Area Businesswoman Earns $1 Million Selling Mary Kay

DALLAS--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--$1 million dollars. Most entrepreneurs dream of the day when they can earn $1 million from a business venture. Barbara Sunden of Old Tappan, NJ, knows what that dream is like. Sunden’s business venture that she started in 1972 has grown so much that she has earned $1 million every year for the last three years as a Mary Kay independent sales force member. Sunden is one of only three Mary Kay independent sales force members who earned $1 million in a single year and she is the first one to achieve this accomplishment for three consecutive years.

“I made about $5,000 when I started selling Mary Kay products”

“I made about $5,000 when I started selling Mary Kay products,” Sunden said. “I originally sold Mary Kay products for about three months. At that time, I saw it more as a fun way to make extra money. I had left my job as a hairstylist and was pregnant with my first child. A few months later I met Mary Kay Ash. After meeting her, I was able to see this as an entrepreneurial opportunity for women - an opportunity that could truly change someone’s life.”

Sunden is a Mary Kay Independent National Sales Director. Throughout the company’s 47-year-history, approximately 600 women have achieved the title of Mary Kay Independent National Sales Director. Independent National Sales Directors are considered the elite business leaders within the Mary Kay independent sales force, which exceeds 2 million people in more than 35 markets around the world. Sunden is the #1 Mary Kay independent sales force member worldwide.

Sunden was instrumental in helping Mary Kay expand globally. Throughout her career, she traveled to different countries mentoring and teaching new independent sales force members on every aspect of the Mary Kay opportunity. To date, Sunden has mentored Mary Kay independent sales force members in seven countries and on four continents.

“Barbara has been instrumental in helping Mary Kay expand in the U.S. and globally,” said Darrell Overcash, President of Mary Kay U.S. “I’m certain Barbara has reached literally thousands of women by serving as a mentor to them. She’s taught these women every business skill she knew from balancing their Mary Kay businesses with their family responsibilities, reaching goals, leading others, and of course, how to tell if a woman wants to purchase skin care products. There isn’t any aspect of this business that Barbara has not mastered. A Mary Kay Independent National Sales Director is a leader in the independent sales force and Barbara is a leader amongst leaders.”

Sunden said that her work with others is the most rewarding aspect of her Mary Kay business. Sunden has mentored countless numbers of women within the Mary Kay independent sales force.

“Of course, I’m proud to have earned $1 million for three years in a row, but in addition to that, working with women is equally rewarding,” Sunden said. “For me, helping other women to understand how to successfully run their businesses and seeing them grow into leaders is so rewarding. I’ve been fortunate to help women all over the world. My hope is that no matter where a woman’s life may take her, the skills she learned in her Mary Kay business 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 independent sales force members who are selling Mary Kay^® products. Mary Kay’s Seminar runs from July 22-Aug. 7 and is one of the largest annual conventions in Dallas, 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 40 years and have two adult sons and two grandchildren.

About Mary Kay

Mary Kay is one of the largest direct sellers of skin care and color cosmetics. In 2009, Mary Kay achieved $2.5 billion in wholesale sales worldwide. Mary Kay^® products are sold in more than 35 markets around the world, and the global Mary Kay independent sales force exceeds 2 million. To learn more about Mary Kay, log on to www.marykay.com or call 1-800-MARY KAY (1-800-627-9529).