Avon comes calling with it's biggest ad campaign

Avon wants to ring billions of doorbells at the same time with the largest campaign in its 121-year history. The campaign getting under way carries the upbeat theme “Hello tomorrow.” The ads are the first work from a new Avon creative agency, Soho Square in New York, part of the WPP Group, which began developing the campaign in September 2005. The campaign seeks to recruit sales representatives to join the more than five million who already work for Avon, as well as to build morale among employees of the company, which recently went through layoffs. The campaign also has a worldwide scope, in keeping with a recent reorganisation of Avon by Andrea Jung, its chief executive, to make more decisions along global lines in areas like marketing. To reflect the ambitious nature of the campaign, Avon plans to increase ad spending this year to $340 million, compared with $250 million in 2007 and $135 million in 2006. The campaign has an online component, at avon.com, where Avon has been selling products for the last decade, along with television commercials, print advertisements and brochures. There is also a cause-marketing element. Avon is founding a Hello Tomorrow Fund and pledges to donate money through it to organisations in 18 countries...

More Avon men selling beauty products to men

Market grows as men concentrate more on skincare and anti-aging

Avon recently produced their first men’s catalog, which features a PROExtreme skin care line, boxer shorts and power tools. New recruiting brochures also picture both men and women. “Anti-aging is very intriguing to (men),” said Regina Dinisio, public relations manager of Avon fragrance. “They want no-hassle products, but they want to see the real benefits.”Industry experts say the men’s market is ripe, though still in it’s early stages.“We have seen that men are more interested in pampering themselves and taking better care of themselves overall,” said Karen Grant, senior beauty industry analyst at market research company NPD Group Inc. She’s seen an increase in sales in the men’s beauty market, along with a host of new products since 2003. U.S. sales of men’s skincare products totaled $68.9 million in 2008, up from $45.8 million in 2003. In comparison, women’s skincare sold about $2.1 billion in 2008 and $1.7 billion in 2003, according to NPD. Less than 13,000 of Avon’s 650,000 representatives in the U.S. are male, though that figure is rough because applicants are not required to state their gender. Competitor Mary Kay says 5,738 of its 700,000 sales reps are men.

Sakma Hayek sighned as new star of Avon advertising

NEW YORK - Avon has picked Mexican actress Salma Hayek to appear in global advertising and promotions starting later this year.

Avon said that she would appear in television and print advertising, pushing new cosmetic and fragrance launches, and would also feature in the company's brochures, PR efforts and on its site. She will also be backing the Avon Foundation's initiative on domestic violence. The Avon Foundation is a charity that has a mission to improve the lives of women by supporting programmes offering economic opportunity and research into breast cancer. Andrea Jung, chairman and CEO of Avon, said: "Our upcoming colour and fragrance launches signal a true evolution in our beauty growth strategy and Salma's universal beauty will appeal to our broad and diverse customer base." Hayek became famous in her native Mexico as a soap opera star, before crossing over to appear in American films. Starting with small roles in 'Desperado' and 'Dogma', she has steadily increased her standing in Hollywood. She was nominated for an Oscar for best actress for her starring role in 'Frida' in 2002. Hayek said: "I'm very optimistic that in joining forces with Avon, we can truly make a difference to the important cause of domestic violence and bring hope and empowerment to women around the world."

Precision Glimmer Powder Eyeshadow

Avon has announced the addition into it's already expanding family the Precision Glimmer Powder Eyeshadow which comes with a price tag of $4.99 only. The Precision Glimmer Powder Eyeshadow has been dubbed as a revolution in the world of e yeshadow makeup.It is pure,vibrant,crease-proof ultra smooth finish of a loose powder without the mess that accompanies most eye shadows. it comes in several variants;amber,dune,olive and petal.

Avon Breast Cancer Crusade

In response to the needs of women and their families, the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade has for more than a decade raised funds and awareness for advancing access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. There is a new diagnosis every 3 monitues and a life lost every 14. In recognising this phenomenon the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade has since 1992 through present has raised and awarded more than $585 million in 50 countries worldwide for awareness and education; screening and diagnosis; access to treatment; support services and scientific research. Avon's unwavering commitment to this cause has earned it the reputation of the most admired company.

Increased Ad spend Helps Boost Avon's Fourth Quarter

Avon's turn around is starting to happen, after the company reported a 9 per cent boost in sales for the fourth quarter on the back of strong fragrance and color sales.

Fourth quarter sales reached $2.6bn, while full year revenue was up 8 per cent to reach $8.8bn, figures that were largely ahead of analysts' expectations. The company said that on a regional basis strong performances in the booming economies of China and Latin America had also helped to drive sales. Fourth quarter net earnings were largely unchanged with last year, coming in at $184.1m, compared with $183.2m in the year-ago period. The company said that this figure was significantly impacted by $44m in costs for the current restructuring phase. For the full year net earnings were down 44 per cent, from $847.6m in 2007, to $477.6m for the current, a figure that was again attributed to the company's comprehensive restructuring program. In the all-important North American market, the company reported a jump in fourth quarter sales of 4 per cent to reach $749.9m, with higher beauty sales growth of 2 per cent, representing the first time in eight consecutive quarters that the figure was positive. The company also said that positive responses to increased representatives as well as a reduction in fuel prices had helped to boost the bottom line. In Latin America sales grew 13 per cent to reach $770.2m, boosted by the on-going strength of the Brazilian market, pushing top-line growth at 30 per cent for the full year to exceed the $1bn mark. Meanwhile sales growth in the fourth quarter came in at 50 per cent in Colombia, offsetting a drop of 9 per cent in the Mexican market. Results from Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa were up 10 per in the quarter, to reach $355.9m, underscored by a strong performance in the UK and Turkish markets. In Central and Eastern Europe, Russia was the main driving force behind a 17 per cent jump in sales for the quarter, to reach $456.6m. In Asia, the Asia Pacific region saw sales slump 2 per cent to reach $222.6m, a figure that was counteracted by a far stronger performance in the China market where sales grew 28 per cent to reach $67.2m.

Jennifer Hudson new Avon spokeswomen

Jennifer Hudson, who went from little-known performer to Oscar winner in the past year, has a new role to play: representing a perfume. Avon Products Inc. said on Wednesday it had sighned Hudson, who won this year's Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in the musical "Dreamgirls", as spokeswomen for it's Imari brand and new scent, Imari Seduction. The selection of this talented actress as the spokeswomen for Avon will definitely create a positive image among consumers. Kate Hudson has a wide fan base and no doubt her fans would want to associate themselves with products their favourite actress endorses.