mary kay business model

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Enriching Women’s Lives: The Mary Kay Legacy

Mary Kay Ash started her company in 1963 as a way to give other women the opportunities she had been denied throughout her career. This focus on female empowerment was the cornerstone to Mary Kay Inc.’s unprecedented success in the U.S. and across the globe.

The 1960s were a decade of change for many women as they began entering the workforce in greater numbers. For Mary Kay Ash, a national training director for a direct-selling company in Texas, it was a time of personal change that later paved the way for other women to embrace their own careers. At age 45, she was tired of being passed over for positions she was qualified for, and frustrated with training younger male employees who would later be promoted above her. So, she quit.

Planning to write a book that would help other women realize the opportunities she’d been denied, Mary Kay Ash made a list of things she liked about her past positions and a list of what she didn’t. Upon finishing, she realized the two lists represented a blueprint for her dream company. With her $5,000 life savings, she founded Beauty by Mary Kay in 1963.

Mary Kay Ash

The business model, direct selling with an emphasis on in-home product parties, was unique—not because of direct sales itself, but because of the sales force. Mary Kay Ash built her company culture to help women feel supported and valued, able to advance as far as they desired based on merit.

“I don’t know if [Mary Kay Ash] knew what a vision she had,” said Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer for Mary Kay. “She was compelled to do more for women because she realized how frustrating it was to not realize your full potential.”

In the more than 55 years since, Mary Kay Inc. has expanded into nearly 40 countries while continuing to grow its brand in the US out of its home office in Dallas. The company’s Independent Beauty Consultants are the driving force of its success, now with millions of people across the globe.

On screen: Mary Kay 

On screen: Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer Mary Kay inc. 

Deborah: Mary Kay's mission is to enrich women's lives 

Description: Picture of a women in a frame 

On screen: Close up of 2 smiling women 

and to provide an earning opportunity for women. 

On screen: Jennifer Bishop, Managing Director, Corporate client Banking & Specialized Industries 

Jennifer: Mary Kay is empowering women 

of all ages and backgrounds 

in nearly 40 countries across the globe 

and it's just truly remarkable to see what they have done.

Fostering a Culture of Respect, Innovation

The company’s underlying mission of enriching women’s lives and its core values—focused on giving back and respecting others—underpin the work of the organization. David Holl, the company’s CEO since 2006, noted that their strong culture is made evident by the company’s low employee turnover: “People tend to make a career here, staying a lot longer than they ever thought they would.”

MARY KAY CORE VALUES

• GO-GIVE SPIRIT. GIVING WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN.
• GOLDEN RULE. DOING UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU.
• BALANCED PRIORITIES. FAITH, FAMILY AND CAREER.
• “MAKE ME FEEL IMPORTANT.” TREATING EVERYONE AS IF THEY HAD A SIGN AROUND THEIR NECK COMMANDING RESPECT.

Part of Mary Kay’s success as a company lies in its ability to evolve with the times and compete at the pace of change. As beauty and lifestyle consumers become more savvy and have more options available to them, even established brands have to start with a strong product and execute flawlessly to stay ahead.

“What's great about the diverse product portfolio we offer here at Mary Kay is that no one consumer is the same,” said Dr. Lucy Gildea, Chief Scientific Officer for Mary Kay. “Everyone has that favorite item, whether it's a lipstick or a skincare product.”

The company has secured more than 1,500 patents globally to protect its innovations, packages and designs. The leadership team is proud of their investments in patents and passionate about ensuring their Independent Beauty Consultants can offer unique and creative products with an emphasis on efficacy and safety.

Finding Growth Opportunities Across Borders

At the beginning of Mary Kay’s relationship with J.P. Morgan, 75 percent of the company’s revenue came from within the US and 25 percent was international. Today, that number has flipped. .

“J.P. Morgan and Mary Kay have enjoyed a long relationship,” said Jennifer Bishop, Managing Director for Corporate Client Banking & Specialized Industries, J.P. Morgan. “The firm has helped Mary Kay expand across the globe into countries that may be challenging to do business in, but they’ve relied on the expertise of our leaders there locally to coordinate back with headquarters here in the US.”

J.P. Morgan’s global expertise has helped Mary Kay navigate international challenges, investigate new opportunities and facilitate business introductions as the company continues to expand into new markets around the world, all with a single banking relationship.

What attracted Holl to J.P. Morgan in the beginning was that it had both global capabilities and a local presence. He notes that he and Rob Holmes, Head of Corporate Client Banking & Specialized Industries for J.P. Morgan, have known each other for 20 years: “It's like a family.”

Rob Holmes, Head of Corporate Client Banking & Specialized Industries, J.P. Morgan.

And like a family, the two organizations have plenty in common—including a commitment to excellence and innovation. By cultivating a value-driven culture, both companies strive to work with integrity, empower a diverse and inclusive workforce and instill respect among their employees. Both companies also invest time, money and research into technologies that better serve their clients and customers.

A Bright Future

Though Mary Kay Ash passed away in 2001, her legacy continues through the goals and culture she instilled at her company. As Mary Kay Inc. continues surpassing milestones and finding ways to innovate and reach new customers, Holmes notes his deep confidence in their ability to remain a market leader into the future—and how J.P. Morgan plans to be there every step of the way.

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Mary Kay Company Analysis: The Iconic Pink Beauty Brand

Mary Kay has become a truly iconic and successful network marketing company in the US and globally.

As early as 2018, the company was featured on the DSN Global 100 list in the 6 th position, based on revenues of $3.25B in 2017. Despite a gradual dip in revenue since then, Mary Kay is still immensely successful and expanding operations worldwide.

Here, we evaluate the intricate details of this company to understand the key performance indicators.

Section 1 – The Company

In this section, you’ll learn about Mary Kay’s incredible performance and the history behind its successful market dominance.

What is Mary Kay?

Mary Kay Inc. is a privately owned multilevel marketing (MLM) company that sells skincare and color cosmetics globally. With a 60-year history and operations in nearly 40 markets around the world, it has become an iconic beauty brand for women.

The company positions itself as a brand that values inclusivity and diversity while empowering women to be successful.

Market and performance

Mary Kay (MK) is a multi-billion-dollar company. Forbes indicates that MK had revenues worth $2.7 billion in 2022, although the annual revenue trend gradually declined from a high of $3.6 billion in 2018.

Roughly 4,500 employees work in the company’s 18 distribution centers, two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, beauty centers in China, and 28 market satellite offices worldwide.

Additionally, MK’s products are sold in nearly 40 countries by millions of independent distributors (Mary Kay Beauty Consultants).

Due to MK’s success, Forbes (*) hailed Mary Kay Ash, the founder, as one of the greatest business stories of all time in 1996.

RELATED ANALYSIS – Other leading MLM companies in the cosmetics market: 1) Amorepacific (the second-largest cosmetic company in South Korea ); 2) Oriflame (a successful European network marketing company with a long history).

Mary Kay Ash founded Mary Kay in 1963 with just $5,000. She launched her “Beauty by Mary Kay” business and introduced a new skincare approach with the Basic Treatment Set (a foundation and four skincare products).

In 1964, Ash also started an annual tradition of recognizing women’s accomplishments in entrepreneurship called Seminar.

MK chose the iconic pink color in the ’60s to match most Americans’ typical white bathrooms.

In 1969, Ash established the career car program, making the pink Cadillac a symbol of success for MK’s Independent Beauty Consultants.

The company went public in 1976 but returned to being a privately held, family-owned business in 1985. Today, with over 35 markets, Mary Kay is a successful global company.

Who founded Mary Kay? (video)

Mary Kay Ash was the founder of Mary Kay Inc. She was motivated by the saying, “You can do it.” Unfortunately, she passed on in 2001.

Who is the CEO of Mary Kay?

Ryan Rogers is the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Mary Kay Inc. He is the grandson of the founder, Mary Kay Ash.

Richard R. Rogers, who co-founded Mary Kay, Inc. with his mother, Mary Kay Ash, is the company’s Executive Chairman.

Who is the owner of Mary Kay?

Mary Kay is a family-owned business managed by the Mary Kay Ash family.

Where is the Mary Kay headquarters?

Mary Kay’s global headquarters is located at 16251 Dallas Parkway, Addison, Texas 75001.

The company also has 28 satellite offices around the world.

Values and company mission

Mary Kay Ash founded the company with the core value of faith first, family second, and career third. She stated that the company does more than sell cosmetics; it’s also changing lives by empowering women.

MK also runs social responsibility programs like Pink Changing Lives and Pink Doing Green. The company established the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation in 1996 to support cancer research and prevent domestic violence.

Section 2 – Business Model

In this section, we analyze Mary Kay’s business model and evaluate the potential business opportunity or limitations for independent distributors.

How does Mary Kay market its products?

Mary Kay uses multilevel marketing to sell its products globally, except in China, where it sells through beauty centers.

Mary Kay’s compensation model explained

Although Mary Kay doesn’t provide publicly accessible documentation of its MLM compensation plan, various online sources have revealed the compensation plan documents.

Here is the detailed 2023 compensation plan:

This 2020 compensation plan document provides a lot more detail; however, it may have various differences from the 2023 plan since the compensation plans are updated every year:

In summary, here is the overall career path of an MK Beauty Consultant:

• Consultant : An “active” consultant orders at least $225 wholesale in 3 months and can purchase products at 50% of the suggested retail value
• Senior Consultant : Has 1 to 2 active recruits, earns 4% commission on team orders, and gets a $50 team-building bonus when recruits spend $600.
• Star Team Builder (Red Jacket) : Has 3 to 4 active recruits. Earns 4% (under $1,000 production), 6% ($1,000 to $1,799 production), or 8% ($1,800+ production) team commissions, and a $50 team-building bonus when recruits spend $600.
• Team Leader : Has 5 to 7 active recruits. Earns 9% team commission or 13% if five active team members order $225+ and you order $600. Plus a $50 team-building bonus when recruits spend $600.
• Elite Team Leader : Has eight or more active recruits. Earns 9% to 13% team commission on team orders and a $50 team-building bonus when recruits spend $600.

And here is an overview of the top-tier levels:

• Sales Director in Qualification (DIQ)
• Sales Director
• Senior Sales Director
• Future Executive Senior
• Executive Senior Director
• Elite Executive Senior
• National Sales Director Qualification
• National Sales Director
• Senior National Sales Director
• Executive National Sales Director
• Elite Executive National Sales Director

How many Mary Kay distributors are there?

According to Mary Kay Inc, there are millions of independent sales force members worldwide.

The company states that roughly 1.5% of its Independent Beauty Consultants reach the Independent Sales Director level. 10% of those Sales Directors earn the use of MK’s iconic Pink Cadillac, with 1,000+ Pink Cadillacs currently on the road.

Based on this information, there are more than 600,000 Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants in the US.

How to make money on Mary Kay

Beauty Consultants can make money through several options, including:

• a 50% profit reselling MK products at the suggested retail price
• personal team commission
• commission on team orders
• team-building bonuses
• the Mary Kay Career Car Program – Independent Sales Directors can earn the use of a Cadillac XT5 (or cash). They can also earn the use of a Chevy Malibu and Chevy Equinox (or cash).

How to become a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant

To become a Beauty Consultant, you first need to connect with an existing Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant (you can be connected with one through the MK website).

Then you’ll sign and submit an Independent Beauty Consultant Agreement.

Finally, you’ll choose one Mary Kay Startup Option:

• Mary Kay eStart – A $30 yearly subscription to get a personalized website and online store, access to secure card payments, and online education.
• Mary Kay Starter Kit – A $130 yearly subscription to get the Mary Kay eStart plus full-sized products and samples for demonstration to customers. It also has party supplies, literature, and educational materials.
• Mary Kay New Beauty Consultant Sample Pack – An add-on for a $45 yearly subscription to get a bundle of the most frequently requested MK products, essential literature, and educational material.

How much can you earn as an MK Beauty Consultant?

Unlike the US MK website, the Canadian MK website provides an income disclosure for Beauty Consultants.

The income disclosure indicates that most Beauty Consultants’ primary source of profit is selling MK products. However, MK cannot reliably track this and only provides the commission and bonus-related income details.

That said, a typical Beauty Consultant doesn’t earn any commission or bonuses, and the average annual income was $245 in 2021.

Here is an overview of the Canadian Beauty Consultants’ income in 2021:

What happens if you quit Mary Kay?

If you quit Mary Kay, the company will repurchase original and unused products at 90% of their original cost.

This only applies if they were purchased within one year before return.

Section 3 – Products

This section covers Mary Kay’s products, highlighting some best sellers and evaluating the production process’s unique aspects.

What does Mary Kay sell?

MK sells skin care and color cosmetics worldwide, with a global portfolio of nearly 800 products.

Such products include buffing creams, body lotions, shampoos, styling gels, cleansing creams, facial soaps, moisturizers, eye colors, mascara, lipsticks, blemish concealers, tanning lotions, cologne sprays, and eyeliner brushes. 

Some of the best sellers in Canada include:

• Satin Hands® Shea Hand Sanitizer priced at $11.00
• TimeWise Repair® Volu-Firm® Advanced Lifting Serum priced at $78.00
• TimeWise Repair® Volu-Firm® Day Cream Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 priced at $58.00

What is unique about Mary Kay’s products?

Mary Kay has positioned its brand as offering high-quality, extensively researched, and tested products. To achieve that goal, the company’s Research & Development team includes distinguished scientists worldwide. They hold Ph.D. and other advanced degrees across multiple disciplines such as skin biology, cell biology, chemistry, and biochemistry.

In 2018, Mary Kay opened the Richard R. Rogers (R3) Manufacturing/ R&D Center, a $100 million state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advancing the company’s leadership in science-based innovation.

Where are Mary Kay’s products made?

Mary Kay has two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Dallas, Texas, USA.

The company’s global distribution system, known as the Mary Kay Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), is an innovative facility with the following functions: transportation, maintenance, distribution assembly, inventory control, warehouse, and metro shuttle.

The company also has a plant in Hangzhou, China, which manufactures and packages products for that market.

Lawsuits and independent reviews of Mary Kay

Mary Kay has faced several legal challenges, including the 2004 court case, Woolf v. Mary Kay Cosmetics. Woolf argued that workplace rights could be applied to independent contractors. The Supreme Court ultimately denied certiorari in this case (the court refused to take the case).

In another incident in 2021, TruthinAdvertising.org (an independent advertising watchdog organization) filed a complaint with the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) against Mary Kay. This led to an investigation by the DSSRC, and Mary Kay had to remove the claims that were considered deceptive from publication.

Despite such legal challenges, Mary Kay has received recognition as a reputable global employer and a family-friendly employer by various organizations:

• Reputation Institute (Ri) (*) ranked Mary Kay number 42 in the 2019 Global Workplace 100 Study as one of the world’s most reputable employers.
• Forbes (*) ranked Mary Kay 97 out of 500 companies for America’s Best Midsize Employers 2019.
• Home Affairs Bureau (*) featured Mary Kay Hong Kong in the Family-Friendly Employer 2018 ranking. 

Additionally, Mary Kay has received high customer ratings on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 based on 7,449 reviews.

Section 4 – FAQs About Mary Kay

The frequently asked questions in this section can help demystify various misconceptions about Mary Kay.

Is Mary Kay a pyramid scheme?

Mary Kay is registered as a multilevel marketing company; hence, it fulfills the regulatory requirements of an MLM – not an illegal pyramid scheme. Plus, the company is a member of the Direct Selling Association, which implements a code of ethics that prohibits pyramid schemes among its members.

Can you make money with Mary Kay?

Based on MK’s income disclosure, Canadian Beauty Consultants earned an average of $245 annually in 2021, and only about 1% of all Beauty Consultants made a reasonable income. Being a Beauty Consultant is a business, like any other, whereby such low success rates are typical, with 90% of startups failing.

Can I buy Mary Kay without a consultant?

You can only buy Mary Kay products online or in person through an Independent Beauty Consultant.

• Mary Kay Inc v. Woolf (2004) | FindLaw
• Trademark of Mary Kay, Inc. – Justia Trademarks
• Does Mary Kay Think It’s Above the Law? – Truth in Advertising
• Mary Kay Company Overview & News – Forbes

Author: Victor Nyorani

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Leadership Brilliance: Lessons from Mary Kay Ash’s Trailblazing Journey

Inspiring Leadership Lessons from Mary Kay Ash’s Extraordinary Life

Leadership is an art that can be cultivated through experience, observation, and learning from the remarkable journeys of visionary individuals. One such influential figure in the realm of leadership is Mary Kay Ash, an extraordinary entrepreneur and the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics. Her indomitable spirit, unwavering determination, and innovative approach to leadership have left an indelible mark on the business world.

Mary Kay Ash’s story is one of resilience, passion, and an unwavering commitment to empowering others. Her life’s work not only revolutionized the cosmetics industry but also provided invaluable lessons in leadership that transcend boundaries and time. For over four decades, Mary Kay Ash demonstrated the power of effective leadership, leading by example and inspiring countless individuals to achieve their full potential.

Before delving into the leadership lessons and stories of Mary Kay Ash, it is essential to understand the backdrop against which her journey unfolded. Born in 1918 in the heartland of Texas, Mary Kay Ash faced her fair share of challenges from a young age. Raised during a time when gender norms limited women’s opportunities, she defied societal expectations and pursued her dreams with unwavering determination.

It was Mary Kay Ash’s early experiences and personal struggles that shaped her leadership style and values. Witnessing inequality in the workplace, she became acutely aware of the need for a more inclusive and empowering environment. This awareness served as a driving force behind her later endeavors and set the foundation for her transformative leadership principles.

The pivotal moment in Mary Kay Ash’s career came when she decided to start her own company, Mary Kay Cosmetics. Frustrated with the limitations and lack of recognition she faced in her previous employment, she set out to create an organization where women could thrive and achieve success on their terms. With a vision in her heart and a determination in her soul, Mary Kay Ash embarked on a journey that would forever redefine the landscape of the cosmetics industry.

Founding and leading Mary Kay Cosmetics presented Mary Kay Ash with numerous challenges, both personal and professional. However, it was her exceptional leadership strategies and unwavering commitment to her vision that propelled her company to unprecedented heights. By focusing on core principles such as visionary leadership, empowering others, a people-centric approach, and unwavering ethics, she created a unique organizational culture that empowered women to pursue their dreams and thrive in the business world.

In this comprehensive article, we will explore the life and leadership of Mary Kay Ash, delving into her early experiences, the founding of Mary Kay Cosmetics, and the core leadership principles that shaped her journey. We will uncover the invaluable leadership lessons derived from her experiences and stories, lessons that are as relevant today as they were during her time. Moreover, we will examine the lasting impact and legacy of Mary Kay Ash, whose influence extends far beyond the confines of her successful company.

As you immerse yourself in the stories and lessons of Mary Kay Ash, it is my hope that you will be inspired to embark on your own leadership journey, armed with the wisdom and guidance of one of the greatest leaders of our time. The path to effective leadership is paved with knowledge, experience, and the willingness to continuously learn and grow. Let us now embark on this transformative exploration of leadership lessons and stories from the extraordinary life of Mary Kay Ash.

The Early Life of Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay Ash’s early life experiences played a significant role in shaping her leadership style and values. Born in 1918 in Hot Wells, Texas, Mary Kay grew up in a world where gender roles were strictly defined, and opportunities for women were limited. However, even as a young girl, she exhibited qualities that would later define her as a trailblazing leader.

Raised by strong-willed parents who instilled in her a sense of independence and self-worth, Mary Kay Ash learned the value of hard work and perseverance from an early age. Her father, a self-employed businessman, and her mother, an accomplished educator, were both influential figures in her life, emphasizing the importance of education, ambition, and integrity.

Despite her strong foundations, Mary Kay faced the challenges of gender discrimination throughout her education and early career. She graduated as the valedictorian of her high school class but was denied a scholarship because it was reserved for a male student. Undeterred by this setback, she took on various jobs to support her studies at the University of Houston, where she developed her business acumen and honed her skills in sales and marketing.

Her first taste of the corporate world came when she joined Stanley Home Products, a direct selling company. There, she quickly rose through the ranks, demonstrating exceptional leadership abilities and a talent for motivating and training others. However, despite her impressive contributions, she often found herself overlooked and underappreciated in a male-dominated environment.

It was these experiences of inequality and frustration that fueled Mary Kay’s determination to create a different kind of workplace—an environment where women would be celebrated and rewarded for their efforts. She envisioned a company that would provide equal opportunities, foster personal and professional growth, and empower women to succeed on their terms.

The culmination of these aspirations came in 1963 when Mary Kay Ash founded Mary Kay Cosmetics. She sought to create a company that would revolutionize the cosmetics industry while championing the potential of women. By combining her extensive experience in direct selling with a unique business model centered on empowering independent beauty consultants, she set the stage for a new era of leadership and entrepreneurship.

Mary Kay Ash’s early life experiences not only forged her determination to challenge the status quo but also shaped her core leadership values. She understood the importance of recognizing individual potential, valuing diversity, and fostering a culture of equality and respect. These values became the guiding principles of her leadership philosophy and the bedrock upon which Mary Kay Cosmetics was built.

Furthermore, Mary Kay Ash’s early struggles with inequality and gender discrimination cultivated her deep empathy for others facing similar obstacles. This empathy fueled her commitment to creating opportunities for women to thrive and succeed, transcending societal limitations and defying expectations.

In the next sections of this article, we will explore the transformative journey of Mary Kay Ash as she founded and led Mary Kay Cosmetics. We will delve into the core leadership principles that propelled her success, examine the invaluable lessons derived from her experiences, and uncover the timeless wisdom that can be applied to leadership in any industry. Mary Kay Ash’s early life experiences laid the foundation for her remarkable leadership journey—a journey that would inspire generations of leaders to come.

Founding Mary Kay Cosmetics

Motivations behind starting her own company.

The decision to start her own company, Mary Kay Cosmetics, was driven by a culmination of factors and personal motivations. Mary Kay Ash had experienced firsthand the frustrations and limitations of working in a corporate environment that undervalued and overlooked women. She was determined to create a business where women could thrive and achieve their full potential, regardless of societal biases or gender norms. Her vision was fueled by a deep-rooted belief in the power of empowering women, enabling them to take charge of their lives and find success on their own terms.

Key challenges faced during the initial stages

Like any entrepreneurial endeavor, the early stages of founding Mary Kay Cosmetics were not without challenges. Mary Kay Ash encountered skepticism from industry insiders who doubted her ability to succeed in a highly competitive market. She faced financial constraints, having invested her life savings to launch the business. Moreover, she had to navigate the intricacies of a male-dominated industry that often dismissed the importance of cosmetics as frivolous or superficial.

However, Mary Kay Ash’s resilience and unwavering commitment to her vision propelled her forward. She approached these challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, refusing to be deterred by setbacks. Her indomitable spirit and passion for empowering women provided her with the drive and determination needed to overcome these obstacles and turn her dreams into reality.

Leadership strategies employed to establish a successful business

Mary Kay Ash’s leadership strategies played a pivotal role in establishing Mary Kay Cosmetics as a global powerhouse. She believed in the power of visionary leadership, where leaders set a compelling vision for their organization and inspire others to work towards its realization. Mary Kay Ash’s vision was not solely focused on selling cosmetics but on empowering women to discover their potential and create successful businesses of their own.

To bring her vision to life, Mary Kay Ash employed a unique business model centered around independent beauty consultants. She recognized the importance of empowering and equipping her consultants with the necessary tools, training, and support to succeed. By providing a platform for women to build their own businesses, she fostered a sense of ownership, pride, and motivation within the Mary Kay community.

Mary Kay Ash also prioritized the development of a strong company culture. She instilled a sense of camaraderie, mutual respect, and appreciation within the organization. Mary Kay Cosmetics became renowned for its recognition programs, where individual achievements were celebrated and rewarded. Mary Kay Ash understood that when employees feel valued and appreciated, they are more motivated and inspired to go above and beyond to achieve success.

Another cornerstone of Mary Kay Ash’s leadership approach was her people-centric mindset. She genuinely cared about the well-being and success of her employees and consultants. She fostered an environment where everyone’s voice was heard, encouraging open communication and collaboration. Mary Kay Ash’s genuine interest in the personal and professional growth of her team members created a culture of trust and loyalty, where individuals felt supported and empowered to reach their full potential.

Moreover, Mary Kay Ash led with unwavering ethics and integrity. She believed that a successful business must be built on a foundation of honesty, transparency, and fairness. She instilled a strong sense of ethical conduct throughout the organization, setting high standards for both herself and her team. This commitment to integrity not only earned the trust of customers but also cultivated a reputation for Mary Kay Cosmetics as a company that genuinely cared about its consultants and valued its relationships.

In the next section of this article, we will explore the core leadership principles that guided Mary Kay Ash throughout her journey. These principles, including visionary leadership, empowerment, a people-centric approach, and unwavering ethics, continue to resonate in the modern landscape of leadership, inspiring leaders to create meaningful impact and foster success within their organizations.

Core Leadership Principles of Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay Ash’s success as a leader can be attributed to her adherence to core principles that guided her throughout her journey. These principles shaped her leadership style and became the foundation upon which Mary Kay Cosmetics thrived. Let us explore in detail the key leadership principles of Mary Kay Ash.

Visionary Leadership

Mary Kay Ash was a visionary leader who possessed the ability to see beyond the present and envision a better future. She recognized the importance of setting a compelling vision for her company and effectively communicating it to her team. Her vision extended beyond selling cosmetics; it was about empowering women to realize their full potential and achieve financial independence. By painting a vivid picture of this future, Mary Kay Ash inspired her team to align their efforts and work towards its realization. Her visionary leadership provided a clear sense of purpose and direction, driving the success and growth of Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Empowering Others

At the heart of Mary Kay Ash’s leadership philosophy was the belief in empowering others. She understood that true leadership is not about exerting control but about enabling and uplifting those around you. Mary Kay Ash created a culture that empowered independent beauty consultants to take charge of their businesses and pursue their goals. She provided them with comprehensive training, support, and resources, equipping them with the tools to succeed. By entrusting her consultants with autonomy and decision-making authority, she fostered a sense of ownership and accountability, resulting in motivated and engaged individuals who were invested in the success of the company.

People-Centric Approach

Mary Kay Ash placed a strong emphasis on people and relationships. She recognized that her employees and consultants were the lifeblood of her company and that their success was intricately linked to the success of the organization. Mary Kay Ash fostered an environment where every individual felt valued, appreciated, and heard. She invested time and effort in building strong relationships, listening to her team members’ concerns, and celebrating their achievements. By creating a culture of trust, respect, and camaraderie, Mary Kay Ash nurtured a loyal and dedicated workforce, fostering a sense of belonging and unity within the Mary Kay community.

Ethics and Integrity

Integrity was at the core of Mary Kay Ash’s leadership style. She believed that ethical conduct was non-negotiable in business and that success could only be sustained by adhering to high moral standards. Mary Kay Ash led by example, displaying unwavering honesty, transparency, and fairness in her interactions with employees, consultants, and customers. She set clear expectations for ethical behavior within the organization and held herself and her team accountable to these standards. By prioritizing integrity, Mary Kay Ash earned the trust and loyalty of her stakeholders, fostering enduring relationships built on mutual respect and credibility.

Mary Kay Ash’s core leadership principles continue to resonate in the modern world of leadership. Her visionary leadership reminds us of the importance of setting a compelling vision and inspiring others to share in that vision. Her focus on empowering others teaches us that true leadership involves enabling the success and growth of those around us. Her people-centric approach serves as a reminder that investing in relationships and valuing individuals is fundamental to building a thriving organization. And her unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity highlights the significance of leading with honesty, transparency, and fairness.

In the next section of this article, we will delve into the invaluable leadership lessons derived from Mary Kay Ash’s remarkable journey. These lessons, gleaned from her experiences and stories, provide timeless wisdom that can be applied by leaders in any industry, inspiring them to unlock their full potential and create positive impact within their organizations.

Leadership Lessons from Mary Kay Ash’s Journey

Mary Kay Ash’s journey as an extraordinary leader is brimming with valuable lessons that can inspire and guide leaders in various spheres. Her experiences and stories offer profound insights into effective leadership, resilience, and achieving success against all odds. Let us explore some of the key leadership lessons derived from Mary Kay Ash’s remarkable journey.

The Power of Persistence

Mary Kay Ash’s story is a testament to the power of persistence. Throughout her career, she faced numerous setbacks and challenges, but she never allowed them to deter her from pursuing her goals. She encountered rejection, gender biases, and financial constraints, but she persisted with unwavering determination. Mary Kay Ash’s resilience in the face of adversity teaches us that setbacks are temporary, and success often comes to those who refuse to give up. Leaders can draw inspiration from her example and persevere through obstacles, knowing that resilience and determination can lead to extraordinary achievements.

Embracing Change and Innovation

Mary Kay Ash understood the importance of embracing change and fostering innovation in order to stay ahead in a dynamic business landscape. She continually adapted her strategies to evolving market dynamics and customer preferences. Mary Kay Cosmetics pioneered innovative approaches to direct selling, such as the concept of beauty consultants, which revolutionized the cosmetics industry. Mary Kay Ash’s ability to anticipate change, embrace it, and foster innovation serves as a valuable lesson for leaders today. By encouraging a culture of continuous learning, adaptation, and innovation, leaders can position their organizations for long-term success in an ever-evolving world.

Building a Supportive Network

Mary Kay Ash recognized the power of building a supportive network of mentors, advisors, and like-minded individuals. She surrounded herself with trusted allies who provided guidance, support, and inspiration. Mary Kay Ash’s network not only offered valuable insights but also served as a source of encouragement and motivation during challenging times. Leaders can learn from her example by actively seeking out mentors and building a strong support system. By nurturing relationships with individuals who share their values and aspirations, leaders can gain invaluable perspectives and support on their own leadership journeys .

Balancing Work and Life

One of the remarkable aspects of Mary Kay Ash’s leadership was her commitment to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. She prioritized personal well-being and family, recognizing that sustainable success requires harmony in all aspects of life. Mary Kay Ash’s emphasis on work-life balance serves as a crucial lesson for leaders today, reminding them to prioritize self-care and nurture relationships beyond work. By fostering a culture that supports work-life integration, leaders can inspire their teams to lead fulfilling lives while achieving professional excellence.

The leadership lessons derived from Mary Kay Ash’s journey are not limited to the cosmetics industry. They offer universal wisdom that can be applied by leaders in any domain. Her story inspires leaders to persist in the face of adversity, embrace change and innovation, build supportive networks, and prioritize work-life balance. By internalizing these lessons, leaders can enhance their own leadership effectiveness and create environments that foster growth, empowerment, and success for their teams.

In the next section of this article, we will explore the profound impact and enduring legacy of Mary Kay Ash. Her leadership continues to inspire individuals worldwide, and her stories serve as a reminder of the transformative power of effective leadership.

Impact and Legacy of Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay Ash’s impact on the world of leadership and entrepreneurship extends far beyond the success of Mary Kay Cosmetics. Her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to empowering women have left an enduring legacy that continues to inspire individuals worldwide. Let us delve into the profound impact and lasting legacy of Mary Kay Ash.

Global Reach and Influence of Mary Kay Cosmetics

Mary Kay Cosmetics, under the leadership of Mary Kay Ash, grew from a small startup to a global powerhouse. The company’s innovative business model, exceptional product quality, and focus on empowering women resonated with customers and consultants around the world. Today, Mary Kay Cosmetics operates in over 35 countries, with millions of consultants representing the brand. The company’s global reach and influence are a testament to Mary Kay Ash’s visionary leadership and the enduring appeal of her values and principles.

Enduring Leadership Lessons from Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay Ash’s leadership lessons continue to inspire and guide leaders in diverse industries. Her emphasis on vision, empowerment, a people-centric approach, and unwavering ethics serve as timeless principles that transcend time and context. Leaders worldwide have embraced these lessons, incorporating them into their own leadership philosophies to drive organizational success and create positive impact.

Mary Kay Ash’s legacy also extends to the countless individuals who have been touched by her leadership. Her dedication to empowering women has transformed the lives of countless consultants who found financial independence and personal growth through their association with Mary Kay Cosmetics. The stories of these individuals serve as living testaments to Mary Kay Ash’s ability to unlock the potential within others and provide opportunities for success.

Inspirational Stories of Individuals Influenced by Her Leadership

One of the most remarkable aspects of Mary Kay Ash’s legacy is the ripple effect she has had on individuals who have been inspired by her leadership. Many former Mary Kay consultants have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs, business leaders, and advocates for women’s empowerment. Their stories reflect the transformative impact of Mary Kay Ash’s leadership principles, as they continue to pay forward the lessons and values instilled in them.

Furthermore, Mary Kay Ash’s philanthropic endeavors have further solidified her legacy. The Mary Kay Foundation, established in 1996, has made significant contributions to cancer research, domestic violence prevention, and support for survivors. Through these initiatives, Mary Kay Ash’s commitment to making a positive difference in the world continues to be felt, reinforcing her legacy as a compassionate and socially responsible leader.

Mary Kay Ash’s impact as a leader and entrepreneur cannot be overstated. Her visionary leadership, emphasis on empowering others, people-centric approach, and unwavering ethics have shaped not only the success of Mary Kay Cosmetics but also the broader landscape of leadership. Her enduring legacy serves as a beacon of inspiration for leaders worldwide, reminding them of the transformative power of effective leadership in driving success and empowering individuals to reach their full potential.

As we reflect on the remarkable journey of Mary Kay Ash, we are reminded of the significance of visionary leadership, the importance of empowering others, and the enduring impact that one individual can have on the lives of many. Let us draw upon the timeless wisdom and lessons derived from her story as we navigate our own leadership journeys, striving to make a positive difference in the lives of those we lead and the world we inhabit.

Embracing the Legacy: Empowering Leadership for a Transformative Future

Mary Kay Ash’s leadership journey is a testament to the transformative power of visionary leadership, empowerment, and unwavering ethics. Her remarkable achievements and enduring legacy serve as a guiding light for leaders across industries, inspiring them to create positive change and empower those they lead. As we conclude this comprehensive exploration of Mary Kay Ash’s leadership lessons and stories, let us recap the key insights discussed and reflect on their enduring impact.

Throughout her life, Mary Kay Ash demonstrated the power of persistence in the face of challenges. Her unwavering determination serves as a reminder that setbacks are temporary and that true success often comes to those who refuse to give up. Leaders can draw strength from her example, embracing resilience and perseverance as they navigate their own leadership journeys.

Mary Kay Ash’s emphasis on embracing change and fostering innovation is another invaluable lesson. In a rapidly evolving world, leaders must be adaptable and forward-thinking, constantly seeking new opportunities and approaches. By encouraging a culture of continuous learning and innovation, leaders can position their organizations for long-term success.

Furthermore, Mary Kay Ash’s people-centric approach reminds us of the importance of valuing and empowering individuals. By fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and heard, leaders can unleash the full potential of their teams. Mary Kay Ash’s focus on building supportive networks and nurturing relationships demonstrates the power of collaboration and mentorship in driving personal and professional growth.

Ethics and integrity were at the core of Mary Kay Ash’s leadership philosophy. Her unwavering commitment to honesty, transparency, and fairness serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of ethical conduct in leadership. Leaders who lead with integrity build trust, credibility, and enduring relationships.

As we reflect on the impact and legacy of Mary Kay Ash, it is evident that her leadership principles continue to resonate in the modern world. Her visionary leadership, empowerment of others, people-centric approach, and unwavering ethics provide a blueprint for leaders seeking to create positive change and foster success within their organizations.

Beyond the success of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Mary Kay Ash’s legacy is reflected in the countless individuals she has inspired and empowered. Her leadership has transformed lives, unlocking the potential within others and creating opportunities for personal and professional growth. Her philanthropic endeavors further solidify her legacy as a compassionate leader committed to making a positive difference in the world.

As leaders, let us embrace the timeless wisdom and lessons derived from Mary Kay Ash’s journey. Let us be guided by her example as we navigate the complexities of leadership, striving to empower others, foster innovation, and lead with integrity. By embodying the principles she championed, we can create lasting impact and inspire those around us to reach their full potential.

In closing, Mary Kay Ash’s leadership journey is a testament to the enduring power of visionary leadership, empowerment, and unwavering ethics. May her legacy continue to inspire and guide leaders in their quest to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, leaving a lasting impact on the world of leadership and beyond.

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MARY KAY HIGHLIGHTS EFFORTS TO ADVANCE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH IMPACT PARTNERSHIPS

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In Recognition of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, Mary Kay Shares External Partnerships and Collaborative Efforts to Unlock the Potential of Women Entrepreneurs Everywhere.

DALLAS, TX (November 22, 2022) – Mary Kay Inc., an ardent advocate of women’s economic empowerment and gender equality, marks Women’s Entrepreneurship Day today by reaffirming its global commitment to women entrepreneurs through external efforts and partnerships focused on elevating and advancing women entrepreneurship.

An entrepreneurship development company operating in nearly 35 countries, Mary Kay has empowered women and supported their entrepreneurial aspirations for almost 60 years. The company has collaborated with change makers through impact-focused partnerships around the world to help dismantle barriers to women’s economic empowerment and accelerate women’s inclusion in the entrepreneurship eco-system.

VALUE POTENTIAL AND CHALLENGES TO WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP:

Expanding women’s economic inclusion lifts families up, strengthens communities, and makes societies more resilient. Data shows that women tend to reinvest up to 90% of their earnings in their families and local communities. [1] Research also shows that women-owned businesses, while disproportionately impacted by economic downturns are resilient, agile, and sustainable. [2] Women-owned businesses often respond to crises through innovation tackling the most urgent global challenges including climate change and biodiversity loss.

Despite the evidence of the multiplier effect of women’s entrepreneurship, women in business continue to face obstacles worldwide resulting from unequal access to capital, professional education, inclusion in the global value chain, and access to markets for their products and services. Compounding these barriers are unequal laws. The 2022 Women, Business and the Law Report found that nearly 2.4 billion women of working age still do not enjoy the same economic rights as men. [3]  

The challenges are so great that the 2022 Global Gender Gap Report indicated that it will take a staggering 151 years to close the economic participation and opportunity gender gap . [4]

When women are excluded from the entrepreneurship eco-system, it means companies and investors are missing out on a huge investment opportunity. In Europe, for example, studies show that even though women get half the investment capital compared to men, their companies deliver twice as much revenue for each dollar invested. [5]

Aligned with its mission to enrich women’s lives, Mary Kay and its partners are focused on advancing women entrepreneurship and supporting established or aspiring women entrepreneurs wherever they live. 

Recognizing that women’s empowerment and gender equality are critical enablers and accelerators in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mary Kay’s 10-year sustainability strategy, launched in 2021 – Enriching Lives Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow –  is underpinned by a strong gender equality lens and a key commitment to empower 5 million women worldwide by 2030 through key initiatives and partnerships. Advancing women’s economic participation is not only good for sustainable growth but also ensures that no-one is left behind – a key principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“Inspired by our mission as an entrepreneurship development company founded by a woman for women, we believe we must invest in and empower women to realize the full benefits of their economic participation not only on the economy but on society at large. We are transforming the landscape for women entrepreneurs by addressing the barriers they face through key partnerships aimed at disrupting the status quo.” Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer at Mary Kay Inc.

• Recognizing that improving the lives of rural women is key to fighting poverty and achieving sustainable development, UNDP China and Mary Kay, in collaboration with the Chinese government, the public sector and NGO partners, launched the SDG Pilot Village Project in Waipula, Yunnan Province, China in 2017. [1] The joint project dismantled the barriers to women’s entrepreneurship through the provision of social protection and the creation of green entrepreneurial opportunities supported by efforts to enhance women’s leadership in community decision-making fora.
• The local poverty rate in the village fell from 28% in 2017 to 0% in 2020.
• Through training and capacity-building, 60 households and 193 individuals living under the poverty line were lifted out of poverty by 2020.
• 210 seasonal migrant workers and 120 long-term migrant workers, the majority of which comprised women, were able to return home to a job or start their own business and be reunited with their children and families.
• 607 local women found employment and raised their income with some emerging as community leaders, taking up roles as members of the village committee and managers in local hospitality and the arts.
• People’s per capita income grew to be RMB 14,128/$2,107 in 2021.
• The project advanced 12 of the 17 SDGs.
• Since 2019, Mary Kay has been a core partner of The WE Empower UN SDG Challenge . An initiative co-led by Vital Voices and the Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University , the annual competition recognizes 5 women entrepreneurs advancing the SDGs in their communities and provides awardees with capacity-building training sessions and connections with business experts from around the world.
• In 2019, together with 6 UN agencies, Mary Kay incepted the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator ( WEA ) with a mission to create an enabling eco-system that works for women entrepreneurs .
• The 6 UN Agencies comprising WEA are: International Labour Organization ( ILO ), International Trade Centre ( ITC ), International Telecommunication Union ( ITU ), UN Global Compact ( UNGC ), the United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP ) and UN Women .

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGH THE WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACCELERATOR INCLUDE:

• Over the course of 2020 and 2021, ILO conducted and released a Women’s Entrepreneurship Development (WED) assessment of policy conditions that impact women’s entrepreneurship focused on the commerce and industry sectors in Mexico City in support of WEA. The assessment included a series of 19 actionable recommendations to address the institutional gaps that exist for women entrepreneurs. In Brazil, ILO worked with Serviçio Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial ( SENAI ) to advocate for women’s entrepreneurship development through a package of communication and awareness-raising campaigns, capacity-building workshops and events.
• In 2021, the first Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO led by UN Women with the support of Mary Kay organized a bootcamp across the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region to increase the capacities of women entrepreneurs to attract investment. This culminated in an Investors Pitch Finale in April 2022 where 25 women entrepreneurs from 9 countries (Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia, Moldova, and Serbia) pitched their early-stage startups and business plans to address one of the biggest challenges women entrepreneurs face in growing their businesses – access to capital. Following their pitches, investors offered financial support, mentorship and networking opportunities to women entrepreneurs to help scale their businesses.
• This month, the second live Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO , in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers , the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Yildiz Holding , as part of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator and supported by Mary Kay, brought women entrepreneurs and business partners together to mobilize and take forward specific action to advance the landscape for women’s entrepreneurship development.
• The first-ever free online Entrepreneurship Certificate Programme developed by ITC SheTrades in support of WEA was launched in January 2022. Powered by Mary Kay, the 27 module – digital curriculum covers the 7 key stages of the entrepreneurial journey . Available in English, Spanish, French – and soon Arabic, Russian and Chinese – the curriculum is enriched with 200 videos and aims to teach aspiring and established entrepreneurs the skills to design and set up their businesses. Participants learn how to adopt an entrepreneurship culture, develop business ideas and learn start-up methodologies, prepare a business model, design a pitch, identify sources of funding, find the right partners and mentors, and build a team.
• In 2022, ITU developed a project to address the gender digital skills gap by providing women and girls access to free, high-quality learning modules required to advance in the digital economy. Rolled out over the course of 2023, the initiative will be translated into several languages. Supported by Mary Kay, the project includes 17 online modules such as general digital skills training for aspiring and experienced women entrepreneurs; digital skills for women entrepreneurs in the textiles and apparel sector, and management skills for women entrepreneurs in technology. These learning modules provide broad professional training for any woman entrepreneur regardless of her location or business focus.
• In 2022, UN Women released an Advocacy Brief in support of WEA titled Procurement’s Strategic Value. Why gender-responsive procurement makes business sense and included a foreword by Deb Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer at Mary Kay. The Brief highlights how economies have better opportunities to grow and are more resilient to crises if women and men have equal rights. It also presents compelling evidence of the benefits for strengthening the participation of women in private sector supply chains to bring about inclusive growth and sustainable development. A broad consultation with 374 stakeholders was conducted to create an evidence base for why businesses should adopt GRP.
• Supported by Mary Kay, ITU will hold an open innovation competition next month where an expert jury will select 10 digital best practices and digital solutions to create a more gender-inclusive eco-system for start-ups and scale-ups to address the many obstacles women entrepreneurs face in developing technologies. The winners will gain access to the Digital Innovation Eco-System Program where they will receive capacity-building and specialized mentorship.

[1] Harvard Business Review. 2013. “The Global Rise of Female Entrepreneurs.”

[2] BNP Paribas Wealth Management. 2020. “2020 Global Entrepreneur Report.” According to the 2020 Report, 54% of women entrepreneurs noted that beyond income, reducing their carbon footprint is their top measure of success in investing, compared to just 41 percent of men.

[3] World Bank. 2022. “Women, Business and the Law 2022.”

[4] World Economic Forum. 2022. “Global Gender Gap Report 2022.”

[5] European Investment Bank. 2020. “Funding women entrepreneurs: How to empower growth.”

[6] Partners include: The China Women’s Development Foundation, the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges, the Women’s Federation of Yunnan Province and Yongren County Government.

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5 Strategic Business Lessons You can Learn From Mary Kay

By June Whittle

In business tips , motivation

Mary Kay Ash was a dynamic woman. Her unique business idea began one week after she retired. She wasn’t content to sit around relaxing. Her get-up-and-go energy was too strong to ignore. Mary Kay assessed the experiences she gathered over the years. During this thinking period, she made a life-changing decision.

Armed with a wealth of knowledge from her direct sales background, she established “Mary Kay Cosmetics” in 1963.  It’s now one of the largest direct sellers of cosmetics and skin care with a sales turnover of $4 billion in 2015.

How did one woman create such a successful business? Mary Kay had specific strategies she created. They are still being used today to grow her company. One of her biggest passions was “to see women become much more than they ever thought they could be.” She had a desire to help them overcome the hurdles she encountered during her career. On top of that, Mary Kay was an expert at facing and solving problems.

Her enthusiasm for supporting women is evident in the motto she created for Mary Kay Cosmetics, which is “ You Can Do It ”.

“God didn’t have time to make a “nobody.” As a result, you can have, or be, anything you want. Every one of us is important and necessary to God’s plan. If someone else will just believe in you – you will be able to do great things. I know this because someone once believed in me.” ~ Mary Kay

• Start your business with what you have

Mary Kay had 25 years experience in direct sales. During her career, she was faced with many obstacles as a woman. She worked in a business world controlled by men, which produced a lack of equality. Outdated practices of how far a woman can progress on the career ladder held her back from developing. She saw many men at her workplace receive promotion, while she was left behind.

When she decided to set up her beauty and cosmetic business, her competitive spirit drove her.

“ I have learned that it becomes most powerful when you compete with yourself and when you learn from your failures .” ~ Mary Kay

Therefore, with her competitive mindset and experiences, she was in a good place to help other women overcome the challenges she had faced.

One of the first things Mary Kay did was to write down all the lessons she learned. She used this method to organize her thoughts. It helped her recall all of the opportunities she missed, because of her gender. Writing the list also allowed her to let go of past bitterness experienced in the workplace.

The list shaped her dream company. She used it to define the golden rules of Mary Kay Cosmetics. She did not believe in limiting women who had the skills and determination to succeed.

Mary Kay employed her youngest son, who had a sales representative background, to lead the business. Her oldest son donated funds (his life savings) to the company. He eventually left his job and joined Mary Kay Cosmetics. Later on, her daughter also joined as the first director. Together with her family, the company was ready to start operating.

Over to you: What experiences have you gained over the years? What burning passions do you have to help others succeed?  Use the answers to create a plan for your business.

Who do you know with the right skills and experiences to help you shape your business? It must be people you can trust. And people who are prepared to support, encourage, motivate you and help you achieve your goals.

• Time management and the to-do list

Time management is crucial to the success of any business. Nevertheless, you need a strategy; otherwise, you will run from one task to another without achieving much.

During the beginning stages of her company, Ivy Lee, a leading efficiency expert, challenged Mary Kay. He worked with executives from a struggling steel company for 15 minutes. He told them to do a simple task every evening for three months.

Their task was to make a list of six most important things they had to do the next day. And rank them in order of importance. Every morning the executives had to begin the day with the first item on the list. Then, work down the list crossing off each item as they complete it. If any task wasn’t finished, it went on the list for the following day.

The executives succeeded beyond their target. Efficiency and sales increased at the end of the three months. This impressed Mary Kay. She used an old envelope and started her first list.  From then on, she used the list method every day throughout her life. This helped her keep on track. Ultimately, she believed the result of using a list put more money in her pocket.

Over to you: Make your list, but keep it short. Six is a manageable number. If you put too much on your list, it could overwhelm you. However, as you progress, you can always add to your list.

The list will help you prioritize the important tasks. Also, writing them down physically will make you take the jobs at hand seriously. It also reinforces the tasks in your subconscious.

“The way time is managed can make the difference between success and failure.” ~ Mary Kay Ash

• Plan your life, like you’re planning a vacation

Going on a vacation is fun, but it’s also hard work. The most important job before leaving home is planning the vacation. You have to decide where to go, a method of travel, accommodation, what clothes to take, etc.

On the first day, you leave home with your luggage. Then you travel to a new country or location by airplane, car, train or coach. You may have to get used to the change in climate, new language, eating different food, driving on a different side of the road, new traditions and possible do lots of walking when you’re used to taking a cab.

You happily step out of your comfort zone because you’re on a vacation. You’re keen to learn new things and add to your knowledge. Therefore, you might even attempt to climb Mount Everest. Why? Because it’s an adventure.

However, when you come back home from your vacation; don’t fall back into the same old routine.

Over to you: Do you put your all into taking a vacation? Have you considered putting the same amount of adventure, fun and hard work into your business? Increase your knowledge, try new challenges and step out of your comfort zone.

Plan your business with the same enthusiasm you use to prepare for your vacation. Don’t float through your days, weeks and months because of lack of planning. If you want to be productive and successful, have a plan.

 “There are four kinds of people in this world: Those who make things happen. Those who watch things happen. Those who wonder what happened. Those who don’t know that anything happened.” ~ Mary Kay

• The three keys to a successful business

Most successful business owners have similar personalities, intentions and abilities. They are intentionally enthusiastic, disciplined, determined, appreciate people and are eager to work and serve others. Also, they love learning.

On top of that, to build a profitable business you need:

• A desire to succeed. If you Lack motivation and determination, especially when you face challenges, you might easily quit.
• Knowledge is certainly power. When you possess this it gives you zeal. When you have zeal you will work towards succeeding.
• Apply the skills above and combine them with hard work. Otherwise, having desire and knowledge without application won’t get you far.

“People who do succeed are set apart by their personalities, objectives and abilities. Specifically, this means they have: enthusiasm (with a purpose), discipline, willingness (to work, to serve and to learn), determination, appreciation of others.” ~ Mary Kay

• Appreciate your customers

Mary Kay Cosmetic consultants flourish on praise and applause. The company also awards them prizes for achieving sales targets. Each consultant’s achievement is encouraged by praise. They thrive on it. It boosts their confidence and makes them feel important.

Mary Kay’s magazine “Applause” lists the names of outstanding sales persons each month. Their photos and achievements are published when they reach important milestones in the company.

Over to you: How can you make your customers feel important and appreciated? Doing this builds a strong loyalty.

Don’t presume you know what they need. Ask them. Send out surveys to find out. Speak to your customers directly. Moreover, remember to thank them.

Show how much you value your customers by writing about them in your newsletters, blog articles, magazines or other company materials. Share their stories in case studies. Give loyal long-term customers freebies, special gifts or discounts.

Don’t ever let your dream die. Mary Kay said, “ Sadly, most people live and die with their music still unplayed. They never dare to try. Why? Because they lack self-confidence.” Therefore, if you want to start a business, gain as much knowledge as possible. Surround yourself with inspirational and motivational people who are keen to support you to succeed.

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WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: AT THE VERY HEART OF MARY KAY

U.s.-ukraine business council (usubc),  wash, d.c., tue, june 12, 2020.

Mary Kay Inc. is an American privately owned direct selling company. Mary Kay sells cosmetics through a direct selling​ model.

Mary Kay Ash

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her beauty company more than 56 years ago with three goals: develop rewarding opportunities for women, offer irresistible products, and make the world a better place. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in nearly 40 countries.

Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skin care, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements and fragrances. Mary Kay is committed to empowering women and their families by partnering with organizations from around the world, focusing on supporting cancer research, protecting survivors from domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Mary Kay Ash’s original vision continues to shine—one lipstick at a time.

Recognized today as one of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs, Mary Kay Ash opened the doors to an amazing opportunity that continues to empower millions of women around the world. Her story, her legacy and her timeless business principles have inspired generations and resonate with business leaders in every industry.

And the direct selling model chosen by the founder of the company still offers solid business opportunities for women-entrepreneurs, including education and support at every stage of their business development. She envisioned a world where all women could realize their full potential and develop their entrepreneurial skills.

Benefits of the Mary Kay business model

Today Mary Kay is not just a direct selling company, but rather an entrepreneurship development company. The focus is endorsing entrepreneurship as a profession, and the profession is really beautiful and meaningful. The time-tested business model has evolved to support the success of individual women and show how gender-balanced entrepreneurship can increase economic resilience.

All that is needed is a superior product and an Independent Beauty Consultant (IBC), who provides customized skin care, color and fragrances as well as professional and personalized service. Truly something that you can’t find in many of today’s shops! While IBCs drive their business on their own, Mary Kay Ukraine is always there to provide full support to their business, educating them and recognizing and rewarding them for their efforts.

Victoriia Zoria-Iatsenko, General Director of Mary Kay Ukraine : “Mary Kay is an opportunity for women to grow financially and professionally with one’s own efforts. Any personal dream can become a reality – solid education for children, travel around the world, personal savings for life, purchase of a house. You are your own boss, and you decide where to work, what hours of the day and how long. It is a business for women with low start-up costs seeking a flexible work schedule, the potential for successful business profitability and professional as well as personal growth.”

The World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) stated there were over 118 million people occupied in direct selling in 2018, 74% out of which were women .

Since the inception in 1963, the vast majority of the Mary Kay sales force has been women.  Mary Kay manufactures and sells high quality cosmetic and beauty products; therefore, women are naturally attracted to the opportunity.

Women try our products, fall in love with them, and then discover the Mary Kay business opportunity!   According to the same data of WFDSA for 2018, wellness and cosmetic product categories were the most sold out ones. Altogether, these factors drive women empowerment worldwide.

Mary Kay opened its doors in Ukraine in 1997 and since then thousands of Ukrainian women started their own businesses with Mary Kay. They continue to develop their business while providing Ukrainian women with high-quality service and products.

Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants are beauty experts, who can not only tailor the best cosmetic products for each customer’s specific needs, but also teach their customers beauty and skin care techniques, and become a trusted beauty advisor.

The benefits of having a Mary Kay beauty advisor are multiple: she can deliver product directly to her customer’s home or workplace; the customer can have one-on-one complimentary consultation with her beauty advisor on her specific skincare needs; the customer can have a color consultation to pick out the color cosmetics that’s best suited for her skin color and preference; the customer can shop from the comfort of her home or on the go through the Mary Kay website.

A key benefit that Mary Kay offers to its customers is the “Try before you buy” concept, which allows a customer enjoy the product, understand its benefits and fall in love with it. A personal beauty advisor’s mission is to take care of her customers, tailor a skincare regimen to the customer’s specific needs and recommend seasonal products that are trending that season.

Women empowerment and social responsibility

Mary Kay Ukraine is committed to women’s empowerment and to boosting opportunities for women’s personal as well as business growth. The company takes part in numerous conferences throughout the year to educate women all over Ukraine and equip them with entrepreneurial skills, inspire them to go after their dreams and to give them a business opportunity to get into sales and leadership positions. 

Mary Kay has always had an intrinsic social purpose: enrich women’s lives.

A worldwide Mary Kay social initiative called Pink Changing Lives donates funds to organizations around the world focused on supporting cancer research, helping end hunger, protecting survivors from domestic abuse, beautifying communities, and programs empowering women and girls.

Since 2008, Mary Kay’s global Pink Changing Lives cause empowerment program has impacted more than six million women and their families by partnering with over 2,000 organizations around the world, donating over $15 million USD. The initiative makes it possible for Mary Kay Ukraine to support women who are fighting breast cancer and actively involve independent beauty consultants in these efforts.

The company has a long-term partnership with the charitable Foundation "Women's Health and Family Planning" that provides support for Ukrainian women with breast cancer. This is a 15-year long partnership during which the charity program has been offering women who have undergone surgery to remove a malignant breast tumor to have a set of procedures that restore the physical and psychological state of the patient.

Tatiana Kravchenko, Mary Kay Ukraine Senior Manager for PR & Advertising, Marketing, Communications, and Special Events: “During the entire period of the program, Mary Kay Ukraine has donated more than 5 million UAH, letting over 1400 Ukrainian women to undergo rehabilitation. It is based in Kyiv Medical Center "Likarski Tradytsii" for the residents of Kyiv and Kyiv region and sanatorium "Truskavets” for the residents of other regions. In addition, Mary Kay beauty experts offer skincare parties to women who are fighting breast cancer to lift their spirits, make them feel feminine and beautiful”.

A true leader at the forefront

An extra marker of any company is also its ability to adapt in fast changing environment and react accordingly to community’s needs. Such marker for all worldwide companies became the COVID-19 pandemic and readiness of businesses to support local medical institutions. Mary Kay remains committed to its principles and has taken a number of measures to sustain healthcare systems.

Mary Kay has refocused global manufacturing efforts on the production and donation of essential items only, including personal care and hygiene products, as well as hand sanitizer that was donated to nearly 20 healthcare systems, 1,000 hospitals and 1.5 million combined frontline responders, physicians, and staff around the world. In Ukraine Mary Kay has donated money for the purchase of personal protection equipment (PPE) for doctors as well as hand cream sets to protect their damaged hand skin.

A true proof of socially responsible, trustworthy, credible and openhearted company. A brand, which is reasonably on the lips of consumers: According to quarter MMI research of the target audience aged 20-45, Mary Kay is among TOP-three cosmetic companies based on brand awareness in Ukraine. This indicates that the majority of consumers have heard of or have tried Mary Kay products, such as skin care, color cosmetics, body care, sunscreen and fragrances.

Moreover, during its 23 years in Ukraine, Mary Kay was repeatedly acknowledged among the leading beauty companies in Ukraine in various areas, and was given awards in the spheres of  the most dynamic company, brand offering unique possibilities, best employer, benefactor of the year, best charity project, best CEO of the beauty company. A number of Mary Kay products themselves were chosen as the best in their class as well.

Company with a heart

At the very heart of Mary Kay has always been and always will be women – the Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants, who have a dream of building a better future for themselves and their families.

Mary Kay Beauty Expert, Senior National Sales Director, Elena Tanasevych : Doing business with Mary Kay is not just about financial performance. I help women regain their childhood ability to dream and fulfill their dreams. We create “treasure maps” and pave the way for their achievement step by step. And only you can decide what level of income you need and how much time you can devote on your own path to these treasures.

It absolutely does not matter whether she is 25 or 55 years old, married or single, has children or doesn’t, occupied somewhere else or willing to have full-time business. Mary Kay offers opportunities for each of them. The only thing that matters is her desire to succeed. It is she, who makes it happen.

All Independent Beauty Consultants are treated with dignity and respect in Mary Kay. Nevertheless, although each Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant is in business for herself, she is never in business by herself.

“The most rewarding aspect of my life is to watch a woman come into our company like a tight little rosebud, sometimes too inhibited to even tell me who she is, and after six months of training, praise, and encouragement, and recognition by her recruiter and director friends – she blossoms into a poised beautiful woman. All because someone helps her reach down within herself and bring forth her… talents and abilities”.

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Mary Kay Ash was honored as one of the 25 most influential businesspeople of the past 25 years by PBS and the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. Other honorees included: Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, Warren Buffett, Steven Jobs, and Oprah Winfrey.

DALLAS--( BUSINESS WIRE )-- Mary Kay Inc., an ardent advocate of women’s economic empowerment and gender equality, marks Women’s Entrepreneurship Day today by reaffirming its global commitment to women entrepreneurs through external efforts and partnerships focused on elevating and advancing women entrepreneurship.

An entrepreneurship development company operating in nearly 35 countries, Mary Kay has empowered women and supported their entrepreneurial aspirations for almost 60 years. The company has collaborated with change makers through impact-focused partnerships around the world to help dismantle barriers to women’s economic empowerment and accelerate women’s inclusion in the entrepreneurship eco-system.

VALUE POTENTIAL AND CHALLENGES TO WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP:

Expanding women’s economic inclusion lifts families up, strengthens communities, and makes societies more resilient. Data shows that women tend to reinvest up to 90% of their earnings in their families and local communities. 1 Research also shows that women-owned businesses, while disproportionately impacted by economic downturns are resilient, agile, and sustainable. 2 Women-owned businesses often respond to crises through innovation tackling the most urgent global challenges including climate change and biodiversity loss.

Despite the evidence of the multiplier effect of women’s entrepreneurship, women in business continue to face obstacles worldwide resulting from unequal access to capital, professional education, inclusion in the global value chain, and access to markets for their products and services. Compounding these barriers are unequal laws. The 2022 Women, Business and the Law Report found that nearly 2.4 billion women of working age still do not enjoy the same economic rights as men. 3

The challenges are so great that the 2022 Global Gender Gap Report indicated that it will take a staggering 151 years to close the economic participation and opportunity gender gap . 4

When women are excluded from the entrepreneurship eco-system, it means companies and investors are missing out on a huge investment opportunity. In Europe, for example, studies show that even though women get half the investment capital compared to men, their companies deliver twice as much revenue for each dollar invested. 5

Aligned with its mission to enrich women’s lives, Mary Kay and its partners are focused on advancing women entrepreneurship and supporting established or aspiring women entrepreneurs wherever they live.

Recognizing that women’s empowerment and gender equality are critical enablers and accelerators in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mary Kay’s 10-year sustainability strategy, launched in 2021 - Enriching Lives Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow - is underpinned by a strong gender equality lens and a key commitment to empower 5 million women worldwide by 2030 through key initiatives and partnerships. Advancing women’s economic participation is not only good for sustainable growth but also ensures that no-one is left behind – a key principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“ Inspired by our mission as an entrepreneurship development company founded by a woman for women, we believe we must invest in and empower women to realize the full benefits of their economic participation not only on the economy but on society at large. We are transforming the landscape for women entrepreneurs by addressing the barriers they face through key partnerships aimed at disrupting the status quo,” said Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer at Mary Kay Inc.

NOTABLE ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDE:

• Recognizing that improving the lives of rural women is key to fighting poverty and achieving sustainable development, UNDP China and Mary Kay, in collaboration with the Chinese government, the public sector and NGO partners, launched the SDG Pilot Village Project in Waipula, Yunnan Province, China in 2017. 6 The joint project dismantled the barriers to women’s entrepreneurship through the provision of social protection and the creation of green entrepreneurial opportunities supported by efforts to enhance women’s leadership in community decision-making fora.
• The local poverty rate in the village fell from 28% in 2017 to 0% in 2020.
• Through training and capacity-building, 60 households and 193 individuals living under the poverty line were lifted out of poverty by 2020.
• 210 seasonal migrant workers and 120 long-term migrant workers, the majority of which comprised women, were able to return home to a job or start their own business and be reunited with their children and families.
• 607 local women found employment and raised their income with some emerging as community leaders, taking up roles as members of the village committee and managers in local hospitality and the arts.
• People’s per capita income grew to be RMB 14,128/$2,107 in 2021.
• The project advanced 12 of the 17 SDGs.
• Since 2019, Mary Kay has been a core partner of The WE Empower UN SDG Challenge . An initiative co-led by Vital Voices and the Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University , the annual competition recognizes 5 women entrepreneurs advancing the SDGs in their communities and provides awardees with capacity-building training sessions and connections with business experts from around the world.
• In 2019, together with 6 UN agencies, Mary Kay incepted the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator ( WEA ) with a mission to create an enabling eco-system that works for women entrepreneurs .
• The 6 UN Agencies comprising WEA are: International Labour Organization ( ILO ), International Trade Centre ( ITC ), International Telecommunication Union ( ITU ), UN Global Compact ( UNGC ), the United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP ) and UN Women .

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGH THE WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACCELERATOR INCLUDE:

• Over the course of 2020 and 2021, ILO conducted and released a Women’s Entrepreneurship Development (WED) assessment of policy conditions that impact women’s entrepreneurship focused on the commerce and industry sectors in Mexico City in support of WEA. The assessment included a series of 19 actionable recommendations to address the institutional gaps that exist for women entrepreneurs. In Brazil, ILO worked with Serviçio Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial ( SENAI ) to advocate for women’s entrepreneurship development through a package of communication and awareness-raising campaigns, capacity-building workshops and events.
• In 2021, the first Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO led by UN Women with the support of Mary Kay organized a bootcamp across the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region to increase the capacities of women entrepreneurs to attract investment. This culminated in an Investors Pitch Finale in April 2022 where 25 women entrepreneurs from 9 countries (Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia, Moldova, and Serbia) pitched their early-stage startups and business plans to address one of the biggest challenges women entrepreneurs face in growing their businesses – access to capital. Following their pitches, investors offered financial support, mentorship and networking opportunities to women entrepreneurs to help scale their businesses.
• This month, the second live Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO , in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers , the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Yildiz Holding , as part of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator and supported by Mary Kay, brought women entrepreneurs and business partners together to mobilize and take forward specific action to advance the landscape for women’s entrepreneurship development.
• The first-ever free online Entrepreneurship Certificate Programme developed by ITC SheTrades in support of WEA was launched in January 2022. Powered by Mary Kay, the 27 module - digital curriculum covers the 7 key stages of the entrepreneurial journey . Available in English, Spanish, French - and soon Arabic, Russian and Chinese – the curriculum is enriched with 200 videos and aims to teach aspiring and established entrepreneurs the skills to design and set up their businesses. Participants learn how to adopt an entrepreneurship culture, develop business ideas and learn start-up methodologies, prepare a business model, design a pitch, identify sources of funding, find the right partners and mentors, and build a team.
• In 2022, ITU developed a project to address the gender digital skills gap by providing women and girls access to free, high-quality learning modules required to advance in the digital economy. Rolled out over the course of 2023, the initiative will be translated into several languages. Supported by Mary Kay, the project includes 17 online modules such as general digital skills training for aspiring and experienced women entrepreneurs; digital skills for women entrepreneurs in the textiles and apparel sector, and management skills for women entrepreneurs in technology. These learning modules provide broad professional training for any woman entrepreneur regardless of her location or business focus.
• In 2022, UN Women released an Advocacy Brief in support of WEA titled Procurement’s Strategic Value. Why gender-responsive procurement makes business sense and included a foreword by Deb Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer at Mary Kay. The Brief highlights how economies have better opportunities to grow and are more resilient to crises if women and men have equal rights. It also presents compelling evidence of the benefits for strengthening the participation of women in private sector supply chains to bring about inclusive growth and sustainable development. A broad consultation with 374 stakeholders was conducted to create an evidence base for why businesses should adopt GRP.
• Supported by Mary Kay, ITU will hold an open innovation competition next month where an expert jury will select 10 digital best practices and digital solutions to create a more gender-inclusive eco-system for start-ups and scale-ups to address the many obstacles women entrepreneurs face in developing technologies. The winners will gain access to the Digital Innovation Eco-System Program where they will receive capacity-building and specialized mentorship.

About Mary Kay

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty company in 1963 with one goal: enriching women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in nearly 40 countries. As an entrepreneurship development company, Mary Kay is committed to empowering women on their journey through education, mentorship, advocacy, networking, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in enriching lives today for a sustainable tomorrow, partnering with organizations from around the world focusing on promoting business excellence, supporting cancer research, advancing gender equality, protecting survivors of domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com , find us on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn , or follow us on Twitter .

________________

1 Harvard Business Review. 2013. “The Global Rise of Female Entrepreneurs.” 2 BNP Paribas Wealth Management. 2020. “2020 Global Entrepreneur Report.” According to the 2020 Report, 54% of women entrepreneurs noted that beyond income, reducing their carbon footprint is their top measure of success in investing, compared to just 41 percent of men. 3 World Bank. 2022. “Women, Business and the Law 2022.” 4 World Economic Forum. 2022. “Global Gender Gap Report 2022.” 5 European Investment Bank. 2020. “ Funding women entrepreneurs: How to empower growth.” 6 Partners include: The China Women’s Development Foundation, the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges, the Women’s Federation of Yunnan Province and Yongren County Government.

Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications marykay.com/newsroom 972.687.5332 or [email protected]

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Avon Vs. Mary Kay: Battle Of The Direct Sales Cosmetics Giants

When it comes to big names in cosmetics, Avon and Mary Kay are two powerhouse brands that have been around for decades. Both utilize a direct sales model, relying on independent consultants to sell their products directly to customers.

But which one reigns supreme? Here’s an in-depth look at the pros and cons of Avon and Mary Kay to help you decide.

A Brief Comparison Table

Brief history of avon and mary kay.

Avon was founded in 1886 as the California Perfume Company by David H. McConnell. Initially selling perfumes door to door, Avon expanded its catalog to include makeup and skincare products for women in the 1920s and 1930s. The company adopted the Avon name in 1939.

Mary Kay was founded much later in 1963 by Mary Kay Ash. After spending 25 years in direct sales, Ash started her own company with the goal of empowering women and offering them an opportunity for financial independence through direct sales. The company’s first product lineup focused on skincare.

So, while Avon has been around longer, Mary Kay also has decades of experience in direct sales cosmetics. Both companies were revolutionary in their use of female sales representatives and in offering products directly tailored to women.

Business Model

The direct selling approach is key to both Avon and Mary Kay’s business models. Independent sales representatives, primarily women, sell products door-to-door, through home parties/events, and online. Avon refers to its reps as “Beauty Advisors,” while Mary Kay calls them “Independent Beauty Consultants.”

This model allows the companies to reach customers without a physical store presence. Consultants buy products at a discount and sell them at a markup. Profits come from the price difference. There’s also an emphasis on recruitment, as building a team of new representatives called a “downline” can increase earnings.

The main difference lies in startup costs. To become a Mary Kay rep requires an investment of around $100 for a starter kit of products. Avon has no kit requirement, making it more accessible for those with limited funds.

Also Read: Is Vaseline Blue Seal Better Than Original ?

Product Offerings and Innovation

Avon is best known for its affordable cosmetics, fragrances, and personal care items marketed to the mass market. Top categories include color cosmetics like lipstick, mascara and powders, skincare and bath products. The company prides itself on offering the latest beauty innovations at reasonable prices. For example, Avon claims to have created the first mass market soft-sculpt lipstick in the 1970s.

Mary Kay also offers color cosmetics, skincare and fragrances, but at slightly higher price points given its premium positioning. Mary Kay invests heavily in research, focusing on products for aging skin and conditions like acne. Notable innovations include the TimeWise skincare line with patent-pending ingredients, and the Volu-Firm line to combat sagging skin. Limited edition products and new launch excitement also help drive sales.

In terms of breadth and affordability, Avon likely has an edge. But for anti-aging and specialty skincare, Mary Kay is tough to beat.

Brand Image

Avon adopted the tagline “The Company for Women” in the 1950s, helping it to align with women’s empowerment. The company has longstanding associations with causes like breast cancer research and domestic violence prevention. Its image is focused on female friendship and community.

Mary Kay also centers its brand around female empowerment, independence and recognition. The signature pink Cadillacs earned by top sellers represent success. Compared to Avon’s girl next door vibe, Mary Kay projects more glamour. This can translate to broader appeal, though its higher prices may be a turnoff for some.

Sales and Marketing Approach

Avon utilizes catalogs, digital marketing and social media to promote its products. Consultants take orders and deliver products. Home parties remain a core sales method, allowing women to try out products with friends.

Mary Kay also uses parties and consultants to demonstrate and sell products. Online ordering is available, but not heavily pushed. Consultants are encouraged to build personal websites and Facebook business pages. There is a stronger emphasis on leveraging consultant relationships versus passive ecommerce sales.

This personal touch helps drive sales for both companies. But Avon’s greater digital focus gives it an edge with younger demographics.

Compensation and Perks

Both Avon and Mary Kay incentivize consultants via commissions on sales, rewards programs, and contests. The more you sell, the more you earn. Top sellers get perks like all-expenses paid trips and exclusive product gifts.

Mary Kay awards the iconic pink Cadillacs, Rolex watches and other luxury prizes. Avon incentives include vacations, electronics, custom jewelry and cash bonuses. Their compensation structures are fairly similar, encouraging friendly competition among sellers.

The main difference is that Mary Kay requires minimum purchase volumes each month to remain active and qualify for commissions. With Avon, there are no monthly quotas.

Also Read: Comparison Between WowCombo and Thrive Mascaras

Pros and Cons of Avon and Mary Kay

• Low startup costs
• No monthly purchase requirements
• Wide range of affordable products
• Advanced digital capabilities and online sales
• Less glamorous brand image
• Fewer anti-aging/specialty items
• Commissions can take 3-4 weeks
• Premium brand image
• Innovative skincare products
• Lucrative rewards program
• Instant online commissions
• Higher buy-in and startup costs
• Monthly purchase minimums
• Smaller product selection
• Less focus on digital sales

So, weighing it out, Avon has the advantage if you’re looking for an easy entrance into direct sales and trendy mass market products to sell. Mary Kay is a better fit if you want to focus on skincare, motivate sales teams with luxury prizes, and instant payout.

Also watch the video!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Avon is the larger company in terms of annual revenues. For 2021, Avon reported $5.3 billion in total revenue globally compared to $2.3 billion for Mary Kay. Avon has also maintained steady sales for the past decade while Mary Kay has seen some declines.

No, Avon and Mary Kay are completely separate companies and competitors within the beauty industry. They utilize similar direct sales models but were founded decades apart from each other and have always been independent businesses.

No, Avon was actually founded much earlier in 1886 versus Mary Kay which started in 1963. Avon helped pioneer the concept of direct sales for cosmetics. Mary Kay Ash drew inspiration from Avon’s model when she founded her own company years later.

Mary Kay is considered one of the top skincare brands in the direct sales space along with rivals like Rodan + Fields and NuSkin. Its anti-aging products in particular get high marks for innovation and effectiveness. However, Mary Kay would rank below prescription brands and prestige luxury brands like LaMer in the global skincare market.

Also Read: Is Mary Kay Better Than Rodan + Fields ?

In summary, both Avon and Mary Kay built empires by empowering women through entrepreneurial opportunity and quality beauty products. While Avon may have the scale advantage, Mary Kay remains a heavy hitter with its skincare expertise and alluring brand image.

The ideal choice comes down to your sales style and what types of products excite you most. With some hustle and grit, success can come your way whether you choose the Avon or Mary Kay opportunity.

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Why Mary Kay Should Be Your New Favorite Beauty and Business Brand

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Listen up, beauty lovers! If you love all things makeup, skin care, and have been obsessing over how to turn your passion into extra income, then this is an opportunity you’ll want to take advantage of. I know how hard it can be to balance school with a social life and self-care. And when you add running a business into the mix, it can seem daunting. But finding a flexible opportunity that fits you and your lifestyle doesn’t have to be a challenge — at least not anymore.

Mary Kay eStart

• Access to a branded Mary Kay personal website for a year
• Welcome brochure
• Mary Kay product samples
• Informational materials
• Digital tools and marketing resources and online step-by-step education

Mary Kay eStart Plus

• Selling resources

Mary Kay Pro Start

• Retail-sized Mary Kay products for guests to sample
• Party supplies
• Business resources
• Professional tote bag

But no matter which way you go, you’ll always get access to business resources, free apps that help you sell Mary Kay products anytime, anywhere, marketing resources to help give you an advantage, and opportunities for education and personal development to build sales skills. Plus, the added flexibility, allows you to balance the important things in your life with the potential to earn extra income and encouragement from like-minded women. So, get started and customize your startup experience today.

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Watch CBS News

Is Mary Kay a "pink pyramid" scheme?

By Amy Levin-Epstein

August 23, 2012 / 9:46 AM EDT / MoneyWatch

(MoneyWatch) Mary Kay products are sold primarily for women, by women. But is the cosmetics giant good for women?

Journalist Virginia Sole-Smith, a reporting fellow with the Investigative Fund at the Nation Institute, says no. In the August issue of Harper's Magazine, she contends that Mary Kay, founded in 1963 with an initial $5,000 investment by Mary Kay Ash , is less about empowering women than luring them into what the story calls a "pink pyramid scheme" that exploits its salesforce.

Sole-Smith said that under the company's wholesale business model, the company's sales staff is heavily encouraged to buy the products they then sell to customers. For Mary Kay's "consultants," the financial returns on that investment are often minimal, she said, and typically a far cry from the hefty income that the company wants women to believe they can earn peddling its wares. Indeed, while Mary Kary claims annual sales of roughly $3 billion, its salespeople often end up in debt, with boxes of unsold lipsticks, facial creams and other products. A handful of employees profit, but most don't. Sole-Smith writes:

A business in which only a select few earn real money while everyone else pays to play sounds a lot like a pyramid scheme. The Federal Trade Commission distinguishes between recruiting salespeople to sell a product, which is perfectly legal, and making money exclusively through "fees for participation," which isn't. What constitutes a fee is, of course, vague, but the FTC has charged some multilevel-marketing companies with employing pyramid schemes.... On "Pink Truth" message boards, detractors share stories of Mary Kay-sponsored divorces and financial ruin; a kind of battered-woman syndrome pervades. Members struggle to understand how they could have fallen for the company's cheap marketing ploys, even as many of them continue to defend their particular recruiter or sales director as the exception.

Mary Kay rejects Sole-Smith's characterization of the company. "What's true for every independent beauty consultant is a simple model -- she signs an agreement directly with the company, purchases her products directly from the company at a wholesale price and then sells the product to her customers at a suggested retail price," the company told CBS MoneyWatch in a statement. "If she sells a $13 lipstick and bought it for $6.50, the profits are hers to keep. It's each person's choice on how much product she wants to purchase from the company to sell to her customers."

Salespeople are free to return any inventory they buy, the company added, while stipulating that Mary Kay agrees to refund only 90 percent of the purchase price within one year.

The company also accuses Sole-Smith of having a "narrow, biased point of view" regarding Mary Kay, claiming that the Harper's story "was written without any attempt by the writer to gain information from" the firm before the article was published. 

Not so, said Jason Chupick, vice president of public relations at Harper's. "Virginia Sole-Smith and Harper's Magazine gave Mary Kay ample time to respond to the story on numerous occasions prior to publication, but Mary Kay declined to grant Sole-Smith an interview," he said in a statement.

I spoke with Sole-Smith, who frequently covers issues within the beauty industry, about what she found in examining Mary Kay's business practices.

CBS MoneyWatch: In your article, you assert that Mary Kay positions itself as a "girlfriends' club" but falls short of its promises to women. How so?

Sole-Smith: Mary Kay uses a lot of powerful feminist rhetoric about "having it all" and girl power to manipulate women into buying products. The "business opportunities" rarely pan out. The company has precisely identified so many of women's fears -- that they can't be successful career women and great wives and moms, that the American workplace won't give them the flexibility that they want, for instance -- and says, "don't worry, Mary Kay has the answers." But it doesn't. Only around 300 of the 600,000 American Mary Kay ladies make a six-figure income. And they work incredible hours to achieve that.

MW: If Mary Kay is so exploitative, why is the company appealing to so many women?

SS: The company's founder, Mary Kay Ash, knew exactly why women were frustrated in the 1960s: the lack of gender equality, which meant they were dependent on their husband's income and unable to make much headway in the workplace. But she also knew that a significant majority of women weren't responding to the hardcore feminist revolution that say, Betty Friedan was advocating in "The Feminist Mystique."

In a lot of ways, not much has changed. But here's what has: We have 8.3 percent unemployment, and male-dominated industries have been disproportionately impacted during this recession in terms of layoffs, while female-dominated industries are continuing to underpay their workforces. [Women] still (very reasonably) want a career that offers personal fulfillment and flexibility. This is why direct sales, and Mary Kay specifically, is recruiting in such record numbers right now. Direct sales just requires you to put some product on a credit card and -- bam -- you're "employed."

MW: How are current recruits different from previous generations of Mary Kay workers?

SS: Today's Mary Kay ladies are younger. Of the 94,000 people that Mary Kay recruited in the second quarter of 2012, a third were from Generation Y. Recent college grads, saddled with debt and facing dim job market, are especially vulnerable to this pitch.

MW: What was the biggest red flag for you during your reporting?

SS: When Mary Kay mentions in press releases that it had $3 billion in sales last year, they're only talking about wholesale orders, meaning Mary Kay consultants spent $3 billion on their products. But we don't know how much Mary Kay ladies earn selling those products in the retail market.

How can you be recruiting women with promises of "a lucrative full-time business opportunity" and "executive-level income" but not substantiate that with proof? You're constantly encouraged to buy more inventory than you can realistically sell, and the company's versions of "customer support" and "leadership training" usually boil down to more sales pitches.

When I was recruited and explained I didn't have $1,800 in cash to spend on an initial inventory purchase, I was immediately encouraged to open a Mary Kay Chase VISA credit card and put inventory purchases on that.

MW: Mary Kay says that it treats the people who sell its products fairly, offering large sales commissions and to re-purchase almost all of the inventory they buy from the company but are unable to sell. What's your take?

SS: There's no doubt that Mary Kay has set up their business model to look as safe as possible on paper. A 50 percent commission on every lipstick sale sounds quite lucrative, and a 90 percent buyback guarantee is a reassuring insurance policy. The problems occur when we try to put these policies into practice.

The women I spoke with for my article (and many who have contacted me since to share their stories) all agreed that it's extremely rare to pocket a full 50 percent commission on every sale; you must deduct business expenses like travel, hostess gifts and other party supplies. You must also contend with new inventory in every new catalog, which makes it difficult to sell old merchandise. And it's a common practice to hold sales and giveaways to drum up sales. Every time a consultant discounts her retail prices or buys more inventory before she has sold what's currently on her shelves, she takes the hit out of that commission.

It can be similarly challenging to take advantage of the 90 percent buyback policy. When a consultant realizes that she hasn't been able to sell her inventory and tells her sales director that she's thinking about taking the buyback, she's likely to receive tremendous pressure to keep on with her business. Meanwhile, she may be racking up interest and finance charges on a credit card carrying her Mary Kay inventory balance -- and those fees certainly aren't covered by the buyback policy.

The reason consultants are encouraged to put off the buyback as long as possible is quite simple: Mary Kay sales directors and team leaders have to pay back their commissions when a member of their sales unit returns inventory. If you're feeling guilty because you think you've failed at this business opportunity, you're unlikely to want to pass that failure on to your Mary Kay sisters and mentors.

MW: So is Mary Kay a pyramid scheme?

SS: The FTC defines a pyramid scheme as a business where the primary way you make money is by recruiting others to join the program and charging them fees for participation -- not by selling products to the retail public.

On paper, Mary Kay has set things up to avoid this charge -- nobody earns a commission off the sale of the company's starter kit, for example, which would be the most obvious example of a "participation fee." But in practice, it sure looks like a pyramid scheme.

Have you ever tried Mary Kay or a similar job? Please sign into the comments section and share your thoughts.

Amy Levin-Epstein is a freelance writer who has been published in dozens of magazines (including Glamour, Self and Redbook), websites (including AOLHealth.com, Babble.com and Details.com) and newspapers (including The New York Post and the Boston Globe). To read more of her writing, visit AmyLevinEpstein.com .

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