Avon - The Company for Women - Corporate Responsibility

Avon and its approximately 42,000 associates now serve valued customers in more than 100 countries worldwide

Founded in 1886, Avon Products, Inc. (Avon) is the world’s largest direct seller of beauty and beauty-related products. With $10.7 billion¹ in annual revenues in 2008 (up 8% from 2007), Avon and its approximately 42,000 associates now serve valued customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. Our primary distribution channel is direct selling by our more than 5.8 million Avon Sales Representatives. Together, these “Avon ladies,” as they are affectionately known, help us to reach millions of customers around the world and handle upwards of one billion transactions annually. Avon is a publicly traded global company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: AVP).

¹All monetary figures are reported in US dollars (USD) unless stated otherwise

Major Brands and Product Lines

Our support of women encompasses all aspects of personal care, including beauty, wellness, health and fitness, as well as economic empowerment and financial independence. To remain at the forefront of the highly competitive beauty industry, we constantly develop quality, effective and affordable breakthrough products that cater to the needs of our customers. Our current product offerings fall into three categories:

Avon’s Beauty category includes leading brand names like: Avon Color™, Anew™, Skin-So-Soft™, Advance Techniques™, Avon Naturals™ and mark™.

Major Markets and Operations

Headquartered in New York City, Avon markets its products to women throughout six regions—Asia Pacific; Central and Eastern Europe; China; Latin America; North America; and Western Europe, Middle East and Africa. We have maintained direct sales operations in 65 countries since 2004, and now have four additional new operations in Finland, Albania, Macedonia and Egypt.

In addition to these direct operations, Avon also does business through distributorships and licensees to drive continuing growth throughout emerging and developed markets. We distribute products in an additional 48 countries through these secondary sales channels.

Financial Performance

For the most recent information regarding Avon’s financial performance, please click on the links below:

Quarterly financial earnings releases

Avon's Annual Report

Corporate Responsibility Oversight

The Avon corporate responsibility function is based in the global corporate communications department, and serves as the central point of gathering and reporting goals, metrics and achievements to a variety of stakeholders as well as creation of the corporate responsibility report. A Director of Corporate Responsibility is based in the Avon global headquarters in New York City, and collaborates with management in a wide array of relevant departments that support the many pillars of corporate responsibility, including human resources, environment, supply chain, research & development, the Avon Foundation and much more, both in the United States and around the world.

The Director also works with internal departments and with external consultants to identify corporate responsibility trends and opportunities, and contributes to strategic planning and program implementation. The Director reports to the Senior Vice President, Communications, who is a member of the Avon Executive Committee, the highest level of executive management reporting directly to the CEO.