Company Profile
Avon Products
Company Overview
Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP), the company for women, is a leading global beauty company with revenues of over $10 billion. As the world's largest direct seller, Avon markets to women in more than 100 countries through 6.2 million independent Avon sales representatives. Sales also come from catalogs and a website.
Avon has 90% brand recognition around the world, and 80% of sales come from outside of North America. The company’s vast global presence offers a significant competitive advantage.
Company History
Avon started out as the California Perfume Company when founder, Mr. David McConnell, 28 of New York, NY, USA discovered that the rose oil perfumes he was giving away were the reason people were buying his books.
The company was named Avon in 1939, after the river that runs through Stratford-On-Avon in the English Midlands. The name is a tribute to McConnell's favorite playwright, William Shakespeare, who hailed from the town.
Women have been selling Avon since 1886 - 34 years before women in the US won the right to vote! Mrs. P.F.E. Albee of Winchester, New Hampshire pioneered the company's now-famous direct-selling method, and her name is still honored today in the company. Avon's sales Representatives - men and women - to now number almost five million, and Avon products are sold in over 100 countries around the world.
Notable Products / Brands
Avon Color®, Anew®, Avon Naturals®, Skin-So-Soft®, Avon Solutions®, Advance Techniques®, mark®
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
“Most Admired Companies”– Fortune
“Top 100 Global Brands” – BusinessWeek
“100 Best Corporate Citizens” – Ethics
“Top 50 Companies for Executive Women” – National Association for Female Executives