Tippy, when I did Avon we started off with a starter kit of samples and a stock of catalogues which we could leave with our customers, or they could look at it and order immediately.
Every 6 weeks (I think) the order was sent to Avon and delivered within a week (I was in Canberra and the order came from Sydney). The prices I paid to Avon were considerably less than the catalogue prices that the customers paid me when their orders were delivered....which was effectively my commission. We also earned points which went towards prizes.
When the orders were delivered we also received the new catalogue for the next campaign and a couple of new items to add to our samples (at the wholesale cost unless it was something like a new lipstick colour which was free). We could buy whatever we wanted at the Avon price to add to or samples...or use as gifts. My father had every Avon aftershave gift bottle that ever came out and Mum had the perfumes and talcs.
I had a fantastic area....the Navy base in Canberra. As well as 150 odd married quarters cottages there were 75 captive WRANS with nowhere to spend their money and something like 150 single sailors in the quarters who were always looking for gifts for Mums, sisters, girlfriends etc. After the first year the area manager told me I had done 200% more business than had ever been done in my area. And I am still using some of the prizes I won with my bonus points.
