Kleeneze
Kleeneze Homecare is a multi-level marketing company, and was started in 1923, in Hanham, Bristol, England. The founder, Harry Crook, had emigrated to America with his family several years earlier and while there joined Fuller Brush as a sales representative. He returned to Bristol several years later and started his business making brushes which were sold door-to-door by salesmen. Kleeneze was bought by Findel PLC in 2007 after the collapse of their parent company European Home Retail.
During the war years of 1939-1945, women were encouraged to become salespeople while the men were away fighting.
Since the 1980s, Kleeneze has used a different approach, using catalogues which each independent distributor delivers to householders and then fulfills the orders. This method is not without drawbacks as many people throw away unsolicited mail without reading it although many distributors have devised strategies to minimise the losses.
The company remained at its original Hanham site for almost 80 years, but in May 2004 relocated to its new office headquarters and distribution centre in Warmley, Bristol. In 2007 after the acquisition by Findel the move to Hyndburn was announced.[1]
Kleeneze was a founder member of the Direct Selling Association, and is also the oldest network marketing company in Europe, having started its networking operations in the 1970s. Kleeneze also donates a percentage[vague] of profits to MacMillan Cancer Relief.
After trading for over 80 years throughout the United Kingdom, expansion of its Network Marketing business programme into Europe started with the Republic of Ireland, followed by the Netherlands in 2004 and Germany in 2006.
[edit] References
- ^ Kleeneze sweeps in with 200 jobs Lancashire Telegraph - 08 Feb 2007
