My days as an Avon Representative were a life saver for me when my daughters were very little. I moved away from my home town with my very young family and needed to make friends. 30 years later I still have some of those same loyal friends. I also managed to make some money. I bought our first caravan and a very battered piano for the girls to hammer on:-) sorry practice.
I used to visit a lady every month who bought just talc from me. Not one but usually 3-4 at a time. I often wondered what she did with all that powder, I had visions of cupboards full of the stuff being found by her relatives when she died recently and them turning up at my door with the boxes – I know she was lonely and enjoyed seeing my daughters, I had to tell myself that to overcome the guilt of charging her.
She was one of many lonely middle aged women. Housewives of their time, not expected to work but bored out of their minds, a bit of lippy and a chat brightened up their day. Often on my rounds I would be offered tea or coffee, buscuits and naughty buns, as an an incentive to stay for a chat and I soon learned that my bladder could not stand the volumn, so vowed that I would only accept their hospitality if there was a good order. This is where the ruthless Avon Lady in me came in.
I started to realise I wasnt just delivering cosmetics but some company and my cute daughters as entertainment. It wasnt long before my round was the most successful in the area. Then the crunch came, Avon wanted to know my secret and would I do a presentation at their annual conference. I deliberated for some time, how could I tell a room full of Representatives that the products and my selling skills were second to non? So I decided instead to quit cos those bloody talcs and perfumes made me sneeze most of the time. Lippy and Skinsosoft was good though.
This post was submitted by Jackie.
Edited: October 1st, 2009