Posted on 09/18/2024 5:57:59 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Iconic 78-year-old food container pioneer Tupperware filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday, Sept. 17 amid a years-long slump in sales.
The company known worldwide for its "Tupperware Parties" is now seeking court approval to continue operating during the proceedings as it pursues a sale.
"Whether you are a dedicated member of our Tupperware team, sell, cook with, or simply love our Tupperware products, you are a part of our Tupperware family," said President and Chief Executive Officer Laurie Ann Goldman. "We plan to continue serving our valued customers with the high-quality products they love and trust throughout this process.
"Over the last several years, the company's financial position has been severely impacted by the challenging macroeconomic environment.
As a result, we explored numerous strategic options and determined this is the best path forward.
"This process is meant to provide us with essential flexibility as we pursue strategic alternatives to support our transformation into a digital-first, technology-led company better positioned to serve our stakeholders."
Tupperware, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, was founded by chemist Earl Tupper in 1946.
40 years ago, I worked at a chemical plant that was a division of Tupperware. It was extravagant in its design, and didn’t work properly. I thought then they were a poorly managed company. They lasted longer than I expected.
I read that it was originally available in brick-and-mortar stores, but it didn't sell because customers bought better-known products. So they decided to sell it only at "Tupperware parties" so as to create a mystique about their products. That sems to have worked until changes in our culture made that model unworkable.
At least the mason jars will come in handy glad I saved them.
The success of this method was due to businesswoman and housewife Brownie Wise. Hired in 1951 as Tupperware's vice president of marketing, she energized their multi-level home party sales system. A well-dressed, skilled woman dealer would demonstrate for the party hostess and her friends the merits of Tupperware. Sales were made and products were delivered by personal follow up. In the days before Amazon, it was quite a system.
Tupperware dealers had the support of the company and their regional network, spurring them to develop their skills and enlarge their party bookings. The Tupperware company built a large convention hall and meeting center at its HQs for training and motivation sessions for its dealers. Although Wise was fired in 1958 in order to facilitate sale of the company, the system she built carried on for decades.
Those days and the Tupperware sales model are mostly gone, done in by competing products, massive retailers like Walmart, the Internet, and the many calls on the time of women as they entered the workforce en masse. As traditional housewives diminished in numbers, Tupperware parties declined as well, which mostly killed their sales model.
“How do you say “congratulations” in Chinee?”
I attempted to avoid buying anything made in china one time.....it was pretty much impossible.
Also, a little off topic but I have a warning for anyone who shops at Trader Joe’s or Aldi, check the country of origin before purchasing seafood.....Much of it is a chinese product.....probably goes for Walmart as well.
Perhaps Tupperware should have started making butter containers. The struggling Americans Tupperware.
“That seems to have worked until changes in our culture....”
And they obviously didn’t make marketing corrections.....unlike some US auto makers, I guess tupperware ISN’T too big to fail.
Tupperware was doomed from the start.
They should have packed it in years ago..............
Beaten yet again by chinese imports.
And there’s so many other options....Walmart alone has at least three other brands readily available.
“Tupperware, headquartered in Orlando, Florida”
That was before the evil mouse moved there.
Back then best known as a town full of orange groves......a nicer place in a nicer time and although I was just a kid, I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience it that way.
Nowadays I wouldn’t go there to throw up.
The Pampered Chef followed this model.
They still have some great products.
ANY new home owner needs a Bar-B-Boss Spatula for their grill.
https://www.ebay.com/p/1400201218
Mine is about 35 years old. Still works great.
I have one of those, and about a half dozen others.
And say so long to Anchor Hocking quality glassware etc. great products
How do you bootleg crap made in China?!?
Thats my next murder weapon I picked up at a garage sale last year.
I have the egg tray for deviled eggs and take out the little trays and you have excellent carrier for any number of food items. I have multiple Tupperware glasses, from the little multi colored ones, perfect for children to the tall blue ones for adult beverages, which also fit a can cozy for keeping them cold. Ok, I digress. :)
The products DO last forever, in fact I sent back a cracked item just last spring and got a replacement pitcher back, which is awesome.
Hate to see a good product and company go the way of bankruptcy.
I also have the BBQ tongs.
It even has a bottle opener on it. Very handy.
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