Avon Review

You have to have a few gray hairs to remember that ad campaign and even though I am a middle aged man, the name Avon is synonymous with beauty and direct sales.

How can an MLM company be in the BILLIONS of dollars in sales while catering to only ½ of the population and in one of the most competitive industries imaginable?

Avon has been around for decades and while dozens if not hundreds of other beauty-related MLM companies have come and gone during those times, Avon not only has thrived but boasts the largest number of transactions and sales of any MLM company in the world. That’s right, Avon is number #1.

Of course, earning that top position does not come by selling lipstick door to door. The company has from a very early stage, recognized that in order to be competitive, they had to adapt to the consumer, the marketplace and the business environment. Avon’s success has been their ability to accomplish all three of these hurdles with flying colors.

1. Their customer demographic, by its very nature ages with the population. Once considered cosmetics only for women who stayed at home (They really did go door to door in the 60’s) Avon correctly shifted their focus to working moms and broadened their appeal to single women, working moms and even men!
2. Adapting to the marketplace meant that as more women entered the workforce on a permanent basis, the door to door business model had to disappear. After all, nobody is home! Home parties and traditional MLM models were coming into their own in the 70’s and 80’s and Avon was a leader in each of those marketing methods.
3. As lifestyles changed and incomes rose, the appeal of MLM businesses often drifts down to people who are semi-desperate for income. An Avon representative was always considered a professional beauty consultant. Adding an MLM structure to their business model would work ONLY if they could retain their stellar reputation. A casual glance at their website is a clue they got it right. A quick interview with a representative will seal the deal that their training and attitude is nothing short of professional.

Being listed on the NYSE, of course gives Avon credibility that 99% of other MLM’s can only dream about. Boasting $10 billion in annual revenue with over 4.5 million representatives in over 100 countries makes them the not only the number 1 direct sales organization in the world, but one that has stood the test of time.

How much time? They are one of the few American companies that has survived the industrial revolution, the great depression, two world wars and over 22 different presidents! You see, Avon has been around since 1886!

The only way to survive and thrive in the complex and ever changing environment like that is to have a mission statement that is timeless.

Avon unwavering commitment to corporate responsibility is more important than ever and represents the hallmark of success in any industry. As a leading global provider of cosmetics, personal care and related products, we at Avon continue to strengthen our commitment to such critical areas as economic empowerment, environmental stewardship and product responsibility as we work to create a brighter tomorrow.

Some mission statements are fluff and platitudes. In Avon’s case, their longevity is testament to their actions which support these beliefs. Naturally, building an MLM business with them as a partner would eliminate most worries about them “being around next year.” However, YOUR business will only be around as long as you continue to generate fresh leads for yourself. For a FREE course on developing daily leads, fill out your contact information on the right side of this page.