Mary Kay Doubles Down on MLM Model
While other companies are changing how they do the business of MLM, Mary Kay will not. Also, they are still pretending to “enrich women’s lives” with their “opportunity”… all the while knowing that almost everyone who gets involved with MK loses money.
Important Message from Ryan Rogers
Looking Forward To Our Future
As you know, Mary Kay’s 61st anniversary is next week, and we have so much to celebrate and look forward to. While our main philosophy is the same as it has been since my grandmother, Mary Kay Ash, founded this Company in 1963 – to provide a business opportunity and empower entrepreneurs – we must continue to evolve so that the Mary Kay opportunity can continue to enrich the lives of future generations.
In 1997, Mary Kay Ash said, “Over the years, our Company has witnessed dramatic changes in everything from products to packaging. Just as our Company has a constant drive to keep evolving, so must you as an individual. You can either go forward or backward – this year, this month, this day – but you can’t stand still!”
This still holds true today. We will continue to change. We won’t stand still. Since I stepped into the CEO role in 2023, we’ve opened new markets, adapted new strategies and continuously innovated to find new ways to help you grow your business. In my expanded role as Chief Executive Officer and North America Region President that begins next month, I will personally oversee the continued evolution that will help set us up for future success.
One thing that is not changing is our business model. Other direct-selling companies may have changed how they do business, but we are staying true to the opportunity created by Mary Kay Ash. We remain a family-owned Company and are not changing our current direct-selling structure. But we do need to keep evolving.
To guide us on our path forward into the next 60 years and beyond, we will remain focused on key initiatives. You know that Mary Kay Ash loved a good list – a Six Most Important Things list. These are my Six Most Important Initiatives:
1. Social Media. Mary Kay is a business that has always grown through word of mouth. Social media is a powerful tool to help you do just that. You, the Mary Kay independent sales force, have the opportunity to be social media influencers who can represent the brand and attract new people. Hundreds of thousands of Mary Kay independent sales force members are in the U.S. alone. If each of you reached just one new person to give Mary Kay a try through your social media presence – imagine what a difference that could make!
2. Consumer E-Commerce. An entire world of potential Mary Kay customers exists primarily in the digital space. We want to reach them and introduce them to our products and to YOU. One of my primary goals is to ensure that anyone can quickly discover and purchase Mary Kay® products from you. You are the heartbeat of this Company and will always be the center of everything we do.
3. Digital Transformation. We are focused on using technology to automate new and existing systems, making it easier and more convenient for you to conduct business. Our goal is to provide you with the best business resources to help you be competitive in a fast-moving digital environment.
4. Next Generation. We want the Mary Kay opportunity to enrich women’s lives. Then. Now. Always. The world is changing, but the Mary Kay opportunity is as relevant as ever. Your approach must be bold, and your resolve must be strong as we reach new generations of entrepreneurs. If you’re not already, I challenge you to embrace and add new ways to work your business – whether it’s paid social media advertising, new social media platforms, more online parties or more virtual coffee chats with potential customers.
5. New markets. We will expand into new markets. My dream is for everyone in the world who needs our products and a business opportunity to have access to Mary Kay.
6. Product strategy. We are excited about our product portfolio strategy – to deliver products that are easy to sell, easy to learn and easy to earn. We want to win with skin. And our scientific research makes sure we deliver the best ingredients, best results, and best claims. We are focused on product innovation as we maintain the integrity and viability of our existing products. And of course, we want to keep that #1 claim!
One of the best parts of this opportunity is that you can work your business your way. That won’t ever change. But it’s important to recognize that what customers are looking for does evolve. By staying true to who we are and leaning into the six most important initiatives, you will have the resources needed to meet your customers’ expectations now and tomorrow.
Remember that my grandmother blazed trails and achieved so much by NOT staying in her comfort zone. Don’t be shy about trying new things or tweaking existing processes. You, too, can blaze new trails with your Mary Kay business.
I am committed to supporting this Company and my family legacy for years to come. And I am committed to supporting YOU. I know that together, we can do great things!
Ryan Rogers
Mary Kay CEO
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“Our sales are dropping and our resistance to change has made us irrelevant in the digital marketplace, so we’re going to throw ALL THE IDEAS at it and hope they stick. This way, when we drop the MLM model and leave you will zilcho, it’ll be your fault for not social media-ing hard enough.”
“One of the best parts of this opportunity is that you can work your business your way.”
Unless your way involves selling products at flea markets/vendor events, on Ebay/Amazon Marketplace, on consignment to resellers, advertising on your personal social media sites (as opposed to your Official Mary Kay website or Facebook page), or anything else that violates one of our eleventy billion restrictions…
Oh yes. And “Remember that my grandmother blazed trails and achieved so much by NOT staying in her comfort zone. Don’t be shy about trying new things or tweaking existing processes. You, too, can blaze new trails with your Mary Kay business.” As long as you don’t mind being scolded and told “that’s not the way MARY KAY did it!” if you try to share your ideas with anyone.
Although if it’s a good idea, your contract gives us right to take it and give it to your competitors, the other IBCs and directors.
Sister Havana,
‘eleventy billion….
I can’t stop laughing!
1. Social Media. Mary Kay is a business that has always grown through word of mouth. Social media is a powerful tool to help you do just that. You, the Mary Kay independent sales force, have the opportunity to be social media influencers who can represent the brand and attract new people. Hundreds of thousands of Mary Kay independent sales force members are in the U.S. alone. If each of you reached just one new person to give Mary Kay a try through your social media presence – imagine what a difference that could make!
Social Media is also full of anti-MLMers who have the facts and figures to point out the flaws in your business model, Ryan.
What’s it called when you do the same thing over and over and expect different results? Oh yeah, it’s the definition of insanity! SMH
The social media influencer strategy failed Seint. What makes you think it’s going to go any better for Mary Kay, Ryan?
Of all the BS he was spewing one thing struck me and that was the idea of paid social media advertising. In my day paid advertising was a big no no. I guess that is what he considers evolving- making Zuckerberg richer than he already is.
At the risk of sounding redundant: None of the 6 initiatives actually say anything substantive about how to make any of this actually work. Overwrought puffery that comes across as it truly is: more empty statements that sound good on the surface, but have no real useful value.
!0 years ago, an IBC risked having her/his MK Agreement terminated for ANY type of social media “influencing”. I’m wondering how those IBCs/Directors who were impacted by this back then are feeling now. What’s next?…….allowance to sell IBC owned/paid for products on Amazon/Ebay all in the name of “evolution”? Anyone else sensing desperation vibes in Sir Roger’s messaging here????
” If each of you reached just one new person to give Mary Kay a try through your social media presence – imagine what a difference that could make!”
Difference to whom? Not to the consultant. One new customer isn’t going to bail her out if she’s got hundreds or thousands of dollars of unsold inventory sitting in the garage. But it would make a huge difference to the Rogers family that owns Mary Kay Inc.
“If you’re not already, I challenge you to embrace and add new ways to work your business – whether it’s paid social media advertising, new social media platforms, more online parties or more virtual coffee chats with potential customers.”
Am I understanding this right? In addition to loading up on mostly unsellable products, the consultant is now supposed to pay for her own advertising? I thought that wasn’t even allowed? Or am I misunderstanding?
As for those “new social media platforms, more online parties (and) more virtual coffee chats with potential customers,” I thought the product was supposed to sell itself. This guy is asking for a huge investment of even more time and effort, even though he knows it can’t possibly pay off for the vast majority of consultants. That’s cruel.
” An entire world of potential Mary Kay customers exists primarily in the digital space. We want to reach them and introduce them to our products and to YOU…You are the heartbeat of this Company and will always be the center of everything we do.”
Translation: “You, the consultant, are our real customer. Because if this were really about selling a great product to people who actually want to use it, we’d just skip the consultant/middleman and offer the product online, direct to the public, at the same price you’re paying.”
Of the six initiatives, only #3 offers any hypothetical value to the consultant. Even there, the benefit would only apply if the consultant were able to quickly and easily resell the products she orders. In reality, the new technology will just make it easier for the consultant to quickly and conveniently go into debt.
All six of the initiatives are designed to benefit the corporation, not the consultants. But by all means, keep conflating the success of the corporation with the success of the consultants. That’s like saying I can buy stuff at Walmart and then automatically be successful at reselling it, just because Walmart itself is so successful.
This guy is asking for a huge investment of even more time and effort, even though he knows it can’t possibly pay off for the vast majority of consultants. That’s cruel.
That’s feature not a bug in MK and indeed all MLMs.
Digital awareness brings this . . . Hello, I wish to make you my consultant. I found you online. My daughter is getting married and needs $5000 in skincare. I send you cashiers check. Where are you located?😂🤣😅
…I cannot make phone call talk on phone, I have Deafness Hearing Problem. We must communicate by Text. I want to order the Following: 6 High Intensity Men’s Colgne, 4 TimeWise Repair Sets, 4 TimeWise Miracle Sets NormalDry Formula for Normal to Dry Skin. Please kindly send my Total and I will send Cashier’s Check at my earliest convenience. Best Regards, Scarlette Scabby SkinCare
Considering the complaints about the glitches in the updated systems, #3 isn’t going very well … “3. Digital Transformation. We are focused on using technology to automate new and existing systems, making it easier and more convenient for you to conduct business.”
But they are USING TECHNOLOGY! Isn’t that exciting! TECHNOLOGY!!!!!
If you’re not already, I challenge you to embrace and add new ways to work your business – whether it’s paid social media advertising…………………..WOW that is something that would have got you terminated in the past.!
Cluches pearls and back slowly to fainting couch, “Paid Social Media Advertising’…..faints clean away.
Sounds like a politician! All words, but no specifics. No mention of actions MK is going to do actually, except try to make their bad ordering system better.
He expects each MK rep to only find ONE new person. Lol!