Brownie Wise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brownie Wise
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| Born |
Brownie Mae Humphrey
May 25, 1913 Buford, Georgia, U.S.
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| Died | September 24, 1992 (aged 79) Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Known for | Tupperware sales |
Brownie Mae Humphrey (May 25, 1913 – September 24, 1992), known professionally as Brownie Wise, was a very important American businesswoman. She helped make the company Tupperware super successful. She did this by creating a special way of selling products called the "party plan" system.
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Brownie Wise's Amazing Career
Brownie Wise was a single mom who needed to support her son. She used to sell products for another company. When she found Tupperware products, she realized many people would love them. She started selling Tupperware at fun home parties.
In 1950, Brownie moved to Florida. There, she created a new way to sell Tupperware through a network of dealers and sellers. This system quickly sold much more Tupperware than stores did!
Joining Tupperware
Her success caught the eye of Earl Tupper, who invented Tupperware. In 1951, he asked her to become the vice president of Tupperware Home Parties. Brownie insisted that Tupper sell his products only through her "party plan" system.
In this system, women would invite friends and neighbors to their homes. It was a mix of a social get-together and a sales presentation. Brownie ran the sales part of the company, Tupperware Home Parties, Inc., from Kissimmee, Florida. She had the freedom to try out all her marketing ideas.
Her Successful Strategies
Brownie's methods worked incredibly well. She knew how to connect with people and their desire for happiness. This helped her convince thousands of women to start a career selling Tupperware. This was a big deal because, at that time, most women's main role was seen as staying at home.
Brownie became very famous. She appeared on TV, and in magazines and newspapers. In 1954, she made history as the first woman to be featured on the cover of Business Week magazine.
Building a Company Culture
Brownie Wise created many of the special traditions and ways of working at Tupperware. These ideas were later copied by other companies that used the "party plan" method. She loved giving out rewards to motivate sellers.
Exciting Incentives
One of the best rewards was a trip to Florida for the yearly "Jubilee" event. This was held at the company's sales headquarters. It was a time for motivational meetings and fun social events with other successful sellers. Top sellers received amazing gifts like speedboats, trips, and new appliances for their homes. These gifts were often planned with their husbands in mind.
Brownie also created unique traditions. For example, there was a special well on the Tupperware grounds where sellers could make wishes. There were also "Brownie Wings" and fun graduation ceremonies where people wore costumes. Dealers would even go on treasure hunts where prizes were buried in the ground! The four-day convention was full of exciting shows, parties, and inspiring talks.
Leaving Tupperware
Brownie Wise was shown to the company's sellers as the perfect woman of the 1950s. She was great at using social connections to motivate thousands of women to sell Tupperware from their homes.
However, her relationship with Earl Tupper was difficult. As Brownie became more famous, their differences grew too big to fix. In January 1958, Earl Tupper asked Brownie to leave the company. Soon after, her name was removed from all company materials. She did not own any company stock. She left with a payment of about $30,000, which was one year's salary.
After leaving Tupperware, Brownie tried to start her own company called Cinderella. It sold cosmetics using the "party plan" system, but it was not successful. Brownie Wise passed away in 1992 in Florida. She lived and owned land near Lake Tohopekaliga.
See also
In Spanish: Brownie Wise para niños
