Group shot of early Amway business owners in front of a bus
  • From the very beginning, the whole idea was that the common man and woman, no matter what their financial or educational background was – they could have their own business. Simple as that.

Amway is one of the world's best known opportunity brands.

Row of flags outside the Alticor world headquarters in Ada, Michigan
  • I'm John Faye. I operate the visitor's center in the world headquarters of Alticor in Ada, Michigan.

Founded in 1959, Amway is now part of Alticor.

Early Amway business owner meeting
  • I grew up as part of the Amway family. My family was one of the first business owners.
Independent business owner meeting
  • In fact, the year the company was founded, they hosted the employee Christmas dinner at our house.

After serving in World War II, company cofounders Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel became business partners.

Early shot of Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel on a sailboat
  • Rich and Jay actually decided in high school they would be business partners. Their partnership to me has been one of the most amazing parts of their story, because it had lasted well over sixty years.

Amway was a ground-breaking business opportunity, appealing to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Early shot of Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel with a plane at flight school
  • Rich and Jay had started a number of businesses, and they knew what the investment costs were.
Large Amway business owner meeting
  • They knew that those start-up costs put owning a business out of range for so many people. That's why Amway took off like a rocket. People could afford to try it.

Like their fathers, Steve Van Andel now is company chairman…..while Doug DeVos serves as president.

People meeting with Steve Van Andel
  • As Rich and Jay's families were growing up, their children got very involved with the company.
Doug DeVos working with others
  • So Steve and Doug didn't just pop into the business. They've actually been working here since they were teenagers. They know this business from the ground up.

Freedom, family, hope and reward were the company's cornerstones.

Doug DeVos and Steve Van Andel talking together in the office kitchen
  • They actually mirror their fathers. They both have the same passion; they both have the same beliefs and vision for the company.

Launched in 1999, Quixtar has become the online leader in health and beauty.

Quixtar lobby at its grand opening celebration
  • With the second generation, the business has seen a lot of positive changes – like the launch of Quixtar. Quixtar really appeals to people who like to shop online, so our business opportunity has adapted to technology.

NUTRILITE vitamins and ARTISTRY cosmetics lead our health and beauty sales.

Split screen: Nutrilite product display on left, Artistry model Kim on right
  • We've also adapted our product mix. We've grown from making household cleaners into a company with internationally acclaimed health and beauty brands.

Today we operate in more than 80 countries worldwide.

Japanese makeup demo meeting at a South Korea makeup session
  • Back when I started with the company in 1973, if somebody were to tell me that the company would actually be in operation in Japan, South Korea, in China, Russia; I would have said "no way," and yet, here we are.
Asian tour group looking through Artistry skincare and makeup products

Access Business Group holds 500 patents and manufactures over 450 U.S. made products.

Interior overhead view of Access Business Group manufacturing plant
  • Government officials, journalists and business owners from all over the world visit our headquarters. They are very surprised at the scope of our manufacturing.
Access Business Group manufacturing worker
  • Not only are we producing and shipping these products, but we also are making the bottles, we are making the boxes. We are even designing and printing the labels. I don't know too many companies that do all of that.
Wide view of Access Business Group shipping system

More than 3 million business owners generate Alticor's worldwide sales of US$6.4 billion.

Doug DeVos with Mr. and Mrs. Rhew on their first visit to the Alticor headquarters
  • It all comes back to one thing: everyone is basically the same. We all have the same dreams and desires. We all want our families to be safe and comfortable and happy. That's why owning your own business was -- and still is – so rewarding for so many people. Simple as that.