Avon, Direct Selling Leader Buys Silpada & Liz Earl

This year Avon bought the fine silver jewelry company Silpada as well as the skin care company Liz Earle. Founded in 1886 as the California Perfume Company. the name change took place in 1939.

Avon, Andrea Jung – Direct Sales Leader

Avon is a long-term success story in direct sales and a trendsetter in the industry. Avon is an internet giant, ranking at number 30 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, and the largest direct selling business in the world. CEO and Chairman of the board for Avon, Andrea Jung, daughter of Chinese immigrants, has been the driving force in Avon since 1999. She has been ranked as #1 in the Direct Selling Power 50 Awards for 2008 and 2009 and is the 25th most powerful woman in the world, according to Forbes Magazine, 2009. Under Andrea’s guidance, Avon has become one of the top online retailers with an estimate of $739 million in annual sales online as well as one of the top ten most recognized brands worldwide.

Silpada, Home Party Plan Silver Jewelry

Silpada, on the other hand, is a company that exists primarily offline. With about 32,000 consultants, they operate predominately as a party plan business model. Currently, they are one of the fastest growing direct selling jewelry companies.

From what I have read, Avon expects to keep the two companies separate and operate both as stand alone. Silpada does not sell on the internet now and that will not change in the future. Avon perceives Silpada as a success story of its own and has no plans to change the business strategy. Silpada founders Bonnie Kelly and Teresa Walsh and the Silpada business management team will continue to lead the company from their home office in Kansas.

Avon states that the purchase of the UK based company Liz Earl will strengthen the Avon product line with expertise in botanical ingredients and natural-based products.

“Over the past decade, we have watched Silpada build an enviable reputation as a fast-growing, high-quality jewelry brand and one of the most impressive party plan direct selling organizations in the world,” says Andrea Jung, Avon’s chairman and CEO. “This new partnership is an exciting opportunity to reach new consumers and representatives with a higher-tier brand and direct sales model that complements our existing business.”

It is my understanding that the purchase of Silpada was a “cash” purchase by Avon!!

Congratulations to a company who is here for the long term, always one step ahead of the times and booming in a “bad” economy!

Home Business Owners Set Sales Goals

Setting sales goals in your home business is a best business practice that all successful businesses utilize.  It is especially important in a home business. Goal setting should be part of your overall plan to reach your earnings, advancement, awards and/or recognition success. A business sales goal is exactly that…a goal. It is a logical and workable plan, system or practice that lays out what you want to accomplish in sales and how you intend to do it.  An honest assessment of where you are now in your sales and where you want to go is your first step.

Own Your Sales Goals

Your sales goals have to be your own. Frequently, your company or your upline may set sales goals for you.  In that case you will not “own” that goal. If you don’t own it you probably won’t strive to reach it unless there’s a really big carrot dangling at the finish line!

Avon Home Business Leader Sets Goals

In my Avon business I use the proven technique of first setting earnings goals and then setting sales goals. It’s very simple. I’ll share with you Barb’s story. Barb’s sales were kind of all over the place. More times than not her sales were next to nothing and a couple of times she sold several hundred dollars. Her sales average was fairly low and she wasn’t too excited with her earnings. We sat down to see what she could do to increase her earnings. The first thing we did was to take a look at her past 90 day sales period and determine her average sales and earnings. Barb had trained in customer selling and product knowledge, however she didn’t have any idea of the direction she was going.

Then we determined how much she wanted to earn in the selling period. Barb wanted to earn $340 in the selling period. We know that the average customer sale in her area is approximately $35. We determined if Barb set her sales goal at $850 and she sold to 25 customers she would reach her earnings goal! To make it even easier for her we broke the selling period in half. Barb’s selling period is a 2 week period. Breaking the goal in half made it easier to attain. She had a plan and was very excited to get started in a new selling period. Most of all, Barb felt she was in control of her own goals, her sales and her earnings.

Barb met her goals. She had sales of $856 and she met her earnings goal as well. She had 19 customers and average sales of $45 each. Amazing what we can do when we are on a path with a plan! Now she plans and sets her earnings and sales goals every selling period.

Sales Goals Versus Home Business Earnings

Setting a home business earnings goal will determine your sales goal. Instead of picking a sales number out of your head and trying to hit it, make your goal purposeful and  planned based on what you want to earn.

Earnings and sales are tied closely together so think about them together purposefully. Are you happy with your earnings?  Are you happy with your sales? If not, take action and take control of your business. Determine your desired earnings based on your needs then set your sales goals! You can do it!

Need help? Send me a message below and I will be glad to assist!

To Your Sales Success!
Merilyn Strange

IRS Direct Sales Goals Business Plan

NOTE: Deb’s powerful program Power UP For Professional Results training program includes a template to write your home business plan and establish your personal and home business goals in an organized format that is a direct sales IRS compliant business plan.

Worldwide Home-Based Business Leader, Avon Cosmetics

The Avon Cosmetics opportunity is a terrific home based business opportunity for busy people. With a product line that includes the direct sales of cosmetics, skincare, bath & body products, fragrances, jewelry, clothing, accessories, wellness products and gifts, almost everyone living in an industrialized nation is a potential product user as well as a potential sales rep.

With their headquarters located in New York, Avon is distributing in 100 countries worldwide, with millions of sales consultants contributing to their family’s income with this great business opportunity that fits into a fast-paced busy lifestyle.

Busy People Sell Avon Opportunity Worldwide

In addition to the worldwide, no territory, broadly-based product line, Avon also has a few other things going for the company and the representatives which makes it easy to do well and incorporate an Avon home base business into a busy life.  The nature of the product line makes it easy to sell and creates repeat customers.  Once you become a product user with Avon, you keep ordering because much of the product line is consumable.  This is reinforced with the campaign feature of the catalogs which are issued on a monthly (most counties outside the US) or twice monthly basis or campaignin the United States. This encourages customers in staying connected to their sales rep, and along with the consumable product line creates a certain customer loyalty.  Busy people do very well when they sell Avon because they are constantly involved:  networking with their friends through day-to-day affairs and easily keeping the interest generated.  Everyone wants to see the next campaign so it is a natural connection to distribute catalogs, pick up orders and drop off product and work your Avon business by networking amidst your busy life. Merilyn Strange, an Avon home business sales leader is one of the Cash Flow Show site expert writers.

Very Affordable Home Base Business

Avon is also one of the most affordable home base businesses with a starter kit investment at only $10. The kit includes brochures, samples, catalogs, and a training manual.  Avon sales leaders are more than happy to train you and assure your success. Avon is a great business for busy people on the go. The fact that Avon has been in business since 1886 attests to the company’s dedication to quality products and service, as well as to their customers and sales consultants.

Home Based Business Training

	Merilyn Strange, Avon leader shares on goal setting: The Power UP For Professional Results home based business training program teaches you how to network your business everywhere you go and create an additional stream of income into your home along side your already busy life. Busy people can create a home business without giving up their active life with the Power UP Training Program.

Be Adventurous In Home Business

Direct sales businesses like Mary Kay or Avon traditionally do not rely on the home party plan business model. It is even more important for direct sales consultants in non-party type companies to be adventurous and willing to step out of your comfort zone. I often hear consultants say “that is a good I idea, but it is out of my comfort zone.” I had never heard this type of language before becoming involved in direct sales. Why do we/you set up a comfort zone? Is it because someone said the comfort zone exists?

It is important to move yourself beyond your basic everyday life. What we do all the time is our comfort zone. Outside of that “zone” there may exist fears and insecurities. In all aspects of our lives there are things we fear and feel uncomfortable doing because we “don’t like stepping out of our comfort zone”. Really, the comfort zone is a self-imposed area of our life that excludes things that we never did before.

Instead of looking at it as a physical zone that you cannot cross, maybe we/you can consider new things as a challenge and a way to grow. If we are not growing, we are falling behind in life, because everyone else is growing. Identifying your fears and personal limits is the first step towards overcoming them. Try this:

1. Write down everything you have been afraid of doing in your business, everything that is outside your “comfort zone”
2. Arrange the list into order of smaller fears to bigger fears.
3. Start small and work up to the more challenging things.

Business Adventure

Life is an adventure. Business is an adventure. Instead of thinking about your comfort zone, start thinking about what adventure you will go on next. If you are in a non-party plan business it is essential that you become adventurous and try some new ideas to grow your client base. Some non-party ideas include:

• Public Speaking: Not huge events, just offering yourself as a public speaker to local clubs will result in new leads. Even if public speaking is outside your “comfort Zone” it will soon be inside the “zone”
• Fairs And Expos: You can go to a fair or expo as a vendor or as a guest. Either way you will expand your comfort zone at fairs and expos.
• Ask The Bank: Many banks feature a small business owner display area. Banks will give you new customers to talk to and it is only a small adventure!
• Libraries: Every county has several libraries. Libraries are always scheduling special events of public interest. Don’t tell me your comfort zone is too small for the library event!

Even if your company does not traditionally host parties as a referral system you may want to consider it as a lead generation tool. The home party plan model works because it is fun and develops personal relationships. Personal relationships are what sales are all about.

Comfort Zone VS Life’s Adventures

Stepping out of your comfort zone can cause anxiety or nervousness. The physical and emotional sensation of nervousness is negative. An adventure is exciting. The emotional and physical sensation of excitement is positive. Both emotions feel the same to your body. Your body does not know the difference, but your head does. It is time to stop using your “comfort zone” as an excuse and start running your direct sales business as an adventure.