When her husband’s work hours were reduced, Kim Marino of Beaumont knew it was time to put on the make-up and have a party.
“I joined Mary Kay because right now with the economy, I thought it was a good way to add to the income and make up that difference,” Marino, 51, said in a phone interview. “It’s very flexible and doesn’t jeopardize my current job.”
Many women are joining the ranks of direct selling and taking financial control in a time when everything appears to be out of control.
National Public Radio’s Website recently reported that companies such as Avon Products Inc. and Mary Kay Inc. are thriving, which proves that especially in a faltering economy, cosmetics are a necessity.
“It’s not frivolous; it gives people confidence and makes a positive impact on people’s psyche in a time when there’s a lot of uncertainty,” said Peggy Davidson, vice president of brand communications at Mary Kay.
Both corporations have begun to target their web advertising toward an economic-conscious audience, who might also be potential sales representatives. Mary Kay promotes Beauty on a Budget, while Avon tells Web surfers to “take control of (their) finances and make more money in 2009.”
And it’s working; with 500,000 sales representatives in the U.S., Avon reported on its Website that in the last quarter, it experienced a 1 percent increase in active representatives.
Globally, the company has about six million representatives and has increased its numbers by 4 percent in the last quarter, said spokeswoman Lindsay Blaker, with an overall year increase of 7 percent.
Mary Kay’s Website boasts eight million beauty consultants in 35 countries and “double digit growth” since its be-ginning in 1963.
Sales haven’t been too shabby either. Mary Kay has seen record sales, according to spokeswoman Kirsten Gappelberg.
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