When I was in college, one of the ways I earned money was to sell Avon. This is when it was a door-to-door operation. About every two weeks I would get a stack of the current catalog along with samples of new cosmetics and other products. I would walk my assigned area, giving out catalogs, sharing samples, and showing specialty products which during the Christmas season always included an ornament. I would take orders, submit them, wait for the shipment, and then deliver the orders along with the newest catalog. I got paid about 40% percent of the total dollar amount I sold. From that was deducted catalogs and products for demonstration, which I had to pay for myself. Even with that, I was able to make a reasonably fair amount of money – slightly better than minimum wage – while having complete flexibility to schedule my work hours around my classes. It was actually quite enjoyable to meet my customers and get to know them over time, a much more personal experience than shopping on line.

This ornament was issued in 1982. It originally sold for about $3.00, in keeping with the Avon promise of affordable quality. In today’s dollars, that would be about $10.00, which is what this ornament, now a collectible, sells for on platforms like eBay and Etsy. It has long been a favorite, especially with the children, who were intrigued by the whole idea of the mouse in the mirror.