How many of you know the history of amway?

Amway Co-founders and childhood friends, Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel, worked together in a variety of small entrepreneurial ventures since their teens. From these initial experiences, the two learned that they shared many common values, interests and aspirations.
The Beginning

In 1949, they were introduced to NUTRILITE™ Food Supplements and the direct selling method by which they were sold. Success as Nutrilite sales people convinced DeVos and Van Andel that anyone who was willing to work hard, could have a business of their own through the direct selling method.
1950´s

In 1959 Van Andel and DeVos co-founded Amway, adopting key concepts of the Nutrilite sales plan: a low risk business opportunity open virtually to anyone, no territorial or income limits, low initial investment and the potential for new distributors to surpass the earnings of the individual who introduced them into the business (sponsor) depending on their capabilities and on the time and efforts they are willing to spend on their business.

Amway started by developing and selling its own product line of high-quality, highly-concentrated home care products. Multipurpose Liquid Organic Cleaner, known now as the L.O.C.™ product line, was the company's first product.



1960´s

In its first year, Amway sales reached an impressive US$500,000. While the business continued to grow rapidly in the United States, DeVos and Van Andel decided in 1962 to expand to Canada.

Amway added more products, including SA8™ Laundry Detergent launched in 1961 and AMWAY QUEEN™ Cookware. The new personal care line included women's fragrances, grooming products and ARTISTRY™ cosmetics. A Personal Shoppers Catalog featuring 300 other brand name products was also introduced.

By decade’s end, Amway US and Canada operations had a distributor network of 100,000 and turnover of US$85 million. Some 200 products were manufactured at Amway’s extensive complex in Ada, Michigan where more than 700 people were employed.

1970´s

The 1970s marked Amway's overseas expansion to Australia, Europe and Asia.

Acquisition of the controlling interest in Nutrilite Products Inc. allowed Amway distributors in the United States to retail the complete line of NUTRILITE™ Food Supplements.

The Amway production facilities continued to grow to become a self-contained city covering more than 232,000 m2, with its own power generator, water treatment plant, recycling facility, shuttle bus and fire department. Throughout the world, Amway facilities totalled 418,000 m2.

By the decade’s end, Amway sales increased nearly tenfold to an impressive US$800 million.

1980´s

With no slowing down in sight, Amway's sales passed the billion-dollar mark in 1981.

A new cosmetic plant completed in the first half of the 80s, allowed the company to develop and manufacture the ARTISTRY™ products from the headquarters in Ada, Michigan, USA.

Amway also successfully pioneered an entirely new product category, the AMWAY™ Water Treatment System. In fact, this product line, now even more advanced and marketed under the eSpring™ brand, continues to hold a top position in the marketplace today.

In 1989, Amway was recognized as a corporate leader in promoting environmental awareness and education when it received the prestigious United Nations Environmental Program Achievement Award.

1990´s

Following in their fathers’ footsteps, the sons of Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos succeeded as Amway Chairman and President sharing the Office of the Chief Executive responsible for managing Amway’s day-to-day affairs. At the same time, a new generation of leaders also began to emerge within distributor families, building upon and continuing the successes of their parents.

The 90’s saw dramatic international expansion. In just the first half of the decade, Amway doubled the number of its international affiliates. Annual sales kept pace – tripling during that same period. By decade’s end, more than three million sales people in some 80 countries and territories were involved in the Amway Business worldwide and the estimated retail sale volumes reached US$5 billion.

Around the world, Amway's regional and country affiliates continued to support their distributors with the launch of e-commerce sites that extend the Amway Business Opportunity into cyberspace. The web-based Amway businesses around the globe, supported by local distribution and warehousing facilities, has assured timely and accurate order processing and product delivery.

The Enterprise Today

The parent company Alticor Inc. (www.alticor.com) continues to be privately held by the DeVos and Van Andel families.

Today Alticor has:

net sales of US$7.1 billion (fiscal year 2007)
a worldwide sales force of more than three million independent business owners and contracting agents
operations in more than 90 countries and territories
more than 13,000 employees worldwide
more than 160 distribution centres
offices in 57 countries
more than 500 scientists developing quality products
more than 600 granted patents and another 400 pending

Alticor Inc. and its subsidiaries reported record sales of more than $7.1 billion for the year ended Dec. 31, 2007, a 12-percent increase over the $6.3 billion recorded in 2006.

This is information taken from Amway UK