Mary Kay Ash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Kay Ash
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| Born |
Mary Kathlyn Wagner
May 12, 1918 Hot Wells, Texas, U.S.
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| Died | November 22, 2001 (aged 83) |
| Resting place | Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Occupation | Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics |
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| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Edward Alexander Wagner Lula Vember Hastings |
Mary Kay Ash was an American businesswoman. She was born Mary Kathlyn Wagner on May 12, 1918, and passed away on November 22, 2001. She is famous for starting Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc. When she died, her company was very successful. It had sales of over $1.2 billion and more than 800,000 sales representatives in many countries.
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Mary Kay Ash's Early Life
Mary Kay Ash was born Mary Kathlyn Wagner in Hot Wells, Texas. Her parents were Edward Alexander and Lula Vember Hastings Wagner. Her mother was a nurse and later managed a restaurant. Mary Kay went to Dow Elementary School. She also attended Reagan High School in Houston. She finished school in 1934.
Mary Kay married Ben Rogers when she was 17. They had three children: Ben Jr., Marylin Reed, and Richard Rogers. During World War II, her husband was away. Mary Kay sold books door-to-door to support her family. She and Ben divorced after he returned in 1945.
Mary Kay's Career Journey
Mary Kay Ash started working for Stanley Home Products in 1939. She worked hard and learned a lot. However, she felt frustrated when a man she had trained got a promotion instead of her. In 1963, she decided to retire. She planned to write a book to help other women in business.
Her book ideas soon turned into a business plan. It was for her dream company. In the summer of 1963, Mary Kay and her new husband, George Hallenbeck, planned to start Mary Kay Cosmetics. Sadly, George died of a heart attack that same year. Mary Kay was 45 years old at the time.
Starting Mary Kay Cosmetics
One month after George's death, Mary Kay decided to go ahead with her plan. Her oldest son, Ben Rogers, Jr., invested $5,000. Her other son, Richard Rogers, joined the company. They opened their first store, "Beauty By Mary Kay," in Dallas. It was a small space with nine saleswomen.
Mary Kay used a "house party" idea for selling. This was similar to how other companies sold products. A Mary Kay representative would invite friends over for free facials. Then, they would show and sell the products. This method worked very well. The company grew quickly, with sales increasing every year.
Mary Kay was a strong role model for her saleswomen. She was very active and always looked professional. She wanted to help other women succeed. She even called her saleswomen her "daughters." Unlike some other companies, Mary Kay offered more profit to her saleswomen. This helped them earn more money. The company also welcomed everyone. This helped it grow fast into countries like Australia, South America, Europe, and Asia.
Awards and Recognition
Mary Kay Ash received many honors during her life and after her death. Business groups gave her awards, including the Horatio Alger Award. In 1980, she received the Golden Plate Award. This was from the American Academy of Achievement. She was also added to the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1996.
Mary Kay was a big supporter of charities. In 1996, she started the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation. This foundation helps raise money to fight domestic violence and cancers that affect women. Mary Kay served as the chairman of Mary Kay Cosmetics until 1987. Then, she became Chairman Emeritus.
Fortune magazine named Mary Kay Inc. one of "The 100 best companies to work for in America." The company was also called one of the best 10 companies for women to work for. Before she passed away, Mary Kay received the "Equal Justice Award" in 2001. In 1999, Lifetime Television named her the "Most Outstanding Woman in Business in the 20th Century."
Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc. Growth
In 1968, Mary Kay Ash and her partners, including her son Richard, made the company public. This meant people could buy shares in the company. Seventeen years later, in 1985, the company's board decided to make it private again. Mary Kay remained involved with the company.
She stayed active until she had a stroke in 1996. Richard Rogers became the CEO of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc. in 2001. When Mary Kay Ash died, her company had over 800,000 sales representatives. They were in 37 different countries. The company's total yearly sales were over $200 million.
Mary Kay's Books
Mary Kay Ash wrote several books. Her autobiography, called Mary Kay, was published in 1994. She also wrote Miracles Happen and You Can Have It All in 1995. Her first book, Mary Kay on People Management, came out in 1984. It even made it onto the New York Times Best Seller List.
Mary Kay Ash's Passing
Mary Kay Ash passed away on November 22, 2001. She is buried in the Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.
See also
In Spanish: Mary Kay Ash para niños
