When Avon Calls, Should You Answer?

Virtually every adult female on the planet knows the name Avon. Most women know Avon products; fewer are familiar with its sales force and techniques. Let's take a look at the Avon's evolution as a business.

Background: Established in the late 1800s and more than a century old, the company is presently headquartered in New York city. Annual sales exceed $8 Billion in over a hundred countries.

Avon has 5 main product lines of cosmetics, skin care, wellness products, fragrances and a younger women's line. Avon is also savvy about its affordable pricing.

Despite its feminine focus, Avon was founded by a male, David McConnell. Avon has earned a reputation for integrity and quality. Consistent implementation of its marketing techniques has made Avon a solid household name.

Business Start: As an Avon representative, commissions can be earned in a variety of ways. The basic commission package generates profits of about 20-50% from direct sales. Commission overrides on sales generated by team members is about 12% and varies depending on size and sales volume. Earning potential appears high.

Company Endorsements and Community Involvement: Avon focuses on the "warm sale" technique, meaning face-to-face contact. Some representatives find the personal approach easier because of Avon's celebrity endorsers such as Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Saldana and Courteney Cox.

Avon is also well known for its charitable support. The company leads in the fight against cancer and domestic abuse.

Avon earns a 'thumbs-up' for business ethics. With Direct Selling Association, the company follows ethical guidelines both in marketing and consumer protection.

Avon has been successful in branding itself as a women's company through these campaigns. If you are very social, Avon could be a good fit for you. Applying the training with consistency is key. No pain, no gain. Avon's programs make the process pain-free.

Training: Avon offers a training program that is so good it received the Brandon-Hall award and the Society for Technical Communications award. The program reaches an audience of 600,000 on-line. Consisting of 20 courses, it is interactive and teaches by way of example. Financial and general business instruction are included. In training, Avon is cutting edge.

Avon does not allow you to sell its products through websites other than those purchased from Avon. Research did not reveal any prohibition about promoting Avon through social networking a la Facebook or MySpace.. Active use of the Avon template websites permits a representative to host e-parties and popular virtual make-overs. Avon is advancing its marketing into the 21st century. An Avon Rep community also exists on-line.

One might speculate that Avon's mandated use of its template website is limiting. This approach does not allow for 'personal branding' that can set a marketing representative apart from the competition. Perhaps Avon prefers this kind of control to assure quality representation and protect its business reputation.

If you enjoy human contact and beauty products, this could be the business for you. You would be signing on with a company that is unparalleled in network businesses. How Avon will evolve in the future is, of course, unknown. If history is any indicator, Avon will morph itself into a sustaining company for another hundred years.

To rock your Avon business, click on the link, fill in the box and get immediate free access to sample training videos, especially #2 and #3, to get started now. Answer the call!

Lauren Botney is an Online Marketing Coach and Mentor for what is arguably the World's Largest Internet Marketing School around. Specializing in Article Marketing, Social Media Networking and other essentials for profitable Internet Marketing. She is dedicated and stubborn. She trains complete newcomers and seasoned pros worldwide to achieve Financial Success through solid mentoring, proven business strategies and continuing education to stay on top of current trends and retain an important competitive edge in the marketplace. She know how to work it from home.