Bookmark and Share

From Broke to Rich in Five Years

By IAN MACFARLANE, AOL SMALL BUSINESS
Posted: 2009-10-27 15:38:48
Filed Under: Business Ideas, Small Business, Marketing, Starting a Business
BMW X3
BMW
Finding herself out of work and facing £400 ($655) rent payments, Debbie Davis, 29, from Sutherland, UK decided to turn her situation around and found such success that within five years, she's now making £250,000 ($409,639) a year, drives a Mercedes SLK and a BMW X3, and owns her own house. How, you may ask? By breaking out the makeup, of course.

Debbie is currently the most successful Avon representative in the UK, having sold £7 million in products for the company, and while she has a sales team of over 2,500, she still sells products to friends and family in her community.

More From AOL Small Business

    Davis had been working at a printing factory until 2004 until being let go, but being an Avon customer herself and seeing her mother sell Avon products as a child, she took the plunge. She was quoted in the Daily Mail: "It's unbelievable. To go from nothing to this is amazing. I was absolutely skint. I'd been at the factory since I left school and I'd been used to earning all my life. The six months I was out of work was devastating. The main thing I needed was the £400 ($655) rent for my house."

    In her first month, she earned £500 ($819) and brought on her partner Dave Carter to join the business. Their combined success led to being the company's top earners for the last 4 years, and Avon awarded them with two luxury cars and a paid vacation: "My friends say they can't believe I am earning this amount. It's phenomenal." It probably doesn't hurt that a third of British women claim to be Avon customers.

    Most multilevel-marketing businesses (MLM for short), such as Avon, see success in their ranks when representatives recruit others to sell merchandise, and those new recruits find more new recruits in turn, and so on. A portion of the profits made by those on lower levels travel up the line, so it's in the best interests of the representative to recruit as many members as possible.

    The Daily Mail explains Avon's process for new members: "To begin working for Avon, representatives pay a start-up fee of £15 ($25) which is deducted from their first two orders. From then on for every £100 (164) of products ordered, they receive a 20 per cent discount off the recommended brochure selling price, rising to 25 per cent for orders over £140 ($229). It is this discount which creates their earnings."

    While members of MLM businesses can potentially make a lot of money, the majority see small gains -- in these businesses, success is mostly dependent on the drive and oftentimes good luck of the individual representative.

    Before deciding to take the plunge on an MLM business (and this applies to every other line of business too), make sure you first have passion for the products and the enthusiasm necessary to woo customers. Things weren't easy at first for Debbie either, but one of the keys to winning is refusing to give up. Success isn't easy, but most good things aren't.

    [The Daily Mail]

    2009-10-27 13:35:47
    Bookmark:

    Recent Comments

    Post Your Own  
    1 - 10 of 168
    168 comments

    willnax 04:13:56 PM Nov 19 2009

    Report This!

    hobbygirl??? NO i can'lQuit ever if a wanted to I OWN it ALL in ALFY'S i own a Csmall XConglomerate. in a in a SKY scraper WHat about YOU Girl have any famliy? Girl Zero8 how about A KISS in my love club i know date fourbinddon but i can help but think is There a MERMAID WOMAN some where left alive that can LOVE me four who i am today?

    hobbygirl08 11:18:18 AM Nov 18 2009

    Report This!

    I found this link helpful when researching home business training. Rated #1 work at home opportunity by the national consumer protection group. New 6 hour certification program that guarantees you will be working from home with a major corporation within 3 days of course completion. Learn from the comfort of your home, at your own pace. Job placement service for a full year after course completion. http://alturl.com/i2ig

    hobbygirl08 11:17:44 AM Nov 18 2009

    Report This!

    I found this link helpful when researching home business training here. Rated #1 work at home opportunity by the national consumer protection group. New 6 hour certification program that guarantees you will be working from home with a major corporation within 3 days of course completion. Learn from the comfort of your home, at your own pace. Job placement service for a full year after course completion. http://alturl.com/i2ig

    ksupergenius 10:11:28 PM Nov 13 2009

    Report This!

    PLEASE LOG ON TO WWW.YOURAVON.COM/NFLETCHERDON'T WAIT IN LINE ...BUY YOUR GIFTS ONLINE THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

    ksupergenius 10:09:02 PM Nov 13 2009

    Report This!

    WWW.YOURAVON.COM/NFLETCHER

    tnsanfrancisco 02:26:13 PM Nov 12 2009

    Report This!

    Watch it.Do not quit your current job , and keep looking for paycheck job. MLM IS HIGHLY SUSPECT, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT REQUIRE RECRUITIING PEOPLE TO SELL.

    willnax 11:33:02 PM Nov 08 2009

    Report This!

    today I'm Willnax love me PLEASE year 2009 brother watchng AMAZING worst i've Ever done in my life the teams travel to Stockholm wherre they encounter the game first Switchback whith sends the five remaining pair to the site show's diffcult Rocdblocks Requires them to search and next life

    willnax 06:12:51 PM Nov 06 2009

    Report This!

    Ariel yes pal BUT what ABOUT lady ga GA ?

    pb35205 11:11:26 PM Nov 05 2009

    Report This!

    I recently began selling L'Bri Pure 'n Natural products after doing a Google search and finding rave reviews for L'Bri. You can order L'Bri products and learn how to become a consultant by visiting my website, WWW.NEWGLOW.LBRI.COM. Be sure to read about FabuLash, a new L'Bri product that will grow your eyelashes--no prescription required!

    willnax 03:25:30 PM Nov 04 2009

    Report This!

    EXHAUST Quarter Master as Mutiny Your Obendent

    1 - 10 of 168
    168 comments

    Add your own Comments

    Clear
    Add

    The Startup

    The Startup

    The Startup, the web's premiere online reality show for small business owners, is back for its third season! Watch as we follow four entrepreneurs to see how they're making their businesses come to life.

    1. The Startup

      Small Business Checklists

      It can be difficult to keep up with all the details involved in running a small business. Don't lose track of the details -- use a checklist to keep yourself organized.

      1. Checklist: Starting a Business
      2. Checklist: Closing a Business
      3. Index of Small Business Checklists

        Small Business Success Stories

        1. More Than Moonlighting
        2. Reality TV Leads to Small Biz Success
        3. From Couple to Business Partners
        4. Build-A-Bear's Founder Shares Her Story

          Helpful Resources

            AOL Coaches

            Jake Steinfeld

            Business Coaches
            Starting your own business can be a daunting task. With AOL's Small Business Coaches, you can get the best advice to guide you through the process.