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Washington, D.C., December 20, 2019— Avon’s commitment to women’s empowerment dates back over 130 years and with the launch this year of stand4her, a global plan to tackle some of the greatest barriers holding women back from achieving their full potential, this partnership amplifies the impact of both organizations through their complementary missions.
“We are excited to be working with WEConnect to explore ways of achieving fairer representation of women owned businesses in our supply chain. Women’s empowerment had been our mission for over 130 years and we are committed to continue improving women’s lives throughout our entire value chain” says Natalie Deacon, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs & Social Responsibility at Avon.
Around the world, women’s business enterprises continue to earn less than 1% of the money spent on vendors by large global buyers and to Avon, the business case is clear: supplier diversity results in tangible returns on investment for corporations looking to innovate their value chains. Additionally, research shows again and again, that when one woman’s life improves, it benefits her family, her community, and the wider world we all live in and therefore, supporting women is embedded in the Avon DNA.
“We are impressed with Avon’s audacious goal through stand4her to improve the lives of 100 million women a year, for the next 10+ years,” says WEConnect International CEO and Co-Founder Elizabeth A. Vazquez. “Our partnership supports this goal by ensuring inclusion of women within the Avon value chain and we look forward to the leveraged impact we can have together.”
About WEConnect International
A corporate-led, global non-profit, WEConnect International works with an alliance of nearly 100 multinational buyers that have committed to sourcing more products and services from women-owned businesses based in over 120 countries. Member buyers collectively represent over $1 trillion in annual purchasing power. WEConnect International identifies, educates, registers and certifies women’s business enterprises based outside of the U.S. that are at least 51% owned, as well as managed and controlled by one or more women, and connects them with large buyers. For more information, see www.weconnectinternational.org
For media inquiries please contact:
Angela Walker | VP of Marketing and Communications | WEConnect International | awalker@weconnectinternational.org
About Avon Products Inc.
For more than 130 years Avon has stood for women: providing innovative, quality beauty products which are primarily sold to women, through women. Millions of independent sales Representatives across the world sell iconic Avon brands such as Avon Color and ANEW through their social networks, building their own beauty businesses on a full- or part-time basis. Avon supports women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship and well-being and has donated over $1billion to women’s causes through Avon and the Avon Foundation. Learn more about Avon and its products at www.avonworldwide.com. #stand4her
For media inquiries please contact:
Joanna Gluzman | Director, Sustainability and CSR | Avon
Joanna.Gluzman@avon.com
