Avon Calling

Last week, while in MouseLand, Flannista encountered this

sales strategy while . . . taking a break.

Good or bad strategy?  Why?

 

Comments

[Flannista]

This photo was not set-up or retouched in any way. I took it from where, well, from where I was seated.

I was trapped.

[Flannista]

And what I mean by trapped is that I forgot to bring in my own reading material, including my iPhone. It's hard to sneak a volume of poetry into corporate America restrooms, but I have my methods. This Avon catalog was the only thing I had to read.

I mean, at least there could have been the latest issue of GuidePosts!

[treesta]

I have a strange feeling this is a strategy that works. Folks that want to buy the stuff will take the copy with them, folks that don't will leave it there. Even folks like me who never use make-up will probably pick it up to read it in spite of themselves.

I wonder if at some point, someone complains about it, and if so, will supervisors reprimand this person for selling stuff on company time?? In my experience, there is always some mid-level supervisor who's looking for reasons to exert their power over their former colleagues.

[Flannista]

Yeah. treesta, but isn't the mid-level supervisor (or ANY supervisor, for that matter) usually male? I have a feeling he would not be aware of this product placement.

[treesta]

Well, I must admit that between the worlds of education and the retail industry, maybe I have a skewed view of who a supervisor would be, but surely in any corporation there are at least a few female supervisors? Otherwise, Gloria Steinem needs to come out of retirement and 'MS.' magazine needs to come out of mothballs.

[Flannista]

There are a few female supervisors, treesta, but I would think they would like this reading material, or am I being sexist? If this had been a Levenger catalog, I wouldn't be complaining at all.

[treesta]

I'm chuckling here. What is Levenger? Something French, I'm figuring.

Personally, I wouldn't complain about a Duluth Trading Company catalog. Just kidding. Kind of.

[Flannista]

Uh-oh . . . I'm going to be accused of being snooty, I know. Levenger is a catalog that sells fine pens and stationery/office supplies. I tend to pay more for my pens than I do my make-up.

[Matissta]

OK, all I can think of is it's helpful if you run out of toilet paper. Sorry, I hope I didn't cross the bathroom tile.

[Matissta]

In a way, this is genius. You have a captive audience. Nothing else to read so you "glance" through it and find something that you're interested in purchasing.

Rather than door-to-door, it's stall-to-stall.

[Matissta]

Middle-management: I've had both male and females. Most of the females I had were micro-managers. Drove me crazy!

I think the middle manager is always trying to prove themselves to move up on the corporate ladder. They think they have to keep the worker bees in line and busy. So those bosses are often the most annoying.

What they don't realize is that's not being an effective boss. Most never move beyond that position or if they do, they're terrible at their new level.

[half-a-sista]

Flann, you buy make-up? I'm shocked.

The marketing strategy is super. If some overzealous female manager decided to go after the employee, all she or he would have to say is, "I just left the catalogue in the bathroom stalls for people to consider. I was not selling anything." Technically it's true and managers are letter of the law people, not spirit of the law, except maybe managers in a Christian corporation who might follow the Spirit of the law.

In my area the person who leaves cartoon evangelical tracts on the bus promising hell and damnation to all non-believers might make some money if he/she substituted Avon catalogues instead.

We had Avon saleswomen at work primarily the cleaning people (GSA) who went from floor-to-floor with their cleaning carts and their Avon deliveries. They supplemented their earnings quite nicely.

[Flannista]

Hey all -- just back from my third writing session with my First Graders.

Off for a long walk. Those kids are very special.

[Justista]

Flann: I'd love to hear more about the writing session.

[Flannista]

Thanks, Justista -- I'll post some images in a bit.

The first time I taught my First Graders, we focused on writing something based on what we SEE. Second time, it was writing something based on what we HEAR. Today, it was writing something based on something we TOUCH or FEEL.

I'm teaching writing by getting kids to use their common senses. So many say, "I don't know what to write about!" I tell them, write what you actually SEE or HEAR or TOUCH or TASTE or SMELL!

"All it takes is your common sense . . . . s!"

[Flannista]

half-a: I buy expensive make-up that I won't have an allergic reaction to. In my old age, I've developed skin allergies. I can't wear lipstick at all. I'm fairly certain that Avon products would make me itch all over. So, yeah, I buy make-up. About 18 months ago, I looked in the mirror and could no longer bear the dark circles under my eyes. I really was looking my age . . . and very, very depressed. So, at a minimum, I do something about the dark circles.

Matiss -- I love your "stall-to-stall" comment. I'm going to start putting Sassistas! business cards in stalls everywhere.

[Flannista]

Here's what one First Grader felt today!:

http://www.sassistas.com/sassistas_our_dish_on_the/2012/30/Felt.jpg

I'm the one with purple hair!

[babysis]

I've got no problem with that sales strategy at all. It probably gets them a sale now and then and is not intrusive at all. Unfortunately, I would never be a customer because I don't spend excess time in the bathroom. Maybe it's TMI, but I get in and get out. I KNOW, enjoy it while it lasts. I've got other issues of aging.

[Flannista]

babysis -- I'm usually in and out unless I have good reading material. A book of poetry or an issue of The Funny Times usually keeps me seated.

[Flannista]

What another child "felt" today:

http://www.sassistas.com/sassistas_our_dish_on_the/2012/30/sidewalk.jpg

[babysis]

Sweet stories from your 1st graders. I'm a little jealous of the first one.

[treesta]

I walked in at the end of Flann's lesson as the children were taking turns reading what they wrote for the day. One girl read her little story, brought me her journal, and whispered quietly, "I'm going to be an author when I grow up... and I'm an author now." Another little girl has shown me her pictures and told me that she's going to be an artist.

Flann is opening their eyes to new possibilities. They're hooked.

[Flannista]

Thanks, sweet babysis. I'm fixin' to post a couple more stories.

Matissta told me that if the word "up" had appeared in the first story, I'd be in a heap of trouble. Would have been "de-friended" fer sure by that elementary school.

[Flannista]

It's hard to know whether or not this child actually fell out of the car/vehicle, but his story made me sad:

http://www.sassistas.com/sassistas_our_dish_on_the/2012/30/truck.jpg

[Flannista]

This story is sad for obvious reasons. The teacher says that this child was very, very angry at the beginning of the year, but has really calmed down.

http://www.sassistas.com/sassistas_our_dish_on_the/2012/30/sister.jpg