Updated February 22, 2018 15:30:57

Photo: Avon representatives were famous for their house calls selling cosmetics. (Supplied: Pexels)

After 55 years selling cosmetics, skincare, fragrance and fashion door-to-door Avon is leaving Australia.

The company had been one of the most recognisable direct selling brands, making sales through house parties, one-on-one demonstrations and increasingly through private social media accounts.

Famous for its 'Avon calling' catch-cry, the company made the announcement through Facebook, which attracted an angry response from some of its 21,400 representatives.

The company said it had notified representatives via email before making the post, but some saw the social media post first.

Narelle Tweedy, who has been an Avon sales representative for 10 years, said the announcement came as a shock.

"I was gob-smacked, I didn't see that one coming," Ms Tweedy said.

"All those representatives have to find something else to do now, along with 200 employees who have to find some other income now."

Ms Tweedy said the Avon business model had played an important role for many women who wanted to work while balancing family life.

"It was so good for women, they could take their children with them and it would get them out of the house," she said.

"I really enjoyed it, getting out there talking to customers, I could get out there and meet new people."

Gary Mortimer, associate professor at Queensland University of Technology's business school, said the original Avon model was out of date.

"We've changed, no one's at home anymore," he said.

"Knock on the door we're all at work or doing something, so it doesn't really work."

Christine Moody, an entrepreneur and brand specialist said the company had been too slow to change with the times.

"We have different models now, in store experiences, subscriptions, online sales. Avon didn't go online until 2014, it was too late."

Representatives have been told there will be three more sales campaigns before Avon pulls out of the Australian market, taking them up to the start of May.

Ms Tweedy said her customers were preparing for the change.

"They're stocking up already on everything."

Topics: small-business, business-economics-and-finance, fashion, broken-hill-2880, brisbane-4000

First posted February 22, 2018 15:06:10