Mary Kay Ash Research Paper
Brooke Hardman
Mrs. Leigh-Smith
Business English
December 21, 2016
The Outstanding Life of Mary Kay Wagner Ash
Mary Kay Wagner Ash said “the definition of successful people is simply ordinary people with extraordinary determination.” This Texas born businesswoman started an extremely successful cosmetic business which still exists today. Mary Kay Ash was born May 12, 1918 in Hot Wells, Texas. In 1939, she took an opportunity to be a salesperson for Stanley Home Products. She hosted at-home parties to sell the company's products, and she excelled in sales. She was later hired away by World Gift’s in 1952 because of her excellence as a salesperson. After spending over a decade with the company, she quit in protest when a male salesperson …show more content…
Mary Kay was extremely determined to offer many career opportunities to all woman that had the energy and creativity that is needed to sell her Mary Kay Cosmetics. She was known for the way she approached the “business world” which attracted a lot of attention. Mary Kay had four major key business leader principles that she always kept in mind. First, she had a strong need and that gave her a tremendous amount of passion. Second, she had an idea and that gave her potential. Third, she was extremely dedicated, leading her to personal success. Finally, she knew how to be a leader. She valued each individual and their worth. “We treat our people like royalty. If you honor and serve the people who work for you, they will honor and serve you” (Mary Kay Wagner …show more content…
With a $5,000 investment, lotions purchased from a local tanner (with the rights given to her to use for her cosmetics), and a small store in Dallas with just nine salespeople, she was all set. The company sold nearly $1 million in products. Shortly after, her cosmetics were being sold through in-house parties and other group events. In 1968, the company went public, but was later bought back by the Ash family in 1985 when the stocks plummeted. The business was back up and the stocks were also back to normal, even to this day. Mary Kay Cosmetics’ annual sales go above and beyond $2.2 million dollars. In 1987, Mary Kay stepped down from CEO of her own business, but still remained apart of it. In 1996, Kay established the Mary Kay Charitable Foundation to support cancer research and an effort to end domestic violence. In 2000, Lifetime Television named her the most outstanding businesswoman in the 20th century. By the time that Kay Wagner Ash died in 2000, her business was already a worldwide cosmetics industry with billions of representatives in more than 30
Mrs. Leigh-Smith
Business English
December 21, 2016
The Outstanding Life of Mary Kay Wagner Ash
Mary Kay Wagner Ash said “the definition of successful people is simply ordinary people with extraordinary determination.” This Texas born businesswoman started an extremely successful cosmetic business which still exists today. Mary Kay Ash was born May 12, 1918 in Hot Wells, Texas. In 1939, she took an opportunity to be a salesperson for Stanley Home Products. She hosted at-home parties to sell the company's products, and she excelled in sales. She was later hired away by World Gift’s in 1952 because of her excellence as a salesperson. After spending over a decade with the company, she quit in protest when a male salesperson …show more content…
Mary Kay was extremely determined to offer many career opportunities to all woman that had the energy and creativity that is needed to sell her Mary Kay Cosmetics. She was known for the way she approached the “business world” which attracted a lot of attention. Mary Kay had four major key business leader principles that she always kept in mind. First, she had a strong need and that gave her a tremendous amount of passion. Second, she had an idea and that gave her potential. Third, she was extremely dedicated, leading her to personal success. Finally, she knew how to be a leader. She valued each individual and their worth. “We treat our people like royalty. If you honor and serve the people who work for you, they will honor and serve you” (Mary Kay Wagner …show more content…
With a $5,000 investment, lotions purchased from a local tanner (with the rights given to her to use for her cosmetics), and a small store in Dallas with just nine salespeople, she was all set. The company sold nearly $1 million in products. Shortly after, her cosmetics were being sold through in-house parties and other group events. In 1968, the company went public, but was later bought back by the Ash family in 1985 when the stocks plummeted. The business was back up and the stocks were also back to normal, even to this day. Mary Kay Cosmetics’ annual sales go above and beyond $2.2 million dollars. In 1987, Mary Kay stepped down from CEO of her own business, but still remained apart of it. In 1996, Kay established the Mary Kay Charitable Foundation to support cancer research and an effort to end domestic violence. In 2000, Lifetime Television named her the most outstanding businesswoman in the 20th century. By the time that Kay Wagner Ash died in 2000, her business was already a worldwide cosmetics industry with billions of representatives in more than 30