Our Town: Tahoe business owner helps women gain 'BeautiControl'

Nancy Oliver Hayden
Tahoe Tribune


Linda LaFavor-Coyle's world revolves around image, self-esteem and helping women feel good about themselves. She does this as a consultant, executive director and senior trainer with BeautiControl, a skin care, spa and image company. The Minneapolis, Minn., native, who says she is 50ish, has been a resident of South Lake Tahoe since 1985. She came to visit friends, and as so many people do, fell in love with Tahoe and moved here.

She was working as a clerk at the post office in 1988 when she saw an advertisement for BeautiControl in the Tahoe Daily Tribune. The company was looking for people to be beauty consultants in the area, and she became the first one at Tahoe. It was a perfect fit, since LaFavor-Coyle has a background as a make-up artist. She started attending cosmetology school while she was still in high school. Upon graduation at age 18, she received her cosmetology license and worked as a hair stylist in a neighborhood beauty salon for 10 years.

She went to Hollywood in 1979, where she attended the Joe Blasco Make-up School and was a make-up artist for TV and film for a few years. She then returned to Minneapolis and worked for Target as a make-up artist for the company's TV commercials for several more years.

LaFavor-Coyle started her business at Tahoe by inviting friends to a party and teaching them about skin care, the importance of sunscreen and how to "do" their make-up in five minutes. She is now a manager and leads a team of 480 women all over the U.S. She travels to meetings and training sessions to motivate and support them and stays in touch via e-mail, telephone and personal contact. Her business has grown to include a mobile spa program, where she goes to clients' homes and offices. She provides mini-spa treatments and teaches women to relax and pamper themselves.

Another facet of LaFavor-Coyle's business is "Tahoe Weddings A Go Go," where she provides in-room hair and make-up service for brides. She said this is the easiest, most fun thing she does - and it's all girl time.

Her success with BeautiControl has earned her several trips. She was one of 100 consultants out of 150,000 in the company who earned a seven-day trip to Monte Carlo in 2006. And because of her company car allowance, she hasn't made a car payment in 15 years.

She and her husband of 10 years, John Coyle, enjoy riding road bikes and competing in century road rides. They have two furry, feline "children," Lucky and Smoky, who are 15 years old. LaFavor-Coyle is a member of Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe and Barton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She is also certified for the American Cancer Society "Look Good, Feel Good" program for women with cancer. She teaches them how to take care of their skin and hair, including tips on applying make-up and using wigs.

Here are LaFavor-Coyle's answers to the Tribune's questions:

1. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED WHEN YOU DIE?
"As a woman who helped other women build their self-esteem on the inside and out. I love to be their cheerleader and say 'yes, you can do it.'"


2. WHAT IS SOUTH LAKE TAHOE'S MOST PRESSING ISSUE TODAY?
"I would say the housing market. When I see a for sale sign, I want to say, 'Don't leave Tahoe. Do whatever it takes to stay in this beautiful place.'"


3. IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ANY AMERICAN CITIZEN TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO WOULD IT BE?
"My world revolves around supporting and encouraging women, so maybe it's time for a woman president?"


4. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT?
"John and I just bought a fifth-wheel travel trailer and enjoy traveling with friends and meeting new people. I intend to 'spa' the RV parks. We enjoy being outdoors, riding bikes and wine tasting. We plan to travel in the RV when we retire."


5. IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE THING TO DO OVER IN YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
"Oh, my gosh! I'm happy with my life. I feel like I've accomplished more than I ever dreamed I would, and there is nothing I would do over."


6. WHAT LIVING PERSON DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?
"My youngest sister, Brenda Montgomery. She has a gift of bringing out the best in people with her fabulous management and life skills and making everyone feel special. She is my mentor."


7. WHAT HISTORICAL FIGURE DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?
"I would say Mother Teresa. For her to be able to do something so important, especially as she advanced in age, is remarkable."


8. IF YOU COULD SPEND AN HOUR WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD IT BE?
"That's easy, it would be Lance Armstrong. He could teach me everything he knows about road biking. I'd like to learn his discipline of how to just keep going on those hard hills."


9. WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE: WIN AN INDIVIDUAL OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL OR A PULITZER PRIZE?
"I can't choose, so how about both. To be able to push yourself athletically as far as you can to win a gold medal would be such an adrenaline rush. And I'd love to be so talented with words and be able to share that with the world that I would win a Pulitzer Prize."


10. IF YOU COULD BE IN ANY PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOUR OWN, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
"Don't laugh, but at one time I thought of being a police officer. I think I would be good at handling situations and helping get the bad guys off the street."

Teachers team up for direct sales business

BeautiControl Skin Care Products

By KEITH ROYSDON, The Star Press

For three Muncie teachers, teamwork in the classroom has translated into teamwork in business. Kim Williams, Sara Fauquher and Jennifer Kile teach sixth grade at Wilson Middle School. The three make up a teaching team -- Kile teaches math, Fauquher teaches science and Williams teaches English.

Outside school hours, the three are independent direct sales people. Each sells a different product, but they also team up for in-home parties to reach potential customers. "It's an opportunity to have fun, fellowship with women and earn a little extra money on the side," Kile said. Kile sells Premier Designs jewelry, Fauquher sells BeautiControl home spa products and Williams sells Pampered Chef cookware.

Williams laughed when asked why she sells kitchenware. "Rachael Ray is my idol," she said, referring to the TV personality. "I like to cook, and I like to cook for others." Fauquher said at-home spa products appealed to her because "I like to see people relax and get rid of their stress. Lord knows we all have it."

Billion-dollar industry
The direct sales industry -- long symbolized by door-to-door cosmetics and vacuum cleaner sales people -- has changed in recent years. The Direct Selling Association reported sales of more than $32 billion in 2006. The industry group says as many as 15 million people work in direct sales. Although men make up 25 percent of the independent sales workforce, it is still an industry dominated by women. The gender of the sales force coincides in many ways with the products sold. Cosmetics, jewelry and skin care make up nearly 34 percent of the products sold by direct sales people, according to the DSA. Home products, like cookware, make up 26 percent. Weight loss products and vitamins account for another 20 percent. For many years, Longaberger baskets were among the top products for direct sales people. The upscale baskets -- like many direct sales products -- are sold in home-based parties that mix business and fun for sales people and potential customers.

Party teamwork
While Williams and Fauquher have been conducting in-home sales parties for a while, Kile has only recently joined the mix. The three have a game plan for their parties. Williams whips up some dishes using Pampered Chef cookware and utensils. While food is cooking, the group moves to the living room, where Fauquher demonstrates hand massages and neck wraps from BeautiControl. Kile then showcases Premier Designs jewelry offerings. "Then they can eat and fellowship and order products if they like," Fauquher said. "If someone wants to book just one of us, they can. But this is a way for us to 'team teach.' We're used to doing this in school and thought in our side business this is what we would be most comfortable doing."

Busy in breaks
While the school year can be busy for teachers, the three said they wanted something to keep them busy after hours and during breaks. "Almost every teacher I know does something else in the summer," Fauquher said. "I think most teachers have other jobs. It keeps them busy year-round." "Maybe my decision will change down the road, but right now I want to stick with teaching and doing this on the side," Williams said. Direct sales works for teachers, Kile said. "There's freedom to do things on your own schedule. I love teaching. I didn't want to quit teaching."

New Trend: Spa Parties

from 13 WHAM

Not everybody wants food and wine at their home parties, some people are choosing spa parties instead.

It used to be when Christie Kraft invited her friends and colleagues over, they indulged in party food, decadent desserts, and fine wine. But, now you'll find them serving up good skin care and relaxation--one of the hottest trends in home parties.

Kraft, a BeautiControl consultant, said, “It's your chance to escape from the daily grind and get a full facial, foot treatment, hand treatment, and the best part is probably the relaxation.” The same company that perfected Tupperware and color analysis decades ago, now trains consultants such as Kraft in skin-care spas.

Given the weather lately, the BeautiControl products are a big hit. “Especially for hands and feet, because that's when peoples hands start to get dry, cracked and bleeding,” she said. The goal however isn't just to get you to use skin-care products. It's to get you pamper yourself just 20 minutes a day.

The best part--when you leave--you don't have to work anything off at the gym.