The majority of you have most likely experienced being invited to a makeup party or something of the sort. You know, when someone comes into your home and hosts a sale? One of the most successful and well-known companies to do something of this sort is Mary Kay.

Mary Kay, Inc. is a direct selling cosmetics company. Using multi-level marketing, Mary Kay reaches it’s clients through at-home sales people. Mary Kay was named the sixth largest direct selling company in the world in the year 2011, with net sales of $2.9 Billion.

Mary Kay Ash founded the company in 1963, with quite the remarkable story backing the company’s creation. Ash worked for the company Stanley Home Products and was extremely frustrated when the company passed over Ash for a promotion she rightfully deserved in favor of a man, whom she had trained.

With this frustration, Ash retired from the company with the intention of writing a book to aid women in business. After a while, the book developed into an actual business plan for Ash’s “ideal company” and with that Mary Kay Cosmetics opened with a $5,000 investment.

Ash had one of the most respected reputations in entrepreneurship. Her goal: to allow women to advance by helping other women also succeed. She favored praising her employees and encouraged the women who worked for her to successfully balance their lives with the mantra “God first, family second, career third”.

Mary Kay Ash remained the head of her company until her death in 2001. Her son, Richard Rogers, now runs the company alongside David Holl, and their success has only risen.

Ally | Elite.