A paediatrician by training, and Dr Ruth Greeff, a well-known nutritional specialist by profession, led highly busy lives in the bustling metropolis of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mike's time was taken up by a big private paediatric practise, while Ruth ran her own publishing company that specialised in Nutritional Education publications - spare time was a rare luxury for the couple, and they were frequently exhausted by their combined efforts.
Having greater control over their time was crucial to them when they initially looked into the company possibility, and this eventually became the primary reason for pursuing the business opportunity.
The Greeff family has helped to bring Amway's founding values of FREEDOM, FAMILY, HOPE, and REWARD to fruition.
Due to the fact that both their parents and daughter work for ABO, they are a proud example of three generations working together to establish a business. Ruth explains,
"We believe in making a difference in the lives of people in every field of life, and this business has provided us with another opportunity to do so."
"We intend to continue to construct meaningful lives over the next few years, as well as to challenge and encourage others in the process."
Greeff, Michael, and Ruth Amway are two notable people in the network marketing sector, often known as multi-level marketing (MLM). They are famous for their accomplishments in developing the Amway business into one of the most successful multi-level marketing firms in the world.
Both Michael and Ruth Amway have their roots in the state of Michigan, which is located in the United States. Both Michael and Ruth were born in the 1920s, in 1926 and 1929 respectively. They got married in 1953 after meeting each other in college. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, Michael went on to complete his education and receive a degree in engineering. Additionally, Ruth has a degree in teaching to her name.
In the 1950s, the pair developed an interest in multi-level marketing and began direct sales of Nutrilite, a brand of nutritional supplements. Nutrilite was one of the first firms to employ the multi-level marketing (MLM) business model, which involves recruiting a network of independent distributors to sell products and recruit new distributors. Nutrilite was also one of the first companies to use the MLM business model.
Michael and Ruth were both prosperous Nutrilite distributors, and they eventually rose to the ranks of the company's highest earners. However, they found that Nutrilite's product line did not meet their needs, and as a result, they chose to launch their own business. In 1959, they established what would become known as the American Way Association, which would later be renamed Amway.
In the beginning, the primary emphasis of Amway's product line was placed on personal care items and household cleaners. The business model of the company was quite similar to that of Nutrilite, in which independent distributors were responsible for both the sale of products and the recruitment of new distributors. However, Amway was also the first company to introduce the idea of a "upline," which referred to the chain of distributors that stood above a specific distributor in the network. The upline would offer their downline distributors training and support as part of their responsibilities.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Amway experienced rapid expansion, which allowed the company to expand its product line to include a wider variety of health and wellness products, in addition to home goods and beauty items. Because of their achievements in the Amway business, Michael and Ruth were extremely wealthy, and they gained a reputation for living an extravagant lifestyle while also contributing much to charitable causes.
However, Amway and the multi-level marketing (MLM) industry as a whole have been the focus of debate and criticism in recent years. Distributors are frequently put under pressure to purchase large amounts of inventory in order to qualify for bonuses and promotions, which is one of the main criticisms leveled against multi-level marketing companies (MLMs). Some people say that MLMs are pyramid scams that rely on recruiting rather than the actual sales of items. Former Amway distributors have leveled multiple allegations against the firm, including those that it engages in cult-like activities and makes misleading revenue claims.
In spite of these accusations, Amway continues to be one of the most successful multi-level marketing firms in the world. The company now has operations in more than a hundred countries. Michael and Ruth Amway have both left this world, but their legacy will continue on in the multi-level marketing sector.
