Mary Kay independent sales rep breaks company record by earning US$1M for four consecutive years, reaches milestone of most independent sales force member earnings in company history

Michelle Rivera

DALLAS , August 1, 2011 (press release) – $1 million dollars. Most entrepreneurs dream of the day when their business venture makes $1 million. Barbara Sunden of Old Tappan, N.J., knows what it’s like for that dream to become reality. Sunden’s business venture that she started in 1972 has grown so much that she has earned $1 million every year for the last four years as a Mary Kay independent sales force member. Sunden is one of only two Mary Kay business owners who earned $1 million in a single year, and she is the first one to achieve this accomplishment for four consecutive years. In addition, Sunden set a Mary Kay record by earning the most money in one person’s Mary Kay career – which is more than $14.5 million to her credit.

“I originally started selling Mary Kay® products years ago as a hobby to earn extra money while I was pregnant with my first child,” Sunden said. “Little did I realize at that point the full potential of having a Mary Kay business. That is, until I met Mary Kay Ash and learned so much from such a wonderful and wise woman. And ever since, the Mary Kay opportunity has forever changed and blessed my professional and personal life.”

Sunden is an Independent National Sales Director with Mary Kay. Throughout the company’s 48-year history, approximately 600 women worldwide have achieved the title of Mary Kay Independent National Sales Director. Independent National Sales Directors are considered the elite business owners within the Mary Kay independent sales force, which exceeds 2 million people in more than 35 markets around the world.

Sunden has been instrumental in helping Mary Kay expand globally. Throughout her career, she has traveled to different countries and helped mentor and educate new independent sales force members on every aspect of the Mary Kay business opportunity. Today, Sunden has helped Mary Kay independent sales force members in five continents and in 11 countries.

“Mary Kay is the company it is today because of Independent National Sales Directors like Barbara Sunden,” said Darrell Overcash, President of Mary Kay U.S. “Barbara has been instrumental in helping us grow in the United States and globally. Her leadership, dedication and passion for Mary Kay has influenced and encouraged thousands of women all across the world. Barbara truly epitomizes leadership.”

Sunden said that her work with others is the most rewarding aspect of her role with Mary Kay. Sunden has mentored more than 300 women who’ve stepped into leadership roles within the Mary Kay independent sales force.

"Earning $1 million four years in a row is a huge accomplishment and I am so proud,” Sunden said. "However, for me the biggest achievement is not the number of dollars or the number of years, but instead the number of women’s lives I know I’m changing for the better. I’ve had the good fortune to be able to help women all over the world. My hope is that no matter where a woman’s life may take her, the skills she learns through Mary Kay will stay with her for a lifetime.”

Sunden will be recognized for her accomplishments this month at Mary Kay’s annual seminar in Dallas. Seminar is comprised of five back-to-back, three-day meetings designed to motivate, educate and reward the people who are selling Mary Kay® products. Mary Kay’s Seminar runs from July 21-Aug. 6, and is one of the largest annual conventions in Dallas with a more than $71 million economic impact, according to the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Sunden is a lifelong resident of the Bergen County area. She and her husband Richard have been married for more than 40 years and have two adult sons and two grandchildren.

About Mary Kay

Mary Kay is one of the world’s largest direct selling companies with more than $2.5 billion in annual wholesale sales worldwide. Mary Kay was founded in 1963 by Mary Kay Ash with the goal of helping women achieve personal growth and financial success. Mary Kay remains committed to enriching women’s lives, and today more than 2 million people of all backgrounds are enjoying the advantages of being Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants. Mary Kay’s high-quality skin care and color cosmetic products are sold in more than 35 countries around the world. To learn more about Mary Kay, visit www.marykay.com.

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