Mary Kay Ash started Mary Kay Cosmetics in 1963 after facing discrimination and barriers to success in the male-dominated business world. Her company empowered women by allowing them to work flexible hours selling beauty products. Under her leadership, Mary Kay Cosmetics grew into a multi-billion dollar global company. She authored several books sharing her principles of empowering women and prioritizing faith, family, and career. Mary Kay is recognized as one of the most successful women entrepreneurs in history.
3. The Mary Kay Way
1 Know Her STORY
2
Know Her COMPANY
3
Know MARY KAY ASH
Mary Kay Inc
You Can Do It!
What lies behind that charismatic face
4.
5. Hero’s Childhood
Born on May 12, 1918 in Hot Wells.
She was the youngest child of Edward Alexander and Lula Vember
Wagner
Her father became seriously ill with tuberculosis when she was
seven, and her mother then sold the hotel and moved her family
to Houston, where she worked 14-hour days managing a
restaurant.
Ash did the housework, cooked meals, and cared for her father.
Her parents operated a hotel and restaurant so popular that
people would often come from Houston – over 25 miles away –
to visit.
6. Living The Odd Childhood
She had to cook for
her father
She was Highly Competitive
and got straight As
Back From school, had
to do all the cleaning
Had to take care of her
sick Father
An orator from the beginningAge 7, shopping alone
7. Moving On…
So, she got married at the age of 17 to Ben Rogers and soon had
three children.
She wanted to go to College, study Medicine and become a Doctor.
But Her family could not afford sending her to one.
Entrepreneurship first knocked on the doors of Mary Kay when a
saleswoman offered her encyclopedia. The woman told her that, she
would give Mary Kay free encyclopedia if she could also sell at least
10 sets of it, a quota that she needs to meet in 3 months.
And she was able to sell all 10 of it in just 1 ½ days.
9. Life Goes On….
In 1938, her husband returned from WWII, with another woman.
They were divorced, after 11 years of marriage, Mary Kay got all
the three children
She did not lose faith, began taking premed courses at the
University of Houston, while also working part time as a secretary
at the Tabernacle Baptist Church and as a sales representative for
Stanley Home Products (SHP)
Later she decided to work for SHP, full time. But success was not
hers yet. With no sale experience, she made no profits at all.
But things were soon to change.
10. Dallas Convention and Later
Learnt New Sales Techniques.
Was fascinated by the annual crowning of Queen Of Sales.
At Houston, she told her Sales Director, she wanted to be the next
Queen Of Sales.
He took both her hand in his hands, looked squarely in her eyes and
said “Somehow I think You will”.
And today she says, those five words changed my life! She was
indeed crowned the Queen Of Sales next year.
11. It was indeed her Success,
That let to her undoing
SOON.
12. Goodbye SHP!
Her profits continued to rise. She recruited and trained more
people.
Due to this, her revenues were rose to an extent, they started
worrying SHP executives. She had 150 women working for her.
They promptly transferred her to Dallas, and revoked all
commissions her sales recruits.
Left SHP to join World Gift Company. Promoted to National Sales
Director in one Year. She trained new employees, later a man she
trained was posted above her and at twice her salary
Frustrated she left World Gift Company, to do something on
her own along with fulfilling lives of other women.
13. Frustration leads to Success
Ash wanted to write a book that would help women cope in
the male-dominated business world. While working on the
book's outline, Ash made two lists - one contained the good
things, and the other, items that could be improved in the
companies she had previously worked for. Looking over the
lists, Ash realized that she'd inadvertently fashioned
a marketing plan for the perfect firm - one that would allow
women to work hard and achieve their goals. The only thing
she required now was a PRODUCT, that she could sell, one
that gets finished and is to be bought again and again.
14. Beauty by Mary Kay
Her second husband died just one month before the launch of the
Company.
Her son, left his job and joined her. Beauty by Mary Kay was launched
on September 13th, 1963 with an initial investment of 5000$
“From my own use and the results I had personally received, I knew
that these skin-care products were tremendous,” said Ash, “and
with some modifications and high-quality packaging I was sure they
would be big sellers!”
"Beauty by Mary Kay," a venture based primarily on a special
skin care cream to which she had purchased the manufacturing
rights, from a tanner.
15. Success @ 48
In its first year, company sales reached
$198,000, primarily from sales sessions, or
‘skin care classes’, her sales team would
hold in private homes., the numbers
became 800, 000$ next year.
Ash rewarded her top sales-
people with what would later
become her company’s
trademark – pink Cadillacs.
16.
17. About Mary Kay Inc.
Mary Kay Cosmetics offered its stock for sale to the public in 1968
and the company’s greatest period of growth after its formative
years came in the 1970s and early 1980s, when stock prices rose by
an astonishing 670 percent. In 1981 sales reached $235 million,
an increase of 41 percent over the previous year.
Sales dropped from $323 million to $249 million between 1983 and
1985. The stock bottomed out at nine dollars a share. In part, the
crisis was a result of the improving economy. Women traditionally
quit their jobs or found steadier employment rather than continuing
to work in direct sales, according to Texas Monthly. The company’s
growth was stagnant.
18. The ‘in’-famous buy-out
Mary Kay wanted to be at the top, whatever it took, she was
prepared to give her everything.
In 1985, Mary Kay and her family purchased all the company’s
publicly issued stocks in a 450$ million buy-out.
The Company was private again.
Young executives, updated company’s image.
Bland line of Cosmetics thrown out, and pretty young models were
on the catalogs.
Commissions were boosted to lure Young women to leave high rise
offices to join Mary Kay
19. And Today….
Mary Kay Inc. has grown to be a multi-billion dollar global
cosmetics company, with more than 4,500 corporate employees
and more than 1.8 million independent sales force members
worldwide.
Yet, it remains what Mary Kay first envisioned- a company with a
heart. A company which offers women opportunities of growth and
success that they rightly deserve.
Mary Kay Inc, is continuously making a positive difference in the
global community, and always finding new and meaningful ways to
make life more beautiful for women all around the globe.
22. VISION
She wanted to empower women all over the world
She knew cosmetics would sell themselves
She found the web even before the web.
23. PEOPLE FIRST
People before Wealth
Apostle of Leaders
Instilled the philosophy of Hard work, through
motivation and the Golden Rule
24. DETERMINATION
Most Successful people are ordinary people with
extra ordinary determination
Saw many setbacks, disappointments, but never stopped.
Success is failure, inside out, they’re all opportunities
25. GUTS
Stood tall in a male dominated world.
Followed her instincts, over expert advice
Believed that women should change their work
according to their beliefs and not the other way round
Its only her guts that made her top the cut-throat
business world
26. CONTRIBUTOR
Dedicated to ending women's cancers
and domestic abuse
Started in 1996.
Regular Events and Grants.
Gives a new direction to women who
are undergoing these sufferings.
28. Knew About
People
1 Everybody wants to be Somebody
2 Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much
you care
3
Everybody needs somebody
4
Anybody who helps somebody, influences a lot of bodies
5 Someone will rise up today and become somebody
29. An Author Inside
Sharing a Lifetime Wisdom and a turnaround Success Story
Her books pass on extraordinary business
Insight, innovative thinking and
entrepreneurial spirit that helped her
turn a dream for women into a global
success story.
30. The Mary Kay Way: Timeless Principles From America's
Greatest Woman Entrepreneur
Mary Kay helped open the door for countless
Women, throughout the world to find success on
their own terms.
The book gives an insight into the real, effective
and proven principles Mary Kay practiced in
her life.
The book has been included in the business
courses at Harvard Business School.
1
31. Miracles Happen: The Life and Timeless Principles of
the Founder of Mary Kay Inc.
2
Her autobiography, in the book Mary walks
from the humble streets of Texas to creating
a multi-billion dollar Empire.
Sold 2 million copies in several Languages.
Stories from her childhood, and how
‘You Can Do It’ became her mantra
32. Mary Kay, You Can Have It All: Lifetime Wisdom From
America's Foremost Woman Entrepreneur
3
Wrote in 1995, to elaborate new and
changing roles of modern women in business.
Reveals secrets of a successful career along
with a fulfilling family life.
It became a bestseller in just two days of
release.
How to be more confident?
How to cope up with male ego?
33. All that we can learn from her
Life
All that she taught us
All that she wants us to follow
All that is the reason for me
choosing her!
35. Mission
To empower
women
To give them financial
independence
At the same time,
Giving them all the
time to care for
their family
“So many women just don't know how great they really are.
They come to us all vogue outside and vague on the inside.”
36. Importance Needs
“Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck
Saying, 'Make me feel important.' Never forget this
message when working with people.”
38. Overcoming Failures
“For every failure, there's an alternative course of
action. You just have to find it. When you come to a
roadblock, take a detour. ”
39. Everything is Possible
Nothing is Easy, but Everything is possible
“Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn't be
able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it
so it goes on flying anyway.”
“If you think you can, you can. And if
you think you can't, you're right. ”
40. Quick Finish-Up
“Plan your work and work your plan”
“Learn to work smart not hard”
“Don’t ever give up”
“Most people live day to day expecting that
tomorrow they will do the things they want to
do, that procrastination- procrastination is the
biggest thief of time! Don’t procrastinate!”
41. Awards Received
2007
• Mary Kay on the Biography Channel produced by A&E
Television Networks
2004
• One of the 25 Most Influential Business Leaders of the Last
25 Years by PBS and the Wharton School of Business
2003
• Greatest Female Entrepreneur in American History by Baylor
University
2001
• Feminine Fortunes: Women of the Next Millennium
magazine feature, honoring the achievements of professional women
2000
• Lifetime Television Network as the most influential woman
in business during the 20th century
42. Awards Continued
1992
• Living Legend Award, Direct Selling Education Foundation
1991
• Outstanding Woman of the Year, Les Femmes du Monde
1998
• One of six personalities who shaped the industry in
the past 100 years in a special collector's edition of
Women's Wear Daily
1999
• Women of the Century award from Women's Chamber of
Commerce of Texas, honoring the state's 100 most influential women of this
century
• One of 20, and the only woman business leader, profiled in
Forbes Greatest Business Stories of All Time
Born on May 12, 1918 in Hot Wells.
Her parents operated a hotel and restaurant so popular that people would often come from Houston – over 25 miles away – to visit.
She was the youngest child of Edward Alexander and Lula Vember Wagner. As a child, Mary Kay was forced to be self-reliant. Her father was ill with tuberculosis, and her mother worked 14-hour days managing a restaurant. Ash did the housework, cooked meals, and cared for her father. She gives much of the credit for her later success to her mother, who constantly encouraged her.Read more: Ash, Mary Kay - Overview, Personal Life, Career Details, Social and Economic Impact, Chronology: Mary Kay Ash http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/6094/Ash-Mary-Kay.html#ixzz0iuLPdXXe
when Ash was just seven years old, her father became seriously ill with tuberculosis and was forced to move into a sanatorium. Ash’s mother sold the hotel and restaurant and moved her family to Houston, where she opened a small café. Here, Ash was kept busy with the cleaning and cooking.
“From my own use and the results I had personally received, I knew that these skin-care products were tremendous,” said Ash, “and with some modifications and high-quality packaging I was sure they would be big sellers!”In its first year, company sales reached $198,000, primarily from sales sessions, or ‘skin care classes’, her sales team would hold in private homes. Ash rewarded her top salespeople with what would later become her company’s trademark – pink Cadillacs. They would all work part time, earning money both from their own direct sales, as well as bonuses from any recruits they brought onboard the Mary Kay team.
Ash was succeeded by her son Richard in 1987, but remains active in the business.
In 1995, a decade after the leveraged buy-out, Mary Kay was selling an estimated $866
million in products, at wholesale, to 20 million women annually. Over 6,500 of the
30,000-member sales force drive complimentary pink Cadillacs and other automobiles
worth more than $90 million. The company also claims responsibility for creating more
than 75 millionaires, calculated by the number of women who have earned more than a
million dollars in commissions over the course of their careers. The Ash family’s personal
fortune, according to Texas Monthly, is estimated at more than $325 million. From its
base in Dallas, Mary Kay Cosmetics has grown into an international empire, with
consultants throughout Canada, Europe, and even the former Soviet Union.