World-famous cosmetics company Avon was built on an innovative business model. Rather than using traditional shops or employing travelling salespeople to sell its products, it aimed for the heart of local communities. Avon representatives across the country deliver catalogues door to door, full of the latest cosmetics - so customers don't even have to leave their homes to get hold of make-up and skincare essentials.
Avon has now taken its range of cosmetics online, offering internet shoppers an even more convenient way to purchase its products. Now customers can get hold of make-up in just a few clicks - but the website otherwise resembles the familiar Avon catalogues. Same products, same information, same famous faces.
Famous faces? Yes, the Avon brand has had a long tradition of celebrity endorsements. For many customers, the well-known figures on the cover of their favourite cosmetics catalogue represented a world of glitz and glamour that felt quite attainable with the quality make-up products available inside.
At the time of writing, the current 'Beauty and Empowerment Ambassador' for the brand is Alesha Dixon, the former Mis-Teeq singer and later judge on the TV talent shows Strictly Come Dancing and Britain's Got Talent. However, there are many more famous figures who have lent their support to the brand over the years. Let's take a look at just a few of these Avon stars:
The actresses Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Saldana and Courtney Cox have all represented the brand at various points. Witherspoon advertised the In Bloom and Live, Laugh, Love fragrance lines, whilst Saldana endorsed the Eternal Magic and Flawless fragrances. Cox, meanwhile, was the face of the Spotlight fragrance line.
Black Eyed Peas singer Stacey Ferguson, better known as Fergie, also lent her face to Avon fragrances. The 2010 launch of her line, Outspoken, was the most successful in the history of the company. Since the cosmetics giant was founded way back in 1886, this is quite an achievement! Fergie followed up this fragrance with another, Outspoken Intense.
Though Avon products are primarily aimed at women, the company doesn't exclusively rely on famous females to advertise its ranges. Patrick Dempsey, the Grey's Anatomy actor, launched his own fragrance through the brand in 2008. This cologne, Unscripted, was successful enough to warrant another fragrance launch in 2009 - this time called Patrick Dempsey 2.
It isn't all big-name singers and actresses that have partnered with Avon, though. Sibling make-up artists Nicola and Samantha Chapman have worked with stars such as Charlotte Church and Myleene Klass, but are best known amongst fans of the cosmetics brand thanks to their make-up tutorial videos on YouTube. These videos have racked up more than 80 million views, and later landed them a column in the Daily Mirror.
Liz Pugh is another beauty expert who has shared her make-up knowledge through Avon. Pugh is a leading UK make-up artist who has worked with big stars such as Victoria Beckham, Kelis, Adele and Keira Knightley. She's also worked with leading designers such as Paul Smith, Vogue and Guess, amongst others.
Avon is a world-famous cosmetics retailer that sells its products online and via local representatives. The company has a long history of using celebrity endorsements to promote its brands.