Willa Paskin

Tupperware is now an old and troubled company, but for years it was a thriving one. And it owes much of that success to an archetype we tend to think of as very contemporary.

Tupperware is now an old and troubled company, but for years it was a thriving one. And it owes much of that success to an archetype we tend to think of as very contemporary.

Tupperware is now an old and troubled company, but for years it was a thriving one. And it owes much of that success to an archetype we tend to think of as very contemporary.

And the proto-influencer who started that tradition by turning Tupperware into a household name was Brownie Wise.

And the proto-influencer who started that tradition by turning Tupperware into a household name was Brownie Wise.

And the proto-influencer who started that tradition by turning Tupperware into a household name was Brownie Wise.

Bob Keeling is a historian and the author of Tupperware Unsealed.

Bob Keeling is a historian and the author of Tupperware Unsealed.

Bob Keeling is a historian and the author of Tupperware Unsealed.

Brownie was working as a secretary in the suburbs of Detroit, making ends meet, when one day, opportunity called.

Brownie was working as a secretary in the suburbs of Detroit, making ends meet, when one day, opportunity called.

Brownie was working as a secretary in the suburbs of Detroit, making ends meet, when one day, opportunity called.

So Brownie started selling Stanley Home Products herself.

So Brownie started selling Stanley Home Products herself.

So Brownie started selling Stanley Home Products herself.

From the start, she had the thing good salespeople have, where even when they're selling you something, it doesn't feel like they're just trying to sell you something. She seemed authentic. She was warm and fun. And unlike all those male traveling salesmen, she could recommend products to other women as a peer.

From the start, she had the thing good salespeople have, where even when they're selling you something, it doesn't feel like they're just trying to sell you something. She seemed authentic. She was warm and fun. And unlike all those male traveling salesmen, she could recommend products to other women as a peer.

From the start, she had the thing good salespeople have, where even when they're selling you something, it doesn't feel like they're just trying to sell you something. She seemed authentic. She was warm and fun. And unlike all those male traveling salesmen, she could recommend products to other women as a peer.

Soon she was selling a lot of Stanley, which, by the way, is not the same company that makes the current, very popular Big Cup. And she wanted to sell even more. But she hit a wall. Or rather, the man who ran the company.

Soon she was selling a lot of Stanley, which, by the way, is not the same company that makes the current, very popular Big Cup. And she wanted to sell even more. But she hit a wall. Or rather, the man who ran the company.