Avon is one of the world’s leading direct sellers of beauty products, with over $6 billion in annual revenues. The company began as the California Perfume Company. The founder, Mr. David McConnell, discovered that people were buying his books because they carried the scent of the rose oil perfumes he was giving away. In 1939, Avon was renamed after the river that runs through the English Midlands.
Avon sells its products through multi-level marketing. The company produces makeup, bath and skin lotions, anti-aging cream, perfumes, jewelry, clothing, cosmetics, and toys. Avon products are currently sold in over 140 countries. Although the majority of Avon products are designed and intended for women, Avon does manufacture products for men as well as children. Those product lines, such as musks, shampoos, and other products intended for use by adolescents, continue to expand.
