Four decades after coming to our shores, beauty company Avon is closing its New Zealand operations.
In a post on Facebook, the firm’s managing director Sharon Plant said it would close its businesses in Australia and New Zealand by the end of the year.
“This is a very sad day for our employees and representatives. As a management team our commitment and focus over the coming days, weeks and months is to support our people and the wider Avon community who are impacted by this decision,” she said.
“I would like to thank all the employees, representatives and customers who have supported Avon’s business over the years.”
The company has 220 staff and 21,4000 beauty representatives across the two countries.
Some of the reps have commented on the company’s post in anger, saying they have only learned of the news via social media.
Avon began in the USA in 1886, when a door-to-door salesman David McConnell began selling perfume directly to households.
It grew into a global beauty giant, coming to Australia in 1963 and New Zealand in 1978. The company’s “Ding-dong, Avon calling” became synonymous with beauty of the era.
The company remains the world’s fifth largest beauty company but has struggled with plummeting sales in recent years.
