Every three seconds, an Avon lipstick is sold, topping lipstick sales globally.
"Color cosmetics is fun -- it's kind of an impulsive purchase," said Louise Butler, global vice president of color, personal care and haircare at Avon Products, Inc.
Butler, who graduated from the Wharton School in 1984, spoke in Huntsman Hall Thursday about her career path and gave a presentation discussing the recent renovation plan for Avon.
This plan focuses on the personalization, expansion and feminization of products, Butler said.
"Everything in Avon is about benefits," Butler said. "There has to be some blending on what's on a women's mind."
Attendees were treated to free goody bags with Avon makeup.
"I'm probably going to be a fan mostly of the eyeshadow," College junior Rachel Mills said.
The company is rolling out a rainbow of new colors to cater to consumer tastes worldwide. According to Butler, a Cleveland native, "colors are an emotional experience."
Furthermore, the revamped advertising campaign includes new celebrity spokeswoman Salma Hayek, whose "values are the same as Avon's-- -- women's empowerment and women's health," Butler said.
Mills said she came to the talk because makeup is "something that we all know about."
"I'm interested in advertising. I just think it's really helpful to hear people's own personal stories on how they became successful persons," the communication major added.
Although the roughly 30-person audience was largely composed of females, a handful of male students also enjoyed the slideshow presentation brought to campus by the Wharton organization called Marketing Undergraduate Students Establishment.
Engineering and Wharton sophomore Alan Liu said he came for "just general information on how the company works and is expanding globally," adding that he is "not generally interested in care products."
The Management and Technology program student said Butler's presentation "was informative, well-prepared, professional."
Butler first worked for Clairol Incorporated prior to climbing the corporate ladder at Avon starting in 1995.
The Avon business is 118 years old and was originally founded as a perfume company. The business was ranked 221 by the Forbes 500 ranking for 2003.
