Mary Kay Inc.'s Seminar 2003 Celebrates Company's 40th Anniversary, 1 Million Independent Sales Force Members, Another Record Year

Business Wire, July 17, 2003

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Mary Kay Seminar 2003

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DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2003

Seminar pumps more than $115 million into sluggish local economy

as attendance at Dallas' largest annual convention

jumps by approximately 5,000

Approximately 53,000 Mary Kay Inc. independent sales force members from throughout the U.S. and representatives from more than two dozen international markets will gather in Dallas for the Company's annual Seminar at the Dallas Convention Center from July 17 through Aug. 2. This year's event celebrates the Company's 40th anniversary and recognizes the record-breaking accomplishments of its independent sales force, which eclipsed the 1 million mark earlier this year.

Mary Kay Seminar is comprised of five identical back-to-back, three-day conventions. Each session attracts a near capacity crowd of more than 10,000 Independent Mary Kay Beauty Consultants, for a total attendance of approximately 53,000. Seminar provides Mary Kay with the opportunity to educate, motivate and recognize the record-breaking accomplishments of its rapidly growing U.S. independent sales force. In addition, some 400 representatives from more than two dozen of the Company's 33 international markets won expense-paid trips to the Dallas event. More than $6 million in cash and prizes will be awarded during the five conventions. Anticipated 2003 attendance represents an increase of approximately 10 percent over 2002.

"Seminar represents an opportunity to recognize and reward the incredible accomplishments of our dynamic independent sales force," says Richard R. Rogers, who co-founded the Company with his mother Mary Kay Ash in 1963 and who currently serves as its chairman and chief executive officer. "Our record growth throughout the world reflects the strength of the Mary Kay career opportunity, which has never been more relevant than it is today. Our company mission is to enrich women's lives, and we see hundreds of thousands of lives being changed by a flexible business opportunity that allows women to plan their career around their families and other priorities."

Mary Kay completed another year of record results in 2002, reaching nearly $1.6 billion in wholesales sales. Incredibly, the Company has averaged double-digit growth throughout its 40-year history. And the fact that Mary Kay now has more than 1 million independent sales force members is amazing given the fact that Mary Kay Ash launched her independent sales force four decades ago with just nine of her personal friends.

The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates Seminar will pump more than $115 million into the sluggish Dallas economy.

"Mary Kay Seminar provides a tremendous economic boost to our city," says Greg Elam, senior vice president of communications for the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau. "In fact, the estimated economic impact is greater than four 'Texas-OU' weekends. Hotels, transportation companies, restaurants and retail outlets throughout the area reap significant financial benefits from Seminar. While pink Cadillacs are a common sight on downtown streets during this annual Mary Kay event, it's the color green that Seminar generates which means so much to our local economy."

Mary Kay Inc., one of the largest direct sellers of skin care and color cosmetics in the world, achieved another year of record results in 2002, reaching nearly $1.6 billion in wholesale sales. The company has more than 1 million Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants in 33 markets worldwide. Mary Kay has averaged double-digit annual growth since the company's founding in 1963, and celebrates 40 years of enriching women's lives. The Mary Kay(R) product line includes more than 200 premium products in eight categories: facial skin care, color cosmetics, nail care, body care, sun protection, fragrances, men's skin care and men's and women's dietary supplements. To locate a Consultant near you, call 1-800-MARY KAY (627-9529) or use the Consultant Locator at www.marykay.com.

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