History of Product Names & Trademarks: Avon

About the history and origins of famous product names and trademarks, in this case Avon.

AVON In 1886, door-to-door book salesman, D.H. McConnell was handing out free perfume to American housewives before attempting to sell his books. Fewer and fewer doors were slammed in his face, and finally the perfume was in such demand that McConnel rented an office in New York City and started the California Perfume Company. On the firm's 50th anniversary, he changed its name to Avon because of his admiration for Shakespeare and Stratford-on-Avon.