Avon

Avon Products, Inc., also simply known as Avon and originally known as California Perfume Company until the early 1930s, was an American-British multinational makeup and perfume supplier founded in 1886 and based in New York.

History

At times, the company had licensing agreements with The Walt Disney Company, under which it distributed makeup products based on various Disney characters. During the mid-to-late 1980s, it had a deal with GoodTimes Home Video, under which Avon distributed various titles on VHS, among them the 1985 ABC animated television special, "The Velveteen Rabbit," direct-to-video Muppets programs, and miscellaneous Hanna-Barbera cartoons. In 1988, the company formed Avon Video Enterprises, doing business as Avon Home Video, with deals with various home video labels/distributors and a duplication pact with Technicolor Videocassette, Inc. (later known as Technicolor Video Services, Technicolor Video/CD/DVD Services and Technicolor Home Entertainment Services).

Unless otherwise noted, most post-1988 releases carry no logo on the face label whatsoever. The client's logo is normally retained on the packaging, yet its stock number is usually replaced on the spines with Avon's own stock number, beginning with "F.S.C." and ending with a suffix number, similar to the bracket number on the back of post-1982 Disney video releases. Most tapes sold through Avon retain the client's ISBN and/or UPC codes, unless otherwise noted. Many of the company's post-1988 video releases were duplicated in SP mode, though some were in either LP or EP/SLP mode and lack previews, unless otherwise noted. By the early 1990s, Avon Video Enterprises was renamed Avon Home Entertainment.

Avon never had any of their video releases packaged in clamshells, nor did they sell titles rated any higher than PG-13.

In late 2005, Avon exited the video business.

List of Customers

MGM/UA Home Video (1991-1997)
- Fries Home Video (1989-1992)
- M.C.E.G. Virgin Home Entertainment (1989-1990)
  - Forum Home Video (1988-1989)
  - M.C.E.G. Home Video (1989-1990)
  - Virgin Vision (1988-1989)
- Orion Home Video (1990-1997)
- Cannon Video (1988-1994)
  - Hemdale Home Video (1991-1995)
GoodTimes Home Video (1985-2005)
- Kids Klassics (1985-1996)
Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2001-2003)
- Prism Entertainment (1988-1996)
- Trimark Home Video (1988-2001)
- Avalanche Home Entertainment (1998-2001)
- Studio Home Entertainment (2000-2001)
- Sterling Home Entertainment (1998-2001)
- Artisan Entertainment (1991-2000)
  - Family Home Entertainment (1991-2000)
  - Vestron Video (1991-1993)
  - Hallmark Home Entertainment (1997-1998)
    - Cabin Fever Entertainment (1989-1998)
- Anchor Bay Entertainment (1995-1998)
  - Video Treasures (1990-1998)
    - Media Home Entertainment (1990-1993)
    - Burbank Video (1991-1995)
      - American Video (1988-1991)
    - Strand Home Video (1990-1994)
  - Starmaker Entertainment (1990-1998)
    - R&G Video (1990-1998)
Warner Home Video (1994-2004)
- New Line Home Entertainment (1991-2004)
  - Nelson Entertainment (1988-1991)
- Turner Home Entertainment (1992-1997)
  - Hanna-Barbera Home Video (1989-1992)
- HBO Home Video (1988-2004)
- WarnerVision Entertainment (1990-1997)
- Lorimar Home Video (1989)
Warner Reprise Video (1988-2004)
Universal Studios Home Video (1991-2004)
- PolyGram Video/USA Home Entertainment (1991-1999)
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1992-2004)
- Sony Video Software (1988-1991)
Sony Music Entertainment (1997-2004)
- Sony Wonder (1997-2004)
  - Random House Home Video (1989-2004)
BMG Video (1988-2004)
ClassicMedia (2001-2003)
- Golden Book Video/Golden Books Family Entertainment (1991-2001)
Wood Knapp Video (1989-1992)
Alpha Video Distributors (1994-1996)
Paramount Home Entertainment (1988-2004)
- Republic Pictures Home Video (1991-1999)
  - Worldvision Home Video (1986-1995)
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1989-2004)
Celebrity Home Entertainment (1989-1998)
Saban Home Entertainment (1993-1996)
FUNimation Entertainment (1996-2004)
York Entertainment (1992-2004)
Dualstar Video (1993-1998)
Academy Entertainment (1988-1994)
PM Entertainment Group (1990-2001)
Spartan Home Entertainment (2000-2003)
Full Moon Releasing (1995-2002)
First Look Home Entertainment (2000-2004)
Capital Cities/ABC Video Publishing (1993-1996)
- ABC Video
- Summa Video
- ESPN Home Video (1988-1996)
Rhino Home Video (1991-2004)
Public Media/Janus Films (1988-2004)
Image Entertainment (1998-2004)
Kultur (1988-2004)
Kino on Video (1989-2004)
WinStar Home Entertainment (1997-2001)
- Fox Lorber Home Video (1990-2001)
BWE Video (1996-2000)
New Yorker Video (1989-2004)
National Geographic Video (1988-2004)
AnimEigo (1991-2004)
Water Bearer Films (1988-2004)
Media Blasters (1997-2004)
Central Park Media (1991-2004)
WWE Home Video (1997-2004)
- Coliseum Video (1988-1997)
Major League Baseball Home Video (1991-1996)
A&E Home Video (1993-2002)
Goldhil Video (1995-2001)
New Concorde (1991-2004)
A-PIX Entertainment (1993-2002)
Showtime Entertainment (1995-2004)
ADV Films (1993-2004)
Monterey Home Video (1991-2004)
VCI Home Video (1988-2004)
PBS Home Video (1989-2004)
Public Arts (1989-1994)
Acorn Video (1993-2004)
World Wide Pictures Home Video (1988-2004)
World Artists Home Video (1992-1996)
MPI Home Video (1988-2004)
The Vista Group (1988-1994)
PPI Entertainment (1988-2004)
New Video (1992-2004)
J2 Communications (1988-1991)
Screen Media Films (2002-2004)
Trinity Home Entertainment (2002)
Big Idea Productions (1993-2004)
Word Entertainment (1991-1999)
- Everland Entertainment (1992-1999)
BCI Eclipse (1991-2004)
- Simitar Entertainment (1989-2000)
View-Master Video (1988-1995)
Feld Entertainment (2003-2004)
Bridgestone Multimedia Group (1988-2004)
WGBH Boston Video (1993-2004)
HiT Entertainment (2001-2004)
- Lyrick Studios (1989-2001)
DEJ Productions (1998-2004)
Trans World Entertainment (1988-1989)
KingWorld Direct (1992-1998)
Cloud Ten Pictures (2000-2004)
SouthGate Entertainment (1989-1991)
SGE Home Video (1989-1991)
Imperial Entertainment (1988-1996)
Xenon Entertainment Group (1989-2004)
Fisher-Price (1988-1993)
KVC Home Video (1989-1993)
Barr Entertainment (1993-1995)
Unicorn Video (1989-1990)
Learning Corporation of America (1989-1990)
Magnum Entertainment (1988-1992)
Complete Entertainment (1988-1991)
AIP Home Video (1989-1996)
Best Film & Video Corporation (1988-2001)
Axon Video (1989-1992)
Edde Entertainment (1989-1998)
Connoisseur Video Collection (1988-1994)
Warren Miller Entertainment (1988-1994)
New Star Video (1988-1990)
Platinum Productions (1988-1991)
Panorama International (1988-1996)
Price/Stern/Sloan (1990)
Studio Entertainment (1988-1991)
Raedon Home Video (1988-1990)
Arena Home Video (1990-1997)
Al Taylor Company (1990)
Wonderworld Cartoons (1990)
Direct Video (1989-1990)
First Run Features Home Video (1989-1998)
Summit Media (1988-1992)
Milestone Film & Video (1992-1995)
Pioneer Entertainment (1993-2003)
Geneon Entertainment USA (2003-2004)
Feature Films for Families (1991-2004)
Sinister Cinema (1989-2002)
Wavelength Video (1992-1994)
Something Weird Video (1991-2004)
Leo Films Home Video (1991-1995)
JTC, Inc. (1991-1994)
Video Outlaw (1992-1994)
Shanachie (1992-1999)
Facets Video (1991-1994)
Easyriders Home Video (1992-1994)
Triboro Entertainment Group (1991-1997)
Miramar Productions (1993)
White Star Entertainment (1991-1998)
YES! Entertainment (1990-1996)
Coral Video (1992-1995)
Award Films International (1991-1996)
Tesla Memorial Society (1992-1995)
Stardance Entertainment (1994-1996)
Arrow Video (1993-1997)
LMH Productions (1994-1995)
Pyewackett Productions (1993-1995)
Superior Promotions (1994)
Parade Video (1989-2005)
MTI Home Video (1989-2005)
Boulevard Films (1994-2001)
The Penland Company (1992-1997)
Atlas Entertainment Corporation (1989-1992)
Palm Pictures (1999-2005)
Kidmark, Inc. (1988-1992)
Voyager Entertainment (1992-2000)
NBR Enterprises (1990-2004)
Command Home Video (1988)
Trylon Video (1989-1990)
MVP Home Entertainment (1995-1999)
Koch Vision (1999-2004)
Eaton Entertainment (1997-2002)
West Hills Studios (1989-1993)
T.T.V. Video (1988-1992)
LawrenceVision 3D (1992-1993)
Classic Family Entertainment (1988-1990)
Mark IV Pictures (1988-1991)
Shine Home Entertainment (1991)
Media West Home Video (1988-2005)
Eagle Rock Entertainment (1997-2004)
Sideshow Cinema (1988-1989)
Fotodisk Video (1989-1991)
Crocus Entertainment (1989)
New Image Video (1989)
Crown Video (1988-1989)
Films for the Humanities and Sciences (1988-2005)
The Maier Group (1990-1995)
Lumivision (1994-2002)
Expanded Entertainment (1993-1997)
Haber Video (1996-2001)
VideoTours (1989-2002)
The Discovery Channel Video Library (1991-2005)
Sinistar Entertainment (1999)
Genius Products (1999-2005)
Pickwick/Diamond Entertainment (1988-1989)
Guthy-Renker Video (1995-2005)
Hart Sharp Video (2002-2005)
Creative Communication Center (1989-2005)
Children's Video of America (1988-1993)
More Entertainment (1990)
In-Fisherman Video (1989)
MorningStar Entertainment (1991-2005)
Film Threat Video (1992-1995)
Morris Video (1988-1990)
Kideo (1996-2005)
earthrise studios (1997-1998)
Weston Woods/Children's Circle (1988-2005)
Finley Holiday Films (1991-1996)
MasterVision (1988-1992)
Aid Association for Lutherans (1988-2001)
Lutheran Brotherhood (1992-2001)
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans (2002-2005)
High Video (2001-2005)
Quality Video (1993-2005)
New & Unique Videos (1988-2005)
Gospel Light Video (1989-2003)
Liguori Publishing (1988-1996)
TM Books & Video (1988-2005)
ChoiceMark Corp. (1992-1996)
Lightworks Audio & Video (1991-1996)
Broadman & Holman Publishers (1993-1996)
Fred Levine Productions (1990-1992)
Capstone Entertainment (1991-1994)

Trivia

Some copies of some tapes, mostly those from Warner Home Video, such as Scooby-Doo (2002), Tom & Jerry: The Movie and Two Weeks Notice that were sold through Avon reuse video masters that preserve previews. This was also the case with the 1991 release of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from Family Home Entertainment and The Magic School Bus Inside the Haunted House from WarnerVision Entertainment.
Earlier Avon tapes, such as some copies of the 36th volume of Star Blazers from Kidmark, Inc. (not to be confused with the children's sub-division of Vidmark Entertainment) and The Clan of the Care Bears from Fries Home Video, were known to end with a black screen test pattern with a 400hz tone, as was common with many tapes duplicated at Technicolor in California prior to May 1989.
A few tapes from Random House Home Video sold through Avon, such as a few Sesame Street videos, were known to retain the client's logo on the face label.
On a few tapes from Universal Studios Home Video and Family Home Entertainment sold through Avon, the barcode was completely empty, in which the ISBN and UPC codes were whited out.
Some Avon tapes duplicated in SP mode at Technicolor in Livonia, Michigan using either industrial duplicators and/or Otari TMD systems, may have started and ended with DTMF tones, although it has yet to be confirmed.
Avon's home video division was a near-monopoly, covering most home video distributors at the time.

Locations

New York City, New York