Avon ladies don’t just provide makeup, they’re good company too!

It was the 80s and I was tired of not being able to find an Avon lady. Mind you, I moved about a lot and sometimes did not stay long enough in one place to find one. The thought occurred to me that maybe I could become an Avon lady and all my problems would be solved, plus I might make some money.

My application was sent in and before too long a sample kit and some brochures arrived. There was no training so I went into it with little faith in my ability to sell anything, very little faith at all. Well now, I thought to myself, I better tackle the job and see what I can achieve. Armed with my samples and a smiling face, I bravely knocked on the first door.

Oh dear, a little old woman in her 90s opened the door. I could see she did not use makeup and probably not perfume either. This wasn’t good, I would be wasting her time and mine if I lingered. On the other hand, the little old lady had other ideas. She greeted me like a long lost friend and invited me in for a cuppa. She talked and talked, I nodded as if understanding what she was talking about, what else could I do? She obviously thought I was someone she knew. I couldn’t disappoint her and leave. I sat and sat, I listened and listened. Eventually she took a breath. “I must go”, I told her. “Oh yes dear,” she said, “you will have things to do”. She also asked me not to leave it so long before I came to visit again.

I left without even knowing her name or she mine, although I think she thought she knew who I was. I was so confused by it all that I went home again. Maybe I was not cut out for this type of work. After a few days, gathering my wits and armed with my samples and brochures, I tackled a different street. I sold quite a few items and from that day on have never looked back.

Mind you, I did go back and visit that little old woman, I asked a friend who she was and became a regular visitor to her home. She was an amazing old soul. I never did tell her why I had first knocked on her door. There didn’t seem to be any point in doing that.

Were you an Avon lady? What were your fondest memories of your customers? Do you have a story similar to Jennifer’s? Let us know in the comments below!