Avon May Be Sending Reps Door-to-Door in China

Avon Products Inc. may soon be sending its sales reps door-to-door in China, according to reports. Direct-selling would allow Avon to make further inroads into China, which is opening its giant markets after joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

An Avon representative said the company has gained approval to run a pilot program selling products directly to consumers in China. Avon already sells its products through retail outfits. China banned direct selling in 1998 under fears about fraud and potential abuses of sales reps.

“Avon has verbal permission to test direct selling in China,” said a Guangzhou-based Avon representative. “However, to date, we have not received any official document. The government has worked hard in recent years to study the market. I have no reason to be optimistic.”