AN ICONIC beauty brand with a 137-year history is to open stores in the UK for the first time.
Avon, historically known for its door-to-door salespeople, will start opening its first shops within the next two months.
Avon is set to launch its first stores in the UKPA
The UK stores will feature around 150 products, with the full range still only available through its representatives.
It’s part of the beauty giant’s plan for a wider global move into physical retailing.
Avon first launched the franchise store model in Turkey almost three years ago, where it now has 63 outlets, and Avon said it has seen sales growth double in the region.
The number of stores and their locations in the UK are yet to be confirmed.
Avon is also rolling out its beauty range further across the Superdrug chain following its move in September to tie up with the beauty and pharmacy chain.
This means more shoppers will see Avon products sold in UK high street shops for the first time.
Avon, which initially launched across 100 Superdrug stores and the retailer’s website, will expand products across hundreds more stores from November 27.
It also has plans to extend throughout the entire Superdrug chain, which includes almost 800 stores.
Several major high street brands have announced that they will be opening new locations across the country this year.
Among the brands set to expand their portfolios are bakery chain Greggs and discount store B&M.
But some high street retailers have been struggling, as shoppers turn their attentions to online retail.
It has led to some well-known brands disappearing from the high street entirely, including Wilko and Paperchase.
So Avon’s expansion will come as welcome news to shoppers who still enjoy shopping on the high street.
Avon was founded in 1886 and started out selling products direct into the home through a network of door-to-door representatives, offering women a way to earn independent income.
It still has an army of Avon reps selling door to door, but has increasingly shifted towards online and social media in recent years and through the pandemic.
The UK store plans are part of a wider global move into physical retailing.
Angela Cretu, global chief executive of Avon International, said: “Many customers go to the stores for an opportunity to try many of the products, or simply to enjoy a pamper experience with a beauty adviser.”
She said the group is providing training to its reps to be able to launch and run the retail franchises and provide them with the technology needed to run the businesses.
In a franchise model, a business sells a licence to a third-party (franchisee) to trade under the brand name.
The franchisee is self-employed and sells products under the guidance of the bussiness.
A list of Superdrug stores where Avon products are already available can be seen below:
London Marble Arch
Westfield Stratford
Bullring Birmingham
Meadowhall Sheffield
Manchester Arndale
Manchester Trafford Ct
Liverpool One
Glasgow Argyle St
Lakeside Thurrock
Merry Hill
Bristol Broadmead
Liverpool Parker St
Bradford, the Broadway
Northumberland St
Brighton Churchillsq
Hounslow
Birmingham Fort
Edinburgh Princes St
Belfast Abbey Ctr
Edinburgh St James
Brixton
Rushden Lakes
Basingstoke
Craigavon Rushmere
Plymouth Drakes Circus
Uxbridge
Nottingham Clumber S
Milton Keynes Mk1
Glasgow Fort
Dundee Overgate Ctr
Hayes Lombardy Rp
Exeter
Enfield Palace Exc
Birmingham Corp St
Colchester High St
Belfast Castle Court
London the Strand
Cardiff Queens West
Tamworth Ventura Retail Park
Reading Broad St
Livingston
Rugby Elliotts Field
Hanley Potteries
Bournemouth Castlepoint
Harrow
Westwood Cross
Northampton
Llanelli Parc Troste
Nottingham Victoria
Stratford the Mall
Wakefield Trinity Wk
Newry, Buttercrane
York Market St
Canterbury
Coventry Lower Precinct
Carlisle
Stirling
Edge Lane Rp, Liverpool
Denton, Crownpoint
Worthing
Blackpool
Croydon Centrale_units 13 – 17 Centrale Shopping Centre_01
Bournemouth
Truro
Walsall
Sutton
Kilburn
Belfast, Boucher
Coatbridge, Faraday Rp
Bury St Edmunds
Islington
Coliseum Rp, Ellemere Port
Woolwich
Witney
Beckton
Luton Retail Park
Inverness Retail Park
Durham Arnison
Silverlink, North Shields
Taunton
Derby Westfield Ctr
Bangor Bloomfield
Stockport Merseyway
Banbury Gateway
Greenwich Rp
Camberley
Barnsley
Swindon
London Holborn Stat
Peterborough, Serpentine Green
Winchester
Falkirk Rp
Glasgow Braehead
Prestatyn Rp
Newport Retail Park
Bentley Bridge
Bristol Gallagher Rp
Festival Retail Park, Stoke
Leigh Parsonage Rp
Doncaster Frenchgate
Meanwhile, M&S is set to open NINE new shops this month – in biggest store opening plan yet.
Plus, Aldi has revealed 22 areas and towns where it plans to open new stores.
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