Mary Kay Ash is one of the most successful women entrepreneurs, the creator of a large networked cosmetics business. She was successful in work and took place in family life, becoming a model for millions of American housewives.
Childhood and youth
The biography of Mary Kay Ash (nee Wagner) began in 1918. The girl was born in Texas, in the small town of Hot Wells. Mary was the youngest of four children, the whole family adored and pampered her. However, the family was not rich: parents worked hard, and children from an early age absorbed respect for work.
When the girl was very young, her father fell ill with tuberculosis. After 5 years he was discharged from the hospital, and Mary became a nurse and faithful assistant. Later she wrote that she did not have a normal childhood, but she had an excellent life school. The girl had to grow up very early.
Due to lack of funds, Mary could not dream of a decent education. After graduating from high school, she married a young singer Ben Roger. The girl was not going to stay at home, she worked in a restaurant with her mother, managing to manage the household and raise three children. However, selflessness did not help her save the marriage: after 8 years, Ben left the family, completely relieving himself of caring for children.
Carier start
To make time for the little ones, Mary left the restaurant and started looking for work from home. After trying to sell encyclopedias, she achieved overwhelming success and quickly became the best manager of a small firm. This work has become a real school of trade. The unexpected success prompted an enterprising girl to think about her own business.
However, it was still far from full production. Mary decided to build on her marketing success by moving to a large Dallas networking company. The woman's goal was the post of commercial director. She had to fight with her male colleagues, who had the only advantage - gender. Mary Kay decided it was worth bringing more women into network marketing and instilling the ambition they needed to succeed.
Once the future entrepreneur met a woman who came up with an amazing cream that rejuvenates the skin. The formula was imperfect, but the product worked wonders. Mary bought out the production rights and started improving the cream. It took time and all the savings that had been collected with difficulty over the years of work. With the balance of funds, a desperate woman registered a brand, boldly calling it by her own name.
Mary Kay Cosmetics began operations in 1963. At first, sales were carried out through a single store, the support of her husband and children, as well as the marketing talent of the entrepreneur herself, helped to stay afloat. The profit came in the first year, and on the second, the income exceeded the wildest expectations. Gradually, the cosmetic line expanded, it was decided to distribute the products through a network of agents. Only women were invited to this role. Mary came up with a unique formula - consultants not only sold cosmetics, but also taught how to use it correctly. Clients received gifts, they could try cosmetics before buying.
Personal life and business: how to combine it
Mary always emphasized that her family helped her to get into business. The first marriage was unsuccessful, but the second husband, Mel Ash, became a real support and support. The successful entrepreneur regretted that she could not fully enjoy motherhood, devoting a lot of time to work. However, the children appreciated the mother's efforts: the sons also entered the family business and demonstrated real entrepreneurial talents.
Mary's favorite pink has become the trademark color of the brand. She bought a car of this shade and even painted her mansion in Dallas pink. Later, the Cadillac of a cheerful hue became one of the prizes for successful consultants. Mary ran her business until her advanced years, although her son Richard Rogers had long been the formal owner of the company. The famous entrepreneur passed away in 2001, leaving behind a thriving cosmetics empire and many original business ideas that her descendants will embody.
