2nd Question... selling during the winter

[jfedei]

I just posted a question about fundraising... but I have a second one that is unrelated.... I've always wanted to sell Avon, but I live in a community where we get winter 4 months out of the year and I don't relish the thought of walking the neighborhood to hang books on door knobs during those months... It's hard on the joints, very cold and slippery! I don't mind doing it during better weather months. How do you reps who live in cold weather do it?

Jenny

[OliviaHyder]

You might consider just "tossing" instead of hanging in the winter months. I have tossed before but I get a better response from getting referrals from my current customers.

Although, I will say that tossing can be fun when done with a friend or team member!!

[jfedei]

Say what? I have no idea what "tossing" means! LOL!!

[OliviaHyder]

LOL! Oops! Should have elaborated!! You can roll the brochures up (like a newspaper) and toss them into driveways. ....... it will keep you out of the cold during those winter months. It is not as effective as hanging the brochure on a door, but it will get your name out there.

[avonlady916]

I tossed books my entire first year as I was shy.
99% of my customer base is now in my own zipcode because of it.

Now I bulk mail my books.

Until you get a solid customer base, you could mail your books using Consultantdepot.com they even supply the books and its less expensive them doing the mailing yourself.

What I have found is the closer you get the book to the door, the better chance you have of it not being thrown away. I like mailing as I know it gets "inside"

Tossing is well, essentially, its tossing a book on driveways to search for new customers and potential recruits.

Instructions on how to toss.
1. Take your brochure and put your name, phone # , email address and website address on the back cover (I have a stamp to do this - you can get stamps online or at Staples or even cheaper at rubberstampchamp.com ) "Submit by" date goes on back cover if giving to customers.... but if Im tossing the book to a stranger, I leave it off. Why? Easy.... we can backorder from our books for two campaigns and people tend to keep the book longer if it doesnt look like its expired! With me so far?

2. Stuff the book. This varies with the campaign for me. Sometimes I stuff an outlet inside or a Mark Magalog. Sometimes I add a sample of the latest fragrance attached to my business card, or the latest skin care sample. Lately, Ive stopped stuffing - if they call with order, their first order will get a sample.


3. Get some Whats New Plastic bags - put your book in horizontally and tuck the extra plastic into the center of the book (the book should now look laminated. Put them in a box on your passenger seat, roll down passenger window and on a day that is NOT garbage day, drive slowly and toss the books onto driveways.

I can do 500 driveways in 2 hours.


Bonnie

[jfedei]

Interesting... It could work eh?

[avonlady916]

When I was tossing, I had a really good paying job and was working fulltime. I had more money then time, so for me it worked really well.

I tossed 500 to 600 books each campaign.

Neighbors called or emailed or even shopped my website as that was the info I put on the back of the books.

I no longer need to toss, but still do so from time to time "just because"

I really like the fact that most of my customers I could ride a bike to deliver if I had to.

I didnt have an active helpful upline... no one told me you can get outdated books from your DSM if you ask... Make sure to go to the sales meetings if you can. DSM's are avon emplyoyees... they are paid by avon to help us and throw the meetings. (they are not reps)

Bonnie

[Krystle512]

When I did Avon I also "tossed". I was too shy to go door to door. I did not get too many replies from this method but I think it was because of the area I was tossing in. Also, anytime I went to an appointment or somewhere that has magazines laying out for people to read I would leave an avon book there with my contact info in it. Never know who's needing makeup while waiting for an appt

[avonlady916]

Leave a book where ever you happen to be.

It works and you never know where it will end up

Bonnie

[Nyesha]

Hi jfedei,
With winter over, you can use my advice for next year . I was going to suggest using the phone, internet marketing and utilizing your online store as much as possible during the winter months, with shipping direct to recipients' doors via UPS. Tossing sounds great to. I have done the door hanging and knocking but not the "tossing".

Bonnie,
500-600 books per campaign? Wow, that's so much more than I have ever distributed. 100 has been my absolute Max. It is interesting to learn that some reps operate on such a large scale. That's awesome. Best wishes for all continued success on what seems like a very large and established business you have as a EUL.