

The seven-building Watkins headquarters in Winona is on the National Register of Historic Places as the J.R. Since taking over the reins, he has controlled spending, introducing an enhanced compensation plan for sales associates, along with an extensive brand study that led to the introduction of products onto store shelves for the first time. The younger Jacobs was an aspiring actor, appearing in minor roles in films like Biloxi Blues and Goodfellas, but he realized that his acting career wasn't advancing. He was 14 at the time his father purchased the company, and had worked as a Watkins salesman for many years. In 1996, Jacobs' son, Mark Evan Jacobs, began to take over day-to-day operations of the company. Watkins filed for bankruptcy protection in the 1970s, and was purchased by Minneapolis investor Irwin L. The demographics and buying habits of the United States had major shifts in the following decades, and the company did not keep pace. To fill government contracts, Watkins produced dried eggs, powdered juice packets, vitamin tablets, hospital germicide, DDT and insecticide powder in support of the war effort.ĭuring the 1940s, Watkins was the largest direct-sales company in the world but soon began to decline. Maher's Administration Building included a 70-foot high rotunda dome coated in 24-carat gold leaf, a blue Bedford stone façade, 224 stained glass skylights and three custom-made Tiffany stained glass windows.ĭuring World War II, Watkins devoted 90 percent of its production capacity to support the Allied war effort. In 1914, a prominent ten-story building completed the look of the Administration Building. Between 18, Watkins constructed six manufacturing buildings behind the Winona Administration Building. Baking materials including pepper and vanilla extract were added in 1895 along with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, peppermint extract and lemon extract. The company moved to Winona in 1885 and added a number of products to its lineup. The Watkins trial-mark is believed to be the first money-back guarantee in America.

A label with the statement, “If not fully satisfied, your money cheerfully refunded,” also appeared on the bottle. Molded into the glass bottle, about one-third of the way down, was a mark which showed how much of the product a customer could use and still get a refund.

Watkins began selling liniment, he introduced the trial-mark bottle. Watkins in Plainview, Minnesota, who began selling liniment in 1868 door-to-door in the southeastern part of the state.

Founded in 1868, Watkins Incorporated is based in Winona, Minnesota, United States, which utilizes an omni-channel marketing strategy which includes a national retail sales force which focuses on selling to the retail channel as well as an independent sales force of 25,000 people to distribute its products. Watkins Incorporated is a manufacturer of health remedies, baking products, and other household items. Watkins Complex seen from the south Watkins Pepper – J.R. Prairie School (1911 Administration Building)
