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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To try to take on Kleeneze and Avon

52 replies

Mitmoo · 24/07/2011 15:29

I've just started doing Avon and have got £50 commission in a week of selling but that has exhausted my area, so I'm going to have to look around to increase it.

I was thinking of doing Kleeneze but haven't tried it before and they want a lot for the catalogues £156 up front, which will be worth it if it works but it's a risk.

Has anyone tried it?

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Mitmoo · 26/07/2011 10:06

LOL MUM I do mum's shopping but know she'd pay to have someone else do it.

NOMore hadn't thought of that. Good thinking thanks.

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LisasCat · 26/07/2011 10:07

If you're thinking about the home party things, like Pampered Chef, first think long and hard about your friends. Your first party or two would be your own circle of friends, before you could start expanding to friends of friends or strangers. My friend started Pampered Chef and had a couple of friends who were up for that sort of thing, but the rest of us just turned up to support. There was no way I was spending 20 quid on bamboo serving spoons! But then she kept nagging me to host a party, even though I knew none of my other friends would be interested. It drove a bit of a wedge between us, because she felt I wasn't supporting, whereas I knew I was saving her a wasted evening.

Mitmoo · 26/07/2011 10:08

Sorry Lorelai when I looked at the site it didn't seem to be offering much, my apologies if my radar was off. Again Grin

I really hate ironing, dog walking though might do me the world of good at the same time.

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Mitmoo · 26/07/2011 10:08

Actually scrap the dog walking, I couldn't pick up the poo. I'm bad enough cleaning out buried stuff in the litter tray.

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TotemPole · 26/07/2011 10:20

What about trying to find a leaflet delivery round that covers the same area where you are doing your Avon?

SpringchickenGoldBrass · 26/07/2011 10:21

Yet another 'Don't touch Kleeneze' here: I wasted a hundred quid or so on them a few years back. I now do Avon and make a few bob extra with it - the main difference (apart from the huge sums of money Kleeneze charge for catalogues etc) is that Avon assign you a territory and so you will be the only Avon rep putting catalogues through the letterbox, whereas with Kleeneze it's a free-for-all; I had several of my catalogues come back with a polite little note that the household already had a regular Kleeneze salesperson...

Lorelai · 26/07/2011 10:27

No worries Mitmoo, as I said, different things will appeal to different people.

mediawhore · 26/07/2011 10:45

My HUSBAND (I know!) does Avon, having already done Betterware - JUST AS A BIT OF EXTRA INCOME.(oops caps)

He finds Avon so much better as he can build up a regular client base, and he has weeded out the on es who are not interested to those who do want/order.

He seems to make around £60-80 a campaign (4 weekly I think) but it seems to be getting more each time he goes back. Also Avon may also extend your area - he started off with a few roads and has now got a whole estate.

Betterware was rubbish in our experience though. Sold some bits but was less popular than Avon (understandably) and less money made.

He is desperate to have his own business, so he runs his Avon round like a business with spreadsheets for various things!

biddysmama · 26/07/2011 10:55

have you tried mystery shopping?

charleneanne · 26/07/2011 11:06

have you thought about anne summers parties only suggesting this because i hosted 1 a few weeks bab and had a good laugh was brill night

ThatllDoPig · 26/07/2011 11:13

I got ripped off working for avon as well. Everything is always completely on their terms. I ended up out of pocket when people returned thier shite products. Be wary.

Ambergambler · 26/07/2011 11:25

How did you get ripped off ThatllDoPig ? You get back from Avon the price that you paid for the item? Every job has terms and conditions. I think it's pretty good that you have 90 days to return things anyway, allows for my scatterbrain forgetting things!
I looked into many of these, and would also like to find another to go alongside Avon, but can't find anything suitable so far. I have noticed though, that as a household, we save a fortune buying shampoo, shower gel, conditioner, deodorant through the offers in Avon. I stock up with each offer and done quite well out of it.
If you feel you have exhausted your territory, ask for more. Also set yourself up an Avon facebook profile to advertise there, also place ads on gumtree etc which are free. Have found many customers who just don't have a rep and are really pleased to find you.
Mitmoo if I can help you in any way please pm me.

housemum · 26/07/2011 11:34

If you're thinking party plan I'd be wary of expensive stuff - I keep being invited to Jamie at Home parties but there's nothing cheap in the range, and I like to choose my kitchen stuff as and when I need it. Same for pampered chef - good but expensive. Phoenix cards ladies in our area always seem to be busy, but the cards are very "samey" - also I think you have to hold a fair bit of stock so if it doesn't sell you've lost out.

Agree with the Facebook presence re Avon - my friend sends out updates with special offers and sale stuff from time to time, she picks up orders from off-patch friends that way without the legwork

ThatllDoPig · 26/07/2011 16:02

I can't remember the details now, it was a few years ago and maybe they have changed the system. Anyhow, you sound a lot more organised than me, so hopefully won't have any trouble. I just remember a lot of people returning things to me, and the system being very complicated to return items, I ended up being out of pocket and resentful. Good luck though!

Mitmoo · 26/07/2011 16:55

Returns are easy now you just stick a label on them and give them to the delivery driver when you get your order.

I've done £250 worth of orders and got 9 new Avon ladies in my team in a week and a half, is that any good? I have a mad upliner which helps.

I haven't made much this time as there are admin charges for being a rep, and another £25 charge for being a team leader, then I have to buy more books for the new reps. I think it will pay in the long run but wished I'd have concentrated more now on my patch so I could have got more commission on the goods.

Still with 9 ladies signed up on my account they should start to pay off in the long run.

I'm bliddy knackered!!!!!!! Grin

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Insomnia11 · 26/07/2011 17:13

What I object to, among other things about Kleeneze is that they advertise their 'jobs' through other companies - ACS Distribution is one. If you are so good why call yourself something else? Also they advertise anonymously "catalogue distribution and sales opportunity, for more info click here". You give your details, someone phones you back - guess what it's fucking Kleeneze. Completely wasting the time of jobseekers.

I think with that you can only make money if you distribute hundreds and hundreds of catalogues and are at it for hours every day- which is not how they advertise themselves. But they don't have areas so as someone else said, people can can two or three catalogues from different agents through their door. What a croc. Also if you become a manager and have agents below you, you make money from them also - basically pyramid selling.

I wish also the "make loads of money as a stockbroker" ads would stop clogging job searches and other shite like that. All these non-jobs are counted as available positions, when they aren't really jobs at all.

I do wonder about the courier delivery jobs coming up as well. Seems like potentially very little money for a lot of effort, and you would end up with less than minimum wage pay.

The thing with party plan schemes is you have to know loads of people who want parties to start with, and have to become one of those people who tries to sell stuff to everyone they meet. A fucking nuisance, basically. I was going to start Jamie at Home but I asked several people if they wanted a party and no-one did. I just thought it wasn't going to work.

Also there are loads of franchises where they want several grand, for er, what? Not much when you read into it. Then they want a management fee which would wipe out your turnover!

Be very very wary.

Mitmoo · 26/07/2011 19:02

I'm definately not doing Kleeneze have heard enough horror stories.

This site is brilliant thank you ladies. Since I've joined I've had career advice and you've kept me sane when my ex didn't bring my son home. I hope I've also given out help or different perspectives to others who have been asking for it.

There are few razor sharpened tongues but I just sharpen mine right back up at them. Grin Overall though I'm really please that I've landed here.

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Ambergambler · 26/07/2011 23:21

Mitmoo go to the thread on MSE for Avon. You will find it under 'Up your income'.

On a separate note, if you want to start doing Avon, I Do NOT advocate signing as a sales leader straight away - reasons: much more outlay (as mentioned above), you do not have experiance to pass to your reps, you don't know for certain you will keep at it yourself. Please bear this in mind, and investigate thoroughly before you start. You get out what you put in, as a general rule, but it takes time to build a successful round. HTH and this is just my opinion, not meant to offend Grin

SummerRain · 28/07/2011 09:06

I was just going to suggest mystery shopping too. I've just started and quite enjoy it. Money isn't huge for most jobs but they say mileage and expenses so at least you don't end up out of pocket. Someone I know earns 350 a week doing with a combination of mystery shopping and merchandising.

Shitter · 28/07/2011 09:10

NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO SHELL OUT ON ANY BUSINESS AS A REP. END OF.

Ask yourself why this would be? Why do employeese have to pay up front, it is purely because they can practically guarantee themselves some money from a new one starting every few weeks, because you soon leave due to shit commission, and also it guarantees you work extremely hard to try and claw it back. win win for the company. You end up exhuasted with jack shit. sorry.

Mitmoo · 29/07/2011 08:29

ambergambler I'm signed up as a Sales leader now and up to 10 ladies but that part isn't paying much. There is an new estate near me that isn't yet covered by Avon so I'm going to hit that today.

If I get overall orders up to £888 and get 5 new reps booking orders there's another £80 in it on top of commissions.

One thing I didn't expect though was that I'd got orders in of over £400 and my credit limit was £260, they called me with an hour to go to saying I had to pay the difference, but their system had crashed and they couldn't take payment so I couldn't have the order.

I had to take loads of my sales off and I am seriously not a happy bunny.

Sales leader trying to sort for me. Angry

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Mitmoo · 29/07/2011 08:30

summer I am wondering how to get into mystery shopping. I've managed a customer services department before, so I may have the credentials.

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Shipscat · 29/07/2011 08:36

If you're looking at doing more direct selling, have you hear of Phoenix Trading?( Cards, giftwrap, stationery etc) It's much cheaper to join than all the others you've mentioned - £30 - and you get everything you need to start selling straight away.
PM me if you'd like more info.

Mitmoo · 29/07/2011 08:41

Thanks Ships No never heard of them but will google them now.

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SummerRain · 30/07/2011 19:09

Mitmoo... I just googled 'mystery shopping' and applied to a few companies online. Some of them have tests, application forms or CVs needed but others are more easy going and just ask for Name and address and you're off. I'm in Ireland but one company I do it for is definitely in England too... TNS, they seem pretty fair and are decent enough about mileage and stuff and have been very friendly on the phone when I've had contact. Got my first pay cheque last week and paid for the bouncy castle for ds1's birthday party with it which was lovely treat for the kids (and made my day easier as my house wasn't trashed!)