Avon Cosmetics History

Avon is a well-known beauty products company that was founded in 1886 by David H. McConnell. Avon's current product lines include cosmetics, body lotions, face creams, perfume, jewelry and clothing. While Avon products are sold on the Internet, through catalogs and in some department stores, most of the items are still being sold through Avon representatives. There are about 5 million independent Avon representatives across the globe. Avon is one of the top sellers of beauty and personal products, and continues to add product lines, advertise products and expand company size every year. Read on to learn more about Avon cosmetics history.

Beginning

Avon was the brainchild of Mr. David H. McConnell, of New York, NY. Mr. McConnell was a door-to-door book salesman in the late 1880s, and he began handing out some of his homemade rose oil perfume as a promotional item. He realized that the women loved the perfume samples far more than they liked the books, and he was inspired to start a perfume company with his wife, Lucy. Their first product was the Little Dot Perfume Set, which contained five fragrances: rose, lily-of-the-valley, violet, hyacinth and heliotrope.

Name

David McConnell originally named his new business the California Perfume Company in honor of one of his friends and initial investor, who lived in California. Mr. McConnell died in 1937, and his son, David H. McConnell, Jr., decided to rename the company because it was now selling more than just perfume. In 1939, he decided on the name Avon Products as a tribute to his favorite playwright, William Shakespeare, who had once lived in the town Stratford-Upon-Avon in the English Midlands.

Avon Representatives

David and Lucy McConnell quickly realized that they needed help selling their perfumes. They hired Mrs. P. F. E. Albee, a widow from Winchester, New Hampshire, as their first Avon representative. Mrs. Albee and the McConnells decided that door-to-door sales would be the best approach to selling the products, particularly in the rural areas where housewives didn't have easy access to stores. This innovative direct-selling method is still being used today. Mrs. Albee recruited more women to help with sales, and by 1887, the company had 12 female employees selling their 18 fragrances.

Advertising

As the California Perfume Company's popularity grew, David McConnell added more items to his product line. By 1896, he had enough products that he issued Avon's first sales catalog, which contained a detailed, text-only description of all the company's items. In 1905, he printed the company's first color catalog, and Avon's first print ads were published in Good Housekeeping Magazine. In 1954, Avon launched its famous "Avon Calling" television ad campaign. In 2000, Avon Products announced its first celebrity spokespeople, tennis stars Serena and Vanessa Williams, who would promote Avon products through their global "Let's Talk" advertising campaign.

Avon Brands

In 2003, Avon launched its new "Mark" brand, which was geared towards younger, college-aged females who were just starting to "make their mark" on the world. The "Mark" product line proved to be extremely successful, and features a monthly "magalog" that highlights new Avon products geared toward younger shoppers. Avon reached out to male consumers in 2004, offering their first-ever men's catalog, called "M," which featured grooming products and accessories geared toward guys. Avon also has a smaller line of children's products, such as shampoo, bubble bath and toys.

The Avon Foundation

In addition to commercial pursuits, the Avon cosmetics company is involved in a number of philanthropic causes, mostly those that are geared towards women's health and empowerment issues. Avon Product's two primary causes are domestic violence and breast cancer. The Avon Foundation Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program raises funds for domestic violence prevention programs and awareness campaigns. Avon's Breast Cancer Crusade was founded in 1992, and has worked to raise money for breast cancer centers, breast cancer research and non-profit breast health programs.

Resources

• Avon Online Store
• Avon Foundation