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250 Years of Opportunity: The American Way
The Declaration of Independence articulated a bold vision for our nation, built on the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Since then, America’s story has been shaped by generations of people who saw opportunity where others saw obstacles – starting businesses, creating jobs and helping drive the nation’s economic growth.
As we prepare to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, it is worth recognizing the small business owners and entrepreneurs who continue to drive that tradition today. Small businesses remain a cornerstone of the American economy, accounting for 31.7 million businesses and nearly 44% of U.S. GDP, playing a central role in job creation and local investment.
And for 67 years, Amway has been proud to support American entrepreneurship.
Since 1959, Amway has helped individuals build businesses of their own by lowering traditional barriers to entry. Through its direct selling model, aspiring business owners can access products, supply chains, personal online storefronts and training and support without the significant costs and complexities of starting a business from scratch.
At its core, Amway believes entrepreneurship should be accessible to all. It shouldn’t require a groundbreaking idea or startup capital that is out of reach for most people. Today, hundreds of thousands of Amway Independent Business Owners (IBOs) across the United States are building customer relationships, advancing their business and contributing to their local economies.
Amway also understands that supporting entrepreneurs requires more than opportunity alone. As a result, the company has designed an ecosystem to support business owners long-term, including continuous investment in products, innovation and infrastructure. Approximately 70 percent of Amway products sold in the United States are manufactured domestically, with the help of more than 800 scientists, engineers and technicians.
Recent investments include a $75 million expansion of the company’s Nutrilite™ facility in Ada, Michigan. The investment converted 52,000 square feet of warehouse space into a state-of-the-art production environment capable of producing 7 billion supplement tablets annually. Since 2016, Amway has also committed more than $315 million in expanding their manufacturing capabilities. Together, these strategic expansion efforts help ensure that IBOs have the resources they need to serve customers and grow their businesses.
As Andrew Schmidt, Amway Regional President, West Markets and Managing Director of North America, explains: “At its core, Amway is a quintessentially American story. From the beginning, our Founders believed in something deeply American: that anyone, anywhere should have the opportunity to build a meaningful business of their own. With the right products, tools, support and community, people could shape their own path — and help others along the way. More than 65 years later, that belief still guides us and continues to define who we are.”
That belief continues to guide Amway today as it invests in the people, products and innovation that will help shape the next chapter of the American story.