Mavis Sidlow worked for Charm Cosmetics, selling door-to-door in Weatherfield. Elsie Howard was her area supervisor and in January 1971 Elsie was summoned to see her boss, Dawn Painter, in her Manchester office. The steely Mrs Painter told Elsie that she had been going through her returns for December and Mavis Sidlow had not sold anything. Elsie replied that she had been to her house four times but was unable to get a reply. Mrs Painter ordered her to get on top of matters and find out what was wrong.