Door-to-door selling is back

Door-to-door selling is back in fashion, with cosmetics giant Avon calling on graduates to join its team.
 
Known nowadays as direct marketing, door-to-door selling became popular in the UK in the 1960s and ‘70s but the business model acquired a slightly negative reputation due to some of the products and techniques used to sell.  As a sales tool it gradually became less effective. 

But now, with record unemployment levels, selling Avon cosmetics is becoming an attractive alternative for people looking for work and particularly as jobs for graduates.

Avon is launching a massive recruitment drive in a bid to attract university leavers to their sales teams.

The beauty company has launched its Project Grad-preneurs scheme, which will be targeted at graduates and features adverts on relevant recruitment websites.

Richard Pinnock, executive sales director at Avon UK, said many students are already using the company to build up their work experience as they carry on looking for work.

"This project, however, targets the new graduates, it enables them to add value to their CVs by demonstrating initiative, self-management and the skills required to perform well in business," he added.

In an effort to gain government support for the initiative, Anna Segatti, head of Avon's UK enterprise, has highlighted the benefits of the job to the Minister for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper.

'There is a huge opportunity to promote direct selling to graduates and indeed other people during the economic downturn', Ms Segatti told the Daily Mail.

The initial outlay for the Avon sales package is relatively low.  For £15, potential Avon representatives will be set up with brochures, a selling guide and a calling book for customer details.

The company also operates in 120 countries and has 5.8 sales representatives across the world.