Avon: Reese Witherspoon.

In the current economic climate it’s tough finding a job if you’re one of the 40,000 students who graduated this summer: many will struggle to find work by the end of the year.

However, direct-sales beauty company Avon is calling on new UK graduates to consider putting their entrepreneurial skills to the test by signing up as self-employed Avon Representatives. 

Frustrated graduates

Dubbed ‘Project Grad-preneurs’ at Avon ’s UK HQ, the campaign to reach out to graduates launched this month with advertisements posted on leading graduate recruitment websites. The company’s UK president, Anna Segatti, has also written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to highlight self-employment as an option for frustrated graduates.

Pictured left is Avon's global ambassador, Holywood actress Reese Witherspoon.

Segatti told ModernSelling.com: ‘There is a huge opportunity to promote direct selling to graduates and indeed other people during the economic downturn.  I have written to Yvette Cooper inviting her to meet some graduate representatives who have set up their own businesses with Avon and other direct selling brands, to show how self-employment is a really viable earnings option for many people.’

The initiative was aiming to reach over two million newly graduated Brits through the online adverts within the first week of the campaign.

Build your CV

Executive sales director at Avon UK Richard Pinnock explained the reasoning behind the campaign: ‘The idea came about when a number of our area sales managers reported that many of their new sign-ups are graduates looking to build their CVs as they continue their search for work.’

He confirmed: ‘We have hundreds of students already earning with Avon to help keep their student loans down.  This project, however, targets the new graduates; it enables them to add value to their CVs by demonstrating initiative, self-management and the skills required to perform well in business.’

Avon graduate recruit, Georgie Cockroft said: ‘It struck me that running my own Avon enterprise was an incredible opportunity to build my CV and earn some extra money at the same time.  I’ve got a good degree and have started to look for jobs but I know that the competition out there is tough.’

Avon calling!

She added: ‘To be able to tell interviewers that I’ve set up my own business will help me stand out from other candidates.  It’ll be a fantastic opportunity for me to put into practice all the skills I’ve learnt in my three years at University – though hopefully my financial management will improve a little!’ 

Low-risk venture

Cockroft concluded: ‘With Avon, you can put in the hours you want and the cheap start-up cost of £15 means it’s a low-risk venture.  Like many women I have a big make-up collection and it’ll be great to talk from experience when I’m selling the products. I am my own boss which means I get to fit my Avon business around my life. While I continue doing work placements and interviewing for a full time job I can still run my Avon business on the side, even selling to new colleagues!

The company confirms that start-up costs with Avon are minimal. A total £15 joining fee is deducted over the first two orders. For this, new representatives receive business tools to get started, including brochures, a selling guide and a calling book for customer details. Refreshed with new products and offers every three weeks, the Avon brochure is a representative’s main selling tool. 

Discounts

For every £100-worth of products ordered, a representative receives 20% discount off recommended brochure selling price, rising to 25% for orders over £140. This discount forms the basis of earnings potential for representatives.

Famous for its slogan ‘Avon Calling’, the organisation is the world's leading direct seller of beauty and related products, with $10 billion in annual revenues. Avon markets to women around the world through over 5.8 million independent sales Representatives. This year, Avon UK is celebrating 50 years of ‘helping women look and feel great’.

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