Welcome to this Avon MLM Review.
Ding-dong, Avon calling…If you are old enough, like me, then you will remember the tv adds.
A business that everybody will have heard of or come across at some point in their lives. Maybe even used some of their products as they are not that bad either.
What springs to mind when you hear the word, Avon?
If you are like many, a beautiful woman dressed to the nines, knocking on doors handing out brochures that they will come back and collect later.
Avon is one of the oldest and most successful multi-level-marketing business in existence, with a lifespan of over 130 years and only 2nd to Amway on a financial scale.
In 2019 alone they brought in revenues of around $5 billion worldwide and if you are doing those figures then Avon must be doing something right.
Rest assured I am not here to hand out catalogues, sell you their fragrances or even their business opportunity, but I am here to address what Avon is about as a company and to give you the facts.
Impressive sales figures are just that. What you need to know is how they arrive at those figures and whether there is a business opportunity there for you.
Well, less of the small talk, grab yourself a coffee and let’s get into this Avon review.
[Affiliate Disclosure: This Avon MLM Review may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase anything through one of the links. However, this will not affect what you pay!]
Avon MLM Review – Summary
Product: Avon
Location: London, UK
Founder: David H McConnell
Founded: 1886
Website: www.avon.com
Product Description: Women’s fragrances, makeup, men’s aftershaves and household products.
Cost to join: $30
Price of products: $2-$350
Best For: Experienced network marketers who love cosmetics and enjoy organizing parties.
Recommended: Not recommended for newbies who are looking to learn how to make a living online.
Summary:While Avon offers an opportunity for those passionate about cosmetics and direct selling.
The potential drawbacks such as low earnings, recruitment pressure, market saturation, initial and ongoing costs, and the significant time and effort required suggest that it may not be the best fit for everyone.
Potential representatives should thoroughly research and consider these factors before joining.
If its an online business you are looking for without all the pressures that come with a multi-level marketing company then you might like to consider something like affiliate marketing.
Avon MLM Review – TOC
- What is Avon about and who are the founders?
- Is Avon a Pyramid Scheme
- Let’s look at Avon products range
- Avon Business Opportunity – What You Need To Know
- What Others Say About Avon
- What We Like – Avon MLM Review
- What We Don’t Like – Avon MLM Review
- Is Avon a scam?
- Is Avon a Worthy Business To Get Involved With?
- Avon MLM Review – FAQs
- Avon Lawsuits And Legal Issues
- Feedback, Follow and Subscribe
What is Avon about?
Avon is a multi-level-marketing company
manufacturing and selling women’s cosmetics, perfume, clothing, and household goods, not forgetting Men’s fragrances too.Headquarters are in London, UK.
A visionary of the founder David H McConnell who all those years back in 1886 (only 21 years after the Civil War had ended), when at the time women were not recognized as equals and many years before the law was changed to adopt women’s rights.
David was a travelling salesman selling books who offered free beauty products as gifts, but very quickly realized that the customers were more interested in the beauty products than the books.
He, therefore, set about creating his own fragrances in a New York City office along with recruiting women sales representatives to sell those products on the street.
It’s no secret that Avon parted ways with the DSA (Direct selling association) in 2014 after many years as a member.
Experts agree that the decision to distance themselves was made because of other DSA members accused of treading into pyramid scheme territory.
In January 2020 the Brazilian company Natur & Co, the owners of a very well known brand “The Body Shop”, became a 75% stakeholder in Avon.
Avon is the 2nd largest direct selling business and the 14th largest beauty business with competitors such as O’Boticario, L’Oreal, and Estee Lauder amongst others.
With close to $5 billion in sales yearly, across 100+ countries and with near to 7 million representatives.
Avon certainly are here for the long haul!
Check out this short promotional video.
Giving back is always a good thing
In 1955, “The Avon Foundation for Women” was founded which tackles “what matters most to women” to help build better futures, in giving support to charitable organisations that improve the lives of women and their families.
The charity “The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade” was founded in 1992, and have contributed over $800 million to this very worthy cause.
Education for millions of women on breast cancer awareness and funded around 20 million examinations.
In 2004, Avon teamed up with “Feed The Children” and in the last 6 months from Jan 2020 have donated over $40 million.
Is Avon a Pyramid Scheme?
Avon is a legitimate MLM company with a long
history in the beauty industry.It focuses on product sales and offers opportunities for representatives to earn commissions through sales and recruitment.
However, like any business opportunity, success with Avon requires effort, effective sales strategies, and sometimes the ability to recruit and manage a team.
It is not considered a pyramid scheme, but it is essential for potential representatives to understand the business model and their responsibilities within it.
Let’s look at Avon products range
Avon originally started life as a fragrance company but to compete with the big boys had to expand their product range and whilst doing so have managed to keep the products down to cater to peoples budgets.
Whilst the only way to purchase Avon products used to be through an Avon representative nowadays you can purchase the products directly from their website but at a cost.
In fact, that cost difference can be as much 50% so it pays to check out an Avon representative first.
Avon most popular product range
- Glimmer Sticks
- Wash off Waterproof Mascara
- Magix Tint
- Avon True Colour Lipstick
- Anew Clinical Eye Lift PRO Dual Eye System
- Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Day Cream SPF 25
- Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Night Cream
- Hydra Fusion 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Skin So Soft Bonus-Size Original Bath Oil
- Bug Guard Plus IR3535 Expedition Family Size Pump Spray SPF30
The Avon product range can be found within the categories listed below…
- Bath and Body
-
- Bath and Shower
- Foot Care
- Hair Care
- Insect Repellants
- Oral Care
- Sun Care
- Causes
-
- Support Pink Hope
- Breast Cancer Crusade
- Feed The Children
- Fashion
-
- Apparel
- Footwear
- Fragrance
-
- Body Lotion
- Body Sprays
- Candles
- Deodorant
- Men’s
- Perfume
- Shower Gel
- Travel Sizes
- Good Buys
-
- Fashion
- Fragrance
- Home
- Jewellery
- Kids
- Makeup
- Skincare
- Hair Care
-
- Conditioner
- Hair Colour
- Shampoo
- Styling Tools
- Treatments
- Wellness
-
- Boost
- Espira
- Glow
- Restore
- Retune
- Jewellery
-
- Bracelets
- Earrings
- Fashion Jewellery
- Fine Jewellery
- Men’s
- Necklaces
- Pendants
- Rings
- Spiritual Jewellery
- Watches
- Makeup
-
- Eyes
- Face
- Lips Nails
- Tools and Brushes
- Men
-
- Fragrance
- Grooming
- Jewellery and Watches
- New and Now
-
- Bath and Body
- Health and Wellness
- Home
- Jewellery
- Makeup
- Men
- Self Care
- Skin Care
- Self Care
-
- At Home Leisurewear
- Beauty Self Care
- Body Defense Faves
- Shield Yourself
- Skin Care
-
- Cleansers and Toners
- Eye Care
- Moisturizers
- Scrubs and Masks
- Serums
- Travel Sizes
- Treatments
- Face Shop
-
- Makeup
- Skin Care
Over the years Avon as really expanded the brand and I am no woman but it looks like they have covered every beauty angle, but what tends to happen here with so many products is the quality often diminishes.
For a closer look at the Avon products range with current prices…
You can check out the full Avon product range for a better description and current prices here.
Avon Business Opportunity – What You Need To Know
When you think of where Avon has come from to where they are today and only 21 years after the civil war ended.
It feels like the beauty industry started with Avon and you have to give them credit for riding through all the storms and financial crashes.
Avon does seem to have escaped investigations by the likes of the FTC, fines and lawsuits so when it comes to respect, they have mine.
Products are great, but what about the business opportunity?
How to become an Avon Representative
That’s pretty straightforward.
Just signup for the Bestsellers Starter Kit for $30
Quite a good deal because what you get are full-size Avon products to the value of $107.
Includes…
-
- Avon True Color Love at 1st Lash Mascara (in Blackest Black).
- Anew Vitamin C Brightening Serum.
- Avon True Color Eye Shadow Quad (in Mocha Latte).
- Magix Prime Face Perfector SPF 20.
- Flourish Honey Blossom Eau De Parfum.
- 11 Avon catalogs for you to promote your business.
What comes with your starter kit is all the tools to get your business off the ground.
- Your own personalized website.
- A mobile app so you can run your business on the move.
- Marketing tools.
- Online training courses to get you up to speed.
- Access to the Avon community.
- Customer support.
- Big discounts on a wide variety of services.
How to Make Money With Avon
The 3 main ways of earning yourself a little money…
- Purchase the products yourself and take advantage of the discounts for yourself, family and friends.
- Find customers and sell the products to them.
- Create yourself a team by recruiting others, this way when they sell the products you will make a commission.
Many are happy just to go with option 1, which is great because there is no pressure from Avon to do otherwise.
Of, course if you were really into Avon for the long haul and wanted to make this business work, then you would have to expand your marketing.
Some marketing ideas might be…
- Social media like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc…
- Email marketing.
- Online Avon parties.
- Go to events and set up a stall.
- You could host a fundraiser.
- Get yourself some premises like a shop which is quite common now.
- Create your own personal website dedicated to Avon products, this way you can get your site in front of the 7+ billion people searching in Google on a daily basis. Guess what this type of marketing would cost you nothing.
Just a few ideas, but you are only limited by your imagination and of course your time.
Here you can check out the Avon Compensation Plan for yourself
Are Avon Consultants actually making money?
Well, the very top 1% is where most of the money is made and to get to that level is going to take a lot of hard work.
This is where your “Sales Skills” are going to come into play because if you want to be right up there earning the big bucks then building a team and a big team is going to be required.
But, the most important thing here is that you will have to train and nurture your team to ensure they don’t leave.
Many as I have mentioned just start Avon as a hobby and see where it takes them.
What Others Say About Avon
OK, this should be everybody’s first port of call when researching anything no matter what it is.
It can take a few seconds to determine who the scammers are and save you a fortune in the long run.
Check for validity.
Reviews on the companies website should be excluded because you ain’t going to find any negative reviews there.
Anyway, I thought I’d dig out a mix.
What We Like – Avon MLM Review
- Accredited with the Better Business Bureau.
- I think you’ll agree that any business like Avon which has been around for over 130 must know what it takes to run a successful business.
- Products are not expensive and within everyone’s budget.
- To become an Avon representative does not cost the earth.
- Commissions can be as high as 50% and a bonus of $500 comes your way when you invite 3 to become part of your team.
- Not an employee but a representative and therefore in control of your work schedule.
- Perfumes and aftershaves are quite good for the amount you pay.
What We Don’t Like – Avon MLM Review
- Due to Avon been around for nearly 140 years, this would probably mean you are going to find many Avon representatives in your local area, which means more competition.
- If you are hoping to make this Avon business a replacement to your day job, you are going to have to recruit a big enough team and ensure you guide and train them to stop them leaving.
- Not only are you competing with Avon representatives in your local area but you are also competing with Amazon which is not good in my eyes.
- Delivery doesn’t appear to be able to keep up with demand.
- For a company that has been around for over 130 years, I find it strange that I can’t find an income disclosure.
Is Avon a SCAM?
For anyone looking for a reputable MLM, you can’t go far wrong with Avon for credibility.
They appear to have been around forever and their product range is always expanding, and with new owners then it looks like Avon is going to be around for the foreseeable future.
My wife and my family have used Avon products for a number of years now so I guess the products must be good.
One of the oldest companies and only 2nd to Amway as the most successful MLM.
A brand that is known throughout the world.
The people I know who have been Avon representatives for many years do it more as a hobby.
So, in answer to the question, no Avon certainly isn’t a scam.
Is Avon a Worthy Business To Get Involved With?
Many Avon representatives become involved because they love the products and are happy with making just a little extra cash to make ends meet.
Well for most it starts off as a hobby.
Avon is not like many MLMs that come with a load of baggage and do appear to be well received as far as an MLM business goes.
If you are looking to replace an existing income then be prepared to work your socks off because it is not going to be easy.
I have tried several MLMs and made absolutely zilch so I do have experience in that area.
If you are seriously looking for a business then I would recommend looking at the affiliate marketing route.
Where…
-
- Not restricted to a certain product
- No purchasing of products
- Order management, shipping, returns handled for you
- No recruiting
- No team training
- Minimum costs
- Zero marketing costs
- No overheads
- No pressure to maintain a status level
- 100% FREE and NO CREDIT CARD details asked for
Avon MLM Review – 10 FAQs
- What Is Avon?
Avon is a global beauty and personal care company that operates through a multi-level marketing (MLM) model.
Representatives sell products directly to consumers and can recruit others to join their sales teams.
- How Do I Become An Avon Representative?
To become an Avon representative, you can sign up online through Avon’s official website or through an existing representative.
The process involves purchasing a starter kit and receiving training materials.
- What Products Does Avon Offer?
Avon offers a wide range of products, including skincare, makeup, fragrances, hair care, and wellness items.
They also have fashion and home goods in their catalog.
- How Much Does It Cost To Start Selling Avon?
The initial cost to start selling Avon is the price of the starter kit, which can range from around $25 to $100, depending on the options you choose.
There may also be additional costs for marketing materials and product samples.
- How Do Avon Representatives Make Money?
Avon representatives earn money through the direct sale of products and by recruiting new representatives.
Earnings come from the profit margin on product sales and commissions from the sales of recruited team members.
- What Support Does Avon Provide To Its Representatives?
Avon provides training and support through various resources, including online tutorials, marketing materials, and access to a personal website for managing sales.
Representatives also have the support of their upline leaders and Avon corporate support.
- Are There Any Sales Quotas Or Minimums To Meet?
Yes, Avon representatives may need to meet certain sales quotas or minimums to remain active and qualify for bonuses and commissions.
These requirements can vary depending on the representative’s level and goals.
- Can Avon Products Be Sold Online?
Yes, Avon representatives can sell products online through their personalized Avon eStore, which allows customers to place orders directly through the representative’s website.
- What Are The Benefits Of Joining Avon?
Benefits of joining Avon include flexible working hours, the potential to earn commissions and bonuses, access to a wide range of products, and the opportunity for personal and professional development.
- What Challenges Do Avon Representatives Face?
Challenges faced by Avon representatives can include market saturation, the need for continuous recruitment to maintain earnings, initial and ongoing costs, and the time and effort required to build a successful business.
Avon Lawsuits And Legal Issues
Asbestos in Talc-Based Products:
Avon has been embroiled in numerous lawsuits claiming that its talc-based products were contaminated with asbestos, leading to severe health conditions like mesothelioma.
In December 2022, a California jury awarded over $50 million in damages to a woman who developed mesothelioma after using Avon’s products for decades.
The court found that Avon was aware of the asbestos contamination risks but did not disclose this information to consumers, which led to punitive damages being imposed due to the company’s willful negligence and malicious conduct.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Violations:
In 2014, Avon settled charges brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
The charges were related to improper payments made by Avon’s Chinese subsidiary to government officials to gain favorable treatment under direct selling regulations.
Avon agreed to pay over $67 million to resolve these allegations, which included failing to implement adequate controls to prevent such payments and inaccurately recording these transactions (SEC.gov).
Occupational Exposure to Asbestos:
Lawsuits have also been filed against Avon concerning the risks of occupational exposure to asbestos-contaminated talc.
Employees involved in the manufacturing and distribution of these talc products, along with consumers who used them regularly, have claimed to develop asbestos-related diseases.
These cases highlight the significant health risks faced by both workers and consumers due to the use of contaminated talc in Avon’s products.
These legal battles underscore the critical need for compliance with safety regulations and transparency in product safety information.
Prospective representatives and consumers should be informed about these issues when considering their association with Avon.
Feedback, Comments and Subscribe
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this Avon MLM review and that we covered all the important areas, but if I missed anything out please don’t hesitate to put down your thoughts in the comments section below.
If you’ve had any bad or good experiences with MLM type businesses in the past then why not share this amongst our readers.
If you enjoyed this review then why not show a little love by spreading the word in social media.
Until next time, stay safe
Thank you for yet another excellent review, Mick! I have been using Avon products for 12 years, and I absolutely love them (especially the glimmer sticks, mascara, and foundation creams/powders)! In this sense, the products definitely offer value and are of a high quality, so selling them would not suggest a pyramid scheme. I have seen several Avon representatives in my neighborhood over the past 5-6 years, so while there’s always room for one more, the increased competition does make it harder for one to earn a sustainable income as an Avon rep, unless you’re in the top 1%. The fact that Avon has been around for 130 is telling in itself-no fraudulent company gets away with “scamming” people out of their money for that long; the fact that it’s BBB accredited is the icing on the credibility cake. I have saved your site, and will definitely share it with my friends and family. God bless you!
Thank you for sharing your experience with Avon.
My wife and the family have used Avon products for a number of years now and they swear by them.
Thank you for the comment
Hi,
Thank you for saving my time and money too.
I am just starting off and a friend introduced Avon to me.
After reading your post the company is not the issue in my opinion but the business model.
I am not good at recruiting people and building a team.
However, it seems it is the best way to making money with this company.
I would like to join your training but want to know what I get on top of the training?
Thanks
Sebastion, unfortunately, it is always the business side that lets down an MLM type company.
Recruiting is a big thing if you want to succeed in this type of business.
The training at Wealthy Affiliate is amongst the best you can find, and there are only 2 options, either join for free and check out the platform or become a paid member if you are serious about building an online business.
You won’t find any upsells as you find with many similar training platforms.
Sceptical I was when I first joined but within 2 hours I realized that this was the place for me.
Just check it out, what have you got to lose?
Mick – I like your review because if I were a lady, enjoyed Avon products, and would enjoy recruiting some other ladies for fun and some extra money, Avon could be just the right business. Your review helped me see that clearly. I’m a newbie with Wealthy Associate and thrilled to be so.
hey Glenn, thank you for taking the time to read and comment on this Avon review.
It is very much appreciated.
Thanks for such a thorough review on Avon. I always get put off pyramid schemes, but I guess it depends how people like to sell. As you say, they are a credible company and have been around a long time which goes in their favour. However having to compete with a massive company like Amazon, I don’t envy Avon rep’s that. As you say, the people you know who have kept at it do so as a hobby. I similarly know someone who approaches it like this. This seems to indicate it might be a nice little extra earner, alongside a main income but definitely not a replacement career path. Thanks for such a great honest review, there are so many biased reviews out there so I really appreciate you addressing the pro’s and cons here. I also appreciated the category list of products- I had no idea Avon had so many different things they sell!
Hey Natalie, I’d just like to point out that Avon isn’t a pyramid scheme.
I know a few people who have been and are Avon representatives and whilst they don’t make a living through the business they do earn some extra cash and they are happy with doing just that.
I certainly don’t like the fact that Avon use Amazon to sell their products and we see this quite often with MLMs.
Thank you for commenting
Hi Mick. Thank you for your honest review. I have joined many MLM companies in the past which they will attract more members by giving you the impression how easy to make the income within a short time.
But I have realised it’s not as easy as they said. If you are not a sale person will be even more tough. As you mention, it really need alot of hardwork to build a strong sale team in order to make it work.
If you want to do it on your own will be very difficult. You might be end up very stress up to keep buying a certain amount of products monthly in order to maintain your distributor account while your sale is not enough to cover your cost.
If you like their products and just join as a prefer customer is fine. But if you want to make your hobby become your business has to think twice because you have to prepare for the hardwork and must work in a team.
If really want to go into MLM business, go for those well establish companies. I have joined some new companies in the past which end up close down one by one.
These are what my thought from my past experience.
Thank you Janet for sharing your views.
People who are new to making money online are easily lead by the sales patter. I should know it happened to me.
All MLMs are extremely hard work but no more so than any other business.
It all depends on how much you need to be a success.
Hard work, patience, persistence and a desire to succeed no matter is required.
It is a known fact that the very top 1% only is where the money is earned. That means 99+% do not make a fulltime living.
It is essential that you build a team and to do that successfully you need to be a great salesperson.
If MLMs are your thing even though everything is stacking up against you, then make sure the products are great and get in at the very beginning if at all possible.
Thank you for commenting on the this Avon mlm review.
Thanks for this Mick, answers everything anyone needs to know about Avon!
Thanks Mike
I used Avon for lots of years many years ago there was a perfume called topaz. I just loved it, then it was gone. Avon brought it back for 1 campaign,then never again did Avon bring out. One day was at a swap meet I found someone selling a few Avon products and found 5 bottles of topaz I bought all of them after that. I stayed with Avon a couple of years. I just stop looking for representative because we move to another state.
What I want to say is Avon the real thing. It is a great website very informative
Mirian, through my research, I came across many reviews of people complaining of what you have just mentioned. Popular products that people purchase taken from the Avon products list. It seems strange that they would do something like that but maybe those products aren’t as popular as what people think.
Thank you for your comment