The Maybelline Story

Maybelline: The King of Advertising for over 105 years

By Sharrie Williams · Written April 2020 · 2 min read

Maybelline Brand-merchandising in the 1930’s, is common place today.

Maybelline products, mounted on a card, and placed on display racks, for easy accessibility, was the brain child of Maybelline’s marketing man, Rags Ragland, in 1935.


Maybelline: The King of Advertising for over 105 years


What we consider common merchandising today, actually began at the Maybelline Company, as a way to display their products and gain more attention.

Maybelline: The King of Advertising for over 105 years

Vintage Maybelline eye-shadow, placed on a card in 1935.


Maybelline: The King of Advertising for over 105 years

all Brands are displayed this way, but 80 years ago, products were haphazardly thrown on a shelf, causing, great frustration, for the consumer and the sales team.



Maybelline: The King of Advertising for over 105 years


Maybelline: The King of Advertising for over 105 years


Carded merchandise extended the promotional impact of Maybelline, increased impulse buying, attracted customer’s attention,organized products, enhanced shoppability and drove sales, to a higher bottom line. 

Maybelline: The King of Advertising for over 105 years


By the 1950’s and 60’s, all beauty products were carded and set on free-standing, twirling racks, also the brainchild of Maybelline’s Rag’s Ragland.

Maybelline: The King of Advertising for over 105 years


 By 1964,  ULTRA LASH MASCARA, was born, taking the place of Maybelline’s first wand mascara, MAGIC MASCARA. Some of you might remember buying a carded Maybelline ULTRA LASH, for 69 cents. 
Those were the day’s..


Maybelline: The King of Advertising for over 105 years
 Before ULTRA LASH, the little red box, with a black cake of Maybelline, or this Maybelline cream mascara, was the only choice available to ladies.



Maybelline: The King of Advertising for over 105 years


Maybelline: The King of Advertising for over 105 yearsThis is what a 1950’s, make-up bag was filled with, when Maybelline was advertised television for the first time and no longer a little mail order business, advertised in the classifieds. 

Maybelline has remained a Giant in the cosmetic field, as well The King, of Advertising and Marketing.

Coming soon · Next from Sharrie Williams

Maybe She’s Born With It

The next chapter of the Maybelline family story. Get a text the day it’s out.

Where it began: The Maybelline Story — Amazon · Ebook · Signed copy