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Josephine Esther Research Paper

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Josephine Esther Mentzer is a famous entrepreneur because of her wide spread success and starting from nothing. Estee, Josephine Esther, was born in Queens with Hungarian mother and Czech Father. Growing up Estee took much influence from her family. As the youngest of six children, two of which died before Estee was born, was a close knit Jewish family living in a mostly Italian neighborhood. From working in the family’s hardware store, Estee learned from a young age about retailing and business. Estee would recall her mother being the first beauty she ever recognized. Her mother would slather her skin in thick creams and tell her, “Hands are as telling as any written pedigree”. Her mother Rose always wore gloves and would carry a parasol …show more content…

Shortly after World War I began, Estee’s Hungarian uncle immigrated to America and lived with the family. Estee’s uncle, John Schotz experimented with chemistry and was a salesman for his face creams. As a teen, John’s creams were Estee’s first real breakthrough. John had set up a laboratory behind the Mentzer’s home where Ester would watch amazed at the products. Ester began creating her own creams and formulas and trying them out on her friends, family and any woman that would let her. Creme Pack, Cleansing Oil, AllPurpose Creme, and Skin Lotion were Estee’s first four products. When the owner of a salon in Manhattan asked her what she used to get her glowing complexion she gushed. Later Ester would chat and demonstrate her products on women waiting in the lobby, under the hair dryers and anyone who would listen. Her creams became a hit. Estee would always say the best forms of communication were “telephone, telegraph and tell a woman”. This showed true when Estee landed a order with Saks Fifth Avenue, they sold out in just a couple days. After the major success she expanded to more prestigious retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Marshall Field’s, Bonwit Teller and I. Magnin. Estee opened each store herself and also trained all the sales women who would be demonstrating her …show more content…

Her passion, perseverance, and resourcefulness gained her a spot among the great cosmetic retailers. Stated in Estee’s Biography, by Linda Peterson, “ When she was selling at beauty salons, she never lunched, for fear of missing a customer. When the family went on summer vacation, she'd make up the women relaxing poolside at resort hotels. In winter, she'd visit women's homes and give them beauty lessons while they played bridge.”. Estee’s drive and salesmanship formed at a young age and continued to grow as Estee Lauder did. In one attempt to sell her products to the first big retailer she was told no. Then after Estee accidentally dropped a bottle of her Youth Dew perfume on the floor, the smell spread throughout the store and customers were asking where to buy the product. The manager then withdrew his previous statement and ordered all of her stock. The store sold out in the next two days. Estee later created the “gift with purchase” sales technique that is now a staple for many cosmetic companies. With purchase of a certain amount or more, Estee would give away shavings of a lipstick or blush in wax paper. This was ingenious to Estee Lauder becauses often times the woman would come back and purchase them

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