Big Bloke Little Bloke

Have you ever had one of those nights that just seem to go on forever for all the wrong reasons?

As parents my Big Bloke and I share the load of parenting. He works and on his days off he is in charge of the Little Bloke. (Lucky right?)

Last night I decided to be the loving wife and be the one to get up to Little Bloke should he be grizzly so Big Bloke can get a good nights sleep. (Top teeth coming through and a formula change don’t make the easiest of nights.)

 

I kiss my Little Bloke goodnight and smile as he groans himself to sleep and  I proceed to get in to bed next to Big Bloke. I lift the covers and without any warning…. it hits me.

“Oh my God!  What have you been eating?! “I hiss at him. The smell is overwhelming and I want to reach for a bucket. He starts doing his silent laugh.

 

 You know the one, where you know you can’t wake the baby but you just find something so hilarious you make choking, hissing sounds with a smile plastered from ear to ear.

 I want to hit him but reach to open the door instead and wildly flap the quilt to get the smell away. I possibly resemble some bird doing a mating dance on a David Attenborough documentary but I assure you there will be no mating here.

A quick dig into the ribs of Big Bloke and my point is made. Luckily the ventilation in the room is pretty good with an open window and a fan (plus my ridiculous flapping) so the smell manages to disappear quickly enough.

 I crawl into bed and shut my eyes willing myself into dreamland.

Now I don’t know about you, but it takes a LONG time for my mind to shut down at night. My body could collapse, my eyes unable to stay open, but the mind? Going like a steam train a million miles an hour.  

Chugga Chugga-must wash Little Blokes clothes for road trip, Chugga Chugga- Did I put the dishwasher on? Chugga Chugga-Must remember to put bins out early….. 

It isn’t until about one and a half hours later than I feel my brain imploding towards sleep…. and I hear it. 

It’s a whole new version of my steam train. Right next to my head. I turn over to stare at Big Bloke. Mouth wide open like a fly trap and a storm brewing in his nose.  Why is it,the man who sleeps next to me suddenly resembles more of a musical instrument? I am about to plug it shut but then I hear the whimpering of the Little Bloke start. Geeeeeez! I don’t like the start to this night.

As the night went on Big Bloke and Little Bloke hooted, tooted, snored and roared. I felt like I was sleeping in a Thailand jungle- or not sleeping.

 

 I am suddenly aware of the little whimpers turning into suspicious ramblings and tapping and sit up to see Little Bloke standing in his cot banging his monitor against the railings. Seriously where does this kid get his energy? I cannot describe my disposition as anything but a wreck. 

The tapping on the railing was suddenly interrupted by another rip roar of gas from Big Bloke.

THAT’S IT! I give him a firm kick in the leg. “I have had enough!” I growl at him. “ All night you have toxified this room, shaken the walls with your snoring and slept like a starfish on this bed. I have barely slept so now YOU can get up with Little Bloke.”  Nice wife is off duty for the rest of the night.

THINKING ABOUT AN AVON BUSINESS? GET THE LOWDOWN HERE

Avon is great little business either to make ends meet or as a full time occupation.

For me I am not a salesperson. I’m more of a “if you like it, buy it” kind of person. I hate the idea of being harassed to buy something let alone being the harasser. If you make people feel pressured about buying something off you, you can expect for your calls not to be returned or them choosing to buy through someone else.

Avon is not just about selling pretty cosmetics though. If you really want to make a go of it, your upline will suggest to you to get into sales leadership and build your own team. 

 Each time you recruit a certain amount of people into your team, Avon rewards you. ” If you are a confident and driven person, this might be just the ticket for you.

I had no interest in building a team  going and “prospecting” for team members in shopping centres. I just wanted something that gave me a bit of extra cash without too much effort.

I concentrated on getting sales and doing it in a way that was going to guarantee me continuous customer support. I started with one territory and then as I became more confident in how I wanted to conduct business took on a second.

Each campaign I sell around $500-$700 of Avon without any hard sell. I must be honest though the percentages of profit are not huge, hence why there is the pressure to get into sales leadership so your upline makes more money.

 

The profit  percentages of sales are as follows

$75-$214.99   15% 

$215-$724       25% 

$725+               35%

If I wanted to I could take on more territories but really I am happy doing the amount I currently am and am two campaigns away from reaching president’s club Steps to Success  which is where  if you sell $7500 worth of Avon in your first 12 campaigns you are invited to a Banquet Dinner  and get other perks such as being able to order twice in one  campaign and special discounts off products.

Here are  my TOP TIPS in making your Avon sales successful.

• Take on a territory. Then take on more territories once you have established your routine of business

•   In your first six campaigns drop to EVERY SINGLE PERSON in your territory. If someone doesn’t order over six campaigns they are probably not going to order and you can just buy enough books for your customers that have ordered before.

• Make sure you pick up your books on the day you wrote on. There is no faster way to lose respect from customers than not picking up their order on time especially if they have written credit card details on it.

• Try to keep a routine of book drop offs, pick ups and deliveries. Eg pick up Tuesdays.  Doing this will get your customers in a routine and means less knocking on doors for books not put out.

 
 

•  Put something in your book on special. Write in a  black texta crossing off the original price and put MY PRICE ….$ it will appeal much more to your customer that you are just like them. You are building your relationship with them giving them “your” special

 
 
 
 
 

•  Instead of returning stock either use them in a raffle for a minimum  spend 

 
 
 
 





 


 
 
 

•  If something doesn’t arrive or is shorted, give an “I’m sorry” present. It doesn’t have to be expensive (think lip balm or deodorant) but it makes the customer think you care

 
 

• Provide samples of products to customers with the deliveries. Try to get samples that are going to be on special in the following brochure

• Every four to five campaigns, use your almost expired brochures to generate new customers. Put a note on it saying “I realize you have either not ordered before or have declined purchasing Avon but maybe your circumstances have changed. If you would like to place an order or start receiving the brochure please contact me otherwise feel free to discard this book.”

•  Keep brochures handy on your coffee table when you have visitors. If you are busy with something they will likely flick through it and want something.

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  Be cheerful about returning or exchanging products people don’t want/like. A bad attitude will prevent future orders

 

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• Take notes on what your customers like and mark pages  when their favourite items come on special and also remember birthdays.

• Customers love to know their Avon lady. If you have a baby take them with you! It makes the service much more personal.

• Retirement centres are a gold mine. If you know someone in one pass them a book to leave around. Same as schools, offices etc.

 

TOP TIPS TO ELIMINATE CREDIT CARD DEBT

KISS THEM GOOD BYE

• Cut up the cards to stop the temptation to use them
• If possible consolidate into one card. See www.creditcardfinder.com.au to find something with a low/ 0% interest balance transfer period and low annual fees. 
• Do not add to your debt.
• Do not keep the card in your wallet to tempt yourself

PAY SMART

•  If you have multiple credit cards, all with similar amounts pay off the one with the highest interest rate first. 
•  If you have multiple cards with different amounts pay off the card with the smallest balance first and close it. This will help motivate you to get on top of the debt
• Make extra repayments where you can to reduce the interest charges
• Pay all credit card bills on time to avoid late fees being added on

DON’T GET COMPLACENT

• Keep a close eye on when specials such as low interest rates run out. If there is a remaining balance you can balance transfer again until the balance is paid off. 
•  Be aware of being sucked in by rewards attached to purchases on your card.You will more than likely buy things you don't need increasing your debt, these cards often attract higher annual fees and interest rate

COMMUNICATION

• If you share debt with someone. Talk to them about it and make sure you are both committed to eliminating and preventing debt.
• If you are keeping a card consider having it in two names so there is one statement and you can track all purchases simply.