Corporate Office HQ

Cosmetics

Mary Kay Corporate Office

Mary Kay Ash founded her namesake company in 1963, after 25 years of direct selling for other companies.

She worked first at Stanley Home Products, where she did home shows in customers’ homes to sell products. Stanley also had a system where they paid a small percentage of sales to the recruiter of a new salesperson. Mary Kay eventually recruited 150 salespeople and received a commission from each one.

When she opened her own company, Mary Kay required “beauty consultants” to pay for a start-up kit, called the “Beauty Showcase” kit. The consultants were trained in scheduling and giving Mary Kay parties. Mary Kay also had strict guidelines about selling and how to sell.

The company grew steadily, and by 1993 the Mary Kay manufacturing facility was the size of three football fields. At this time the company had a salesforce of 220,000.

In the 1990’s Mary Kay expanded to Asia.

Today Mary Kay is the sixth-largest direct selling company in the world, with $3 billion in revenue in 2013. The company is #163 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies.

 

 

 

 

Mary Kay

Mary Kay Ash founded her namesake company in 1963, after 25 years of direct selling for other companies.

She worked first at Stanley Home Products, where she did home shows in customers’ homes to sell products. Stanley also had a system where they paid a small percentage of sales to the recruiter of a new salesperson. Mary Kay eventually recruited 150 salespeople and received a commission from each one.

When she opened her own company, Mary Kay required “beauty consultants” to pay for a start-up kit, called the “Beauty Showcase” kit. The consultants were trained in scheduling and giving Mary Kay parties. Mary Kay also had strict guidelines about selling and how to sell.

History

The company grew steadily, and by 1993 the Mary Kay manufacturing facility was the size of three football fields. At this time the company had a salesforce of 220,000.

In the 1990’s Mary Kay expanded to Asia.

Today Mary Kay is the sixth-largest direct selling company in the world, with $3 billion in revenue in 2013. The company is #163 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies.

 

 

 

 

Bluestem Brands Corporate Office

Previous to 2010, Bluestem Brands was named Fingerhut Companies, Inc.

Fingerhut Companies, Inc. was founded in 1948 by William Fingerhut and his brother, Manny Fingerhut. At first, the company produced and sold automobile seat covers.

In 1952 the brothers reorganized their company as a mail-order company.

Fingerhut Companies went public in 1969.

In 1995 Fingerhut launched two e-commerce sites: fingerhut.com and AndysGarage.com.

The company was acquired  several times in its history, with the most recent being by Bain Capital, the current owner of the company.

 

Since the acquisition of the company by Bain Capital the company has shown tremendous growth. Previous to 2004, the year of the first investment by Bain, Fingerhut had only $135 million annually in sales. In 2012 the company has $700 million in sales.

Fingerhut was rebranded as Bluestem Brands in 2010.

Today Bluestem Brands offers private-label and name-brand merchandise, including apparel, appliances, electronics, furniture, health and beauty products, jewelry, kitchenware, luggage, sporting goods, toys, and tools through its two e-commerce sites: fingerhut.com and Gettington.com. The company also owns and operates Paycheck Direct, an employee purchase plan whereby employees can buy big ticket items through interest-free payroll deductions.

Bluestem Brands, Inc.

Previous to 2010, Bluestem Brands was named Fingerhut Companies, Inc.

Fingerhut Companies, Inc. was founded in 1948 by William Fingerhut and his brother, Manny Fingerhut. At first, the company produced and sold automobile seat covers.

In 1952 the brothers reorganized their company as a mail-order company.

History

Fingerhut Companies went public in 1969.

In 1995 Fingerhut launched two e-commerce sites: fingerhut.com and AndysGarage.com.

The company was acquired  several times in its history, with the most recent being by Bain Capital, the current owner of the company.

 

Since the acquisition of the company by Bain Capital the company has shown tremendous growth. Previous to 2004, the year of the first investment by Bain, Fingerhut had only $135 million annually in sales. In 2012 the company has $700 million in sales.

Fingerhut was rebranded as Bluestem Brands in 2010.

Today Bluestem Brands offers private-label and name-brand merchandise, including apparel, appliances, electronics, furniture, health and beauty products, jewelry, kitchenware, luggage, sporting goods, toys, and tools through its two e-commerce sites: fingerhut.com and Gettington.com. The company also owns and operates Paycheck Direct, an employee purchase plan whereby employees can buy big ticket items through interest-free payroll deductions.

Market America Corporate Office

Market America was founded in 1992 by top Amway distributor James Howard Ridinger and his wife Loren Ridinger. Market America is an internet marketing and product brokerage company that utilizes the internet and social media to distribute a variety of products through one-to-one marketing.

The company serves more than 3 million customers, selling household cleaning supplies, jewelry, personal care products, auto care, cosmetics, nutritional products, custom websites, water purifiers, and weight management products. These products and services are not manufactured by Market America, rather they are produced by other companies exclusively for the company.

Market America opened Market Australia in 2002, Market Taiwan in 2005, Market Hong Kong in 2007,  Market Philippines in 2010, and Market United Kingdom and Market Mexico in 2012.

Market America is a private company with 500 employees and has about $600 million in annual sales.

Market America

Market America was founded in 1992 by top Amway distributor James Howard Ridinger and his wife Loren Ridinger. Market America is an internet marketing and product brokerage company that utilizes the internet and social media to distribute a variety of products through one-to-one marketing.

The company serves more than 3 million customers, selling household cleaning supplies, jewelry, personal care products, auto care, cosmetics, nutritional products, custom websites, water purifiers, and weight management products. These products and services are not manufactured by Market America, rather they are produced by other companies exclusively for the company.

Market America opened Market Australia in 2002, Market Taiwan in 2005, Market Hong Kong in 2007,  Market Philippines in 2010, and Market United Kingdom and Market Mexico in 2012.

History

Market America is a private company with 500 employees and has about $600 million in annual sales.

Estée Lauder Corporate Office

Joseph Lauder and wife Estée Lauder began producing cosmetics in New York in 1946. At first the company only offered four products.

The next year Estée Lauder established its first department store account with Saks Fifth Avenue.

Over the next fifteen years the company expanded nationally, and in 1960 it expanded to London with a partnership with Harrod’s. In 1962 Estée Lauder expanded internationally again, this time to Hong Kong. In 1981 the company’s products became available in the Soviet Union.

In 2013 Estée Lauder reached $10 billion in sales for the first time.

Today Estée Lauder has a total of 27 brands, including Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan, Kate Spade, M-A-C, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, and Sean Jean Fragrances. The company continues to be controlled by the Lauder family, which controls 70% of voting shares.

Estée Lauder has 46.000 employees and had almost $11 billion in revenue in 2014.

 

Estée Lauder

Joseph Lauder and wife Estée Lauder began producing cosmetics in New York in 1946. At first the company only offered four products.

The next year Estée Lauder established its first department store account with Saks Fifth Avenue.

Over the next fifteen years the company expanded nationally, and in 1960 it expanded to London with a partnership with Harrod’s. In 1962 Estée Lauder expanded internationally again, this time to Hong Kong. In 1981 the company’s products became available in the Soviet Union.

History

In 2013 Estée Lauder reached $10 billion in sales for the first time.

Today Estée Lauder has a total of 27 brands, including Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan, Kate Spade, M-A-C, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, and Sean Jean Fragrances. The company continues to be controlled by the Lauder family, which controls 70% of voting shares.

Estée Lauder has 46.000 employees and had almost $11 billion in revenue in 2014.

 

Gilt Groupe Corporate Office

Kevin Ryan had the idea for Gilt Groupe in 2007. He invited Mike Bryzek and Phong Nguyen to be part of the team as the technical masterminds. He later invited Alexis Maybank and Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, who had backgrounds in e-commerce and luxury goods.

This founding team of five created a members-only website where new sales last 36-48 hours and feature merchandise from a single brand or a small group of brands. Gilt purchases inventory at a deep discount and adds a margin on top of that price to make a profit.

The company started with women’s clothing in 2007 and expanded to men’s clothing in 2008. In 2009 Gilt Groupe expanded to Japan, began Gilt Fuse, and started travel site Jettsetter. Gilt City and Gilt Home began in 2010, and Gilt Taste in 2011.

Gilt Groupe had $450 million in sales in 2011 and $550 million in sales in 2012. The company is valued at $1 billion and is beginning to talk about a possible future IPO.

Gilt Groupe

Kevin Ryan had the idea for Gilt Groupe in 2007. He invited Mike Bryzek and Phong Nguyen to be part of the team as the technical masterminds. He later invited Alexis Maybank and Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, who had backgrounds in e-commerce and luxury goods.

This founding team of five created a members-only website where new sales last 36-48 hours and feature merchandise from a single brand or a small group of brands. Gilt purchases inventory at a deep discount and adds a margin on top of that price to make a profit.

The company started with women’s clothing in 2007 and expanded to men’s clothing in 2008. In 2009 Gilt Groupe expanded to Japan, began Gilt Fuse, and started travel site Jettsetter. Gilt City and Gilt Home began in 2010, and Gilt Taste in 2011.

History

Gilt Groupe had $450 million in sales in 2011 and $550 million in sales in 2012. The company is valued at $1 billion and is beginning to talk about a possible future IPO.