicagosnatalie5 Comments

Many people know why I began working my business as a business but don’t know why I decided to begin originally. This was a hobby turned into business almost overnight so I thought I’d share how my little hobby began.

Why did I start?

Let’s start with why I started. I was looking for something to do in my spare time that would be productive yet fun. I wanted the opportunity to meet others and have fun doing so. I also wanted the opportunity that would allow me to reconnect with family and friends and feel like I had something to offer. Since getting married, I’ve distanced myself from family and friends. I’ve heard it’s normal but that didn’t stop it from taking a  toll on me when I realized I hadn’t seen favorite cousins and best friends in months. Each day  I went to work and felt something missing. I spoke to my coworker each day about wanting to get out the house and have good fun. I had the perfect image in my head that just wouldn’t fade. I saw myself hosting events where everyone was happy, smiling and laughing. I yearned to make this dream become reality. It would eat me alive each day so I had to act on it. I needed a purpose.

Why Avon?

I won’t lie. Avon was not my first, second or even third choice. I originally looked up wine companies. In my dream, I imagined pouring glasses of champagne and wine while enjoying girls’ night. I even saw my best friend’s mother in this dream and believed my new direct sales business would actually draw us closer. That was it! I made up my mind. I was going to be a wine sales consultant. I reached out to multiple companies. One lady wasn’t in Chicago so we couldn’t meet up to sign the contract. She took weeks to respond to my request about meeting her half-way as she states I “must’ve fell through the cracks.” The other company never responded. I was discouraged but still determined. I had researched for weeks and was finally ready to take the leap. Nothing would stand in my way. I was going to join direct sales.

Once again, I set out on my journey to research direct sales companies. My two interests are beauty and wine (judge all you want). I looked up companies such as Perfectly Posh, Mary Kay, Tyra, Arbonne, JAFRA, other beauty companies and then decided to research all of the companies listed in the Direct Selling Association. I looked at products offered and the start-up investment. Then it hit me. I sold Avon while in college and had so much fun doing it. My uncle’s wife would have me over to throw book parties with food and beverages. I didn’t know her prior to Avon but we became so close.

I still continued to look at other companies before coming to the conclusion that it was the least expensive to join, I didn’t have to purchase a home party kit, I didn’t have to purchase inventory or required to host parties. Did I host parties? Yes, but there’s a difference between doing something at your leisure and being forced to keep up with a certain schedule. Avon not only offered the most flexibility, but it is truly an independent opportunity. I didn’t want to feel as though I was working for someone else with sales quotas and the possibility of losing my promotion. This was it! I was looking for something I already knew, it was familiar and affordable for family and friends.

How did I sign up to sell Avon?

When I originally sold, we had to meet with the District Sales Manager. It felt like an interview almost. She asked questions about my motivation and ambition. It was a little intimidating; however, I am pleased that Avon now offers the ability to sign up online. That’s right! You don’t have to speak to anyone if you don’t want. I was able to join online in about 5 minutes and received a prompt e-mail with information to access my online account. I began taking the training courses on Avon University and then began promoting my online store. I was informed that my books would arrive within the next few business days. I eagerly awaited.

Who are my customers?

I did things in the reverse. Avon and many other direct sales companies instruct you to make a list of all contacts to inform of your new business venture. I didn’t want to bother my family and friends so I began with strangers. If a stranger didn’t like it, that’s ok. At least I didn’t have to worry about them talking about me at the next family reunion 🙂 I went to the local restaurant to introduce myself to the employees and offered to leave books. They were pleasantly surprised to have an Avon lady. As my confidence built, I met more business owners and customers. People then began targeting me and asking for Avon brochures.

My first customers were strangers. I must say, I truly love my customers. I’ve met some truly remarkable women. We actually learn from each other. One of my customers works for the IRS, another works for Chicago Public Schools, some work at a local rehab and I’ve even found customers at Dunkin Donuts! She let me taste one and it was delicious! Once my business proved to be beneficial, I then told my family and to my surprise, they loved Avon! My dad said he loved the bubble bath and ClearSkin was the only thing that worked for his blackheads. My grandfather loved the Footworks.

My customers are now like family. I love making deliveries. Not only do I visit to take and make deliveries, we chat periodically to make sure everything is fine. One customer texted just yesterday to check in on me. We’ve also watched Scandal together and the Walking Dead. She has truly become a friend.

Why I love the Avon opportunity?

As mentioned earlier, I truly love my customers and downline members. The Avon Opportunity is very unique and it allows me to build new friendships. Think about some of my customers. They didn’t have anything in common but yet, Avon connected them. From the IRS to Dunkin Donuts, it didn’t matter their profession. I recently hosted an Avon Facebook party and none of the ladies had met before but they actually conversed with each other and even helped each other during the challenge. It was completely amazing and refreshing. I couldn’t believe it but I loved the sense of unity. Avon truly brings out the positivity in any person or situation. I’ve yet to see someone frown when I deliver their order. I’m just glad that I’m able to put a smile on their faces. It gives me such joy and I now see my purpose.

How did I turn hobby into business?

Many people want to know how am I doing so well. Of course, I stated that I began with strangers but my business has taken off on it’s own. Even if I wanted to quit or slow down, I wouldn’t be able to do so. My customers continue to refer their friends which is great! I have a little Avon bag and whenever someone sees it, they immediately stop me for a brochure. I guess this is the benefit of partnering with a company that has real name recognition. Avon is a household favorite for women, men and children.

I always give a special gift for my online customers as well as send brochures and samples so though they’re not physically near me, they still feel my touch 🙂

Interested in shopping online?

If you’re interested in shopping online, click here to visit my online store and feel free to sign up to receive e-mail updates about special online offers.

Interested in joining?

To join us, follow these simple steps:

  1. Go to http://www.startavon.com
  2. Use reference code: chicagosnatalie
  3. That’s it! You’re now officially an Avon rep.

For $15, you’ll receive your starter kit which contains 20 brochures, 2 full-size products, access to your own Avon-branded website and training materials.

 

#AVON #WhatsYourWhy #Homebased #business #opportunity #workfromhome #directsales #beautyforapurpose

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Posted in OpportunityTagged Addtional Income, avon, avon business opportunity, avon online appointment, avon reference code, avon reviews, be avon rep, beauty for a purpose, best direct sales companies, Business Opportunity, directs sales, entrepreneur, Homebased business, how to join avon, how to sell avon, how to sell avon online, how to start Avon, sales success, Selling avon, sign up to sell avon online, startavon, turn hobby into business, What's Your Why, WhatsYourWhy, work from home

Newly Found Confidence

March 21, 2016April 23, 2016 chicagosnatalieLeave a comment

I come from a sales and recruiting background but that doesn’t mean I’m the most confident. I know how to straighten up when I’m under fire and can close a deal but I like to know what I’m talking about. I feel most confident when I’ve researched my topic. Though there will be a few to argue without facts, I like to be able to back it up. With my student loan repayment, I’m sure you already know that I like to learn.

Just recently, we held a Spring Rally to talk about recent news, product information, sales strategies, welcome newbies and leadership. My District Sales Manager called and asked if I could speak about our Advanced Leadership opportunity. No, I was not the first pick. Our more experienced leader suffered a traumatic family issue and thought she wouldn’t be present. I was incredibly nervous. My entire leadership career flashed before my eyes. I began to think about what to say. I already knew the more experienced reps would have some pretty harsh questions such as:

1) Where did she get this girl from?

2) Why is SHE speaking at our rally?

3) Why should we trust her? Isn’t she a newbie?

Friday night, I literally prayed that I could deliver a good speech to gain credibility and also be able to thoroughly explain our program. I woke up Saturday morning and saw two leadership bonuses had been deposited into my account! At that point, I felt I was ready to face the world! It was the perfect motivation that I needed but I still didn’t know what to say. I’d never attended a district meeting before and at my first one, I’m speaking? How crazy is that?

On the drive to the location, I thought about it. I am a leader. I’ve made my way from sales representative to recruiter to human resources manager to director of operations. I KNOW about leadership. I compared my corporate experience to my Avon experience and realized something, I hate my corporate experience but it has prepared me for this role. I know the importance of setting priorities, being honest, frank, the difference between helping and holding someone’s hand, being prompt, easily accessible, knowledgeable and how to lead by example. I am a hands-on learner and teacher. I don’t believe in just saying something and not being able to walk someone else through it. Therefore, in order for me to teach it, I had to learn it and I attempt to be a master at everything I learn. It’s easy for some to just give a directive with no instruction. I can’t and I won’t. I truly want to help everyone become the best that he/she can be and in order to do that, I need to be able to show how.

The more experienced leader was able to make it to the rally so we split the presentation in two. I opened and she closed. While delivering the speech, I realized that I knew what I was talking about! Without even thinking about it, I had studied our leadership program from front to back, beginning to end and from side-to-side. Why? Because I need to know where I’m going. I’m not just stopping at one level. I am going to make it to the top. I flew through the descriptions with a breeze and then someone asked a question. My heart almost dropped when I saw her raise her hand.

She asked do I find myself doing a lot of work in leadership. It made me think. I don’t know why I didn’t prepare for that question. Anyone interested would like to know what all it entails. I really thought about it and then answered no.  I compared it to my corporate experience. It is a HUGE difference. In the corporate world, I help people get to their goals but in the Avon world, people help me get to my goal. I didn’t go as in-depth as I should have but it is almost the complete opposite.

In the corporate world, I have to worry about people showing up 2 hours late for their shifts, making sure they’re being productive, approving time cards, corrective actions, finding the perfect balance to optimize operations and in the pit of my soul, unemployment claims for people feeling they were unjustly terminated because they failed to show for their shifts. Everyday begins to be a drag because you feel compelled to help someone keep their job.

In the Avon world? Completely different! You’re partnering with more business-minded individuals who are serious about making money and having fun at the same time. I receive phone calls, texts and e-mails from my team every few days but they’re good questions. Questions about how to grow with Avon. It brightens my day! I get excited for them when they share victories! Of course, when they grow, I grow. Naturally, I answer promptly but once you answer, they’re good to go. There’s not the constant help-me-remember questions or “I’m just asking a question so I don’t have to work” type of questions. I don’t think I need to say this but I just have to get it out: I LOVE MY TEAM! They are a team of beautiful women and men with goals and I love helping them accomplish them.

I sit back and think “where did this girl come from”—the overly shy girl? Where is she? And why didn’t she leave earlier? Each day, I become more confident in my ability and in myself. I know that it’s only due to my recent Avon experience. I actually love my Avon business. It allows me to have fun (I’m actually having a Facebook party right now), make new friends and make money at the same time. There’s no better feeling than to love what you do. Corporate world had broke me down. It had me rethinking my education, my experience, my dedication, the ability to do my job but not because of what I did, but because of what my team did. To me, your team is a reflection of you. Yes, some will say if they don’t want to work, fire them. And trust, I’ve done that but the cycle continued. The harsh truth is in corporate America, you will run into individuals that do not have the same drive as you. It feels so nice to finally have that with my Avon team. I look forward to growing with and learning from them.

To join us, follow these simple steps:

  1. Go to http://www.startavon.com
  2. Use my reference code: chicagosnatalie
  3. It’s that simple!

I look forward to hearing from you. Have a great day!

 

 

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Posted in avon opportunity, Opportunity, sales tips, UncategorizedTagged avon, avon online appointment, become avon rep, direct sales, how to advance in leadership, how to sell avon, how to speak publicly, how to succeed, join avon, leadership, motivational speaking, public speaking, recruiting, sales leadership, sales success, sell avon, sign up to sell avon online, startavon, success, success tips

Avon, is it hard to sell?

March 3, 2016April 23, 2016 chicagosnatalieLeave a comment

March 3, 2016

When it comes to Avon, everyone usually has two questions: 1) can you really make money with that and 2) is it hard?

To answer the first question: yes. You can make money with Avon. Regardless of the economy, Avon offers daily needs at a price that is affordable for everyone. So if you’re looking to save money, Avon has the answer. If you’re looking to make money, Avon has the answer.

Let’s move on to probably the most important question of the two — is it hard to make money with Avon? I’ll be honest. It’s as easy or as hard as you want it to be. When becoming an Independent Sales Representative, you are making the decision to invest in yourself. This is no 9-5 job. No one will be there to make sure you “punch the clock”, take your lunch breaks on time, approve your time off, make sure you’re working while getting paid or even that you’ve taken a break.

This is your “company”, your opportunity. You make the rules. You make it as difficult or as easy as you’d like. If you want to have fun, have fun! Enjoy yourself. If you want to be super serious, that’s fine as well. As an Avon representative, you have one main task: to let everyone know what you do. Avon will handle the rest.

In any direct sales business, no one is going to come running to you. It’s not because they don’t like you or your product/service, it’s because they don’t know that you offer a product/service. You have to create brand awareness — not Avon or another company’s brand awareness but personal brand awareness. Everyone knows what Avon does but no one knows what you do unless you tell them.

How you tell them is completely up to you. There is no right or wrong way. There are many helpful current and previous Avon representatives that give their accounts of what attributed to their success but you do not have to follow in their footsteps. Some representatives go door-to-door, tailgate in parking lots, approach strangers on the street, visit local businesses, conduct multiple home parties or even pick up the phone book and randomly dial telephone numbers. If you’re uncomfortable with any of those ideas, that’s fine. This is your business. It’s your decision.

Now that you’ve learned about your comfort zone, figure out what do you like to do. When customers purchase from you, they are buying from you. They like/love you so be true to yourself. Put yourself into your business and as long as you’re comfortable within yourself, within your business, people will come to you. It may not happen overnight, but it will happen. Persistence is key.

Another question that comes to mind: is Avon for everyone? Yes and no. If you’re looking for great products at affordable prices? Yes. If you’re looking for someone to boss you around? No. This is a business. To be successful, you have to be a self-starter. You’ll get plenty of training from Avon, designated leadership representatives and other helpful representatives. The slogan is “you are in business for yourself but not by yourself.” This means that yes, there will be some downfalls; that’s with everything in life BUT the great part is you are the reason for your success. There won’t be a person to take credit for all of your work. When you sit back and recollect on your experience, you will know that you have triumphed. More importantly, you’re not confined to another person’s set of rules. This is your opportunity to truly enjoy what you do. Not everyone can say that. If you’ve ever waken up and dreaded going to work, this is your opportunity to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face the world. Tired of someone hounding you? Be your own boss. Tired of asking for a raise? Give yourself a raise.

If you’re ready to begin your journey as an Avon representative, follow these steps:

1) Go to http://www.startavon.com
2) Use reference code: chicagosnatalie
3) Let the fun begin!830404_482300381831839_81783638_o

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Posted in avon opportunity, OpportunityTagged avon business opportunity, avon online appointment, be successful avon rep, best home based businesses, direct sales, how to become avon rep, how to get started with avon, how to join avon, how to sell avon, is avon hard to sell, join avon, join avon online, sell avon from home, sign up to sell avon online, startavon, truth about avon

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