Avon Products, Inc. posted its first-quarter 2008 results with a rise in total revenue 14% to $2.5 billion. Sales of beauty products jumped 17% and included increases in all categories: fragrance grew 20%, color was up 15%, personal care rose 15% and skin care increased 13%, according to the company.
 
Net income in the first quarter 2008 was $185 million, compared with $150 million in last year’s quarter.

Andrea Jung, chairman and chief executive officer, commented, "Again this quarter we produced solid results on the momentum of our turnaround plan and the strength of our well-balanced geographic portfolio. Active Representative growth accelerated to one of the highest growth levels in many years, 14%. This reflects our investments in the Representative Value Proposition (RVP), such as expanding our Sales Leadership program, increasing sales campaign frequency and improving commissions and incentives to our Representatives. Additionally, we continued to benefit from our strength in developing and emerging markets around the globe to more than offset the unfavorable impact of economic softness and service problems in North America.

"With this solid start to the year, and despite the challenges in North America, we remain confident that we can deliver on our 2008 objectives to achieve a full-year operating margin that approaches 2005's level of approximately 14% and revenue growth in line with our long-term target of mid-single-digit growth," Ms. Jung concluded.