num_employees = 

Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP (http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=AVP)) is an American cosmetics, perfume and toy seller with markets in over 135 countries across the world and a sales of $5.2 billion worldwide. It was founded by David H. McConnell in 1886 as California Perfume Company (CPC) in New York, New York. In September, 1939, the name was changed to Avon Products, Inc.

Traditionally a direct-selling company, Avon's fastest growing markets today are in China and Russia. Currently, the company is headed up by Andrea Jung, the company's president and CEO, who was promoted to the position in 1999.

Avon uses both door to door sales people ("Avon ladies," primarily) and catalogs to advertise their products, but in some markets (most notably China, who banned all door-to-door selling in the 1990s) Avon products are sold primarily in retail stores.

Although the company has always been more directed towards female customers, Avon's line of male products continues to expand, and their childrens products (such as shampoos and toys) have also proved to be a good source of revenue. Two recent brand diversifications, "mark" (targeted to younger, college-aged women) and "M" (an Avon catalogue for men) have helped the company reach out into markets they traditionally have not serviced in the past.

In addition to its corporate pursuits, the Avon corporation is also involved in philanthropic causes, primarily centered around women's empowerment and health issues.