Beauty for bucks

>> Selling cosmetics is in
the blood for Avon Lady

by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Catherine Clark

Age: 22

Occupation: “Beauty consultant”/Avon lady

Bio: This charming, good-natured Lasalle gal was working towards a degree in education when a stork arrived at her door carrying the first of two big bouncing bundles of love some people call babies. Taking time off from school to be a good old fashioned “stay-at-home mom,” six months ago Catherine decided she might be able to bring a few extra bucks into the household by selling Avon cosmetic products, like her grandmother had done before her. “I’ve always been into Avon and so are all my friends, and since I was constantly buying the stuff, I figured I might as well start selling it too. Often, unless you know somebody who’s selling Avon, it’s hard finding a catalogue to purchase the products, so that’s another reason why I started doing it.”

Can’t one simply purchase Avon products online? “Yeah, but I only found that out after I became a representative. But even if people do go and purchase online, they can always reference me as their rep and I’ll get the credit anyway.”

How to throw a few bucks Catherine’s way next time you’re purchasing cosmetics online: By contacting her first at catherineclarke1207@hotmail.com

How many years of training it takes to become an official Avon “beauty consultant”: Not that many. “Whatever training you want is what they’ll give you. Pretty much all you’ve got to do is pay a $20 fee and you’re an Avon representative, it’s as simple as that. But we do get colour guides and things like that. And we learn how to do beauty care profiles, where clients tell us their skin types, any skin problems they might have, if they want a daytime or nighttime look—there’s lots of different things we can do for them.”

So Avon works on an Amway-esque pyramid scheme? Yes. “Basically we buy the products at a discount and sell them to people for full price. But that doesn’t really make you much money. So the way to do it is to sign up other representatives and get them working under your team—that’s where the really big money comes in.”

Does she have any female friends left since becoming an Avon lady or have they all started avoiding her? “Funny enough, I see them a lot more now. They’re all really excited about Avon and when the new catalogues come in, we have our little parties together and discuss the products—it’s a lot of fun.”

Does she have any male clients? Yes, one transvestite. “I’m training him on how best to apply make-up.”

Does she feel funny selling Avon to good friends for profit? “Yeah, so I often don’t sell the products for the full price. I’m probably not the best salesperson I could be. I’m not cutthroat, you know, I have a heart. So I don’t make as much money as I probably could, but I provide a service and I’m happy with that.”

Where she spends her profits: On Avon products for herself.

Something good about Avon—other than Catherine, of course: They don’t test on animals.

Last book read: A Million Little Pieces, by James Frey.

Musical preferences: John Mayer, Our Lady Peace, Justin Timberlake.

Words of wisdom: “Everything happens for a reason.”

Comments: dimwit@hdot.net