Avon

In 1886, David H. McConnell founded the California Perfume Company, which would become Avon, in New York City. As an unsuccessful book salesman, he had concocted a rose-scented perfume as a “free gift” to encourage people to buy his books. The perfume was so popular, McConnell decided to abandon the book business and start a perfume company instead. In 1897, McConnell built the California Perfume Company’s first factory in Suffern, New York, which was conveniently located alongside railroad tracks for easy access to ship his products. After his death in 1937, his son took over the family business. The company changed its name to Avon in 1939 in honour of Shakespeare’s hometown, Stratford-on-Avon.

Avon’s first product was the Little Dot Perfume Set. By the end of the first year of business, the company had a line of nearly 20 different fragrances. In 1902, the company was selling a full range of cosmetics. In 1931, 11 products received the coveted Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. The first “novelty” decanters were sold in the 1960s. The collectable glass car decanters appeared in 1968. Over the years, the whimsical decanters featured themes ranging from animals and flowers to planes and trains. For decades, Avon relied solely on catalogue sales through their network of representatives. In the 1990s, Avon launched a campaign to raise awareness for breast cancer by selling “pink ribbon” items

Avon has grown from a small perfume company in New York into a global cosmetics and fragrance industry with almost 5 million representatives. The original product line has expanded to include jewellery, soaps, Christmas ornaments and other household goods. Customers can purchase Avon products through a representative, online or in certain department stores.