Avon, originally known as the California Perfume Company, was founded in 1886 by David H. McConnell in New York, USA. The company started as a perfume business, offering a small line of fragrances that quickly grew in popularity. In 1939, the company was rebranded as Avon, inspired by the birthplace of William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon, to reflect its broader product line and global ambitions.