The demise of Brownie Wise

I recently had the privilege of watching a documentary on Tupperware (thank you Dewey!). I also recently had the privilege of acquiring a lovely Tupperware pitcher from a secondhand store. So, without gloating too much, I guess I could say my life is really, really good.

Only one thing would make my life better and that would be if owned the discontinued popcorn bowl kernel strainer lid. Not sure if that is the exact title, but that is what I would call it if I owned it. Pretty sure Debbie Boris of Rossford, Ohio would agree with me – but instead of relying on Tupperware, she just invented her own popcorn contraption: Kernels-B-Gone. I have a feeling she is pretty happy and that Brownie would be impressed.

Brownie Wise was pretty happy and not just because she had a really great name. She worked for and made Tupperware famous as a result of her keen sense of direct marketing via at-home parties – women being the target audience. She and Earl Tupper began working together in 1950 and she turned Tupperware into an international success.

Brownie believed in people, “Build people and they will build the business for you,” was one of her famous quotes and what some refer to as a Tupperism. I consider it Wisedom. Brownie saw the advantage of incentives and held an annual jubilee for sales associates in Florida. This, ultimately, was the demise of Brownie Wise because Earl Tupper did not agree with spending money on jubilees and other celebrations. As a result, Brownie was fired. She was given one year’s salary – no stock in the company and no recognition of her efforts or existence by Tupperware. In fact, any artifacts (pictures, documents, books) that tied her to Tupperware were removed and/or destroyed per Tupper’s orders.

As much as I love Tupperware, I’m afraid Earl Tupper, who I prefer to refer to as the “Burping Seal” (a phrase he coined – very apropos)  is not on my list of favorites. He is, however, on a list with Franklin M. Hart Jr. (9 to 5). I have a feeling Judy, Violet and Doralee would have loved Brownie.