Avon

Avon Products, Inc. NYSE: AVP is a US cosmetics, perfume and toy seller with markets in over 135 countries across the world and sales of $8.1 billion worldwide as of 2005. more...

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Traditionally a direct marketing company, Avon's fastest growing markets today are in China and Russia. Currently, the company is headed up by Andrea Jung, the company's chairman and CEO, who was promoted to the position in 1999. Avon uses both door-to-door sales people (\"Avon ladies,\" primarily) and catalogs to advertise its products, but in some markets (most notably China, which had banned all door-to-door selling before mid-December 2006) Avon products are sold primarily in retail stores.

Avon's product lines include an array of products, including lipsticks, foundations, bath and skin lotions, anti-aging cream, various perfumes, as well as pieces of jewellery and clothing.

Although the company has always been more directed towards female customers, Avon's line of male products continues to expand, and its children's products (such as shampoos and toys) have also proved successful. Two recent brand diversifications, \"mark.\" (targeted to younger, college-aged women) and \"M\" (an Avon catalogue for men), have helped the company reach out into markets it traditionally has not serviced. Mark. proved to be extremely successful in reaching a new generation of recruits, primarily young women ages 18-25, with a monthly \"magalog\" featuring award-winning products.

In addition to its corporate pursuits, the Avon corporation is involved in philanthropic causes, primarily centered on domestic violence, women's empowerment and health issues such as breast cancer.

In 2007, Reese Witherspoon signed a multiyear agreement to serve as Avon's Global Ambassador. The actress will be involved in product development, appear in advertisements, and will serve as the honorary chairman of the Avon Foundation.

History

The company was founded in 1886 by then 28-year-old David H. McConnell who originally sold books door to door and gave out perfume to entice women to buy his books. His perfume became so popular that eventually that is all the women wanted. He then founded the California Perfume Company (CPC) in New York, New York in a 500 square foot manufacturing and shipping office at 126 Chambers Street. As the company grew, he then hired his first Representative, Mrs. P.F.E. Albee. In 1897, McConnell built a small (3000 square foot) laboratory in Suffern, New York; by 1971 the lab would grow into the Avon Suffern Research and Development facility; in 2005 they opened a $100 million dollar 225,000 square foot R&D \"glass curtain\" facility to house its over 300 Research and Development Scientists on the original site in Suffern, NY. In 1906, the West Coast office in San Francisco was destroyed in the Great Earthquake of that year. Avon also has offices in Luzerne, Pennsylvania and Davenport, Iowa.

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