Kleeneze
Encyclopedia
Kleeneze Homecare is a multi-level marketing
company, and was started in 1923, in Hanham
, Bristol
, England. The founder, Harry Crook, had emigrated to America
with his family several years earlier and while there joined Fuller Brush
as a sales representative. He returned to Bristol several years later and started his business making brushes which were sold door-to-door
by salesmen. Kleeneze was bought by Findel PLC
in 2007 after the collapse of their parent company European Home Retail
.
During the war years of 1939-1945, women were encouraged to become salespeople while the men were away fighting.
Since the 1980s, Kleeneze has used a different approach, using catalogues which each independent distributor delivers to householders and then fulfills the orders. This method is not without drawbacks as many people throw away unsolicited mail without reading it although many distributors have devised strategies to minimise the losses.
The company remained at its original Hanham site for almost 80 years, but in May 2004 relocated to its new office headquarters and distribution centre in Warmley, Bristol. In 2007 after the acquisition by Findel the move to Hyndburn
was announced.
Kleeneze was a founder member of the Direct Selling Association, and is also the oldest network marketing company in Europe, having started its networking operations in the 1970s. Kleeneze also donates a percentage of profits to MacMillan Cancer Relief.
After trading for over 80 years throughout the United Kingdom, expansion of its Network Marketing business programme into Europe started with the Republic of Ireland
, followed by the Netherlands
in 2004 and Germany
in 2006.
Multi-level marketing
Multi-level marketing is a marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of others they recruit, creating a downline of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation...
company, and was started in 1923, in Hanham
Hanham
Hanham is a village on the eastern outskirts of Bristol, England, situated on the A431 between Bristol, Bath and Keynsham. It is in the unitary authority of South Gloucestershire. It became a civil parish on April 1, 2003....
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England. The founder, Harry Crook, had emigrated to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his family several years earlier and while there joined Fuller Brush
Fuller Brush Company
The Fuller Brush Company sells branded and private label products for personal care as well as commercial and household cleaning; it is a subsidiary of CPAC Inc., which since 2007 has been owned by the private equity group Buckingham Capital Partners. Fuller Brush was founded in 1906, by Alfred...
as a sales representative. He returned to Bristol several years later and started his business making brushes which were sold door-to-door
Door-to-door
Door-to-door is a sales technique in which a salesperson walks from the door of one house to the door of another trying to sell a product or service to the general public. A variant of this involves cold calling first, when another sales representative attempts to gain agreement that a salesperson...
by salesmen. Kleeneze was bought by Findel PLC
Findel plc
Findel plc is a British home shopping company, based in Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Its chief executive is Roger Siddle.-Express Gifts:...
in 2007 after the collapse of their parent company European Home Retail
European Home Retail
European Home Retail plc was a listed UK company, operating in home retail. Though registered in Swindon, Wiltshire, its head office was based in Warmley, Bristol. On 13 October 2006, it was announced EHR and its subsidiary Farepak had gone into administration.-History:The origins of Farepak...
.
During the war years of 1939-1945, women were encouraged to become salespeople while the men were away fighting.
Since the 1980s, Kleeneze has used a different approach, using catalogues which each independent distributor delivers to householders and then fulfills the orders. This method is not without drawbacks as many people throw away unsolicited mail without reading it although many distributors have devised strategies to minimise the losses.
The company remained at its original Hanham site for almost 80 years, but in May 2004 relocated to its new office headquarters and distribution centre in Warmley, Bristol. In 2007 after the acquisition by Findel the move to Hyndburn
Hyndburn
Hyndburn is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Accrington. The district is named after the River Hyndburn....
was announced.
Kleeneze was a founder member of the Direct Selling Association, and is also the oldest network marketing company in Europe, having started its networking operations in the 1970s. Kleeneze also donates a percentage of profits to MacMillan Cancer Relief.
After trading for over 80 years throughout the United Kingdom, expansion of its Network Marketing business programme into Europe started with the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, followed by the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 2004 and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 2006.