Beauty giant Avon under fire over Russia links

BBC: Beauty giant Avon has come under fire for maintaining links with Russia despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The BBC has discovered the firm is still recruiting new sales agents in the country and continuing production in a huge plant in the Moscow region.

Avon, which has its headquarters in the UK, started doing business in Russia 30 years ago.
The firm said that it provides “critical support” for women whose livelihoods depend on their business.
The 137-year-old company is best known for its door-to-door sales representatives who demonstrate the application of its cosmetics, perfumes and creams first-hand.

The company has, however, transformed in recent years with a renewed focus on physical shops and social media sales. At the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, Avon announced it was stopping investment and suspending exports of its beauty items from Russia to other markets, including Ukraine.

Avon’s parent company, the Brazilian firm Natura & Co, previously emphasised it was only maintaining local operations to support its sales agents who are reliant on their business.
“We believe restricting their access to products would have an outsize impact on women and children there,” it said.

However, the BBC has found it is still possible to register as a new sales agent for the firm in Russia, with recruits offered prizes, cash bonuses and even holidays for hitting targets.
The website offers Russian citizens over the age of 18 access to “iconic, high-quality products” and describes the additional income they might be able to make, creating their “own life” as a beauty expert.
After registering online, the BBC received a welcome email with the chance to begin an “Easy Start” sales programme and contact details for a local co-ordinator.

In a YouTube video published on Avon Russia›s account celebrating the 30-year anniversary, senior managers describe awards ceremonies, training in social media management and how to improve sales, with trips abroad offered as rewards for its top sellers who are in its “Star Club”.
An Avon spokesperson said: “Avon Russia supports women in Russia through locally funded activities to support their social selling businesses.
“We see this as critical support for women whose livelihoods depend on their Avon business.”