February 26, 2004
Tupperware
I don't know why, but I've always been facinated by Tupperware. I heard a piece on NPR a couple of weeks ago about a PBS documentary which talked about Brownie Wise, the saleswoman who revolutionized selling Tupperware through parties. I finally managed to watch the show tonight, complete with tons of vintage footage from training videos and advertisements.
Here's the blurb on the show:
American Experience premieres "Tupperware!," charting the origins of the small plastics company that unpredictably became a cultural phenomenon. Narrated by Kathy Bates, this funny, thought-provoking film reveals the secret behind Tupperware’s success: the women of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds who discovered they could move up in the world without leaving the house. At a time when women, who had been celebrated for working in factories during World War II, were being pushed back to the kitchen, self-taught marketing whiz Brownie Wise showed them how to defy the limitations they faced by starting up their own businesses. Their funny,straightforward and often poignant stories tell us a lot about the history of selling, the changes in expectations for women, and the importance of recognition and applause in all of our lives.
Among other things, Brownie was the first woman to make the cover of Business Week! Sadly, things fell apart for her at the end and Mr. Tupper fired her and they pretty much wrote her out of the company history.
Plus, the KTEH Pledge drive has started so I had a chance to see the camera shots! (They warned us that we wouldn't be able to watch without wanting to critique the shots -- and yes, they could have used a bit more headroom on camera 3) If you pledge now, you can get the video or DVD of the show...