For the A to Z blogging challenge I’ve decided to blog about the 1940′s. And in the spirit of the 1940′s, at the end of the month, I’ll be giving away an ebook copy of one of my favorite books, Summer at Tiffany, to one of my newsletter subscribers (sign-up on the sidebar if you are so inclined.) It’s a light-hearted memoir of two college girls let loose in New York City for a summer. What a hoot.
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Tupperware hit department store shelves around 1946 (alas, no agreement across websites, but the very brief history mentioned on the Tupperware company website says 1946 so we’ll go with them.) Named after the inventor, chemist Earl Silas Tupper, these innovative products were slow to catch on. People couldn’t see from the display how different these products were. They couldn’t hear the seal “burp.” Or drop the product and see that it didn’t break.

Enter single mom Brownie Wise. She knew how to sell Tupperware. She already worked direct sales for Stanley Home products, selling brushes and cleaning supplies in home parties. She is the one who made Tupperware a hit, holding the first Tupperware party in 1948, and launching the phenomenon of Tupperization in the 1950’s.

To learn more: Stay a Stay-at-Home Mom or The History of Tupperware Parties