In the early 1900s, the North American direct selling industry had but one poster child: Avon Products. Founded in 1886 by a New York door-to-door book salesman, Avon is currently the fifth-largest beauty company in the world and the second-largest direct selling enterprise, with close to six million representatives worldwide and US$8.6?billion in annual sales in 2014. It’s one of the most powerful brands on the planet.
Although Avon cosmetics may no longer resonate with many North American women, direct selling as a business model remains as strong as ever. As evidenced by the resurgence of 1980s brands like Pampered Chef, Herbalife and Nu Skin Enterprises, and the arrival of Canadian enterprises such as Steeped Tea, Fifth Avenue Collection and Peekaboo Beans, it’s clear the idea of selling products right in the living