Avon

Avon Products, Inc, known as Avon, is an American international manufacturer and direct selling company in beauty, household, and personal care categories. Avon had annual sales of $10.0 billion worldwide in 2013.

It is the fifth-largest beauty company and, with 6.4 million representatives, is the second largest direct selling enterprise in the world (after Amway). Avon Products is a multi-level marketing company. The company’s CEO is Sherilyn S. McCoy, who was appointed to the position in April 2012. The former CEO, Andrea Jung, became the executive chairman of the board. Recently, Avon has struggled with the global sales falling for five straight years and North American revenues falling 18% in 2014.

In 2016, Avon completed the sale of the remainder of its American business. All of its operations are now outside the United States. As part of a three-year plan, Avon will also move its headquarters to the United Kingdom.

AVON, the global cosmetic company, has a warehouse located in the Gebze industrial zone, on the outskirts of Istanbul. With 223 workers, this warehouse plays a critical role within the distribution network of AVON in Turkey.

Avon uses both door-to-door sales people (“Avon ladies” primarily, and as well as some men) and brochures to advertise its products The first Avon lady was Persis Foster Eames Albee. Avon operates training centers for potential representatives. Some Avon training centers have a small retail section with skin care products, such as creams, serums, makeup, and washes. Avon uses multi-level marketing to recruit sales representatives, who sell beauty products, jewelry, accessories and clothing. PFE Albee is considered Avon’s very first representative – the first Avon lady.

Avon representatives are considered an independent sales representatives running her or his own business. Some of the brand-names used by the company include Avon, Avon Naturals, Skin-So-Soft and Mark.[citation needed] According to the U.S. government Avon has 5 million to 6 million sales representatives operating in over 100 countries as of 2014. Avon and its subsidiaries have 40,000 to 50,000 employees, 6,000 of which are in the United States.

Avon was an early member of the U.S. Direct Selling Association, which was founded in 1910. The company left the association in 2014, saying that the trade group was not paying enough attention to the industry as a whole.

In addition to its corporate pursuits, the Avon corporation is involved in philanthropic causes. The Avon Foundation for Women describes itself as the largest corporate philanthropy dedicated to women’s causes globally. The Avon Foundation awards scholarships for Avon representatives and family members. Avon founded the Avon Foundation for Women with its first grant, a $400 scholarship, in 1955.

Additionally, the company’s Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program aims to reduce domestic violence. Through 2012, Avon global philanthropy, led by the Avon Foundation, reports having donated more than $910 million in more than 50 countries.