Advertisement A couple weeks ago Doris celebrated her 90th birthday. For almost half of those years (43), she has been a door-to-door sales lady for Avon cosmetics, perfumes and its other products. She has no plans to take down her shingle. “Of course, this all depends on my health,” she reasons.
Why should she call it quits with Avon? Her customers are part of her family. She does more than deliver their orders. “My customers are meaningful to me. I care very much for each one — and their families.“
Hers is a genuine caring … not caring just to keep a customer. Au contraire!
Her very first customer was Bea Zielke, wife of former long-time La Crosse mayor Pat Zielke. Describing Doris, Bea says: “She is a honey … the sweetest person on earth. One day she came to my door. I placed an order and she has always been there for me. She watched our children grow up. They know her and love her.“
Throughout her career, Doris has continued that family friendship amid orders of cologne, and once in a while hand lotions. Bea says: “I often would order bubble bath for our kids at Christmas.”
Concerned, Doris says: “My customers are getting older.” I interject: “And how old do you think old is?” With a gracious smile, she answers, “Oh, I should rephrase this, so I don’t offend anyone.“
Doris explains: “Many of my long-time customers are in nursing homes. Many are hurting physically, so I don’t wish to bother them. I usually ask if they want me to keep on dropping off the products book (new ones are available twice a month).” Doris figures this gives them the chance to politely bow out, which sometimes happens.
“If they want to place an order, I help them. It is difficult to see them in failing condition. I pray for them to get well. My prayers have become very long.“
Doris has had years of success with Avon, and was a member of its President’s Club until 2002. A variety of ceramic dolls (26 in all) line a china closet. These were awarded yearly for outstanding sales achievement. Not bad for someone who didn’t know what Avon was when her daughter, Dottie, brought home from school an Avon product — a gift from a friend. It wasn’t long before Doris began knocking on doors.
“I used to have three territories with as many as 277 homes to visit. At one time I had 77 customers; today I have about 20. Territories are a thing of the past.“
At first, everyone ordered lipstick, and a good amount of eye makeup, and then various creams. The bubble bath, mentioned by Bea Zielke, always has been popular. “It’s really good for everything, even washing your dog,” says Doris. Through the years, she’s also sold shoes, slippers, games, toys and dolls. Products for the man of the house also have become popular, among them Wild Country hair and body wash.
Doris treasures every moment of her career, her family, and the families she has “adopted” by knocking on doors. Nothing, she says, will change this. She’s still in awe of her birthday celebration March 8 attended by her six children, nine grandchildren, and three (soon to be four) great-grandchildren. “It’s unbelievable what they did for me. It means so much.“
Together with the occasion, Doris received a letter (it has been framed) from Andrea Slater, president of Avon. It noted that Avon was but 32 years old when Doris joined the company, then known as California Perfume Company. The letter commends Doris for meeting the challenges of many evolutionary changes.
Doris lives for tomorrow, but prefers to hang on to the past. She still uses a ringer washer to do her laundry. “I’ve never had an automatic washer. I’ll use this one until it clunks out.” And she still uses the clothes dryer purchased in 1954. There’s more. The General Electric refrigerator and the International Harvester freezer, purchased when she and Albert were married in the early 1940s, also are still running.
She’s a firm believer in “Nothing is mine. Everything belongs to God. If you have two coats, give one away.” And she’s a shining example of the golden rule: “Do unto others as you want them to do unto you.“
Footnote: Doris just recently had her driver’s license renewed. She’s good to go with Avon deliveries until at least 2016.
Larry Olson can be reached at lolson6311@charter.net or at larry.olson@lacrossetribune.com, or by mail addressed to the La Crosse Tribune, 401 N. Third St., La Crosse, WI 54601.
