Tupperware

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Earl Tupper (1907–1983) purchased polyethylene pellets from DuPont to build Tupperware products in 1938.{{cite news |title=Earl Silas Tupper |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tupperware-tupper/ |work=www.pbs.org |language=en}} He developed the first product in 1946 in Leominster, Massachusetts.{{cite web|url=http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/tupper.htm |title=Earl Silas Tupper|website= Ideafinder.com|access-date= 2013-02-28}} The polyethylene plastic containers could be used in households to contain food and keep them airtight, and featured a "burping seal" that was patented in 1949.{{cite web|url=https://qz.com/tupperware-stock-collapse-struggles-earl-tupper-1850322497|title=Tupperware's business is nowhere near as airtight as its containers|author=Ananya Bhattacharya|date=11 April 2023|website=Quartz}}

The product became notable with a sale-through-presentation idea, held in a party setting.{{Citation |title=Tupperware Documentary |url=http://archive.org/details/tupperware-documentary |access-date=2022-10-05}} Tupperware developed a direct marketing strategy known as the party plan to sell products. The party plan called Tupperware party enabled women of the 1950s to earn an income while keeping their focus in the domestic domain. Brownie Wise (1913–1992), a former sales representative of Stanley Home Products, started organizing more of these parties and was soon made vice president of marketing in 1951.{{cite web |last=Maurer |first=Elizabeth |title=Social Marketing Before the Internet |website=National Women's History Museum |year=2017 |url=https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/social-marketing-internet}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/property/interiors/secret-history-of-tupperware-2100910.html|title=Secret History Of: Tupperware|date=2010-10-08|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-08-12|language=en-GB}} Later, she created Tupperware Parties Inc.{{cite journal |author=Bax C.|doi=10.1353/jowh.0.0159 |title=Entrepreneur Brownie Wise: Selling Tupperware to America's Women in the 1950s |year=2010 |journal=Journal of Women's History |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=171–180 |s2cid=154411167}}

During the early 1950s Tupperware products gained popularity and sales increased. The company continued the Tupperware parties and rewarded top-selling women.{{cite web|last=Wortz|first=Eleanor Thompson|title=Fly Gals of World War II|url=http://www.rp-author.com/wortz/|access-date=September 25, 2011|website=Robertson Publishing}}{{cite news|first=Jenna |last=Goudreau |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2011/02/14/the-tupperware-effect-empowering-women-around-the-world-rick-goings-jobs-hiring-employment/ |title=The Tupperware Effect, Empowering Women Around The World|magazine=Forbes|date= February 14, 2011}}{{cite web|url= http://www.phi.org/pdf-library/Tupperware_HOPE_Case.pdf|title= Empowering the Community at Risk: The Partnership of PT Tupperware Indonesia and HOPE worldwide|website= Public Health Institute|date= October 2009|access-date= 2012-03-21|archive-date= 2012-07-11|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120711135200/http://phi.org/pdf-library/Tupperware_HOPE_Case.pdf|url-status= dead}}

Tupperware expanded to Europe in 1960 when Mila Pond hosted Tupperware parties in Weybridge, England, and other locations around the world.{{cite news| title= What is today's American Dream?| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12688643 | work=BBC News | date= 28 March 2011 | access-date= 2011-03-29}} A comparison technique called "carrot calling" was used by the representatives wherein they would travel door-to-door in a neighborhood and ask housewives to compare carrots placed in a Tupperware container with anything that they would have ordinarily left them in. These would lead to scheduling of a Tupperware party.

In 1977, Rexall, the owner of the Tupperware brand, sold its namesake drugstores and renamed itself Dart Industries. Dart merged with Kraft Foods to form Dart & Kraft. The company demerged, with the former Dart assets renamed to Premark International. Tupperware Brands was spun off from Premark in 1996.{{cite news |title=Tupperware Spinoff Is Set for May 31 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/20/business/tupperware-spinoff-is-set-for-may-31.html |work=The New York Times |date=20 May 1996}}

Tupperware also produced limited products outside its core preparation and storage lines. The Shape O is a toddler toy/puzzle, first produced in 1969. Ten different geometric shapes are inserted into corresponding holes in the ball to complete the game.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

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In 2003 Tupperware closed down operations in the UK and Ireland, citing customer dissatisfaction with their direct sales model.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2685755.stm |title=Party Is over for Tupperware UK |date=23 January 2003 |access-date=10 May 2011 |work=BBC News }} The company relaunched in the UK in mid-2011,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13331830 |title=Did Tupperware Parties Change the Lives of Women? |date=10 May 2011 |access-date=10 May 2011 |work=BBC News }} and recruited UK staff, but in December the relaunch was canceled.

As of 2007 Tupperware was sold by means of approximately 1.9 million direct salespeople on contract.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/07/business/07interview.html|title=Tupperware Freshens Up the Party|work=The New York Times|date=July 7, 2007|access-date=May 19, 2009 | first=Amy | last=Cortese}}

In May 2018, the Israeli daily TheMarker reported that Tupperware would withdraw from Israel, leaving 2,000 agents without a job.{{Cite news|url=https://www.themarker.com/career/1.6096635|title=טאפרוור עוזבת את ישראל - ו-2,000 מפיצות ללא עבודה|last=חרותי-סובר|first=טלי|date=2018-05-17|work=TheMarker|access-date=2018-05-18}} Tupperware Israel relaunched in December 2020 as an online shop.{{cite web |url=https://tupperware.co.il/ |title=Home |website=tupperware.co.il}} In March 2021 Tupperware closed down operations in the Netherlands.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/03/no-more-plastic-path-to-empowerment-tupperware-party-in-nl-is-over/|title=No more 'plastic path to empowerment': Tupperware party in NL is over|date=March 2021}} In August 2022, Tupperware announced it would be leaving the New Zealand market in late 2022.{{Cite web |title=The famous Kiwi party's over: Tupperware closes lid on NZ operation |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/after-half-a-century-tupperware-closes-lid-on-nz-operation/AR2QI2JBLJUQPUJUDKZAPMR34I/ |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=The New Zealand Herald |date=24 August 2022 |language=en-NZ}}

In 2022 Tupperware faced criticism for continuing its operations and actively hiring in Russia, despite the country’s invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=These 20 companies are still doing business in Russia six months into Ukraine war |url=https://www.indy100.com/news/companies-still-operating-in-russia |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=www.indy100.com |language=en}} This decision drew scrutiny as many multinational companies have ceased their activities in Russia to comply with international sanctions and condemn the war, which has caused widespread civilian casualties and devastation in Ukraine. Critics argue that Tupperware's ongoing presence in Russia undermines global efforts to isolate the aggressor state and holds the company complicit in prioritizing profits over ethical considerations during a time of geopolitical crisis.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-20 |title=More than 550 firms still do business in Russia. Many are from the EU |url=https://www.euronews.com/business/2023/01/20/more-than-550-global-companies-are-still-doing-business-in-russia-many-are-european |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=euronews |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Salisbury |first=Josh |date=2023-10-03 |title=Burger King franchise still operating in Russia despite pledge to quit |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/ukraine-war-burger-king-franchise-leave-russia-moral-rating-agency-b1110949.html |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=The Standard |language=en}}

On November 2, 2022, after publishing quarterly results, the company said its inability to maintain compliance with its credit agreement raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The stock value dropped more than 40%.{{cn|date=April 2023}} In April 2023 the company warned that there is "substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern". The stock price dropped almost 50% on the same day.{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/10/investing/tupperware-trouble/index.html|title=Tupperware stock plunges after warning it could go out of business|author=Jordan Valinsky|date=April 10, 2023|work=CNN }} On April 11, 2023, Tupperware's stock value plummeted to $1.30. Although there was a slight recovery the following day, its sliding sales and increasing debt prompted warnings of permanent company closure unless it receives substantial investment.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65243711 |title=Tupperware: Why the household name could soon be history |work=BBC}}

As of April 2023 Tupperware had 82 countries listed as places they trade.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tupperwarebrands.com/company/worldwide-presence|title=Tupperware - Where you can find us - Our Story|website=www.tupperwarebrands.com}} In May 2023, a financially-ailing Tupperware signed on Moelis & Co. to explore various available strategic options, as it also detected inconsistencies in its prior periods' financial reportings.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/tupperware-brings-moelis-co-help-explore-strategic-alternatives-2023-05-08/ |title=Tupperware brings on Moelis & Co to help explore strategic alternatives |website= reuters.com|date=8 May 2023 |access-date= 2023-06-07}}

On June 1, 2023, Tupperware stopped supplying an independent sales force in the UK and Ireland{{Cite web|url=https://tupperwarequeen.co.uk/|title=Tupperware UK | Tupperware Queen UK | Buy Genuine Tupperware Online|website=Tupperware Queen Shop UK}} and moved fully to selling online and via the shopping TV channel Ideal World, shortly before Ideal World itself went out of business in early July 2023.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-66123542|title=Ideal World shopping channel goes into administration|work=BBC News |date=July 6, 2023}}

On October 14, 2023, Laurie Ann Goldman [https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2023/10/tupperware-ceo-laurie-ann-goldman-omnichannel.html became CEO and board director] following leadership roles at Spanx, Avon and Guess. Tupperware Chair Susan Cameron said in a prepared statement that Goldman “brings the right mix of business and brand experience and has built consumer affinity for some of the world's most iconic brands.”

On June 14, 2024, Tupperware announced that [https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2024/06/14/last-tupperware-factory-close.html it would close] its last remaining US manufacturing plant in Hemingway, South Carolina and shift production to their plant in Lerma in Mexico, with the closure to be completed in January 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.plasticstoday.com/business/tupperware-says-adios-to-last-us-factory|title=Tupperware says adios to its last US factory|date=June 14, 2024|accessdate=August 6, 2024|first=Norbert|last=Sparrow|website=plasticstoday.com|publisher=Informa PLC}}

On September 16, 2024, Tupperware Brands Corp. announced that they were preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection later in the week after a failed comeback after beneficial sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company's stock fell nearly 60% after the announcement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/tupperware-brands-plans-file-bankruptcy-bloomberg-reports-2024-09-16/|title=Tupperware Brands plans to file for bankruptcy, Bloomberg News reports|date=September 16, 2024|access-date=September 16, 2024|website=Reuters|language=en}} On September 18, Tupperware Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with plans to continue operating during the proceedings.{{Cite web|url= https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/18/business/tupperware-files-bankruptcy/index.html|title= 'The party is over' as Tupperware files for bankruptcy after years of troubles|last1=Dmitracova|first1=Olesya|last2=Maruf|first2=Ramishah|date=September 18, 2024|access-date=September 18, 2024|website=CNN |language=en}} Lenders involved are advocating for a foreclosure in order to claim assets.{{Cite news |date=2024-09-25 |title=Tupperware Gets About Two Weeks to Use Cash Amid Lender Disputes |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-25/tupperware-gets-about-two-weeks-to-use-cash-amid-lender-disputes |access-date=2024-09-25 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}

On October 22, with $818 million obligations, it signed a deal with lenders for $23.5 million cash and $63 million debt relief in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware bankruptcy court for approval of Judge Brendan Shannon.{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Tupperware cancels auction, agrees to lender takeover|url=https://www.rappler.com/business/tupperware-cancels-auction-agrees-lender-takeover/ |accessdate= October 25, 2024 |work =Rappler |date=October 23, 2024}} In November 2024, the Tupperware brand name was acquired by Party Products LLC, who will allow for Tupperware's operations to continue.{{Cite web|url=https://retailwire.com/tupperware-brand-acquired-party-products/|title=Tupperware Brand Name Acquired by Party Products LLC|first=Lucille|last=Barilla|date=December 6, 2024|access-date=January 25, 2025|website=Retail Wire|language=en}}

File:Tupperware party.jpg

Tupperware is still sold mostly through a party plan. A Tupperware party is run by a Tupperware consultant as a host or hostess who invites friends and neighbors into their home to see the product line. Parties also take place in workplaces, schools, and other community groups.{{cite news |last1=Blakemore |first1=Erin |title=Tupperware Parties: Suburban Women's Plastic Path to Empowerment |url=https://www.history.com/news/tupperware-parties-brownie-wise |work=History.com |date=1 March 2019 |language=en}} To stay in touch with its sales force, Tupperware published the monthly magazine Tupperware Sparks. The magazine had snapshots of saleswomen posing with awards and recognition for high sales. To avoid spending money on advertising, Tupperware created events that attracted free publicity.{{cite web| url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tupperware-parties| title=Tupperware Home Parties| publisher=PBS| access-date=29 July 2018}}

The multi-level marketing strategy adopted by Tupperware has been criticized as manipulative.{{cite web |last1=Richards |first1=Laura |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-mlm-female-friendship-costs-20190122-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |title=How MLMs — multilevel marketing schemes — are hurting female friendships |date=22 January 2019 |access-date=30 March 2019}} Statistics released by Tupperware in 2018 showed that 94% of its active distributors remained on the lowest level of the pyramid, with average gross earnings of $653.{{cite web |title=Tupperware Income Disclosure Summary |url=http://blog.tupperware.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018_Income_disclosure_CA.pdf |website=Tupperware |access-date=30 March 2019 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330230648/http://blog.tupperware.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018_Income_disclosure_CA.pdf |url-status=dead }}

In recent years, Tupperware in North America has moved to a new business model which includes more emphasis on direct marketing channels and eliminated its dependency on authorized distributorships. This transition included selling through Target stores in the US and Superstores in Canada with disappointing results.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/19/business/company-news-tupperware-to-end-partnership-with-target-stores.html|title=Tupperware to End Partnership with Target Stores|work=The New York Times|date=June 19, 2003|access-date=May 19, 2009}} In countries with a focus on marketing through parties (such as Germany, Australia, and New Zealand), Tupperware's market share and profitability continue to decline.{{Cite news|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/tupperware-matches-profit-views-sales-fall-slightly-less-than-expected-2018-04-25|title=Tupperware matches profit views, sales fall slightly less than expected|last=Kilgore|first=Tomi|website=MarketWatch|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-01}} In New Zealand, products can be also purchased online without a salesperson.

In China, Tupperware products are sold through franchised "entrepreneurial shopfronts", of which there were 1,900 in 2005, due to pyramid selling laws enacted in 1998.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-24-mn-42595-story.html|title=China Slams Door on Direct-Sales Firms|last1=Tempest|first1=Rone|date=April 24, 1998|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 19, 2009|last2=Farley|first2=Maggie}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.plasticsnews.com/china/english/printer_en.html?id=1131755394|title=Tupperware adapts to serve diverse markets|work=Plastics News|date=November 17, 2005|access-date=May 19, 2009|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208232317/http://www.plasticsnews.com/china/english/printer_en.html?id=1131755394|url-status=dead}}

Feminist academics had different reactions to Tupperware. A more positive interpretation argued Tupperware provided employment for women who were pregnant or otherwise not guaranteed their position at work due to unequal laws in the workplace. Opposing views argued that the intended gendered product and selling campaign further domesticates women, and keeps their predominant focus on homemaking.{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1111/j.1755-618X.2003.tb00242.x |title = Preserving Domesticity: Reading Tupperware in Women's Changing Domestic, Social and Economic Roles |journal = Canadian Review of Sociology |volume = 40 |issue = 2 |pages = 171–196 |year = 2008 |last1 = Vincent |first1 = S. }} Negative views also argued Tupperware helped keep women restricted to the domestic sphere.Clarke, Allison J. (1999) Tupperware, Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 192–193. {{ISBN|1560989203}}.

Several collections of Tupperware-related archival records, papers, and collections exist at cultural heritage institutions across the United States. The [https://sova.si.edu/record/nmah.ac.0470 papers] of founder Earl S. Tupper are part of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and its Archives Center. The [https://sova.si.edu/record/nmah.ac.0509?s=0&n=10&t=C&q=brownie+wise&i=0 records] of long-serving Tupperware vice president Brownie Wise are part of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and its Archives Center. The [https://sova.si.edu/record/nmah.ac.0870/contents Jon and Sylvia Boyd Tupperware Films collection] at the Smithsonian showcases Tupperware-produced documentaries that chronicle annual 'jubilee' conventions for salespeople, held at the Tupperware Florida headquarters.

{{Portal|Food|Technology}}

• Generic trademark
• Gold party
• Hana Cobi Plastic aka Lock & Lock
• Newell Rubbermaid
• Tub (container)

{{Reflist}}

• Tupperware: The Promise of Plastic in 1950s America by Alison Clarke, published by the Smithsonian Institution ({{date|2014-09-30|MDY}}), {{ISBN|1588344363}}.
• Charles Duhigg, [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/13/business/13short.html "Why Short Sellers Want to Crash the Tupperware Party,"] New York Times, {{date|2006-11-17|MDY}}.
• Elayne Rapping, "Tupperware and Women", Radical America, vol. 14, no. 6 (November–December 1980), pp. 39–49.

• {{commonscat-inline}}
• [https://mads.si.edu/mads/view/NMAH-AC0870-OF0001-000003 Film of Tupperware annual jubilee event, "Wishes Do Come True"] (Collection item #AC0870-OF0001)
• [https://mads.si.edu/mads/view/NMAH-AC0870-OF0003-000002 Film of Tupperware annual jubilee event, "Arabian Nights Jubilee"] (Collection item #AC0870-OF0003)
• [https://mads.si.edu/mads/view/NMAH-AC0870-OF0004-000002 Film of Tupperware annual jubilee event, "Land of Ours Jubilee"] (Collection item #AC0870-OF0004)
• [https://mads.si.edu/mads/view/NMAH-AC0870-OF0005-000002 Film of Tupperware annual jubilee event, "Wonderland Jubilee"] (Collection item #AC0870-OF0005)

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Category:1948 establishments in Massachusetts

Category:American brands

Category:American inventions

Category:Brands that became generic

Category:Containers

Category:Direct sales companies

Category:Food storage

Category:Kitchenware brands

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1948

Category:Personal selling

Category:Plastic brands

Category:Products introduced in 1948

Category:Plastics companies of the United States

Category:Companies based in Orlando, Florida

Category:2024 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024