American cosmetic and gift company Avon Products, Inc. is known for its eye-catching, digest-sized catalogs shimmering with fresh-faced models wearing reasonably priced makeup and advertising costume jewelry, colognes, and an array of other items. Their goods are backed by a satisfaction guarantee and delivered by a friendly face, usually female, who earns or supplements an income by the commission received. Avon's retail concept, symbolized by the direct-sales "Avon lady," is a cherished part of American culture, and now, a recognized addition to countries around the globe as well. In the 1990s, Avon was the world's top direct-sales cosmetics firm, with a total work force of 2.6 million in over 130 countries, producing sales of $4.8 billion ($1.7 billion in the United States alone). Ninety percent of American women have purchased Avon products in their lifetime, most likely because of the convenience, price, and quality, but perhaps also due to the history of...