After 127 years of giving women a way to run their own business, Avon is still enabling females in Oxfordshire — and the world — a way of earning extra cash.

Its flexible nature means they can chose to make a career of selling make-up and beauty products or — like Amy Johnson of Headington — do it on a part-time basis to save for something special or just boost the family coffers.

Mum-of-two Amy, 31, who also works in a school kitchen, started selling Avon a year ago because she needed some extra money to fund her wedding next year. “I love it. The best thing about my Avon business is it’s sociable, it gets you out and about meeting new people and every day is different.

“One of the biggest advantages of an Avon business is you can work your own hours,” said Amy, who has two daughters, Bethany 12, and Kacey, two.

“I often work in the evenings when the kids are in bed, but every Thursday my eldest daughter and I go on my rounds together which is special. I started off with 25 customers and now have 75.”

Amy particularly likes the fact that she can be her own person.

“Avon is a relaxed and flexible business – you can make it into whatever you want it to be,” she said.

“I love that I’m my own boss and don’t have to work to any schedules. Avon has not only taught me how to lead a team but also how to manage my own time,” said Amy, who oversees nine representatives.

“After every campaign [a new brochure launched every six weeks] I will always try to text my reps to let them know how well we’ve done.

“This I find keeps them motivated and eager to do well.”

She says it can be hard work to keep up with everyone but Amy, who earns about £60 to £70 from her sales each campaign and spends about three hours a week on the business, loves work.

Her plans include growing her business and more involvement with the causes Avon supports. “Next year I hope to take part in the Moonlight Walk in aid of women who’ve suffered domestic violence.”

And now, in the industry traditionally dominated by working mums, figures reveal a growing trend for the Avon man. Avon men now represent 5.3 per cent of the Avon UK Representative army, an increase from 4.1 per cent in 2010. But none in Oxfordshire.

Then...

Avon was founded by David H. McConnell who offered women a rarity in 19th century America: a chance at financial independence.

In 1886, it was practically unheard of for a woman to run her own business. They were mainly confined to jobs in farms, homes and factories – not exactly glamorous – and women’s wages were a fraction of men’s.

McConnell, a bookseller, noticed his female customers were far more interested in the free perfume samples he offered than they were in his books.

He also saw women struggle to make ends meet and recognised in many natural salespeople who would passionately market the products his company would first sell – perfumes.

How it works Avon reps each run their own independent business, with complete control. No qualifications are needed and there is a start-up fee of £15 which is taken out of a new rep’s first two orders.

Representatives then get brochures for the first two campaigns to get started straight away. They earn £1 for every £4 sold, place customer’s orders online and can access training materials and incentives on the site.

Most people start as an independent Avon Representative, dropping off their brochures and taking orders from customers, but for those looking to build up their enterprise, sales leadership offers the chance to recruit a team of reps below them. In addition to their own customers’ sales they will receive a percentage of commission from each of their team member’s sales.

Did you know..?

A leading global beauty company, Avon has more than $11 billion in annual revenue. There are more than six million independent Avon reps across the world in more than 100 countries.

Avon celebrated its 50th anniversary in the UK in 2009.

One in three women in the UK is an Avon customer and six million women in the UK see an Avon brochure every three weeks.

Every second of every day, four Avon lipsticks and two Avon mascaras are sold somewhere in the world Avon sells two Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel every minute in the UK.

Avon was the first beauty company to launch an e-commerce site.

Since 1992, Avon (UK) has raised more than £16 million for breast cancer charities, and has also donated more than £1million to its domestic violence charity partners Refuge and Women’s Aid.

Avon in Oxfordshire Jill Butcher, Avon area sales manager, responsible for the Oxford area, says: “My team of sales leaders, who are responsible for recruiting, managing and motivating their own teams, and I have seen a rise in the new reps joining Avon in Oxfordshire over the past year. “With rising living costs and an increasingly competitive job market, many of them have cited the viable and scalable earnings opportunity as a reason to start their own Avon business. “We have seen lots of people sign up beyond traditional housewives, including young people and students, working professionals and a considerable number of men!”

What’s new?

Avon’s research and development team have spearheaded the creation of True Colour to bring bold and vivid colour to lips and eyes. The technology is showcased this month, comprising of 17 eye colours and 60 lip colours, developed to appear ‘true’ on every skin tone. Available from avonshop.co.uk Beauty within Becoming an Avon rep is helping some poor South African women escape poverty, according to research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

The research found, on average, South African Avon reps earned enough to cover their typical household expenditures for food, clothing, shoes and healthcare.

“This income, by itself, would put Avon reps in the top half of black females in their community and bring them in line with what a black man earns,” said researcher Professor Linda Scott of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.