The global Amway business was founded in 1959 by two young American entrepreneurs with a strong sales and marketing plan, and a vision to help people live better lives. The company believes that the continued success of Amway can be attributed to its person-to-person dynamic, which was born from the strong friendship between its founders.
Embracing change and honouring commitments
Amway launched in Australia in the early 1970s as the first market outside the United States region and proved an instant success. Christine Terrill, General Manager of Amway in Australia and New Zealand, says the major difference she sees in the company today is that it has really embraced the digital revolution. “We’ve gone from paper order forms to digital ones, from no mobile applications to a suite of 30–40 apps, and a lot of our marketing material has gone digital. It’s just a real change. We used to have reams of paper and a catalogue that was 400 pages thick and I think our catalogues are about 50 pages now. It really demonstrates how much we’ve changed the interaction with our distributors.”
Through Amway of Australia’s One by One Foundation, we focus on children’s charities. Over the years we have partnered with a group called TAD, which provides bikes for disabled children and more recently, we partnered with Westmead Children’s Hospital — the Grace Centre in particular — to purchase equipment they can use in the neo-natal room for premature babies, things like respirators and cots.
One thing that hasn’t changed is Amway’s commitment to the quality of its range, offering a famous ‘90 day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee’ attached to its selection of health, beauty, and home products. Christine says the “no questions asked, money back guarantee” is something that sets the company apart from its competitors.
A family culture with emphasis on people
The well-known Amway business that was built on core values of family, freedom, hope, and reward, still prides itself on offering products of outstanding quality and its close customer relationships fostered by the company’s famous direct selling approach. Christine believes it’s Amway’s integrity that has helped to create a culture unlike any other she’s seen in her long career working in business.
“Culture is huge here. It’s interesting — it’s a family culture and I’ve never actually worked in a business where it really is like a family culture. It’s not that cutthroat corporate culture that you see in some organisations. I think it all goes back to our fundamental values. Being about respect and belief in the individual, there is a real focus on the fact that employees are people — people with families,” she says.
Helping local charitable initiatives support children
As well as nurturing the people who work for Amway, the company looks outward to make the world a better place. Since 2011, Amway of Australia has donated more than AU$900,000 to charitable programs across Australia and New Zealand.
“Amway strongly believes in giving back,” Christine says. “Through Amway of Australia’s One by One Foundation, we focus on children’s charities. Over the years we have partnered with a group called TAD, which provides bikes for disabled children and more recently, we partnered with Westmead Children’s Hospital — the Grace Centre in particular — to purchase equipment they can use in the neo-natal room for premature babies, things like respirators and cots.”
Amway Australia key facts
- Company name: Amway of Australia
- General Manager: Christine Terrill
- Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
- Industry: Retail & Wholesale