Rule #4 in Direct Selling: Always Keep Staple Products On-Hand

I love selling Avon. The name alone sells itself.

Most people associate Avon with make-up, though. I can't count the number of times I've asked someone, "Do you need an Avon Lady?" who answered back with, "I don't wear that make-up. Sorry."

Avon is about so much more than make-up. Make-up is really only about 20% of what Avon sells. Heck, we even sell laundry detergent and dish washing liquid now!

But, the ONE THING that most people associate with Avon is their Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil. That stuff sells like hotcakes!

So, whenever I go out canvassing, I have made it a habit to carry the Bath Oil with me every where I go. I've asked people, "Do you need an Avon Lady?" And then I add, "I have Skin-So-Soft!"

The answer I get is sometimes, "No, thank you....WAIT A MINUTE, you have Skin-So-Soft? How much is it?"

I can't seem to keep it in stock.

And, I've gained a lot of great customers that way as well! "Here, take a book, too! If you run out, my number is on the back and you can order more!"

Check out the catalog, then click HERE to order anything online!

Unfinished Business

This is for someone in particular who needs to hear it:

It's okay to grieve for unfinished business. But, don't EVER think that it is in your fate to ever see the finish of any business that walked away from you knowing how you felt.

Sometimes unfinished business is actually finished -- no matter how your heart feels or for how long.

It is better to just write it off as loss. Not for yourself, but for the one that walked away.

Go, live, be and do. You will never forget, but you can't dwell on the pain. Channel it. Become who you were meant to be. Let it do what it is supposed to do and make you stronger for it...and then don't EVER allow the business to get in front of you again.

To do so is to lose more of who you thought you were, who you grew to be -- and who you thought they were.

And, sometimes the memories are just sweeter without realizing that you were wrong in your perception.

In the end, you will be right where you are. The business you wished you could finish will still walk away knowing how you feel. Nothing is changed, accept now there is fresh pain.

Just remember, real life is not a fairy tale. Not all endings are happy ones. Not all business is meant to be "finished" to your approval.

Zero White Guilt

First of all, I love all of my black friends. And my red, yellow, brown and white ones. I hold NO discrimination in my heart.

What I am about to say may offend you, but I really don't care.

I never owned a slave. My grandparents never owned a slave. I never whipped a black person with a whip. I never hung one. I never treated anyone of a different color with anything but due respect as an equal.

Having said that, it will be a COLD DAY IN HELL before you will ever catch ME kneeling and asking for forgiveness for being white. I don't apologize for something someone else does. And I am dang sure not going to apologize for something that happened over 150 years ago when I wasn't even around.

So, if you ARE offended, I suggest you go look at your racist self in the mirror and do some soul searching. Because I AM OFFENDED if YOU expect ME to kneel for anyone but the God I serve.

God created me white. Jesus came to save us from sin, not skin.

BTW...if you want to get technical, I like probably 90% of all Americans today am a mutt. My grandpa was full blood Apache. I have german, irish, english, spanish and dutch in me. Oh, and yeah, a black slave about 10 generations back named Constance. So, get over the racist accusations.

If you want me to show solidarity, then how about showing solidarity by standing with me with your hand over your heart facing the American flag and saying the pledge of allegiance and meaning it. Because, you do not live in an African nation that is controlled by Muslims who still own slaves.

Rule # 3 in Direct Selling; Give yourself a weekly paycheck based on performance

It's all about making money, right? But, you only make money if you sell something.

Every week I keep a log of the hours I work. I keep another log of the sales I make. And, I keep a log of the products I buy to sell.

For now, because I am just starting, I give myself a set amount each week in pay. I get minimum wage - minus the taxes. For me, here in Texas, that is no more than $240.70 for a 40 hour week. However, that is ONLY if I am able to sell at least $882 worth of products each week.

This means I actually have to work at it.

Last week I worked a total of 12 hours selling Avon, including the time I spent doing inventory pricing and answering the telephone, making phone calls and updating my logs -- and watching educational videos at Avon U.

Since I only sold $239.98 worth of products, and minimum wage for me last week came up to $74.91 with taxes taken out and put aside, I am still short on what I need to pay myself this week (my profit is only $71.99, so it was too close to get discouraged about it!). Which means next week, I really need to try harder to make those sales!

As time goes by, though, and I am able to keep regular customers coming back and do more call-backs on established customers, that sales percentage will grow...and so will my pay. I am confident of that, just looking at these numbers!

And, minimum wage based on the hours that I worked is not a bad start!

Direct selling is not a get rich quick scheme. It is an honest living for an honest day's work. The only difference is that you get out of it exactly what you put into it. So, find what you enjoy to do and do it! Being happy isn't about the money, it's about enjoying life doing what you love to do!

I love Avon because it is easy to sell, it's flexible, and I see the fruits of my efforts -- and best of all, I get to KEEP my profits!

Click HERE to buy Avon

Rule #2 in Direct Selling: Accommodate the Customer

The second rule to direct selling is to always accommodate the customer. If the customer wants you to sit with them for an hour to talk, do so. This is how you build rapport. This is how you get to know your customer's needs and desires. This is how you can make suggestions that they will be grateful for and buy.

I am thankful that the quarantine measures are easing. However, there is still need to accommodate.

For instance, yesterday, I knocked on doors at a senior living apartment complex. The first customer was sitting outside on her porch. She said, "You are an answer to prayer!" I sat with her nearly an hour as she browsed through my catalog, looked at the products in my basket I was carrying, and talking about her needs and her situation. By the time I left her, she had bought over $50 worth of products, half of it from the basket of products I had on-hand already. I am so glad I stayed and took the time to accommodate her!

The other day at Wal-mart, an elderly lady was putting groceries in her car. I asked her if she needed an Avon Lady. She said, "No, I need help getting this water into my car!" She was about a head shorter than me and very frail-looking and thin. I said, "Yes, ma'am! Let me help you with that!" She was grateful, and bought some Skin-so-Soft from me.

At another door at the senior living apartment complex I was at yesterday, a man answered the door. I introduced myself and offered to sell him some of the men's cologne in my basket. He asked me to come in. "I don't need the Avon, but my wife wants to see what you have!" I said, "Sure!" Then he handed me a disposable mask to wear and asked if I wouldn't mind putting it on first. Of course, I accommodated him! And, I sold another $10 worth of Avon while I was there. She asked if I had anything for arthritis in her feet. OF COURSE I did!

If you aren't willing to accommodate (and sometimes that means to serve) your customers, you aren't going to get very far in direct sales. Direct selling allows you to have versatility in how you serve your customers.

1st Rule of Success in Direct Selling: Don't stay home.

1st Rule of Success in Direct Selling:

Go where the customers are.

Don't stay home and hope the customers gravitate toward you. They will, but not as quick as you need them to.

You have to get out of the house, your car, or where ever you are stuck at and actually engage.

If you do not engage, you cannot communicate.

If you cannot communicate, you cannot advertise your wares.

If you do not advertise, you cannot close a sale.

If you cannot close a sale, you cannot make money.

If you cannot make money, you cannot pay your bills.

And if you cannot pay your bills, you cannot run a business.

And so the circle turns.

The more I study this guy, the more I like him. He's crude, obnoxious and ambitious. Aside from that, he is one of the greatest opportunists alive. Like me. Like I want to be. There is so much I can learn from him...while chewing the meat and spitting out the bones...

Time to go to work!

Hello, World!

My Avon shipment finally came in! Yay!

Today I will be walking the parking lots of nearby stores handing out brochures and flyers all day, and collecting phone numbers.

I will have my Skin-so-Soft products with me for anyone who wishes to buy some, as well as any other products I have on-hand.

I will start at the Wal-Mart in New Boston. I may move to other places as the day wears on, but we'll see how well I do.

I now have a face mask to wear so I can enter places that refuse service to anyone who doesn't have one.

If you are interested in Skin-So-Soft, call me! I have LOTS to sell, and if you are in the New Boston Area, I will be able to deliver immediately!

Ya'll have a blessed day!

Full Force at Avon Now

Hello, World.

Sunday morning I quit my job at the Pitt Grill. I have decided to go full force selling Avon. I figure if I am going to work so hard that my body is sore all over every night, for minimum wage pay, I should be working for myself -- and at least have the chance to move up in pay.

If I help build up someone's business with my customer service -- it should be MINE.

If I am miserable doing things the same way every day, I should have the power to change it.

So, I took my power back.

Currently, I have about $600 worth of Avon to sell on-hand. I have another $200 coming today, Monday. I have a set schedule and I've even made uniforms to work in -- T-shirts that tell the world that "I sell Skin-So-Soft! Ask me about Avon!"

I plan to take a road trip soon and sell Avon. I want to visit every homeless shelter in the State of Texas. I want to see every city in the State of Texas. I want to live.

Avon has gone completely digital now. There are no more mail-in orders or paper order forms. If you sign up to be an Avon Independent Sales Representative, you HAVE to have access to a computer -- or a phone that has access to the internet. You have to have a bank account in your name. And you have to have a social security number. All orders are made OVER THE INTERNET.

I am thankful I have a head start.

Of course, If you just want to order some Avon, you can still do so through me personally, if you live with-in my area of delivery.

But, I am transitioning to mainly bucket sales. Most of my customers who buy from me like to see the product before they buy it, so it is much easier for me to sell products that way. And, the brochures are too expensive to invest in, so I only have a limited number to give away per campaign.

Giving out my website address is easier and cheaper. Anyone can see the updated brochure ALL THE TIME if they just go to the website I provide on the back of my brochure, or my business card. And, if you want to be an Avon Lady, too, you can sign up right at my website, as well!

I have lots of Skin-So-Soft and hand lotions to sell -- as well as perfumes and shower gels, foot lotions and many other products. I'm making a list of all the things I need to order as I go, so feel free to tell me what you are looking for!

And finally, in this day and age, with COVID-19 and a bunch of rioting going on, it is so much safer to stay home and have products you need delivered directly to you. Avon has always had competitive prices for their products, too!

Visit my store by going to http://www.youravon.com/shondaponder or check out the brochure below!

We have LOTS of great products for men now, AND LOTS of GREAT NEW PRODUCTS!

Avon is SO MUCH MORE than JUST make-up!

Have a blessed day!

Love Thy Neighbor

Jesus said "Love thy neighbor as thyself".

He didn't say "Love thy neighbor who is white." Nor did He say, "Love thy neighbor who is Black."

Jesus did say that we should treat others as we wish to be treated. Somehow, I don't think being murdered because you are white and having your business destroyed because you make money with it and being attacked and targeted and killed because of your job is how anyone wants to be treated.

I don't think being burned alive is either.

So, I find it offensive to protect black people who are doing these things. I also find it offensive to protect white people who do these things. I find it offensive to protect ANY people who do these things.

ALL LIVES MATTER. ALL LIVES DESERVE TO BE LOVED AND TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

Jesus didn't play favorites. He helped the Samaritan as well as the Jew. He gave His life for the sinner, not the skin color. He said to go into ALL THE WORLD not just places where certain colors reside.

When Jesus leaves the 99 sheep to go after the 1, He doesn't leave the 99 to go after a black sheep. He leaves the 99 to go after a LOST sheep. Doesn't matter what color it is.

A man who murders someone, whether they are white or black skinned, is called a murderer. Not a "black murderer" or a "white murderer" -- simply "murderer."

ALL MURDERS DESERVE JUSTICE NOT JUST GEORGE FLOYD'S.

To say otherwise is just an excuse to be divisive and terroristic.

Road Trip, Avon and The Pitt

Hello, World.

I haven't updated this blog much lately, I've been so busy...and so tired.

Not sure if it is my great cooking, Luanne's great service, or the fact that people are making up for being stuck at home for the last couple of months, but we did more business at the Pitt Grill on graveyard shift last night than we normally do on a busy weekend night -- and it was only Tuesday!

But, I've officially put in my two weeks notice. I am going to focus on my Avon sales for awhile. My Avon business has been picking up as well.

I have decided it is time for me to take a road trip soon. I need to get away and enjoy the sites. I need to breathe. I need to miss home.

And, I need to see my kids.

I figure I can take a bunch of Avon to sell with me as I go, also.

I kind of want to wait until the rioting dies down first, though.

Well, I'm tard. (That's redneck for "I'm tired"). And, I still have to go to the bank.

Have a blessed day!