Avon Products facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Cosmetics |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Founder | David H. McConnell |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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Kristof Neirynck (CEO) James S. Scully(COO and CFO) Sara Davies MBE (Chief Inspiration Officer) |
| Products | Cosmetics Perfume Skin Care Personal Care |
| Revenue |  US$9.1 billion (2020) |
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Operating income
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 US$235.2 million (2018) |
| US$−107.4 million (2016) |
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| Total assets | US$3.01 billion (2018) |
| Total equity | US$−848 million (2016) |
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Number of employees
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23,000 (2019) |
| Parent | Natura Holding S.A. |
Avon Products, Inc. is a big company from both the UK and the USA. It sells many beauty products. These include cosmetics (like makeup), skin care items, perfume, and other personal care products. Avon uses a special way of selling called multi-level marketing. Its main office is in London. In 2020, Avon made about $9.1 billion in sales around the world.
Avon is one of the largest beauty companies globally. It is also the second-biggest multi-level marketing company. It has about 6.4 million people who sell its products. Kristof Neirynck became the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) in November 2023. James Scully is the COO (Chief Operating Officer) and CFO (Chief Financial Officer). Sara Davies MBE joined in 2024 as the Chief Inspiration Officer.
In May 2019, a Brazilian company called Natura & Co announced it wanted to buy Avon. The deal was completed in January 2020. After this, Avon became a private company. Its shares were no longer traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Contents
How Avon Started
Avon was founded by David H. McConnell. He first sold books by going door-to-door in New York. In September 1886, he decided to sell perfumes instead of books. He started his new business in a small office in Manhattan, New York.
In 1892, McConnell changed the company's name. His business partner suggested calling it the "California Perfume Company." This was because his partner lived in California, which had many flowers.
In May 1894, Alexander D. Henderson joined the company. He became a vice-president and treasurer. He helped the company grow and set its rules. In 1897, they built a laboratory in Suffern, New York. The company's main office moved to a new location in New York in 1909. In 1939, the California Perfume Company officially changed its name to Avon.
Avon Around the World
Avon sells its products in over 100 countries. Brazil became Avon's biggest market in 2010, selling more than the United States. Avon started selling in China in 1990. For a while, direct selling was not allowed in China. So, Avon had to sell its products in special stores called Beauty Boutiques. The ban was lifted later, and Avon got a license for direct selling again in 2006.
In 2013, about 88% of Avon's total sales came from countries outside the United States. This shows how big Avon is globally.
Company Changes and Deals
Avon has bought other companies and been bought by others. In 2010, Avon bought Silpada, a company that sold silver jewelry directly to customers. In 2012, another perfume company, Coty, offered to buy Avon. Avon decided not to accept the offer. They felt the offer was not fair to their shareholders.
In March 2016, a company called Cerberus Capital Management invested a lot of money in Avon. This deal meant that Cerberus owned almost 17% of Avon Products.
In January 2020, Natura & Co completed its purchase of Avon Products, Inc. The Natura & Co group also owns other beauty brands like Natura, Aesop, and The Body Shop. With Avon, they became the fourth-largest beauty company in the world.
Recent Events
From 2014, Avon's global sales had been decreasing for five years. Its sales in North America also dropped by 18% in 2014.
In 2016, Avon separated its business in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This new company was called New Avon LLC. The global Avon Products company moved its main office to London, United Kingdom. In August 2019, New Avon LLC was bought by a South Korean company called LG Household & Health Care, Ltd.
Jan Zijderveld became Avon's CEO in February 2018. In January 2021, New Avon Company changed its name to The Avon Company.
In November 2023, Avon announced it would open physical stores in the United Kingdom for the first time. They already had 63 stores in Turkey. However, in August 2024, Avon Products filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This was to help deal with lawsuits related to talc-based products.
How Avon Sells Products
Avon uses people who go door-to-door to sell products. These people are often called "Avon ladies" or "Avon men." They also use brochures to show their products. Some Avon training centers have small shops where you can buy skin care products, makeup, and washes.
Avon finds people to become sales representatives. These representatives sell beauty products, jewelry, accessories, and clothes. They are not employees of Avon. Their earnings come from the products they sell or from finding more people to become salespeople.
Avon has many well-known product names. Some of these include Avon Color, Imari, Far Away, Anew, and Skin So Soft. In 2014, the U.S. government reported that Avon had between 5 million and 6 million sales representatives in over 100 countries. Avon and its related companies have about 40,000 to 50,000 employees worldwide.
Avon was an early member of the U.S. Direct Selling Association. This group was started in 1910. However, Avon left the association in 2014. They said the group was not focusing enough on the entire industry.
Leaving Some Markets
In October 2013, Avon announced it would close its business in France. Its French employees said the company did not communicate well with them. They felt Avon was not acting like a socially responsible company. By January 2014, Avon France was in a process called receivership.
On February 15, 2018, Avon announced on Facebook that it would close its businesses in Australia and New Zealand. This decision meant 220 jobs were lost and affected 21,400 sales representatives. The company faced criticism for not communicating well with its customers and employees.
As of January 2024, Avon is still active in Russia. It continues to hire more people and make products there.
See also
In Spanish: Avon Products para niños
