One of the UK’s most successful Avon ladies shares her secrets

Recent stats from the Office of National Statistics show a drop in people working from home, despite it being the dream for many of us.

As a stay-at-home mum and a business owner with a £1 million turnover, you could say Marsha Barras has it all. And with a little hard work, she believes we all could.

“I spent 20 years at the Civil Service, so I certainly know about offices and work/life balance and how strenuous it is,” Marsha tells us when we call up to discover her secrets.

“When I had children, things changed. I wanted something where I could still earn a really good income but do that around the children.”

Marsha, 43, from Co. Durham decided to look into Avon, the make up company that offers people from all backgrounds and levels of education, the opportunity to sell products and build up their own franchise business.

[How to be taken seriously at work]
[What will Apprentice winner Leah be like in business?]

The bigger picture

“I’d seen the ads, even been a customer but I hadn’t realised what an opportunity it was until I looked into it,” she explains.

Now one of Avon’s most successful sales leaders, Marsha tells us how her ambition took hold when she saw beyond the initial selling. “There’s so much more: I saw a future of networking, training, supporting staff, not just selling products.

“I wanted to recruit my own team of reps – I really saw my whole life changing with this.”

She adds that it was her enthusiasm that helped her build up the team of successful sales leaders that helped skyrocketed her earnings. “I couldn’t believe what I’d got my hands on so I went out and told as many people as I could speak to about the Avon opportunity – it’s so much more than lipsticks.”

Working from home

As a mum, working from home was key for Marsha, but she admits she’s constantly on the clock.

“Like anyone who’s worked for an employer, I was used to being told what to do and when to do it, what schedule to be on and when to go on holiday.

“Working for yourself you have to be very self motivated. Otherwise you’ll find come 11am you’re still in your pyjamas when you should be working.

“But I found that when you start the business you set your goals and then your work/life balance is about your self-management. Because you’re in charge, your use of time is down to you alone, which is empowering.”

[VB's Career set to soar]
[Can we all be morning people?]

Super organised

Marsha admits she has to have everything planned to a fine detail at least a month in advance, which allows her to spend plenty of time with her children.

“We plan in what the children are doing and time with them and then schedule work in around that. I look ahead to see where I’m at with the kids – is it school holidays, a birthday or have they got anything special coming up at school?

“They’re my priority and working this way means they really do come first and the rest works around them and not the other way round.”

“My top tip is to plan your time and your workload in the same way as you would if you were going to work out of the home. It helps you make that distinction between home time and work time.”

Switching off

Getting the other side of the work/life balance can be a bit more of a struggle.

“The vast majority of work you do is from home so it can be hard to switch off,” Marsha says. “I absolutely love what I do. I get really excited by everything so I don’t mind whatever time my sales leaders call.

“I’m helping them to improve their business which ultimately pays me more, so I don’t see it as work – it’s like a friendly chat.”

Even at the gym, Marsha can’t help take her Avon hat off as she chats to other women there, but you can switch off, she insists.

“Most of our work is done with technology, Skype calls and so forth so sometimes you really just have to literally switch off the PC and phone.”

[Women are better at work than men says expert]
[The woman behind the Cambridge Satchel Company - how she made her millions]

Taking risks

Starting a new business when you have a family and when you both need and are used to a regular income can be scary. But Marsha says you take on new opportunities at your own pace.

“Because of the flexibility of the business, it works around existing commitments, its around work, college, children, around your diary,” she explains.

“I didn’t give up work immediately, we needed two incomes for the family – so I built it up and eventually, when we had three coming in, we got to the point where I could stop and just do Avon.

“I would recommend it to anyone. Anyone can do it, it doesn’t matter about qualifications or experience. It’s what you make it, and for me it’s a much better to be in control of my own life.”

If you would like to speak to one of Avon’s advisors about being a representative please call 0333 2344 234.