For more than a century, the Avon Products company has been known for the direct-selling approach it uses to merchandise its cosmetics and personal-care products. In short, Avon employs women—"Avon Ladies"—to demonstrate items to customers in the privacy of their own homes. Avon's vintage television commercials typically opened with the sound of a chiming doorbell followed by the phrase, "Avon calling."

Originally known as the California Perfume Company, the company was founded in 1886 by David McConnell (1858–1937), who later renamed it Avon to honor the birthplace of his favorite author, William Shakespeare (1564–1616). Avon's direct-selling method was pioneered by Mrs. P. F. E. Albee of Winchester, New Hampshire, who became the first "Avon Lady" soon after the company's founding. By 2001, Avon was the world's largest direct-selling company, employing 3.4 million sales representatives in 139 countries around the world (2 percent of whom are male), and with total sales revenues of $5.7 billion...