Busy, Busy, Busy

Well I have not posted for about a month. In the last month we have grown the team by 11, have been selling about $10,000 per campaign and have had several people start their teams.

I love to see my business grow. The more it grows the busier I get. But I enjoy it :)

Our DVM has been promoting this "HIP Monday" program over the last couple of months. Basicly we need to be thinking about prospecting first thing Monday morning. Where and when are we going to prospect, and how prospecting leads to new team members. I have tried to get on this bandwagon. This is a great concept. Keep track of how many people you are talking to each week, how many of those said yes they are interested in learning more about Avon's earnings oppertuntity and how many you acually signed up. Then email those numbers to your district manager. Watch and see your numbers grow as you become more and more comfortable prospecting.

This week I had a conference call for my entire team. I do this once per month so everyone regardless of where they are in the country they can join a Unit Meeting with lots of recognition & awards, team incentives, and training. Next week I have a Leadership conference call with training for them.

Last week I started my annual Vice President's club. It is off to a great start with 10 people registered. I hope the momentum continues. I am very excited to share with them how to increase their sales and make PC. I currently have 3 PC members on my team and I want to increase that to 10 this year.

Avon has launched a Cruise incentive were we can earn a 5 day cruise 100% paid for by Avon. I am Sooooo excited. I have never been on a cruise. This will be my first real vacation EVER! I have my plan on how I can make it so now I just have to stay on top of my plan.

I know today's post is very choppy. My mind is going a hundred different directions. I have PTO stuff going on tomorrow and my office is a mess. I need an entire day just to work in my office. I will feel a lot more put together when I can do that.

A day of Prospecting

Today I went with another Advanced Unit Leader Cathy prospecting. She lives about 2 hours away so we don't get together very often. We talk on the phone quite a bit and share ideas but I have not gotten to see her in action.

We met in a very small town with her sister in law to go out prospecting. Cathy is a VERY outgoing person. She NEVER met a stranger, but she is so much fun. I love talking to her because she has great ideas and inspiration. Anyway, we met up and went out. First stop Steak N Shake - we just stopped for a soda but Cathy quickly got to know our waitress and before we got our drinks she had her name, number and a time to meet with her. Next to Walmart - stopped and talked to a lady loading her car. She had a new baby and Cathy got her name and number. On into Walmart - the lady in front of us in the check out line got a brochure with her sister in law's name and number. Unfortunately I had to get back home before we did anything else but I did learn some things.

1. ALWAYS BE PREPARED! Cathy had brochures labeled, prospecting cards for them to fill out their name, address, phone, email and three easy questions: Are you being serviced by an Avon Representative, Would you like to receive a brochure, Would you be interested in learning more about Avon's earnings opportunity? Each person that filled out a card also received a mini hand cream.

2. Practice the 3 foot rule! Talk to ANYONE within three feet of you. EVERYWHERE you go! She spoke to anyone within yelling distance.

3. Don't be afraid to start up a conversation with anyone you meet. Being the backward person I was growing up that is the biggest challenge I have. It is very hard for me to start a conversation with strangers. I need to GET OVER IT!

Other little tidbits include buying a small clipboard for your prospecting cards so you can carry it around with a pen. Ask the prospect if they would like a brochure or if they would like a free gift for filling out the survey. She used the mini hand creams but I think I am going to make up sample bundles.

The sample bundles I am making up are simply this: A fold over sandwich baggie with 3 samples and my business card tied with a ribbon. I will use different samples in each baggie with different ribbons for variety. Put them into a basket or small hand bag with brochures, pens, and my small clipboard with prospecting cards.

I learn a lot from Cathy and hope to get these items in my everyday routine soon.

Later in the evening I listed to a conference call about doing the appointment process. I learned some very interesting facts. Avon donated money to a children's hospital in New York after 9/11 and every child that was effected can have free psychiatric care. I also learned some new ways to present the appointment book. I LOVE to LEARN!

Well it is late and I am going to bed. I will try to post tomorrow. Nite!

Starting Over

In the summer of 2005 there was a lot going on and we decided that we would all pack up and travel with Dusty. So Dusty, me and all four children moved into a 36' fifth-wheel trailer. We traveled for about 18 months. We went to places that I had never been to before. We spent total of 8 months in Florida and we went to KY, TN, AR, LA, TX, & GA. It was fun but it was very hard to do with all the children. So we came back home.

I had contacted the local DSM when we returned to get some current materials. I had ordered just enough while we were gone to keep my account active. Dusty needed some deorderent and he loved the Avon On Duty Men. Our area had just gotten a new DSM and it was her first week. She met me at my mom's (that is where we were staying until our house was ready). She was very nice, thats the day I met Tracy. She said to me "I heard you were pretty big into leadership before, are you going to get back in?" I said NO I am just ordering deorderent for my husband. I am not even looking for customers. Before she left I gave her a name of a person that had contacted me to become a rep.

Tracy called me a few days later and asked if I would be interested in making some calls for her. I told her I would and we set a date and time to meet. I met Tracy at a little restaurant and we started talking. Not to long later a lady joined us. Tracy introduces me to Joan, they lady I had given her information for. I sat quietly as Tracy did Joan's appointment, listening to all the things I used to say to my new team members when I got them started. When Joan left I said to Tracy "Ok I give, I will go back into leadership."

The rest of the week I made calls to everyone I could think of to get signed up. Tracy had told me about a Rally that weekend in Indy. I made arrangements and went to the rally. When I got home I was so excited that I told my babysitter about it - she signed up that night!!!

I made UL in about a week and I was off and running.

How I became the "AvonLady"

About 9 years ago when I found out I was pregnant with my second child I began to get nervous about the cost of another baby. I began looking for a job but was quickly turned down because of my condition.

I seen an ad in our local newspaper for Avon Representatives, I called the company. The local DSM (District Sales Manager) came and signed me up. I started handing out books to friends and family and was getting orders. The day my second campaign order arrived I was in the hospital giving birth to Marissa. I had to go in for a stress test and they decided to induce labor. I looked at the nurse and said "Not today, my order is coming in". I had to call Grandma to get it off my porch.

When I got home from the hospital I looked at the order and thought: well it was fun but I won't be able to do it with a new baby. I called my customers and told them I had Marissa. I set a time to deliver their orders. Grandma packed up the baby and me and we went to deliver them. When I arrived at each house they met me at the door with their money and new orders. I hobbled back and forth from the car. When I got home I counted up my sales and I actually increased my sales!

I decided to give Avon an honest run and was making money right away. A few months later I started recruiting and earned my fast start bonus. I made Presidents Club my first year and had a good size team. Avon has been in my blood ever since.

About Me

My name is Jennifer Steele or also known as the "Avonlady". I live in a small town in Indiana. I married my high school sweetheart (Dusty) and we have been together for almost 17 years. We have four children Dominic (13), Marissa (almost 9), Luke (7), and Elisha (4).

I started this blog because I recently found an old friend on facebook and read her blog. I have not seen her for about 13 years but I was able to read her blog and "catch up" on her life. I thought this would be a great way for my team members to get to know me better. I am VERY new to this so PLEASE bare with me.

Currently I am: a wife, mother of 4, Avon representative & Advanced Unit Leader (recruiter), PTO President, Headstart Policy Council Vice President, Headstart Parent Group Vice President, housekeeper, cook, shofer, homework assistant, accountant, and overall the go-to person for our family. My husband works out of state and is only home on the weekends. So I am pretty much the only parent around most of the time.

I have been an Avon Representative for 9 years and I love it! It has allowed me to be active in my children's lives. I am at school for PTO and see them in the halls, we do girl scouts, cub scouts, gymnastics, Lego Leauge, and right now Luke is in physical therapy. My schedule fills up with stuff for the kids and I can schedule my Avon around that.

I live in the small town that I grew up in. I remember my grandma giving me those little lipstick bullets when I was growing up that her Avonlady gave her. I never would have guessed I would become the "Avonlady".