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Step-by-step guide

Catalogue direct selling: from your first brochure to your first order

Sell beauty and household products from a catalogue to people you know, and earn a discount or commission on each sale. This guide covers the real 2026 earnings terms from official Avon, Justine and Avroy Shlain documents, admin fees, how to take orders and payments safely, and how to spot an illegal pyramid scheme.

  • 24 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 2 hours
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • You enjoy chatting to people and following up.
  • You have a network at work, church, school or in your area.
  • You can keep simple records of orders and payments.

Think twice if

  • You expect to earn mainly by recruiting others.
  • You can't chase payments or deliver orders on time.
  • You would need to buy stock on credit to start.

Honest expectations

  • Earnings are a percentage of what you sell: for example Avroy Shlain's 25% on personal sales, or Avon's beauty discount of up to 15% to 30% depending on order size.
  • Small orders earn little. On R2,000 of sales, the published examples give roughly R375 to R434.
  • None of these companies guarantee a minimum income.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How catalogue direct selling worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Set up step by step: ready for your first campaign5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Earnings terms: real 2026 figures5 min (in the full guide)
    4. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Read the official agreement and fees3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Share the brochure with 20 people3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Your 14-day playbook to your first order5 min (in the full guide)
    6. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Collect orders and payments before the deadline3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Deliver and ask for feedback3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Month one, task 3: Work out what you really earned3 min (in the full guide)
    5. Common mistakes in catalogue selling4 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Build a repeat-customer list3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Combine orders to reach a better tier3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Free courses to fill your skill gaps4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    6. Tax: what to put aside, with worked examples6 min (in the full guide)
    7. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

ItemCostNote
Brochures and samples (example figure) (optional)R0 to R300Example figure. Stay Ravishing reports Avroy Shlain has no joining fee. Check each company's current terms.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 26 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 26 April 2027.