Reader mail: Becoming an Avon or Mary Kay rep
Do you have any information on skin care business, i.e., Mary Kay or Avon? How they hire, train and pay structure?
My wife worked as an Avon rep for a while, so I'm very familiar with Avon, less so with Mary Kay, but I've done some research into it, as well.
Avon only costs $10 to sign up, and there are no real requirements other than that. However, you will need to buy some samples and catalogs, so plan on spending more than that. The catalogs are very inexpensive—I think at or even below printing cost, but they can still add up if you're just leaving them everywhere as advertising.
Mary Kay costs $100 or so to start, but that includes a starter kit, which if you sell it all, you'll make more than double that. You probably should spend close to that getting started with Avon, but you're not required to as you are with Mary Kay. Mary Kay sells almost exclusively cosmetics, while Avon offers a wide variety of products, including clothing, jewelry, household accessories, and more.
In both of them, you work as an independent agent. You determine what price you sell the products at (full retail, or if you want to offer discounts). You then get a discount, based on your volume, of usually somewhere between 20-40% (I think Mary Kay may be slightly higher). That's your profit/income. Of course, out of that, you have to buy your samples, catalogs, and maybe some inventory of popular items you want to keep on hand.
Keep in mind, you will NOT be an employee—you are not a commissioned salesperson, you are running your own business. Expenses—mileage, advertising, inventory, etc.—come out of your pocket. I know a lot of people who do quite well with it, but I also know a lot more people who've either dropped entirely or backed off to just selling it to friends and family so they can buy their own stuff at a discount. It's a great thing to start on the side, either while working another job, or while looking for work, but not so great if what you need is immediate income. Don't expect to be making a living at it for at least 6-12 months of hard work.
Here are links for both of them for more information on becoming a rep:
Avon
Comments
“Mary Kay costs $100 or so to start, but that includes a starter kit, which if you sell it all, you’ll make more than double that.”
Unfortunately, the “or so” part has more “boom” in it than a fireworks factory.
Mary Kay ladies looking to recruit will subtly “convince” unsuspecting women to make an additional inventory purchase ranging from $600 all the way up to $4800. If a woman decides to jump on the bandwagon, she will generally NOT be told about inventory until after she signs the dotted line.
So why the push? Because requirements to get promoted and earn most of the prizes in Mary Kay require a consultant to have “active” and “qualified” recruits. Being “active” means placing a $200 order every three months without fail, whether you need it or not. “Qualified” means a recruit fell for the inventory pitch and charged up a package in that $600 to $4800 range.
While a a woman looking to recruit may tell you that “Inventory is your own personal choice and is not required,” you better darn well believe that she’ll do her best to get you to buy inventory if she’s shooting for a pink car.
Learn more about this (and Mary Kay’s other dirty tactics) at pinktruth.com.
I’ve sold both Mary Kay and Avon. Mary Kay is great, but you really need to be in a sitch where women have enough money to afford the products.
Keep in mind, most women associate MK with expensive and are pretty certain they will never be able to afford the products.
On the other hand, Avon is known for being affordable and the products fit into nearly every budget. That’s what makes Avon easier to sell, not too mention Avon’s brochures are like a mini-Walmart. :]
Something to seriously keep in mind too is with Avon, you have a larger and broader customer base, thus more sales.
Either way you go remember this - the cosmetics industry thrives no matter how the economy is. Women simply refuse to live without makeup. :]
I have sold for both companies. There are definite plusses to each one, however…a consultant for Mary Kay will immediately make 50% profit, where Avon sales bring in only 10% (unless you’re putting in a large order). Avon requires you to put in an order every 2 weeks…even if it’s only for a small item. Mary Kay requires you to buy $200 whole sale every 3 months to maintain an active membership. All in all, I think that MK can make you more money if you’re willing to put in the time. Avon requires mostly just handing out books.
Uhh hey, I have been selling Mary Kay for a while. They do encourage you to purchase inventory, but I have let my sales director and recruiter know that I am not interested in doing so - she is fine with it. If you do have a problem with a pushy or pressuring sales director, you can find another one. You are NOT required to buy it.
Also, you make plenty of more money through Mary Kay…yes, you do have to spend more initially, but a lot of people will agree that Mary Kay sells high-quality make-up versus Avon’s selling of lesser quality.
Also, because the products practically sell themselves you will find that selling $400 worth of product is NOT difficult at all, especially because you will buy some in addition to your family and friends who love it as well.
Now, shut it, Jane ;D
I’m a marketing student and all what mary kay has done is called “positioning” which means they strategically priced items high 1- pay out the comissions they do, 2- people think that a pricier item means better value. This only fulfills the Maslows hierarchy of needs. I have tried both. Mary kay has nice products but i must say it’s not worth what it’s priced. I personally did a test. I purchased a waterproof mascara from both companys Avon and Mary Kay. I paid 10 bucks for one(MK) and (on sale) less than 2 bucks for the other (Avon). I applied one on one eye and the other mascara on the other eye. I tested for fullness, waterproof capability, smear test and compliments. Unfortunately/fortunately how ever you may want to see it, they are both equally as good. with one BIG exception. The price. I also decided to purchase the pampering set from MK and purchased the Naturals lotion and scrub from Avon.
I’m intrigued with the peach smell that the pampering set has to offer. I’m also intrigued with the scents that Avon scrubs have to offer as well. They both performed as well…the same. Again, the difference? THE PRICE. with MK offering little diversity in their product line and Avon offering diversity in every sense of the word, I’d say in this case, “you get what you pay for” DOES NOT APPLY! MK offers nice products as so Avon…at the end of the day it boils down to how you image yourself. Do you feel a higher price means better quality? then if that makes you feel better then buy it. If you feel you want quality products at a bargain price and that makes you feel better, then buy it! Watever makes you feel better is worth the price..right?
Personally, I have been selling Mary Kay for 4 years now, and I have never been happier. I love the girl time more than anything.
As far as the products go, there is no comparison to Avon. Mary Kay is not even in competition with Avon, as they are in two different market segments. Mary Kay products are glamour products. As a matter of fact, Mary Kay has been rated the number one company in the US for cosmetics for the 14th year in a row - followed by Este Lauder, Clinique and Lancome.
When it comes to making a decision as to whether to sell Avon or Mary Kay, I think it can only make sense to work for the company that pays out 50% in commission regardless of how big or small the order.
Being a part of the Mary Kay culture is also a life long journey, in which you will learn how to grow as a woman in every aspect of your life. That is in part due to the fact that Mary Kay is a family business, that was built by the courage of one woman who wanted more in life and was willing to work for it.
No matter which road you choose, I think that you will find this industry to be a blast!
i JUST started mary kay (just stopped doing avon) and i have to say mary kay is by far better in more ways than one, because its a more personal one on one experience, its sooooo easy to hand someone a book and say get back to me when you want something but it pays off in the end with mary kay because you can develop friendships and have people to spend time with, you meet new people and experience more with mary kay. so ladies if youre looking for more than just a dollar do mary kay its been an awesome experience for me.