by | May 4, 2026
This Florida Woman Was Responsible for Tupperware’s Success
The woman behind Tupperware’s rise to household stardom.
Created by Earl Tupper in 1946, the original Tupperware container was an innovation in the world of food storage. While not the first line of plastic containers, it was the first of its kind with a lid that had an airtight seal. The company is known for its “burping” bowls, a reference to the sound the lids make when they are correctly closed. Today, the name Tupperware is synonymous with food storage. None of this would have been possible without the help of Brownie Wise, one of the company’s most successful saleswomen.
Wise began selling Tupperware in 1950s Fort Lauderdale. At that time, the product was mainly sold in department stores, while a small network of salespeople started to come together. Wise quickly became the top-selling rep, making more money than the department stores. She used the home party method, revolutionizing how the company sold the containers across the country. Tupperware parties quickly became a nationwide sensation.
In 1954, Tupper promoted Wise to vice president of marketing and opened the Tupperware World Headquarters in Kissimmee on the Orange Blossom Trail, a well-traveled stretch of U.S. Route 441. The company pulled out of department stores and devoted all of its energy to the home-party business model. Under Wise’s direction, the company began holding annual Tupperware Jubilees to reward sellers and distributors. Wise became one of the first female executives in the country and the first woman to appear on the cover of Business Week magazine.
Despite the rapid success, Tupper looked to sell the business in 1958. And while he had no qualms with women in business, Wise and Tupper butted heads often. Tupper, believing that no one would be interested in purchasing the brand if the strong-willed Wise was at the helm, fired her that same year. Tupperware began to decline in the 1980s when its patents started to expire. In 2013, its sales revenue peaked at $2.67 billion but started to drop due to competition and a failure to adapt to the modern retail scene. Tupperware officially filed for bankruptcy in late 2024, and its Central Florida headquarters shuttered. Today, the iconic Florida company, albeit much smaller, still operates, selling products online and in places like Target and Walmart.
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About the Author
As a born-and-raised Floridian, Emilee loves to write, read and talk about the Sunshine State. She graduated from Florida State University with a degree in editing, writing and media. Now, Emilee uses her skills to edit our print issues and online content, as well as write our weekly e-newsletter, Fresh Squeezed.
