Since the first pearlized pink Cadillac hit the streets in 1969, the distinctive luxury car has represented a symbol of achievement to generations of Mary Kay consultants. This month the 50-year-old company unveiled a new look with the latest addition to its Career Car program, a sleek black BMW 320i.

Amid what the Economist Intelligence Unit calls “the rise of the customer-led economy,” many businesses are expanding e-commerce offerings as consumers increasingly turn to online shopping.

During a recent Rodan + Fields Leadership Summit in Nashville, one of the company’s top 10 markets, Chairman Amnon Rodan and President and CEO Lori Bush shared insights on the company’s evolution and business model in a Q&A for The Tennessean.

Despite the challenges direct sellers faced in the past year, the industry’s publicly held companies concluded 2013 on a very optimistic note. Those U.S.-based, public companies which generate revenue solely through direct sales saw share prices rise an average of 188.25 percent over 2012.

German household products manufacturer Vorwerk introduced its original multi-function Thermomix kitchen appliance—the VM 2200—in the 1970s.

Reliv International’s charitable arm, the Reliv Kalogris Foundation (RKF), recently announced the opening of the St. John the Baptist National School, a milestone in its ongoing work with orphans in Petite-Anse, Haiti.