Feature Writer Karen Crowder – From Avon to Writing
It was March of 2004 and I was inquiring about where I could find a new Avon representative. I received a call on a Monday evening, and I was not only given an answer, but a rare opportunity. As part of our conversation, the pleasant lady asked, “Would you consider the Avon opportunity?” I was delighted. I had asked about selling Avon back in 1980 and had been turned down. The representative had valid concerns, like how would I sort and package items, how would I get help reading catalogues, etc. Though, in 2004, with the advent of the internet and taped catalogues, this could actually be done. This was a golden opportunity to sell products I liked and had used intermittently since the late 50s.
In mid-April, Avon ladies from central Massachusetts visited my apartment and I signed the contract, taking down my district number, phone number of the manager, and account number in Braille. I was finally a representative. Before our meeting was over, I wrote down one more cardinal rule about selling Avon: don’t send orders unless payment is received. I put the page of notes in to my notebook but did not look at this for a long time. As the ladies left, the manager commented with smiles, “You will have a ball looking at the Avon website.” After they left, I thought, “Now comes the real work.”
During that first year, I would discover roadblocks and unexpected rewards in selling this product. Our apartment complex did not allow soliciting and the Avon website in 2004 was not as accessible as it is today. I ended up enlisting the help of a kind reader from the Massachusetts association to come out to read paperwork and books not accessible to me. I sold products to friends and family, enjoying the pleasure they took receiving a long sought after fragrance, lipstick, or piece of jewelry.
Avon was not my sole interest, though, as I had also rediscovered the joy of writing with my new computer. In 2005, I took three memoir writing courses from the Fitchburg State Alpha Program. Though, with all the training, I thought becoming a published writer was a distant dream not to happen for years.
I eventually developed innovative strategies for selling Avon in the four years I was in the business. To assist me with those strategies, there were the monthly sales meetings where we were made aware of new products and given tips. They welcomed me into their district, and during the meetings there were refreshments where I met fellow representatives. A partially blind woman helped me address packages, read catalogues, and sort out inventory. I would reward her with free products and lunch. I once worked a grand opening at a local restaurant in 2004, and three Christmas open houses in 2004, 2005, and 2006. By 2005, I was able to use a phone system and my customer base broadened. I even had a place where people could listen to my reading about Avon campaigns, and listen about newly available products. In 2007, I started making products accessible by brailing fragrances, bath products, and gift sets. I also included instructions that covered the functions of battery-operated products. This strategy went over very well and people routinely thanked me for my efforts.
During 2006, I continued writing, taking a creative writing course, writing stories, poetry, and little opinion pieces. Being a full time writer was my eventual goal, but since it would still take years to achieve, Avon was a good interim money maker.
Being the person that I am, I was happy to give customers breaks and selling below cost, which is something I thought large successful chain stores did. I made the mistake of telling new customers that if they were having difficulty, they could take time with payments. I put prospective customers on the honor system, something I respected and abided by.
Our economy was booming from 2004 to 2007 and business was alright until late 2006. Yet, by the summer of 2005, my helper left and I wanted to throw up my hands. ”What do I do now?” I wondered. In 2006, I was getting dependable advice to “Just get out of the business” from people I trusted. In retrospect, I wish I had looked at those forgotten Avon instructions, “Don’t send orders unless payment is received.” By 2008, the handwriting was on the wall–the honor system had revealed its unfortunate shortcomings. After two poor Christmas seasons and a knee injury which prevented me from lugging and packing boxes, I could not send out orders for two months. It came as no surprise that in April I was told my account had been deleted. They asked if I wanted it re-instated–I said no. Despite the disappointing news, I felt a strange sense of peace, believing that when God closes one door he opens another.
I turned out that Bob Branco had started a magazine called Consumer Vision and I had volunteered to write various articles. In the summer of 2008, I wrote “The Quietness of Braille” and “Fall Nights” and submitted them to him. On September 8, 2008 he called me with the happy news that I would be published in the September-October edition.
By December of 2009, I realized that my Avon experience had actually been fruitful. Former customers and friends would say “I wish you still sold Avon, you really knew your products.” While the whole experience ended quicker than I had expected or wanted it to, by selling Avon, I did learn how small businesses are run–a valuable lesson that not many people get the opportunity to take in.
From 2008 to until today, I have been walking in the direction I always wanted: writing. I have been writing for Consumer Vision, have been published in a couple of newsletters, and now write for this magazine. These accomplishments, the work necessary to compose and revise, are so much more fulfilling than selling Avon. In becoming a successful writer, there is a constant, indescribable feeling of happiness when an article or story is completed and hours fly by as it is revised, ready to send out, and shared with readers for their enjoyment.