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Meet the New Avon & Tupperware Ladies: Gay Men by Scott Stiffler
EDGE ContributorMonday Nov 23, 2009 A long time ago in an American far, far away, a land where there were three little girls who went to the police academy only to run around in form-fitting bodysuits as Charlie’s Angels, career opportunities for women were limited to a handful of roles such as nurse, secretary, school teacher and flight attendant.
Sisters should thank their lucky stars that in 1886, a forward thinking man founded a company by the name of Avon, which offered women the rare chance to become successful entrepreneurs by selling beauty products to other women.
Flash forward to 2009, to an America progressive enough to elect its first black president but still misogynist enough to deny the oval office to a woman. The American woman may have a way to go, but she’s certainly come a long way. Although hawking products like Mary Kay, Avon and Tupperware are still viable options, today they’re far from not the only game in town.
One sign the pendulum has swung? Gay male direct sales reps are stepping into the comfortable pumps traditionally occupied by women--and, in the process, obtaining the same economic independence.
Another sign? Furry-chested, gay-friendly Aussie hunk Hugh Jackman is currently filming "Avon Man" - the true tale of a suddenly unemployed hetero male who becomes an Avon salesperson to make ends meet. What begins as act of economic desperation soon catapults the charming, testosterone-fueled lipstick hawker into the one of the company’s top sellers.
Maybe if "Avon Man" is a success, it will beget a sequel about the much more interesting tale of gay men who sell Avon and Tupperware. EDGE takes the pulse of this phenomenon. Whether because of job losses from the recession, or because gay men love gals, cosmetics and having parties, these two companies are benefiting from the influx of some fabulous home-to-home seller.
Hollywood producers, take note: We’re nearly finished with a spec script for our own high concept cinematic event which tells the true, inspiring story of how a few gay men took their natural instincts for good skin and orderly kitchens and turned it into a career.
Here are their stories, one by one--a satisfying alternative to those who can’t wait for the movie.
Nick Vanello: New Top Avon Seller
Avon Representative Nick Vannello( has been selling Avon products for less than six months, but is already ranked #12 out of 700 Cleveland area reps.
Proof that gay men are natural born overachievers, he’s already gained entry into the coveted "President’s Club"-a status one achieves by selling over $10,100 worth of Avon in a year.
"I’ve been using Avon for 40 years," says Vannello, who has fond teenage memories of "saving my lunch money to buy pimple cream from the Avon lady up the street."
Now it’s Vannello himself who’s that "Avon lady up the street," in the form of a gay man whose client roster is comprised of "gay men who are very much into skin care" and "a strong core group of straight women" - plus a couple of drag queens.
Vannello was inspired to sell Avon by that nice Southern Tupperware super-salesperson gal Dixie Longate, who turned her modest Tupperware party into a campy, feel-good theatrical experience (more on her later). "Dixie made me realize that I’m a hooker. "confesses Vannello. "People come to spend time with me. I make them feel good about themselves. I squirt some goo on their face and they pay me for the experience."
Vannello - who proudly boasts that he puts "the ’dong’ in "Ding Dong, Avon Calling!" - specialize in parties which combine his background as an actor and entertainer with copious amounts of alcohol.
At a recent party called "Drag and Champagne," 40 women came to swill complimentary booze while a local drag queen talked about how subtle variations in makeup can take one from conservative office persona to night on the town gal to bedroom vamp.
"I don’t know how obvious it is that I am gay," Vanello acknowledges when asked how his being a gay male impacts his sales. "I don’t walk around with a dick in my mouth, but I am out to my customers."
With his open sexuality (and great sense of humor) comes an honesty that allows him to criticize his female clients from a place of love and support: "They know I am going to be honest and snarky. If they’re not wearing colors that are flattering or if they’re not looking their absolute best."
As for his gay clientele, Avon for queers is all about skin care. "Recently, I did a party for a nudist group (talk about putting the dong in Ding Dong!). We did a head-to-toe skincare party where we discussed body moisturizer, deodorant, facial and nail care. It was eye opening to them that Avon had all the products they needed."
Billy Kolber: Selling Avon in the Big City
An Independent Avon rep who just celebrated 12 years in the business, Billy Kolber--another Avon sales star--is in the top 10 percent of Avon reps, nationwide.
For Kolber, "Being gay doesn’t influence my business, except for the fact that I am a gay man living in New York City and I have lots of gay friends. Avon is the original social networking business, and your social network determines who your initial client base is. The fact that I am a gay man living in New York City means I have lots of gay friends."
As a result, Kolber has an unusually high percentage of gay male customers. Like Vannello, Kolber confirms that as far as Avon and the gays go, it’s all about skin care. Aging Marys may not ever see 29 again, but Avon’s got a long line of products that can keep the clock from advancing.
"I’ve done so well in that market because Avon is now a brand with four different sub brands and 50 different products. As a skin care expert, I have an arsenal of anti-aging skin care products at my disposal. Gay men have always been at the forefront of men’s beauty, and I’m able to offer them this unique range of anti-aging products."
Even in our still-sour economy, Kolber says skin care products are a feel-good "affordable luxury--and appearance is the last thing a gay man is going to cut back on. You may forgo that new sweater; you may stop eating fancy foods; but you’re not going to stop using shampoo."
Kolber says gays may be surprised to learn how much Avon has that appeals directly to men. "In fragrance we have partnerships with Derek Jeter and Patrick Dempsey. They’re two of the top 10 selling men’s fragrances in the country."
Next: How Does the Company Feel About Their Gay Reps? Great!
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