The Best Business For Women (and a few men)

The best home based business for any woman (and yes some men) is AVON. I say this only because it's a household name that everyone, not only in the United States, but all around the world as well.

Here's some history for those that are interested:

David H. McConnell started a company called the California Perfume Company in 1886, when he was 28 years old. The company offices were established in New York, at 126 Chambers St., a manufacturing and shipping office operating from a room only 20 ft. by 25 ft. (60 sq. meters). McConnell's first General Agent, Mrs P.F. Albee, is still remembered today as a model for AVON Representatives and Zone Managers worldwide.

1906 - California's office destroyed by the San Francisco earthquake. It reopens immediately. McConnell's growing organization also has offices in Luzerne, Pennsylvania and Davenport, Iowa. 10,000 Representatives and Depot managers are selling different articles in 600 styles and package sizes. Advertisements appear in Good Housekeeping. In October, the first color brochure is published.

1914 - The California Perfume company opens its first overseas office, in Montreal, in the province of Quebec, Canada. As World War I breaks out across the Atlantic, five million units are sold in North America.

1928 - The first products offered under the AVON brand were a toothbrush, a talcum, and a vanity set. 25,000 Representatives sell across the Nation. Sales have doubled to $2 million since the end of the war.

1944 - $16 million of business sales annually. Branches open in Los Angeles, CA and Middletown, NY and shipping facilities are planned in Pasadena, CA and Chicago, IL.

1954 to 2006 - Some 61 countries and counting have accepted AVON and have been successful as North America has. Some of these first countries are Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, United Kingdom, West Germany, Brazil, Australia, France, and Spain to name a few.

1970 - With US sales topping $750 million for the first time, and an overseas business that has grown in an average of 25% annually throughout the 1960's, AVON is now one of Wall Streets favorite, 'Nifty Fifty' stocks. It increases the dividend to investors and announces a two-for-one split. The core domestic line now has 800 products, with over 50 gift items offered specially for Christmas. The first Asian AVON business opens in Japan. Selling begins in Argentina, and the booming European business now includes Ireland, France, Italy, and Spain.

1986 - Celebrates its centennial by reporting a turnaround after six years of flat or declining beauty sales. The women's fragrance Imari is the company's best seller.

1990 - AVON fight to preserve the company's independence from a series of takeover attempts (bidders included Amway and Mary Kay), the company pledges to return to its roots as a beauty company. It's popular products like Skin-So-Soft - the single most popular AVON Brand in the US. AVON announces a permanent end to animal testing, becoming the first major cosmetics manufacturer to permanently stop using animals in the safety testing of its products.

1997 - AVON's annual sales top $5 billion for the first time. 2.6 million Independent Representatives are winning an additional $2 billion in commissions for themselves and their families, fulfilling a record 650 million customer orders in 135 countries. Global brands such as Anew and AVON Color are helping to develop AVON's image as a beauty company to rank with the best.

In giving you this synopsis, I am not trying to bore you to death with the history of AVON. I am giving you the history of AVON so that you could see that this company has been around for a long time and is going to be around for more years to come. Just face it, the whole world knows about AVON. This essential make that much easier to sell to everyone that you come in contact with.