The Avon lady hits the infomercial circuit

For the first time in its history, Avon Products is using infomercials to recruit new Avon ladies. But your prospects for making a living pitching these beauty products is still pretty ugly.

With rising unemployment economic uncertainty presenting an opportunity, multi-level marketers are looking to capitalize. The company explained in its latest earnings release that it spent $78 million on marketing in the first quarter, "with a shift toward representative recruitment advertising from product advertising." Infomercials are now airing on networks, including the Food Network, Hallmark, ABC and Lifetime.

But the infomercial is also available online -- and I sat through it so you don't have to. If you want to, you can watch it online here. The infomercial is low-tech and emotional, featuring the stories of a handful of Avon reps who built successful businesses There's also the ubiquitous Suze Orman, waxing about how her mother sold Avon to help provide for her family when she was a child.