1. Do you use all Avon stuff or do you use other fillers as well?

Avon used to offer mesh sponges which I included in my Bath & Body Baskets. I now have to get them from the Dollar Store. Wash cloths or seasonal novelties or even candy at Valentine's Day are nice to include in the baskets. Stuffed bunnies are next for Easter baskets.

�

2. Do you decorate the baskets?

I do not decorate my baskets. I spray them with a clear sheen which makes the basket look really nice. This helps to spruce up baskets that I get from the thrift store. I spray the basket all over inside & out so that when it is empty, it will look nice enough for the person to use again somewhere in their home.

In addition, to baskets, you may also want to consider a lower priced item that will fit into children's budgets as well as make nice just because gifts. You can use Avon mugs, when available, or get inexpensive mugs from the Dollar Store. You can put either a hand cream or a shower gel in the cup, fill the rest of the cup with shredded colored grass, & even put a little candy on top. Wrap the package intuille & tie it with a pretty home-made bow. Even adults will buy these for friends at Mother's Day, etc. Items less than $10 have good sales appeal. I have even known some Reps to refer to the cups with hand cream in them as "coffee & cream" gifts.

3. Do you wrap them in cellophane?

No, I do not wrap my baskets in cellophane; although the cellophane looks very nice. I really like the

mesh netting (tuille -- spelling??). Pink for the SSS Soft & Sensual with a pretty homemade pink bow

with 4 - 6 streamers. Yellow with a yellow bow for the Sunrise line. I used white with either a white bow or a blue bow for the Moisture Therapy & the Milk Made Lines.

�

Sometimes I use the colored grass in the bottom of the basket. You can stock up on the grass at a good price after Easter to use during the rest of the year. Most of the time, I use the white stuffing that you use to stuff pillows in the bottom of my baskets. I then place pieces of colored felt (coordinating color with the netting) on top of the stuffing.

Basically, I try to make the basket appealing to my eye. This has worked out to be appealing to others.

�

4. How do you decide the price?

I try to buy items throughout the year when they are offered at really good special prices. I indicate the

Value of the baskets based on full retail prices. My actual prices are less than the full retail prices. I use

the customary special Avon product prices (even though I may have gotten the products at a lower

special price) + the cost of the basket, netting, ribbon, etc. I then round the price up to the nearest

whole number which is divisible by 5 ($25, $40, $50, etc.). I use the customary special prices so that if

the demand exceeds the supply that I have on hand, I can order additional Avon merchandise without

losing $$ or having to re-price my standard baskets.

�

5. When/how do you let your customers know about them?

I put a promotional flyer in each customer's bag. I also include flyers in the brochures close to certain holidays. Whenever, I am set up some place to sell Avon, I have a basket on display. I start promoting Mother's Day in early March. I ask for one week lead time on baskets so that I can order the products for the baskets. If I already have the items on hand fine; if not, then I can order the products. Some people will order early & others will wait until the last minute no matter how much lead time you give them.

I let customers know that they have 2 options:

a) select from my list of standard pre-priced baskets or

b) select the products that they would specifically like to have included in the basket. In that case, we use the price of the products in the current brochure (even though I may already have them on hand at a lower price) + a minimum of $5.00 to cover the cost of the basket & trimmings. Once people know that you offer this service, they will ask you each year as a holiday approaches if you will be offering baskets this year. Also, around Mother's Day & Christmas, it is good to have a few baskets made up for last minute sales before Mother's Day or Christmas as well as for the week after Mother's Day. It usually works out that someone will see a basket that someone else has received & will want one.

�

Be sure to include a label somewhere on the basket with your name & telephone number or be sure to include one of your business cards in the basket. The person receiving the basket may not be one of your customers; so they will need some way of knowing how to contact you if they do not already have an Avon rep.