Helaine Olen, contributing editor at Pacific Standard and author of Pound Foolish talks about how home party companies are making waves, specifically in Silicon Valley:
The invitations began arriving shortly after I moved back to my native New York City in 2012. They all sounded eerily similar. Each offered a chance to spend some fun, quality time in an intimate setting with a few fellow moms—or “the girls”—while some sort of product, usually but not always clothing, was “shared.”
One of them beckoned me to a “trunk show” of jewelry and accessories by the company Stella & Dot, to be held at an Upper West Side brownstone. Another offered “a chance to share girlfriend time, refreshments and shop [sic]” for garments bearing the Ruby Ribbon label, a clothing and undergarment line.
A little Googling confirmed my suspicion: Like Amway and Mary Kay, these newer companies are multi-level marketing programs. Which is to say they offer their salespeople two ways to make money: by selling products directly to friends and neighbors, and—far more efficiently—by selling friends and neighbors on the idea of becoming salespeople themselves, and collecting a commission on their recruits’ earnings.
Suffice it to say, this was not exactly what I expected from a
Tag Archive for Mary Kay
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Gale Hughes Earns 9th Mary Kay Car
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
Imagine never having to pay for a car in 20 years. That’s what one Crozet woman can claim after she picked up her ninth free car Thursday evening.
Gale Hughes is a Mary Kay sales director who says her last car payment was in 1996, when she started selling Mary Kay products. She earned her first free car within two years.
She earns the cars by meeting her sales quota every six months. Thursday, she picked up her ninth car, a black Chevy equinox with the Mary Kay emblem.
“Don’t give up. It’s that idea that I know that this is going to get me through because I know that I’ve worked in other companies for the school system and I know my absolute worst day in another company, for Mary Kay this is just so awesome,” Hughes said.
Hughes is the director of an entire team of sales consultants in the area. All of their teamwork goes toward earning the free cars.
Originally reported by: NBC29
About Mary Kay
Today, with more than 3 million Independent Beauty Consultants, Mary Kay offers more than 200 premium products in more than 35 countries around the world. For 50 years, Mary Kay has led the way in giving women what
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Mary Kay And Marketing Through Project Runway
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
Adweek talks to Mary Kay’s director of U.S. consumer marketing Kim Sater about the brand’s deep relationship with Lifetime’s long-running fashion design competition show Project Runway—why it’s different, and why it works.
Why do a major TV integration with Project Runway?
The Mary Kay Color Design Studio, where the models go for makeup before walking the runway, is a perfect way to showcase the full Mary Kay line. … The makeup looks [that are] used on the models play a big role in completing the overall look of the design, so the designers can get very passionate about it, and the audience at home is interested in how to get the looks or how to interpret the looks for everyday wear.
That makes the partnership go way beyond just being an official sponsor of the show. We are part of the show every week and part of the designer’s vision.
One of your top artists is appearing on the show.
Luis Casco is one of Mary Kay’s global makeup artists, and we were thrilled to have him integrated into the show. In this role, Luis is the on-air representative of the brand. Luis was on set in the Mary Kay Color Design Studio consulting with the show’s designers on their visions for their models and working
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Fed Ex Donates Over $14,000 To Mary Kay Foundation
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
Through the Mary Kay/ FedEx Office Commercial Account Discount Program, introduced in 2005, FedEx Office discounts services and makes a generous annual donation to the Foundation based on net revenues from sales force and employee purchases.
These services include copying, printing and more. Rob Bimson, Corporate Account Executive with FedEx Office, recently presented a check for $14,844.19 to The Mary Kay Foundation as a result of this ongoing partnership.
“The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation has a long-standing commitment to eliminating cancers and ending the domestic violence epidemic affecting so many women. I could not be more pleased that FedEx Office is able to contribute to such a worthwhile organization dedicated to quality and service – two things we also pride ourselves on,” says Rob.
About Mary Kay
Today, with more than 3 million Independent Beauty Consultants, Mary Kay offers more than 200 premium products in more than 35 countries around the world. For 50 years, Mary Kay has led the way in giving women what they crave: advanced skin care that delivers results; modern makeup in on-trend colors and advanced formulations; and fresh, unforgettable fragrances.
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Mary Kay Earners Have Driven Over 22,000 Pink Cadillacs That Could Have Been Lincolns
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
The only people who get to drive in pink Cadillac splendor are superstars whose multilevel sales teams have sold at least $100,000 in Mary Kay products in six months.
It’s one of the most easily recognized sales incentive in the world.
But not many people outside the company know that these independent sales directors ought to be driving Lincolns.
That’s what Mary Kay Ash really wanted in 1967, when the first lady of cosmetics decided to indulge herself with a luxury car and flaunt the success of her company in the process.
But she got “little lady-ied” by a local Lincoln dealership, says Crayton Webb, vice president of corporate communications at Mary Kay Inc. “The guy in so many words said, ‘Little lady, go home and get your husband. And when you come back, we’ll get you into that Lincoln.’ That didn’t sit too well with her.”
Mary Kay was probably summarily dismissed before she ever mentioned that she wanted her vehicle to match the color of her cosmetics compact.
Frank Kent Cadillac in Fort Worth was more than happy to take her money for a 1968 Sedan de Ville and order it in powder pink. General Motors resurrected a retired paint color, Mountain Laurel, that
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Mary Kay Event Expecting 30,000 Attendees
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
Mary Kay Inc.’s 2014 seminar that kicked off Wednesday is expected to bring more than 30,000 attendees to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, generating $32.1 million and 2,4000 jobs into the city of Dallas.
This year marks the 40th anniversary that Dallas has hosted Mary Kay’s signature 18-day event. The seminar ends Aug. 2.
Last year’s seminar celebrated the Addison-based cosmetic company’s 50th anniversary and drew more than 50,000 international attendees. The estimated economic impact of last year’s seminar was $49 million.
For the Dallas convention center, the seminar is among a list of almost 20 major events that combined are expected to draw more than 250,000 guests to the venue.
So far this year, events at the center have generated more than $200 million, counting the impact of the Mary Kay Seminar. Top events hosted this year, include the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which drew 50,000 attendees and generated $43.03 million, and Mary Kay’s seminar.
Last year, events generated a total of $1.6 billion for the city.
Check out the slide show for images from Mary Kay meeting seminars through the years.
Here is a timeline highlighting Mary Kay’s history in Dallas:
Mary Kay Seminar
1963 – Beauty by Mary Kay opens for business in Dallas.
1964 –
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Mary Kay Awards $1.2 Million In Grants
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
The Mary Kay Foundation has awarded a total of $1.2 million in grants to the 12 top institutions researching new treatments for cancer in the U.S.Major medical centers, which included Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, were awarded twelve grants of $100,000 each, after the research review committee reviewed more than 80 applications submitted to the Mary Kay Foundation.
Prominent medical scientists and doctors form the review committee, volunteering their time to help the Foundation choose the most promising research projects.
“With 3 million Mary Kay independent beauty consultants in more than 35 markets around the world, our mission is enriching women’s lives,” said Michael Lunceford, chairman of the board for The Mary Kay Foundation. “Through our independent sales force, we know too many heartbreaking stories of women battling cancer.
By supporting top medical scientists at some of the most-respected institutions in the country who are searching for cures, early detection screenings and innovative cancer treatments, we only hope that we begin to hear more stories of survival. To date, the Foundation has invested more than $20 million in the cause.”
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2014, 810,320 women are expected to be diagnosed with cancer, which is the second leading cause of death for
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Scam Warning For Product Distributors, Specifically Mary Kay
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers, especially Mary Kay consultants, about a new scam.
A Springfield resident recently received a text message from someone claiming to be April Weiss, wanting to order $175 in products. April stated that she was opening a modeling agency and the payment would come via cashier’s check from her art director.
Upon receiving the check, the consumer noticed two business names: CU Services Center and California Coast Credit Union out of San Diego. The consumer also received another text message from Weiss stating that the check was accidentally made out in the wrong amount for $2,230.65. April asked that the consumer cash the check and send the remaining balance back to her personal assistant — who she claims is a man named Mark Queen — via MoneyGram. The number associated with the text messages is 404-490-2503, an area code out of Atlanta.
BBB conducted a simple search of the phone number and found several similar stories on www.800notes.com dating from June 16. The bureau offers the following tips on how to avoid being scammed with fake checks.
• Talk to a branch manager in person before depositing a check from a stranger. Banking experts know what to look for in
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Mary Kay’s Lisa Winton Earns 3rd Car In 6 Years
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
Mary Kay Independent Sales Force Member, Lisa Winton, of May, TX, received the keys to a new Cadillac SRX – in customary Mary Kay Pink – in recognition for having achieved Mary Kay’s “Cadillac Level” sales award.
“For more than forty years, the Mary Kay Pink Cadillac has been an iconic symbol of success,” said Rick Newton, sales and leasing professional for the Bruner Auto Group. “As such, it’s the most sought-after prize among Mary Kay’s two-million independent sales force members. Our team here at Bruner Cadillac is honored to play a role in carrying on the tradition of rewarding success, which is what Cadillac is all about.”
Founder Mary Kay Ash was a big believer in rewarding top independent sales force members with cars, dream vacations, diamonds and other lavish items she often referred to as “Cinderella gifts.” Among these, the most iconic and enduring symbol of an independent sales force member’s success is the Mary Kay Pink Cadillac, which was the brainchild of Mary Kay Ash herself back in 1969.
The delivery of Lisa Winton’s prestigious award was accompanied by a brief ceremony, which included the receipt of her all-new Cadillac SRX, complete with a large pink bow on the hood.
“Earning