Avon has been in business for 135 years. It began in 1886 when David H. McConnell was a traveling book salesman and gave free perfume samples. He saw that women were more interested in the perfume samples than the books he sold, so he switched his focus. He began creating perfume, and since he was a champion of empowering women through economic opportunity, he recruited women as sales representatives. In 1886, David H. McConnell founded the California Perfume Company.
Mr. McConnell hired Mrs. P.F.E. Albee to be his first representative.
Mrs. Albee died in 1914. Although the California Perfume Company did not change its name to Avon until 1939, she is known as the first Avon Lady.
I think she looks as though she was very stylish in her era.
What started as a small company selling perfume has grown into a huge company that offers cosmetics, skincare, hair care, bath & body, fashion, jewelry, home care, and more.
David H. McConnell died in 1937 at the age of 78. If only he could see where his company is today and how many lives he has touched.
Sails of Beauty 