Barbara Bond -
Demonstrator of the Month

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for talking to us today. You’ve been in the Tupperware business for an exceptionally long time. Can you give us an idea about what Tupperware was like when you started?

I held my very first demonstration on Friday 25th September 1964 and with 21 guests in attendance we sold £7-19-2 (7 pound 19 & tuppence).

As a young mother of an energetic 4 year old, I had been doing 2 night shifts per week nursing at Calvary Hospital to earn £5.0.0.  By Christmas that year I soon realized if I put more time and effort into Tupperware, especially as my kind husband told me “I couldn’t sell anything”..... Well that was a challenge for sure .....  I enjoyed the parties, meeting lots of people, using the products and of course earning extra money.

It took me 4 more years to become a Manager and our family had increased to 3 children – Christopher, Michael and Stewart.  To become a Manager you needed to recruit 7 new details, leave No 6 and No 7 with your Mother Manager and on your promote out day you received your lovely new company car.  I think my first one was a Magna!!  Now I’m driving No 24 company vehicle – the great Territory.  My Unit, the “Blue Jets” were promoted on 30th September 1968.

Our name of Blue Jets came from initials “Barbara Joan” and as we came from “Blue Ribbon Sales” with Jill & Murray Welsh, it sounded pretty good to be the Blue Jets.  Blue Ribbon was actually my 2nd Distributorship as Pat & Charles Jones of “Specific” were my first Directors.

Tupperware was certainly something “quite different”. I really don’t remember any other “party-plan” around.  The very first piece I bought was the “Medium Mixing Bowl” and in those days the “juicer” was 19 pence. I’m still using that bowl today – 49 years later.  The special hostess gifts were of course product, which is the best way to receive it – free!!

For us, incentives were great, same as today, eg Showcase, etc.

My very first aeroplane ride was to Manager Conference in Cairns.  We flew out on 13th July 1969.  You needed to make Vanguard to qualify in those days.  I hadn’t qualified for the previous one, so the opportunity to travel was exciting.  During the following years we went to Fiji and Bali and Tupperware’s Silver Anniversary, our conference with Landis, was down in Tasmania.  We were all very impressed to see the “Sky-Writing” of Happy 25th Anniversary – Tupperware Australia and as a memento we received the Slimline Cannister container with the Silver writing on it.  We still see these around as “treasures”.  Probably the most spectacular occasion would have been “Jubilee”, which was held at Channel “O” in Melbourne and on Sunday night we all “took-over” Lunar Park, free rides on everything.

So much for my ramblings ............

How has the party experience changed since you began?

  1. More acceptance of home party demonstration
  2. Great to be able to do different themes........
  3. Hostess Gifts changing with new catalogues
  4. Large items eg Picnic Set, Slow Cooker to reward our special hostess
  5. The 2 party dating to help qualify, helps us to get more datings: As they help 3 people when a new hostess dates –
    1. Tonight’s host
    2. Herself to get a gift
    3. Helps keep me busy

What is the product you remember most from Tupperware’s past ranges?

  1. The Rectangular Fresh-n-Fancy
  2. The Freezer items
  3. The Illusion set – Bowls, Tumblers, Flutes, etc

What has contributed to your longevity?

  1. The ability to offer all ages the opportunity of earning extra income
  2. The flexibility of hours we can “work”
  3. The Company Car opportunity
  4. We can take time off for family holidays
  5. The incentives Tupperware offer

How has Tupperware changed your life?

I’ve been able to “be strong” and cope with many of life’s upsets.  Challenges, both personal and professional, eg my first husband died in 1985, we had already gone through a divorce 2 years prior, so basically I was out there on my own and able to a degree to help by then, my teenage sons.

Are you looking forward to the 50th birthday celebrations?

Well of course we all are.  I mean to say, just what else can the fabulous Tupperware Company offer us!!!!!!

In summary, I have been part of seven (7) Distributorships over the pass 47 years:

Specific – Pat & Charlie Jones

  1. Blue Ribbon – Jill & Murray Welsh (14 years)
  2. Regency – Lyn & Robert Laycock
  3. Festival – Louise & Frank Clarke
  4. Destiny – Judy & Ray Manning
  5. Pinnacle – Maxine & Graham Voight
  6. Metro – Annette & Chris McClue

So we keep our “Tupper Up” and be as positive as possible.......

Go for the Challenges and Keep Smiling.

“Tomorrow is another Day” and if it is to be it’s up to me.

Very best wishes from

Barbara Bond

27th January 2011