Grand Rapids Innovation


Grand Rapids Innovation shows at the Grand Rapids Inventors Network meetings held at the Western Michigan University Beltline Campus. At one of their meetings, Amway’s President Doug DeVos shared the early years of Amway and the spirit of Grand Rapids Innovation.

The Grand Rapids Inventors Network based in West Michigan is a regional non-profit organization that assists its members to further their creative ideas. Grand Rapids Innovation takes place within the GRIN organization whereas inventors, marketers, and creative people learn more about taking their product to market and to network with people that have been successful.

This Grand Rapids Innovation is what drove Amway founders Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel began in their early years and carried them through life. The beginnings start with the Nutrilite story. Source: Nutrilite

Heritage of Amway

The heritage of Amway as described on their website states, “In 1959, Amway launched a business model fueled through the power of relationships. The original product offered in this model, was Liquid Organic Cleaner (L.O.C.). It was the first concentrated, bio-degradable, and environmentally friendly cleaning product. Since then, Amway has expanded from home products to a global leader in the categories of health and beauty.” Source: Amway Website

More from the Amway website: “In 1959, Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel founded Amway. Says Rich DeVos, “We were just two guys from Ada, Michigan, USA who wanted to have a business of our own. We were two kids (it still feels like that sometimes) who were hungry for success and who wanted to give others the chance to be in business for themselves, too.” Source: Amway Website

For more videos about GRIN and Doug DeVos CLICK HERE.

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