Saturday, April 16, 2011

Avon Milestones


Avon was founded in 1886, the year whenCosmopolitan published it's first magazine. This was during the Victorian Age when women were dressing conservatively. By 1897 Avon, originally called the California Perfume Company, made it's first $500 in sales. That was considered enormous amount of money back in those days.





The company's name did not change 
until 1939, after WWII ended,
then the perfume company name 
changed to Avon, when it branched
out from strictly a perfume industry 
to cosmetics. During this time frame
since Avon was founded, fashion was 
evolving fast.  In 1920, fashion
entered the modern era.

In 1939, the beginning of WWII, 
Avon started manufacturing products
to support efforts of our troops, 
such as insect repellents, etc., the beginning
of what evolved through out time into our
familiar Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard 
which we now sell today.  In 1949, 
after the war ended, Avon reached 
25 million in sales with 65,000 representatives. 
The company reached nearly a billion in the 
early 1970's.  Avon aired it's first TV commerical 
in 1954.  In the next 10 years Avon started 
manufacturing collectibles which include
home decor and fashion. While continuing to
expand itself, Avon started to grow internationally.























In 1964, Avon joined the New York 
Stock Exchange and started trading
Avon stocks. During this time Avon 
began to market novelty containers and
figural decanters, such as fancy soaps, 
bubble baths, scented candles, candle holders, etc. 
Avon became the first cosmetic company to open 
in China, selling moisture cream. The picture of 
the above Avon collectibles can also be viewed at http://www.glassmenagerie.com, a website that 
displays retired Avon collectibles.

The image below is the first container used for 
selling Sweet Honesty, one of Avon's oldest 
fragrances that is still found on the market today.
A bottle of 1.7 oz spray can now be purchased for $14.50.


http://www.auntjudysattic.com/Avon/1-15-07/topaze-candleth.jpg

Avon began to sell jewelry in 1971, 
and fashion clothing in 1973.
In 2006 Avon celebrated it's 
35 years of sales in jewelry. In the 1980's,
Avon partnered with and owned 
other top company names such as 
 Tiffany & Co. and others to 
produce their line of jewelry. 
As a producer of a large variety 
of styles, Avon has become today 
one of the largest costume jewelry 
manufacturers in the world.

Vintage 1973 Avon Fashion Accents Charm Bracelet


The above picture illustrates Avon's charm bracelet 
in 1973, representing fashion clothing and accessories 
on their market.  The updated version of Avon's charm bracelet 
honoring it's 125th anniversary, has recently been awarded to
representatives placing a minimum of $50 per campaign in sales.
The bracelet itself is worth $50.00.

.

The illustration of the Avon brochure below dates back to 1973.

AVON~CATALOGS~MAGAZINE~C-3~1973~RETRO~JEWELRY~FASHION~

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