Area residents earn trip to the Bahamas – Daily American Online

Avon leader Cynthia Pilkington loves owning her own business. The Windber resident has been an Avon representative for 30 years and currently has 128 selling under her."

I did have 200 in the past, she said.

Pilkington and four other representatives from the area recently returned from a trip to Paradise Island in the Bahamas, a trip a four-day, three-night adventure that she said was nothing but first class. Attending with her were Alisha Shaffer of Hollsopple, Jeana Yarnavick from Ashtola, and Angel Speed and Matt Speed from Johnstown.

Each of the representatives have a different reason for being an independent business owner with Avon. Shaffer said she has been selling for 16 years total. She joined when she was attending college to help pay for her books.

She said she earned her degree and worked as a medical assistant, but wanted to become a stay-at-home mom when her two children were born.

I would say, How much do I have to sell to be able to stay home? Avon gave me the freedom to work when I want to and take a day off and still get paid, said Shaffer, who is also a leader with the company. I can set my own goals as to how much I want to make and how much I want to work.

Yarnavick said she has five years with the company.

I agree, with Avon you can be your own boss. I like to sell the product, but I prefer to recruit," she said.

According to Yarnavick, Avon is not a pyramid-type company.

I make money no matter if I recruit on not. Plus, you get all kinds of free education along with free gifts, she said.

Angel Speed also has five years and is a member of the Honor Society with Avon for reaching sales of more than $20,000.

"I started Avon to support my family, said the mother of six daughters. It is just a wonderful company.

She added that she will soon have close to 100 on her team and was so thrilled with the company that she encouraged her husband, Matt, to join.

Matt Speed said his grandmother sold Avon for years earning all kinds of awards.

She never worked the business like my wife and I do now, he said. We work hard. We found you can really advance in the company by recruiting other members.

Matt Speed said his idol with the company is a man named Timothy Brown, who works a 40 hour a week job yet makes more than $100,000 a year on the side with Avon.

"I always heard my wife talking about Timothy Brown, so I looked him up and thought I could do the same, he said, adding that women love having a man as their Avon representative. Both Matt and Angel work other jobs at the Galleria Mall, but feel their future is in Avon.

To receive the trip to the Bahamas, Avon employees have to reach a number of qualifications. Pilkington said she has earned a cruise to the Bahamas in 2006, with all expenses paid and two trips to Las Vegas, also all paid for.

"We have a trip to Nashville coming up in August. There will be 6,000 of us there. Plans are to include busing us down to the river where they will have entertainers, she said, noting that there will also be a VIP party for those who earned a certain level.

Pilkington has also set up an Avon product store in the foyer of her home where customers can just pick up their orders and buy additional products.

I dont really advertise, she said. I have a large sign out front and people just stop. I just had two customers stop on Saturday and ended up chatting with them about the company.

She said what makes the company so workable is it only costs $25 to start.

It really is reasonable to become a consultant, plus you get a free website," she said. "Many of the other direct sales companies charge for a website.

Pilkington also added that todays company also is non-territorial, which is another perk for new consultants.

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Area residents earn trip to the Bahamas - Daily American Online