Piggybacking Avon

March 7, 2005 10:10 AM

My wife sells Avon. I had the idea that since she goes door to door delivering Avon books and has created a decent client base, I could make up a snazzy flyer with cool products that the men in her customers' lives would find interesting, but probably would not have seen before (i.e. cool stuff found on the net). I don't have a ton of money to pre purchase lots of product, but probably enough to get started small scale. The men would be 30-60 I'd say. Any product Ideas?

I'm thinking gadgets, golf, executive - but unique. Also, is this a terrible idea?

posted by jikel_morten to work & money (10 comments total)

I'm not trying to quash your entrepreneurial instincts, believe me, but I would feel used if I was one of your wife's customers and I received a flyer like that. I don't know if there are any mentions anywhere within the Avon catalog or order form about how the client list is private, and will not be sold to anyone, yada yada yada, but that's something you should look into - even though you're married to her you shouldn't necessarily have access to her list. Some of her customers will think nothing of it, some will probably pass it on to their SOs, and some may be a little ticked, is my guess.

Also, Avon themselves may strongly object. Your wife may want to look into the agreement she signed with them, assuming she did sign one.
posted by iconomy at 10:29 AM on March 7, 2005

I think it's a good idea. I don't think your wife even has to mention you, and I can't see anyone getting upset because their Avon lady gave them a flyer. Best of luck.
posted by ryanissuper at 10:48 AM on March 7, 2005

thinkgeek has some interesting gadgets. something i've often thought of buying (not from there) is a set of lock picks. you might take ideas from askme - quiet vaccums for cats, anti-roach products, etc... ok, they're not so good examples, but seems like when people do recommend certain products they should be decent.
posted by andrew cooke at 12:20 PM on March 7, 2005

or different beers/wines/chocolates (maybe the alcohol stuff isn't so good in the usa, or needs a licence?)?
posted by andrew cooke at 12:21 PM on March 7, 2005

Possible idea - workman's lotions, such as EPI-Sheild liquid gloves, as well practical combination-stuff, such as sunscreens with insect repellants for camping, or soaps with anti-BO agents for day to day.

On the more cosmetic side, my experience is more the single-guy crowd, which is not your client base. But anyway, I've heard enough women complain about the reek of guys all wearing the cheap brand of cologne that dominates TV advertising, that I avoid wearing a cheap or ubiquitious cologne. The reason so many guys choose the stuff on TV that everyone wears is because it seems an easy safe choice in either scary unfamiliar terrain, or terrain you just don't think is very important. Demonstrate that it is not the "safe" choice it seems, it is important, and present options in a way that makes the terrain less unfamiliar, giving more confidence to branch out, and you'll have conversions. (But morally, speaking, please avoid using FUD the way some locksmiths scare people into thinking they'll be robbed if they don't have the latest security system). Though I imagine for your client base, the wives will have already taken care of the cheap cologne issue :-)

On a more stereotyped note, Rogaine?
posted by -harlequin- at 12:23 PM on March 7, 2005

Oops, for some dumb reason, I was thinking you meant Avon-style stuff from the net. Ignore the above post.
posted by -harlequin- at 12:25 PM on March 7, 2005

Executive gadgets and cool useful toys are always a hit. I think the best idea would be to set up an ebay store or website of your own and use the Avon leafleting solely as an advertising avenue for your online venture. It seems a lot of hassle to set up an Avon style order and delivery system, and letting your wife advertise your products rather than sell/deliver them would encroach less on any agreement she has made with Avon.
posted by fire&wings at 12:30 PM on March 7, 2005

American Science and Surplus would require some digging, but they'd probably give decent profit margins for a retailer, and have lots of cheap stuff. They have pens.
posted by Jack Karaoke at 1:00 PM on March 7, 2005

supermagnets, magnetic putty & small green lasers.
posted by jessamyn at 3:54 PM on March 7, 2005

deer whistles (They're supposed to be stuck to the hoods of cars; when the car is moving, wind blows through them causing them to whistle, and this whistle is supposed to keep deer away...ie, out of the path of your car.)
posted by leapingsheep at 6:46 PM on March 7, 2005