Iconic beauty brand to open shops in the UK for first time in 137 years
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.
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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