Things to Think About When Choosing a Direct Sales/Network Marketing Company:
- What Products Does the Company Offer? Will you use these products yourself? Is it something you’d feel confident and comfortable selling? Find a company you enjoy the products yourself.
- What is the Company’s Reputation? Is it positive? Is it an older established company or a newer ground floor company? What kind of company are you looking for (established or ground floor)? Know risks and benefits behind both choices.
- What resources does the company offer? Incentives, training, support. What are you looking for in these areas? What support does the corporate company offer?
- What are the commissions offered? What are you looking for in this area?
- Does the company offer online sales? It is a great add-on to most direct sales businesses to have online sales offered. Are you looking to add additional sales via a website and if so does the company offer a website? Also, what extra fees if any are associated with having a company website for customers to shop with you?
- Does the company offer leadership opportunities? Does the company offer a sponsorship program? Are you even interested in a sponsorship program? Are there extra commissions and incentives for leadership?
- What is the time you have to put into this sort of business? That may impact your decision. Is the business one that is easy to put into your current daily schedule?
- Do you want to be with a home party company or one that can be done without home parties? A strictly home party company will work a little different than one that you have many outlets and ways to gain new customers and recruits. What is it you are looking to do? Most of the companies do offer other ways to sell besides home parties, so don’t let this one necessarily hold you back.
- Are you a part of multiple companies or just one? I have no opinion on this particular topic, just be aware of individual company policies about not competing (I.e. being a rep for two companies that sell the same types of products) and know what time you are willing to commit.
How does AVON measure up?
1. Products: AVON offers something for everyone. My brother and his friends were just making fun of me for EVERYTHING I own being AVON. Don’t worry it was all in good spirit, but one reason I LOVE being an Avon Rep is getting all of my products at a discount and I am definitely my own best customer. We offer clothing, jewelry, items for men & women, items for children, items for the kitchen, items for the home, candles, makeup, skincare, fragrances, etc. My friends and family are always surprised at everything AVON has to offer.
2. Reputation: AVON is a worldwide known company and has been around for over 125 years! In fact 2016 marks 130 years of AVON! Overall, the company has a positive reputation. Avon has a reputation of empowering women as well as helping customers. The company does its best to satisfy both it’s representatives and customers. The company has three causes: Breast Cancer Crusade, Speak Out Against Domestic Violence, and Healthy Forests Beautiful World. Yes there are rumors out there about the company, but most of these are just that…rumors.
3. Resources: AVON offers representatives a fantastic back office that includes everything you could possibly need to be successful at running your AVON business. Print off professional invoices for customers, place orders online, selling tools and tips, product information, FREE training, etc. Truly some of the best resources out there. Plus the network of representatives helping each other online is incredible so there is plenty of support out there from corporate as well as from the representative network. You never have to be alone in your AVON business even though you are your own boss. Plus, don’t forget the wonderful incentives! Everything from earning trips to tablets to laptops. Plus there is a points award system that allows you to redeem points for whatever you want from the rewards store much like a credit card reward system and there are some incredible things you can purchase with the points.
4. Commissions: AVON sales commissions are based on your sales level. We also have commissions that can be earned at certain leadership levels when you build a team of representatives. There are representatives out there with million dollar businesses.
5. Online Sales: AVON provides a state of the art website called the eStore to every representative. You can even customize the home page of it to your liking using the options available. The eStore is free to use as of April 2020. Many representatives have grown their businesses by taking advantage of the online sales available. In order to sell AVON online, you must sell using your eStore that AVON provides.
6. Leadership: AVON is a great company for those interested in leadership opportunities. We have an extensive leadership program that awards representatives in fabulous ways. There are certain levels based off of team sales and how many people are on your team and placing orders. Stay tuned for future posts about the leadership program that AVON offers.
7. Time: You can easily choose what sort of time you put into your AVON business. Many representatives work the business full time and many more work the business part time or even as a hobby. There’s even representatives out there that solely joined for the personal discount on their own orders. It is truly up to you how you manage your AVON business including the time you set aside for it.
8. Home parties: While many representatives do offer home parties, you do not have to exclusively do home parties to sell AVON. You can easily run an AVON business without ever doing a home party. You can sell AVON virtually however you wish as long as it is within the policies AVON sets out for representatives.
9. Multiple companies: Many AVON representatives do not sell exclusively AVON. Like I said above, I do not have a particular stance on this subject. To my knowledge at this time AVON does not have a non-compete clause, but do be aware of the policies of other companies and also be warned that being a part of multiple companies can be difficult and can be especially difficult if similar products are sold. AVON does have a clause in the advertising guidelines that you cannot advertise your AVON business alongside other businesses in the same areas such as on the same business card or flyer, etc.