The question often comes up about using the online shop we have provided by Avon against the traditional brochure that Avon is known for.
As a rep of 13 years I started my Avon journey selling to friends and family using the Avon brochure and moved to territory a few campaigns later as I was in the process of buying a house when I started so it was a good way to get to know some of my new neighbours once I’d moved.
I reached Presidents Club most years (currently annual sales of £6,700), covered the few houses I had in my territory and gave books out to friends and family. But 2016 Avon gave us My Avon Store which was a massive game changer. Whether we like it or not, customers want the convenience of shopping online when it suits them and not being restricted to when we drop them a brochure round. There’s also plenty of customers who love Avon but just don’t have a Representative and the ability of being able to order Avon online opens up the opportunity for them to buy the products they love.
Of course there will still be a need for the brochure, there are people who aren’t online and even those who are that don’t like inputting their payment details online and we don’t want to loose those customers. And there are those who just like to look through a book, I like to look through the Argos book before I go and buy online, and I’m often tempted by items I wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t had the book to look through.
I think that most existing customers will remain loyal to their Representative, it may only be if that Representative leaves Avon that they may seek an alternative and turn to shopping online.
Another thing that may put customers off shopping online would be the delivery charge, only £3.50 but when they can have Representative delivery for free then why not, it’s just someone delivering to their door it doesn’t matter to the customer who that person is. Although, from c6 when delivery is free for online orders over £30 I wonder if this may change customers buying habits – they can pay online meaning they haven’t got to worry about going to the cash point before the Representative arrives and the order is processed when they send it, they don’t need to wait for the Representatives next order.
I personally love My Avon Store, I’ve cut back on my territory, just serving existing customers as I find a better return by using my time to promote my online shop. I’ve managed to go from Bronze Plus (currently £8,200 annual sales) in 2016 to Gold Plus (currently £40,400 annual sales) in 2017 by making the most of the online shop, allowing me to reach many more customers without ordering thousands of books or walking street after street.
I use a lot of social media to promote my store, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram mainly – and I use them a lot, there are a lot of Avon Representatives out there so you need to post a lot!
I write a Blog, people want to know about Avon and about products so blogging gives people information they may be looking for.
Share offers from Avon, there are often promotions run by Avon, free delivery or a free gift, make the most of these and the tools from the Social Media centre are pre prepared and professionally created by Avon so use them to help your business.
Promote a specific offer, if there is a product you like, your friends and potential customers probably will too so share it on Facebook and let them know the link to your store if they’d like to buy it too.
Remember the Avon store isn’t a get rick quick over night, it takes time and lots of promotion so be consistent and keep at it.
If anyone else has any tips for online sales I’d love to hear them as I’m always up for learning and try new techniques!
mymakeupblog2016 