Avon was strictly an American phenomenon, and a unique and pioneering one at that. The first Avon Lady was actually a man, young door-to-door salesman David McConnell from upstate New York. He launched Avon Calling in 1886, offering women cosmetics in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. But perfumes and hand-cream were not McConnell’s initial merchandise. At the age of sixteen, McConnell had begun selling books door-to-door. When his fare was not well received, he resorted to the then-popular advertising Gimmick of offering a free introductory gift in exchange for being allowed to make a sales pitch.
A complimentary vial of perfume, he thought, would be an ideal entree, and he blended the original scent himself, with the aid of a local pharmacist. Fate stepped in. McConnell learned that women adored his perfume and remained indifferent to his books. Thus, he abandoned books and organized the New York-based California Perfume Company, named in honor of a friend and investor from California. The door-to-door approach seemed tailor-made for cosmetics, particularly in rural areas, where homemakers, in horse-and-buggy days, had poor access to better stores.
The first female Avon Lady was Mrs. P. F. E. Albee, a widow from Winchester, New Hampshire. She began her chime-ringing career selling the company s popular Little Dot Perfume Set, and she recruited other women, training them as door-to-door salespeople. The company was re-christened Avon for the simple reason that the New York State town in which David McConnell lived, Suffern on the Ramapo, reminded him of Shakespeare’s Stratford-on-Avon.
By 1897, McConnell had twelve women employees selling a line of eighteen fragrances. And the numbers kept growing and growing. Today, despite the scores of expensive, prestigious American and foreign brand-name cosmetics, Avon ranks first in sales nationwide, with Avon Ladies ringing doorbells from coast to coast.
Avon is now the largest direct selling beauty company in the world.
Avon is a truly international company, operating in 143 countries world-wide, through a network of 3.5 million independent Sales Representatives. And in all of these countries, in many different ways, the Avon Vision -
"to be the company that best understands and satisfies the product, service and self-fulfilment needs of women "
- is central to everything we do:
It is pivotal in every technological advance; in Avon's community involvement; in Avon's continuing efforts to provide a better product and in improving the service to Representatives and their Customers.
The key attraction and success of Avon business is that it involves people. Avon brings a level of financial independence to many women, as well as a level of social contact confidence and friendship.
This unique human touch is a key strength in Avon's company.
Avon is very proud of it's products and the fact that Avon is one of the market leaders in every beauty category.
Avon commits large amounts to product research. The Avon Research and Development Laboratories are located in Suffern, New York, where an international group of specialists work with world-renowned scientific institutions to develop beauty products that meet the needs of women globally.
Avon is the first major beauty company to stop animal testing. And have been first to market with many innovations. For example, Avon was the first to bring AHA products to the marketplace.
Another, very important part of the self-fulfilment aspect of Avon's vision is Avon's commitment to women's health, and in particular, the breast cancer cause.
Today, there are many thousands of people enjoying the opportunity to earn as Avon Sales Representatives and these Representatives deliver a wide range of exclusive, high quality products to millions of people across the whole world.