| The Avon Lady Is a Man By Michael Zangari “The Avon lady is a man,” might be an observation that many Avon customers are making as Bob Hopewell drops off catalogs and delivers Avon products to homes on the Space Coast. While it has been a while since Avon sales representatives have been called “ladies,” the gender-neutral term “representative” has gained new meaning as more men get involved in the business. Charmaine Burdette, Avon Recruiter and New Representative Specialist with the company said there are 10 male representatives in this district. “In our District we actively recruit anyone we can, male or female. We are present with info at almost all job fairs, career fairs, and other shows in Brevard County where there is an Avon booth,” she said. “The opportunity is there. I think most men don't pursue it because they see it as more attractive to women. Some careers appeal more to one sex or another. That’s changing because of the leadership roles available. It’s possible to make a six figure income with Avon, as much as $300,000 dollars a year.” She says that gets some men's attention. As for sales people who do really well in this area, Fran Hopewell is the top seller. She has been selling Avon for 32 years. Hopewell says she has been doing it for most of the time that she and her husband Bob have been married. She brought him into the business. Bob Hopewell is not actually an Avon representative. Like a lot of husbands and partners he just fell into helping out. “I had to take her phone calls when she was out. I didn’t mind doing it. I enjoyed it.” From there Mr. Hopewell started making deliveries for her and meeting customers. Long time Hopewell customer Jenny Crespino said she enjoys seeing Bob. “I’m an early riser. I’m always getting a cup of coffee around a quarter to seven when I see Bob’s car pulling up. I rush out to see him and we get to visit first thing in the morning.” Crespino said that the first time she saw Hopewell coming up her driveway, she was “a little spooked.” “I didn’t know who he was. I hadn’t met Robert. I rushed to the door to see what he was leaving and there it was, the Avon Catalog on the step. From then on I looked for him and met him at the door when he came. I look forward to seeing him.” Hopewell always informs her customers that Bob is coming, first getting their permission to send him. She said they like working with him. "They all recognize me,” said Mr. Hopewell. Crespino said that the concept of men being involved with Avon is not a strange one to her. “My father was an Avon freak. I’ve got bottles shaped like cars from 30 and 40 years ago from my dad. He passed away 9 years ago. My mother hated to see the Avon lady come because my father would spend a hundred or so dollars every time she came. My mother never did the Avon buying. My father did all the ordering.” Hopewell is a retired Air Force and Marine Information Corp officer. He worked with the announcer that Robin Williams made famous In "Good Morning Viet Nam." As a broadcast and print journalist he says he was always use to dealing with people. “I don’t hesitate for a moment to ask people if they want an Avon book. I like meeting people. It’s a lot of fun.” Burdette said that a significant number of Avon customers are men and points out that ball playerTim Wakefield is on the cover of the current catalog. Wakefield is from Eau Gallie and plays for the Boston Red Socks. Avon began in 1886 as the California Perfume Company and became Avon Products, Inc. in 1939. They run 1.6 million customer transactions a year and had profits of $7.7 billion last year. Avon is a fortune 500 Company. They are the number one direct selling company in the world. They are also the largest manufacturer of fragrances world-wide. |
| Fran and Bob Hopewell |
Charmaine Burdette
"The Avon Lady Is a Man" is an unpublished story originally written for Florida Today in 2005. |
| OPENING MICROPHONES ON THE SPACE COAST JAM SESSIONS SHOWCASE TALENT By MICHAEL ZANGARI For Florida Today The last four or five generations of musicians have called it a jam session. What it is, is a group of people coming together on the spot, to make music happen. It is something that can’t happen in isolation picking on guitar strings or banging on drumheads in garages, bedrooms or back porches alone. That is playing with yourself. Jamming is congregational, and the congregation on the beaches is on its’ feet. There are open microphone nights and jam sessions four nights a week in Melbourne Beach, Indian Harbour and Satellite Beach. It doesn’t matter what kind of music you play or how you play it, these night clubs all say the same thing. “You’re welcome. We are not going to judge you. We’re here to make music and have a good time.” Lou’s Blue’s has three nights of open jams. These sessions are not your typical open mic nights. They feature crack house bands that lay down a funky, professional context for who ever sits in. It gives locals a chance to play with local music legends. Thursday night is 60s and 70s rock night. The house band is called Nimble Fingers. Drummer Pat Bautz pulled the group together around the idea of doing open jams. He knows a little about that subject. His day job is with the rock band Three Dog Night. Nimble Fingers is not in experienced either. Kerry Morris is a pro from L.A. who has play with a wide variety of people. He is best known for the time he spent with Ike and Tina Turner’s band. Ken Page is on keyboards and Will Powers is on guitar. John Berman also sits in, but the line up is in constant flux. Chris Merrell, the guitarist from the rock band the Grassroots sat in last week. “The idea is to bring people together who might be in the area to play a professional gig, in a looser, more fun setting,” Bautz said. Lou’s Blues also has a bluegrass and a blues night with similar topnotch players coming together to make things work. Lou’s Blues 3191 N Highway A1A in Indian Harbour Beach has three nights of open mics. Monday is for bluegrass music. Tuesday night is for blues. Wednesday nights are for all-out karaoke, and Thursday nights are jam nights for 60’s and 70’s rock. Showtime is 8 p.m. There is no cover. The Oasis Lounge, 300 Ocean Ave in Melbourne Beach opens up its’ microphones to players on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. There is no cover. The house band is Mark Fogel on drums, Brian Kezer on keys, Dave Pastorous on bass and Mark Benadix on guitar. Their musicical style is open and they’ll jam. Bartender Don Grido Maluccio said that you don’t have to have your instrument with you; they’ll let you use theirs. They like playing with players at all levels. The object, he said, is to give people a chance to play, entertain and have a good time. Declan’s Irish Pub, 1132 A1A in Satellite Beach has a blues and blues rock jam on Wednesday nights. The house band is the Goodtime Junkies with Alan Johnson and Keith Koelling on vocals and guitars, Curtis Moore on bass and Guitar, Mike DiPaolo on drums and Derek Castillo on keyboards. Johnson said the band stays open to people at all levels and treats people with respect. The jams have more of a rock feel to them. Showtime is 8 p.m. and the bar charges no cover. . |
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