Avon invests in learning platform to train representatives

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Feb 20, 2019

Cosmetics manufacturer Avon, whose beauty products are sold by millions of sales representatives worldwide, has partnered with Fuse Universal to create a global training platform and help its sales reps improve their selling power.

The 130-year old company is midway through a new transformation strategy to become a digital-first, fast-beauty brand. It said the partnership with Fuse Universal, a learning technology firm, is one element of its new strategy, helping it unleash the potential of the business model.

The move will give sales representatives access to training on a range of topics, from beauty tutorials and skincare science to marketing and sales skills. The ultimate goal is to strengthen representative retention to fight the mass exodus the company has experienced in recent years.

Miguel Fernandez, president of global sales, said: "Our Avon beauty entrepreneurs are the heart of our business and it's crucial that we provide them with digital and mobile-first tools to open up their potential learning and earning power. This is a core element of Avon's transformation plan, and as we have recently reported, we're seeing early signs of the positive impact new digital tools and increased training can have on our representatives' sales.

In today's world of ready access to technology, our new relationship with Fuse will enable us to deliver training tools to our global network of representatives in a form that enables them to learn on their own terms as they grow and thrive with Avon."

Avon said the platform has already been successfully piloted in South Africa and will now roll out to Avon's key markets this year, starting with the UK, South Africa and Avon's largest markets in Latin America.