Mary Kay Ash founded Mary Kay Cosmetics on Sept. 13, 1963, with her life savings of $5,000 and the support of her 20-year-old son, Richard Rogers. Today, Mary Kay is one of the largest direct sellers of skin care and color cosmetics in the world with worldwide wholesale sales of $2.5 billion. Mary Kay® products are sold in more than 35 markets worldwide, and the global Mary Kay independent sales force exceeds 3 million. Mary Kay Inc. is led by President and Chief Executive Officer David Holl and the company’s executive team while Mary Kay’s son and company co-founder Richard Rogers continues to serve as executive chairman. Mary Kay’s employees and independent sales force members worldwide continue to fulfill Mary Kay Ash’s mission of enriching women’s lives. The global headquarters is located in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A....

When Mary Kay Ash “retired” from a successful 25-year career in direct sales in early 1963, she decided to write a book to help women survive in the male-dominated business world. She had grown tired of watching young men she trained be promoted over her time and again. Sitting at her kitchen table, Mary Kay made two lists: One contained things the companies for which she had worked had done right; the other included the things she felt they could have done better. When she reviewed the lists, Mary Kay realized that she had inadvertently created a marketing plan for a dream company – one which would provide women with unlimited potential to achieve personal and financial success. With her life savings of $5,000 and the help of her 20-year-old son, Richard Rogers, Mary Kay launched her dream company on Friday, Sept. 13, 1963. From its meager start in a 500-square-foot storefront in Dallas, Mary Kay Inc. has grown into an international cosmetics powerhouse. Today, Mary Kay® products are sold in more than 35 markets worldwide, and Mary Kay’s global independent sales force exceeds 2 million....

The Mary Kay business model is simple. All independent sales force members purchase Mary Kay® products from Mary Kay Inc. at a set wholesale price and then sell the products directly to consumers at a retail price. This is direct sales. Worldwide, approximately 3 million individuals are taking advantage of the direct sales business model by being Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants....

Irresistible products. That is why women love Mary Kay. Mary Kay’s product portfolio is known for innovative skin care, tempting color and pampering body care that all deliver beautiful benefits. Women of all ages know that they can trust Mary Kay® products because we consistently deliver on every promise that we make. Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants around the world help women discover their individual beauty with remarkable products and customized service.....

Mary Kay Ash was known as an innovative business leader with a big heart. She founded her company on the philosophy of treating others as you would like to be treated and emphasized the importance of giving back. Through its corporate social responsibility initiative, Pink Changing Lives®, Mary Kay is committed to changing the lives of women and children around the world....

Few companies can speak of a rich heritage like Mary Kay Inc. Mary Kay Ash’s business acumen, combined with her desire to help women achieve personal growth and financial success, led her to develop the company that has grown into one of the largest global direct sellers of skin care and color cosmetics. Mary Kay employees and Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants have committed to enriching women’s lives by following the Golden Rule, exhibiting a giving spirit, maintaining balanced priorities and making others feel important. Since 1963, Mary Kay Ash and her company have set the example for others to follow by adhering to those guiding principles. Take a glimpse at the company’s milestones to see how “The Mary Kay Way” has impacted the world....