Estée Lauder facts for kids

Estée Lauder, born on July 1, 1908, was a very famous American businesswoman. She was the co-founder of the well-known cosmetics company named after her, Estée Lauder. She built a huge beauty empire from scratch. In 1998, she was the only woman on TIME magazine's list of the 20 most influential business geniuses of the 20th century. Estée Lauder passed away on April 24, 2004, at the age of 95.

Who Was Estée Lauder?

Estée Lauder was a true pioneer in the beauty world. She started her company with just a few skincare products. Her vision was to make every woman feel beautiful. She believed in the power of beauty products. Her company grew into a global leader. It sells makeup, skincare, fragrance, and hair products.

Early Life and Big Dreams

Estée Lauder was born Josephine Esther Mentzer. She grew up in Queens, New York. Her parents were Hungarian immigrants. She learned a lot about beauty from her uncle, John Schotz. He was a chemist. He made creams and lotions. Young Estée watched him work. She became fascinated with skincare. She dreamed of a future in beauty.

Starting a Beauty Empire

Estée Lauder began her business in a small way. She mixed creams in her kitchen. She sold them to beauty salons and hotels. She believed in showing customers how products worked. This hands-on approach was key to her success.

Simple Beginnings

In 1946, Estée Lauder and her husband, Joseph Lauder, officially started the Estée Lauder company. They began with only four products. These included a cleansing oil and a skin cream. Estée herself would visit salons. She gave free makeovers to women. This helped her products become popular.

Smart Sales Ideas

Estée Lauder was very creative in her sales methods. She introduced the "gift with purchase" idea. This meant customers got a free gift when they bought something. She also gave out many free samples. She famously said, "You can't sell a cream if you don't let people try it." These ideas were new at the time. They helped her company grow quickly.

Building a Global Brand

Estée Lauder's company expanded rapidly. She opened her first counter in a department store. This was at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City in 1946. Soon, her products were sold in many stores. She traveled the world to promote her brand. She was known for her elegant style. She always paid attention to every detail.

The company introduced new products. They launched famous fragrances like "Youth-Dew." This perfume became very popular. It helped the company become even bigger. Estée Lauder always focused on quality. She wanted her products to be the best.

Her Lasting Legacy

Estée Lauder built a company that is still thriving today. It is one of the world's leading beauty companies. Her business ideas changed the beauty industry. She showed that hard work and creativity pay off. She inspired many other business leaders. Her story is a great example of achieving big dreams. She left behind a legacy of innovation and entrepreneurship.