Brief History

Estée Lauder founded this Company in 1946 armed with four products and an unshakeable belief: that every woman can be beautiful. That simple notion has literally changed the face of the beauty business.

Creative Entrepreneur

A classic → Entrepreneur and innovator who refused to listen to experts, Estee Lauder’s risk-taking mentality and refusal to settle for anything less than the very best changed the world of cosmetics distribution.

→ Estee Lauder: 15 Rules for Entrepreneurial Success

The Power of Vision and Passion

Estee Lauder explains the secret of her success simply: “I was a woman with a mission and single-minded in the pursuit of my dream.”

→ Create Your Life Vision

Starting with little more than a dream and passion, through extraordinary ambition, impeccable taste, perseverance, innovative marketing and hard work, this creative visionary became the wealthiest self-made woman in America.

→ Innovation is Love

Estee Lauder built a cosmetics empire on the motto, “There are no homely women, only careless women.” By convincing those “careless women” they could become beautiful – with a little help from her products – she took on the giants of the cosmetics world and won.

The Power of Action and Perseverance

"I didn't get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by → working for it," Estee Lauder often reminded her sales force.

This → attitude, together with an uncompromising belief in her product and the beauty in all women, made Estee Lauder a most respected household name.

"Those who know her have described Estee Lauder as a woman you simply can’t say no to. Quite often, this is attributed to her irresistible charm. But the real reason Lauder has succeeded where others have failed it that she simply refuses to give up.'¹  >>>

The Power of Customer Care and Hard Selling

Two key elements to Estee Lauder's success were a personal interest in the client and free giveaways.

→ Customer Care

Estee. Lauder was happiest advising women during her in-store appearances. One of her favorite quotes was "Telephone, Telegraph, Tell-A-Woman," because she knew that once a woman tried an Estée Lauder product, she would love it and share it with her friends.

Explaining her success, Estee Lauder said, "I have never worked a day in my life without selling. If I believe in something, I sell it, and I sell it hard."

→ Synergistic Selling: 3 Components

A Great Leader

Mrs. Lauder's leadership inspired thousands of people. She received scores of honors, including the United States' Presidential Medal of Freedom and France's Legion of Honor.

→ Inspirational Leader: 10 Roles

The Power of Creative Marketing

Creative Promotion Strategy: While her company was still small. Estee Lauder embarked on an innovative promotion strategy. Her advertising budget of $50,000 was too small to hire a leading ad agency. So Estee Lauder Estee pioneered the free sample as a marketing ploy. She invested all the money in samples to be offered through direct mail, charity giveaways and as gifts with purchases. (This “free gift with purchase” technique would become a company trademark and later, a standard industry practice.) The result was thousands of new customers... More