History
while working as a traveling book salesman David H. McConnell discovered that women were much more interested in the free perfume samples he offered than the books he sought to sell to them. This prompted him to create The California Perfume Company in 1886, later to be renamed Avon Products, Inc. Aware of the fact that many women were at home while their husbands were at work and with the belief that they could relate to other women and help network, market,, and sell his Products, McConnell decided to offer these women a commission for selling his products. In essence, he offered women the opportunity to create and manage their own direct-selling businesses. And with that simple brainstorm, "the company for women" was on its way to selling beauty products and empowering women throughout the world.