Nancy and Sarah talk to journalist Mary Lisa Gavenas, whose new biography of cosmetics queen Mary Kay, Selling Opportunity, also traces the profound role that direct sales had in selling the American dream. It took a while for women to enter the salesforce, but once they did, oooh, watch out. Mary Kay, in particular, had a genius for sales, which she turned into an empire that exists to this day. Although the company largely sells skin care, Mary Kay also sold inspiration, a better life, transformation. As a pop-historical figure, she’s part self-help guru, part social media influencer, part girlboss — but entirely a self-made woman.
We talk about the resilience of 20th-century women who cared less about having the correct politics and more about feeding their family, the line between opportunity and exploitation, and (of course) those pink Cadillacs.
Also discussed:
“I like women. Nancy is undecided.”
The power of a good sob story
Yankee peddlers!
Mary Kay seminars: Where tent revival meets Las Vegas floorshow
Billy Graham put himself through divinity school as a Fuller Brush salesman
Want to come over and see my new dust mop?
Mary Kay had six husbands
The Night of the Mary Kay Commandos
The founder of Tupperware was actually someone named “Tupper”
Also, Mr. Tupper thought he was the Leonardo DaVinci of his time
Pink bathtubs as aspirational
Did your grandmother work?
Is Mary Kay a Ponzi scheme?
The power of a “thank you” note
Plus, Sarah learns the definition of “pin money,” Nancy creams over a new tinted moisturizer, Mary Lisa’s dream of Aix-en-Provence includes hunting dogs, and much more.
