ABSTRACT
The cosmetic and fragrance floor of the Macy's in San Jose was bustling with shoppers as Elysa Yanowitz, regional sales manager for L'Oreal, and John (Jack) Wiswall, general manager of L'Oreal's designer fragrance division, to whom Yanowitz reported, walked together through the store on a routine visit in the fall of 1997. Elysa Yanowitz started as a sales representative with L'Oreal in 1981 when the company name was licensed by Cosmair, Inc. Yanowitz rose through the ranks to become a sales manager in 1986. The history of L'Oreal began in 1907 when Eugene Schueller, a young French chemist, developed an innovative hair color formula and sold it to Parisian hairdressers. In 1967, Ralph Lauren began the Polo Ralph Lauren company with 26 boxes of ties. Interested in promoting a lifestyle with his ties, Ralph Lauren named his line after Polo, a sport of discreet elegance and classic style. L'Oreal's sales team includes employees with different educational backgrounds and work experiences.
