Avon, too, is counting on a well-known designer to boost its fragrance sales. The world’s biggest direct seller is teaming up with French couture fashion designer Christian Lacroix and Inter Par-fums, its worldwide fragrance licensee, to create two signature fragrances, Christian Lacroix
Rouge (for women) and Christian Lacroix Noir (for men). Christian Lacroix Rouge and Noir will launch globally in 2007, debuting in the UK in September. In the U.S., Christian Lacroix Rouge will launch in November, followed by Christian Lacroix Noir in February.

In an unrelated announcement, Avon said it will open its new distribution center in Zanesville, OH. The company said the new facility will employ approximately 500 people and be able to ship 50% of Avon’s U.S. sales volume when fully operational. Avon, which will invest approximately $117 million in capital expenditures related to the new center, said it chose the location partly because of its proximity to major highways. Zanesville is approximately 50 miles east of Columbus, OH. Avon’s current distribution facilities in Delaware and Illinois will be phased out in mid-2009 and mid-2010, respectively, the company said.