1960s

The Early Years

As Amway's annual sales rapidly expanded, exceeding US$500,000 for the first time, the company soon outgrew its basement office in Jay Van Andel's home. During this time, Amway moved to a larger facility and began developing new products, including SA8™ Laundry Detergent, which was launched in 1961.

These Home Care products became big sellers for distributors and led to incredible growth for the company. Within a few short years, the company had more than 700 employees, over 200 exclusive products and more than 100,000 Distributors.

Rich and Jay knew that the best way to interest people in the Amway business was to bring the opportunity to them. So, in 1963, the famous "Showcase Bus" began touring many cities throughout the US. Stocked with products and literature, it helped distributors introduce Amway's growing product line and unique opportunities to people all over the country.

In the 1960s, the achievement and enterprise of successful Distributors was recognized with the introduction of Direct Distributor status. It became a model for reward and recognition programs that continue to be developed in Amway markets around the world.

In the midst of all this success and growth, however, tragedy struck as Amway's aerosol factory was completely destroyed by fire in 1969.