WORLD PREMIERE: "Avon" launches the first fragranced credit card

The cosmetics maker "Avon" launched the first MasterCard credit card available exclusively for its direct customers, issued regionally, in partnership with GE Money. In Romania, the card will be issued through GarantiBank, it will be useable both for the purchase of Avon products, as well as for any kind of purchases, and will include a medical insurance in the event the owner gets diagnosed with breast cancer. The card can be used both in Romania and abroad, within the limit of the available credit.

Angela Creţu, General Manager for Avon Romanian and South-East Europe stated: "it is a world premiere, that we are unfolding in Romania. Since it is a campaign which targets women, we continue to carry out a mission to not only bring them beauty, but also to take care of their health and to provide a consistent financial support. This card, expressing femininity through its fragrance, helps support the material independence of women, being the only package in the world which offers such benefits. We pay up to 5000 lei for the medical insurance of the direct buyers of Avon products, and therefore, holders of this card ".

The Avon card is valid for two years, with a the option to extend its duration. This can be done through the direct customer"s registration of personal data in Avon"s database. The application form will be received by GarantiBank, which will approve the release of the card with a credit based on the stated revenues of the applicant.

Michael Bregulla, European Relationship Manager for Avon at GE Money, stated: "The credit card launched in Bucharest is the result of a project we are unfolding with Avon and GE Money in five countries in the region: Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania. I am glad that with the help of our international partner Garanti we have included Romania in this project, for the first time".

The card has a distinct design and is fragranced with the product Avon Little Black Dess. It is a chip-credit card and grants the owners loyalty points every time they shop.

The card also allows the electronic payment of Avon invoices directly from the Internet page, earning loyalty points of 1% from the total amount of the payments made using the card, which can be redeemed towards the purchase of Avon products. The card"s owner also benefits from a grace period of up to 50 days from the date of the payment and will receive 15 loyalty points from Avon, upon activating the card.

The issuing fee for the card is zero, and the annual administrative fee is also zero for the first year. By the end of the year, the card will be available to the most faithful Avon direct customers in two versions: fragranced and business, and starting January 2009, any eligible direct customer will have the possibility to enjoy its advantages.