Show Notes Episode 495: Avon, Amway and Tupperware, OH MY!

This week host Dave Bledsoe devises a plan where he recruits two people to pay for his drinks and they recruit two people to pay for their drinks and one of his, everyone profits. (It didn’t work because no one likes him enough to buy even ONE drink for him.) On the show this week we took a look back at side hustles in the 70’s and 80’s (And maybe buy some Tupperware.)

Along the way we learn that Dave might not be the worst uncle out there? Then we dive into the history of direct sales in America (Buy Farmwhoofer, buy the best!) before we head back to the beginnings of an American institution and how it made generations of American women feel pretty.  Then we move right along to the origin story of all those plastic bowls with missing lids in your parent's kitchen cabinets. (Seriously, none of these lids fit any of the bowls we have!) Then we talk about the granddaddy of multi level marketing scams. (Allegedly) And how Amway created something kind of like a cult around selling generic crap and how it is screwing us even today!

Our Sponsor this week is Ponz-Co, we promise it’s not illegal.  We open with the burp to seal wonder of Tupperware and close with Chutes and Ladders who are falling in love with the Avon Lady!

Show Theme: Hypnostate Prelude to Common SenseThe Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatthehellpodcast.bsky.socialThe Show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthehellpodcast/The Show on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxP5ywpZ-O7qu_MFkLXQUQThe Show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthehellwereyouthinkingpod/Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/kHmmrjptrqOur Website: www.whatthehellpodcast.comPatreon:  https://www.patreon.com/WhatthehellpodcastThe Show Line: 347 687 9601Closer:https://soundcloud.com/chutesandladdersmusic/avon-lady?in=chutesandladdersmusic/sets/cosmetics&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharingBuy Our Stuff: https://www.seltzerkings.com/shop

Citations Needed:

Avon’s Historyhttps://www.reps-r-us.co.uk/avons-history/

Secret History Of: Tupperwarehttps://www.independent.co.uk/property/interiors/secret-history-of-tupperware-2100910.html

Social Marketing Before the Internethttps://www.womenshistory.org/articles/social-marketing-internet

How Does Amway Work? A comprehensive guidehttps://www.amway.com/en_US/amway-insider/about-amway/how-does-amway-work

Inside ScAmway The alluring life offered by the world's largest 'multi-marketing' business closely resembles a sham.https://www.culteducation.com/group/815-amway/1710-inside-scamways.html

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