Persis Foster Eames Albee
| PFE Albee | |
|---|---|
PFE Albee, ca 1899
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| Born |
May 30, 1836 Philadelphia |
| Died | December 7, 1914 (aged 78) Templeton, Massachusetts |
| Other names | Persis Foster Eames |
| Occupation | businesswoman |
| Known for | First Avon Lady |
Persis Foster Eames Albee (May 30, 1836 – December 7, 1914), also known as PFE Albee, was an American businesswoman and entrepreneur. She was a professional saleswoman for the California Perfume Company, which later became Avon Products, and is considered the first "Avon Lady" due to her successful marketing techniques and her recruiting and training of other sales personnel. She was a pioneer in getting women to become financially independent.
Persis Foster Eames (later shortened to "PFE") was born in Newry, Maine, to Alexander Eames and Miranda Howe Eames, and she had four sisters.
In 1866 at 30 years of age, while residing in Williamsburg, New York, she married Ellery Albee. He was an attorney in Winchester and from 1869 to 1871 a New Hampshire State Senator.
Soon after the marriage, they moved to Winchester. They established an abode in a white 2-story colonial house on the riverbank near a railroad depot station in epicenter of town. Her residence included a store outlet to sell products. The couple had a son, Ellery, born in 1870 and a daughter, Ellen, born in 1873. Their having the city's only public telephone made it a natural congregation point.
In 1879 New York City book dealer David H. McConnell visited Albeer's Westchester home to purvey books. His success in selling books led to his promotion as regional manager in charge of various U.S. territories, in which capacity he recruited other book dealers. Recalling Albee and her store outlet, she was recruited as a sales agent. She started part-time at first, while running her own store at home, and eventually became a "Depot Agent" because of her location near the town's only train station and her use of it.
McConnell innovated new ways to merchandise his books, pairing them with free samples of homemade rose-scented perfume. Seeing that the perfumes interested the ladies more than the books, he began selling perfumes with books. In 1886 he started the California Perfume Company. Albee was one of McConnell's most successful dealers and within months became his first "Depot Manager" in charge of her own district of saleswomen that she recruited. She was a reputable and successful businesswoman and became known in the California Perfume Company as its "mother" because of her practical system and innovative methods for selling the company's products. Woman-to-woman selling was seen by McConnnell as a way to open doors and increase sales.
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