AVON

 Avon:

In 1886 David H. McConnell founded the 'California Perfume Company' which was to later become Avon. Prior to this he was a door to door salesman, selling used books which did not sell well. So to entice sales, he gave away free perfume samples with each book bought. Many of his customers were ladies who were much more interested in the perfumes than the books. So David decided to quit selling books
 and set up a small perfume business.


Avon Necklace

The 'California Perfume Company' began in a small office at 126 Chambers Street ,Lower Manhattan, New York City in 1892. On June 3, 1932, the California Perfume Company, filed their first trademark application for Avon which was granted later that same year. The description of goods to be sold was perfumes, toilet waters, powder and rouge compacts, lipsticks, and other toiletry products.

From the onset, David primarily used housewives to distribute his products. This proved very popular and sales steadily grew and continued to increase during the years he was active. At the time of his death he had around 30,000 agents selling his products and the volume of sales was measured in the millions.

 Most of the vintage jewellery pieces by Avon were signed Avon with initials such as S.P, O.S, W.N. and so forth. The initials were not the designers initials but a code to identify the purveyor who manufactured the pieces on behalf of Avon!



Avon Necklace