Avon and Mary Kay work because they are classic examples of corporations with "Horizontal" sales forces but "Vertical" logistics structures.
I once worked for a prestige brand company that was owned by Avon. I piggy-backed on Avon's sales force in several places in the Caribbean and South America to sell luxury goods. I was astonished by the number of women out there doing this. Puerto Rico; 400,000 sales women! Venezuela: 600,000, Brazil: 800,000!
The formula is simple: They don't really push you for results. You work at your own pace and get the results you put in. They recruit thousands of women who are just expected to service mostly their friends. They capitalize on women's ego to be their friends "secret source" for quality, discounted cosmetics and fragrances. They are further enticed with special offers on other types of goods as Avon or Mary Kay representatives. They become the neighborhoods "go to" girls for a number of things at special prices. Only seriously ambitious types stand out. The women are mostly bored housewives who do not depend on the job as their primary source of income.
The company has incredible logistic resources. They are able to deliver single packages to thousands of saleswomen very cheaply and efficiently. These companies are built on tens of thousands of individual sales. Representatives are not expected to front load, keep or own stock, other than samples. They don't own the goods but place orders against payment. They can quit any time and walk away or go on hiatus and return.
This is the difference between these companies and the scammers. Only people pushing worthless junk would make you buy it in advance. The pressure is then on you to move it and make a profit.
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