Avon
(1866 - ) David Hall McConnell, Sr. was born in Oswego, New York on July 18, 1858. McConnell left his father’s farm to seek his own fortune. At the age to twenty-eight years old McConnell was an entrepreneur who sold
books door-to-door. McConnell gave out perfume as a strategy to persuade women to purchase his books. He made the perfumes himself blending the original scents, with the aid of a local pharmacist. McConnell’s perfume became more popular than his inventory so in 1866, McConnell founded the California Perfume Company in New York.
The first female Avon lady was Mrs. P. F. E. Albee, a widow from Winchester, New Hampshire, who started selling the company’s popular Little Dot Perfume Set.
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. Albee traveled by train and horseback to sell Avon’s products and promote the company’s vision to farm wives around the country. The California Perfume Company offered women a way to earn money. By 1887, McConnell had twelve women employees selling a line of eighteen fragrances. In 1903, the California Perfume Company had more than 10,000 women selling their products.
David Hall McConnell, Sr. died on January 20, 1937 in Suffern, New York. In 1939, the company’s name was officially changed to Avon Products, Inc. Avon continued to sell beauty products and the following years showed a huge increase in sales. Avon was producing fragrances, make-up, skincare, and bath and body products. In 1965, Avon’s jewelry line was launched with a stylish locket called “solid perfume jewel pin,” which was a great success. In 1971, Avon started producing different lines of jewelry including figurals, watches, and standard items of costume jewelry such as necklaces, brooches, bracelets, earrings, and rings in two categories those that were inexpensively made and those that were very well made; both produced in mass quantities.
Avon offered the “Precious Pretenders Collection,” which consisted of a set featuring a pin, necklace, clip earrings and a bracelet designed in a gold wash. This collection was so successful that two months later, Avon released the “Evening Creation Collection,” which included two rings, one for day and one for evening.
All Avon products were sold directly to the American consumer by Avon representatives going door-to-door or by scheduled house parties. Avon’s products were designed and produced by different companies, such as the Krementz Co.
In 1976, Avon introduced the “Designers Series” which consisted of twenty-five unique pieces per year the following four years. Seymour Murray Kent, Avon’s vice president of package design was responsible for this line. In 1983, Avon started making jewelry by world-famous designers such as Louis Feraud, Kenneth Jay Lane, Gloria Fiori, Celia Sebiri, Correen Simpson, Jose Maria Barrera, Felicia, Nicki Butler, R. J. Graziano, Susan Lucci, Anne’s Eye for Annie Gilbar, Erickson B for Karen and Eric Erickson, Maharaja Collection, Adrienne, Luke Razza, Shaill Jhaveri, Akoya Cultured Pearls, and Technibond. Avon also replicated pieces owned by Elizabeth Taylor and the Smithsonian Museum.
In 1998, Avon closed its jewelry plants in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. In 2006, the Avon jewelry factories in San Sebastian, Spain, (opened in 1982), was also closed due to the company’s restructuring.
Avon jewelry is now sold in different ways, including the internet, but most of their business is still from direct sales. Avon continues to create amazing jewelry and releasing two hundred and fifty pieces per year, making Avon the number one jewelry company in the world.
Avon has grown to be an international organization with more than five million representatives worldwide. It is also going through a makeover with new products, high-powered advertising and a move to sell retail in the malls of America.
Avon’s corporate headquarters are still located in New York City. Avon’s research and development center still remains on the same site in Suffern, New York in a new, multi-million dollar state-of-the-art building.
These days, Avon is actively expanding its range of male and children's products. The popular product lines from the brand includes cosmetic foundations, lipsticks, anti-aging cream, bath and skin lotion, jewelry, perfume, and clothing. The company also currently sells toys and fashion accessories.
