Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1356811
P at Duncan is an Independent Sales Representative and Team Leader with Avon who has been selling the well-known cosmetics since 1996. Avon is a 135 year old company, started by David H. McConnell in 1886 in California. He started his career as a door-to-door book salesman aer relocating from New York. Aer discovering that the female prospects responded positively to the perfume samples he gave them for listening to his book sales pitch, California Perfume Company was founded. As the story goes, in 1939, the company name changed to Avon when Mr. McConnell visited Shakespeare's home at Stratford-On-Avon, England, which reminded him of his home town in New York. Next, he hired Mrs. Persus Foster Eames Albee as the first depot agent. She traveled around to sell the perfume and in the process started "selling" the business opportunity to other women. e reason for Pat to start her very own business 25 years ago, at first, was to get her Avon at a discount. en her goal became to build a large and profitable sales income and to increase her sales team. And now? "I do it for the fun of it," she says. "It also gets me out of the house. I enjoy meeting people. e extra money isn't such a bad thing either." In Avon, there are not employees, but instead representatives. Pat's team of representatives is in Michigan, and each has their own Avon business. For Pat, part of the beauty of owning your own business is freedom—each day is different. "I might have order deliveries, books to drop, coffee with a customer/friend, or order processing. Some days are spent with my husband, or my daughter and granddaughters. Other days I try to work on my to-do list," she says. As far as challenges go, when Pat moved to Bella Vista six years ago, it was locating a customer's home. "GPS solved that problem. I still don't leave home without it," she laughs. But, of course, recently there has been another, more universal challenge – the pandemic. COVID has forced some changes in the way she runs her business, as well as cancellations from several vendors. "Right now, my biggest challenge is COVID and interaction with my customers," Pat points out. "I don't do a lot of face-to-face deliveries now. Most of my contact is phone or text. I do 'drop and dash' with orders." Measuring the rewards and the success of Pat's business has evolved over time. "Avon has a reward system for achieving different levels of sales and team building. I used to stress about achieving each level. But I don't anymore. Now success – for me – is meeting new friends," she says. Pat had a "quick and easy" experience when joining the BVBA. "When we moved here 6 years ago, I knew there was no door-to-door soliciting and I needed to find a way to share my Avon. I got my water bill with a flyer in it promoting the BVBA Expo. So I called and told them I wanted to participate in the Expo. ey said I had to be a member of the BVBA. I told them I wanted to join and asked whom I needed to contact. Found that person, paid my dues, and became a member," she recalls. "e BVBA is a great organization and the people are fabulous. It provides a solid networking opportunity at a reasonable cost. I have recommended it to many business owners, and those business owners have joined too," Pat says, adding that the very best thing about the organization is "no hesitation – the people!" Pat's Avon 479-250-9866 avonpatduncan@aol.com Pat's Avon: the best part is the people By Rhonda Baber-Crone 22 | 2021 Bella Vista Business Association Directory Sunday morning at 10am Wednesday evening 6:30pm livestream on Facebook Come and See how St. Theodore's can enrich your life. We'll leave The Gospel Light on for you! We will welcome everyone to in-person worship services as soon as it is safe to do so. Please follow us on our website and Facebook for updates. www.sainttheodores.com 1001 Kingsland Road, Bella Vista Contact us at sttheodoresoffice@gmail.com