Avon, one of the largest beauty companies in the world, is closing of its outlets in the Caribbean; Guyana is also affected by this move.
The company, which is fifth largest beauty company and second largest direct selling corporation in the world, decided to cease all of its operations in the Caribbean on January 29, External Communications Manager of the company Lindsay Fox told Stabroek News yesterday. Thousands of agents and representatives will be affected as a result.
Fox said the “island markets” that fall under US distribution were affected. However, Hawaii, Guam and Saipan, as well as the islands served through Avon’s Puerto Rico distribution remain unaffected by the closure.
She stated that during this time of turnaround, Avon remained committed to focusing its resources on restoring the health of the US business market to deliver future growth. “As a result of this decision, Avon will no longer accept orders from these territories after Campaign 5 2015,” Fox said.
Tricia Sinarine, an Avon independent sale representative in Trinidad, listed the affected countries as: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Curacao, Dominica, Grand Cayman Island, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
One local Avon representative, who chose not to be named, told this publication that the termination was thrust upon them without warning. The representative said she received a letter from Avon’s Senior Vice President Pablo Munoz informing her of the termination. The letter also indicated that the company was terminating all contracts with independent representatives and will no longer accept orders for the company from the Caribbean.
Representatives were also advised to discontinue promoting the company’s products.
“It’s sad situation. Many of the representatives have left their jobs to do this, so a lot of people really felt it, especially our buyers,” the representative said.
She stated that many clients were saddened when they heard the news. She further stated that after 11 years of service as an agent, she was shocked by the sudden action.
Another representative, who noted that she was working with the company for over four years, stated that, “It’s a bad hiccup because it was a second form of income and it’s going to be hard.
It’s a real blow to us as representatives,” she said.
When contacted yesterday, the Avon Guyana office, declined to comment.
Avon has 6.4 million representatives in over 100 countries, with annual sales of US$10 billion.
