Avon Case Review

Avon Case Study #17

Avon is the leading global beauty company with almost 9 billion in annual revenue. The company allowed women to independently sell beauty products long before women in the US were given the right to vote. The company has not always been as successful as it is today. Poor strategic decisions made in the 1980’s caused Avon to strive to become more diverse. Management now realizes that diversity is essential in long-term success, especially due to the constantly changing workforce. There are several reasons why Avon is committed to being diverse. Firstly, because the primary Avon customer is female, it is essential for the company to have women in leadership positions. They are able to better understand the demands of their customer base and select products that will be successful. Secondly, more women and minorities are entering the workforce so it is important for Avon to incorporate these changing demographics into their own employment structure. Avon also has allowed for the use of diversity networks. These networks allow minorities to interact more with one another and feel empowered, because they can share their suggestions and concerns with others in their network, rather than as an individual to a large corporation. All of these factors give Avon a competitive advantage and a long term position in the changing labor market.

Another company praised for its commitment to diversity is Sodexo. Most people recognize the Sodexo because they have a large presence in the food service industry. Even at Saint Michael’s, Sodexo dining services provides the food that Alliot dining hall serves. Sodexo is rated #1 on the DiversityInc top 50 list for the most diverse companies. Sodexo has led every other company in its ability to implement, measure and assess strong internal diversity initiatives. Sodexo is at the forefront of creative ways to examine the ROI of diversity initiatives. This amazing company has steadily risen in the ranks in recent...