Prompt Cast
The Rise and Fall of Tupperware: From Invention to Iconic Brand
TLDR Tupperware was invented by Earl Tupper in 1947, but it was the marketing genius of Brownie Wise that turned it into an American icon. Through in-home parties and a rewards system, Wise transformed Tupperware into a booming business, until she was fired by Tupper himself.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Tupperware was invented by Earl Tupper in 1947 with the original patent being for the ES Tupper open mouth container and non snap type of closure.
04:16
Earl Tupper was a sharp and ambitious inventor who came up with various patent ideas and inventions, including a better stocking garter, a way to remove a burst appendix, and customized cigarettes, but none of his inventions took off until he figured out how to mold plastic and created the patented Tupperware seal.
08:45
Earl Tupper realized the potential of his Tupperware products after a woman named Brownie Wise started selling them at hostess parties and outperformed department stores in sales.
12:58
Brownie Wise realized that demonstrating the burping feature of Tupperware at parties increased sales, leading to her success in selling Tupperware at hostess parties.
17:37
Brownie Wise turned Tupperware into an American iconic brand by recognizing the potential of suburban homemakers as a market and workforce, creating a system where women could work their way up the chain from sales to distributor, and incentivizing them with rewards and an annual company party called the Jubilee.
22:08
Tupperware's sales model of in-home parties and prizes was so successful that it remained their only sales model until the late 1980s, when they started selling through catalogs and eventually launched their first website in 1999, leading to international success with Tupperware parties being held in over 100 countries.
26:34
In 1958, Tupperware was booming and Brownie Wise, who was seen as the face of the company, started to make Earl Tupper jealous because people thought she started the company and could sell anything.
31:21
Earl Tupper fired Brownie Wise because he wanted to sell the company and thought it would be difficult with a woman in a prominent position, and she received a small payout and started a failed cosmetics company.
35:50
Tupperware became popular for its retro look and durability, and in 1990, Morrison Cousins redesigned the line to make it easier for users, including those with low vision or hand strength issues.
40:35
The podcast ends with a mention of a documentary about Tupperware and a reminder to visit the howstuffworks.com website for more information.
Categories:
Society & Culture
