The Secret to Being Successful at Selling Avon

Last Updated on May 3, 2024 by Michael

Alright, folks, gather ’round and listen up, because I’m about to spill the tea (not literally, of course, because that would be a waste of perfectly good tea) on how to become an Avon-selling superstar! That’s right, I’m talking about the secret sauce, the magic formula, the holy grail of Avon success. And let me tell you, it’s not for the faint of heart (or the faint of makeup application).

Embrace the Avon Obsession

First things first, if you want to be successful at selling Avon, you’ve got to live, breathe, and bleed Avon. And no, I don’t mean literally bleeding Avon products (that would be both painful and expensive). I’m talking about becoming so obsessed with Avon that you start seeing it everywhere you go.

You know you’ve reached peak Avon obsession when:

• You start naming your pets after Avon products (meet my cats, Lipstick and Mascara!)
• You dream in Avon catalog pages (who needs counting sheep when you can count eyeliner shades?)
• You start using Avon lingo in everyday conversation (“Sorry, can’t talk right now, I’m in the middle of a mascara emergency!”)

But don’t worry, this level of obsession is totally normal (okay, maybe not totally normal, but it’s a requirement for Avon success, so just go with it).

Master the Art of the Ambush

Now, let’s talk about one of the most important skills in the Avon-selling game: the ambush. No, I don’t mean jumping out of bushes and scaring the living daylights out of potential customers (although, if that’s your thing, who am I to judge?). I’m talking about the fine art of turning every social interaction into an Avon sales pitch.

Here are a few tried-and-true ambush tactics:

1. The “Fancy Meeting You Here” Ambush: Casually bump into a potential customer at the grocery store, the post office, or the gynecologist’s office (okay, maybe not that last one), and strike up a conversation about Avon. Bonus points if you can seamlessly segue from “How about this weather?” to “How about this new Avon lip gloss?”
2. The “You Look Like You Could Use Some Avon” Ambush: This one’s a bit riskier, but if executed properly, it can be highly effective. Approach a potential customer and give them a sympathetic look, followed by a gentle suggestion that Avon products could solve all their problems (even the ones they didn’t know they had).
3. The “I’m Not Selling Anything, But…” Ambush: This is the sneakiest of all the ambush tactics. Start by assuring your potential customer that you’re not trying to sell them anything, then casually mention how much you love Avon and how it’s changed your life. Before they know it, they’ll be begging you to take their money in exchange for some miracle face cream.

Become a Social Media Maven

In today’s digital age, no Avon-selling strategy is complete without a strong social media presence. And by “strong,” I mean “so aggressive that your followers feel like they’re being stalked by an army of Avon ladies.”

Here are a few tips for becoming an Avon social media maven:

• Post Avon product photos at least 27 times a day (bonus points if you can make every post look like a glamorous magazine ad, even if you’re just showcasing a new deodorant).
• Use every hashtag known to man, even if it has nothing to do with Avon (#AvonObsessed #MakeupGoals #CatMemes #Blessed).
• Slide into your followers’ DMs with personalized Avon product recommendations (because nothing says “I care about you” like a message that starts with “Hey girl, have you tried our new pore-shrinking face mask?”).

Remember, the key to Avon social media success is persistence (some might call it annoyance, but those people just don’t understand the #AvonLife).

Host Avon Parties Like It’s 1999

Okay, so maybe the heyday of Avon parties was a few decades ago, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring them back with a vengeance! After all, who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned gathering where the main event is trying on lipstick and gossiping about the neighbors?

To host an Avon party that’s so epic, your guests will be talking about it for years to come (or at least until the next one), follow these tips:

1. Set the mood with some Avon-themed decorations (think: a giant lipstick piñata, a mascara wand centerpiece, and a “Pin the Eyeshadow on the Eyelid” game).
2. Provide plenty of Avon products for your guests to sample (and by “sample,” I mean “use so much of that they have no choice but to buy the full-size version”).
3. Offer incentives for purchasing Avon products at the party (like a free hug from you with every $50 spent, or a chance to win a lifetime supply of Skin So Soft).
4. Keep the refreshments on-brand with Avon-inspired cocktails and snacks (like the “Anew Ultimate Margarita” and “Lip Balm Bon Bons”).

And remember, the most important part of an Avon party is the laughter (and the sound of cash registers ringing, but mostly the laughter).

Become an Avon Encyclopedia

To be a truly successful Avon seller, you need to know your products inside and out. And I don’t just mean memorizing the names and prices (although that’s a good start). I mean becoming a walking, talking Avon encyclopedia, ready to answer any question a potential customer might throw your way.

You should be prepared to wax poetic about:

• The 57 different shades of Avon lipstick and how each one can change your life in a unique way.
• The science behind Avon’s anti-aging creams (even if you don’t fully understand it yourself, just use a lot of big words and nod knowingly).
• The history of Avon, from its humble beginnings as a perfume company to its current status as a global beauty empire.

And if a customer manages to stump you with a question? Just make something up! Chances are, they won’t know the difference (and if they do, just distract them with a free sample of Avon’s newest body lotion).

Perfect Your Avon Elevator Pitch

You never know when you might find yourself in an elevator with a potential Avon customer (or, let’s be real, any human being with a pulse and a wallet). That’s why it’s crucial to have your Avon elevator pitch down pat.

A good Avon elevator pitch should include:

1. A brief introduction to who you are and why you’re the greatest Avon representative in the history of the universe.
2. A quick rundown of Avon’s most popular products and how they can solve all of life’s problems (bad skin? Avon. Bad hair day? Avon. Bad breakup? You guessed it, Avon).
3. A call-to-action that’s so compelling, your elevator mate will be begging to buy Avon products before the doors even open (something like “If you don’t buy an Avon mascara in the next 30 seconds, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life”).

And if you find yourself in an elevator with multiple potential customers? Even better! Just start your pitch and watch as they all clamor to be the first to give you their money.

Embrace the Power of Persistence

In the world of Avon sales, persistence is key. And by “persistence,” I mean “borderline stalking.” But don’t worry, it’s all in the name of beauty (and commissions)!

Here are a few ways to show your potential customers that you’re not going to take no for an answer:

• Call them every day to ask if they’ve had a chance to look through the Avon catalog you slipped under their door in the middle of the night.
• Send them daily emails with subject lines like “You won’t BELIEVE what Avon’s new eye cream can do!” and “Last chance to get 0.5% off your Avon order!”
• Show up at their workplace with a suitcase full of Avon products and refuse to leave until they make a purchase.

Remember, the more persistent you are, the more likely your potential customers are to give in (or file a restraining order, but let’s focus on the positive here).

Dress the Part

To truly embody the Avon brand, you need to look the part. And by “look the part,” I mean “wear so much Avon makeup that people mistake you for a walking, talking Avon catalog.”

Here are a few tips for dressing like an Avon superstar:

• Wear at least three shades of Avon lipstick at all times (bonus points if they clash in a way that’s both bold and confusing).
• Apply so much Avon mascara that your eyelashes are visible from space.
• Bathe in Avon perfume before leaving the house (because why settle for a subtle scent when you can knock people over with your fragrance?).

And don’t forget to accessorize with plenty of Avon jewelry (even if it turns your neck green, it’s all part of the #AvonLife).

Believe in Yourself (and Avon)

At the end of the day, the secret to being successful at selling Avon is believing in yourself (and, of course, in the power of Avon). You have to wake up every morning, look yourself in the mirror (after applying your Avon makeup, of course), and say “I am an Avon boss, and I can sell lipstick to a fish if I put my mind to it.”

It’s not always going to be easy (especially when you’re trying to convince your great-aunt Mildred that she needs a glitter eyeshadow palette), but if you stay true to yourself and your love of Avon, you’ll be raking in the commissions in no time.

So go forth, my fellow Avon warriors, and sell like your life depends on it (because let’s be real, your social life probably does at this point). And remember, if all else fails, just throw some free samples at people and run away. It’s the Avon way!