Shaklee Products: Helping Families Come Clean For 55 Years

Thirty years ago, Plymouth resident Sandra Daniels was at a point in her life where she knew something had to give. Then an employee of General Motors, her life was overrun by stress.

“I developed tendonitis and had lost the strength in my arms,” recalls Daniels. “I worked on a computer, updating shipping and receiving, and worked about 60-80 hours a week; I had no choice, I was non-union. And then when I was 40, I developed Essential Familiar Tremors, which kind of resembles Parkinson’s Disease. It got so bad at times that my head shook.”

But an impromptu inquiry about – of all things – Tupperware eventually led to a change in Daniels’s career trajectory and also set her on a path to newfound wellness.

“A lady I worked with was interested in Tupperware, so I went downstairs to another woman I knew who sold it. Come to find out, she didn’t sell Tupperware, she had only hosted a party. But she did sell Shaklee products,” remembers Daniels.

Shaklee, like many companies, started small: In 1956 Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee, a San Francisco chiropractor, had a vision to create all-natural nutritional supplements. The company has since become the number one natural nutrition company in the US and manufactures and distributes everything from beauty products to household cleaners.

Daniels didn’t know that about Shaklee back then, of course. It was the late 1970s, after all, and she was a married mother of one young daughter who was simply interested in making some extra income. Daniels attended an informational Shaklee meeting that night with her colleague, and the rest is history.

Today, Daniels is not only a Shaklee distributor -- she uses the products and credits them with increasing her vitality and improving her overall health. Says Sandra, “They woke me up.” 

CC: Before we delve into your involvement with Shaklee, I’d like to learn more about you…have you always been healthy?

SD: Yes, actually. And I’ve always fed my daughter vegetables and fruit – I love fruit. In fact, fruit was our dessert. I didn’t give her cookies and cakes; I gave her an orange. While I’m not a vegetarian, I often prefer vegetarian meals. I’ve always been health conscious, and before I became aware of Shaklee, I used someone else’s natural-made products. 

CC: Take me back to that stressful time 30 years ago. How did Shaklee products change the quality of your life?

SD: At GM, I dealt with a lot of stress – a lot more than most people. I was told that if I took [Shaklee's] Instant Soy Protein and the Vita-Lea for 30 days, I would feel good, have more energy, and my skin would even look better. And you know what? It worked. I started the day off with that and it relaxed me and I was able to work better. 

CC: “It is always safe. It always works. And it is always green.” That’s Shaklee’s motto…Talk about Shaklee’s range of products.

SD: Our Get Clean green household cleaners are non-toxic and concentrated; we have Shaklee baby products as well as kids’ products, which includes vitamins, powders, and lotions; we carry a variety of vitamins for the heart – and all of our vitamins are all-natural; we also have personal care, hair care products, and anti-aging skin care – these are also non-toxic. Also, we have a weight management program called Cinch. 

CC: What is Shaklee’s hallmark product?

SD: Our Get Clean Basic H, which is super concentrated, but doesn’t give off any fumes. There are a thousand different uses for one 16 ounce bottle. Say if a person only uses it for window cleaning, it is comparable to 5,800 bottles of window cleaner. It compares to Windex or Fantastik. 

CC: I understand that there is a particular way to use this product…

SD: Yes! You only use a couple of drops [mixed with water]. If you spray it or really squeeze the bottle, you’ll have suds everywhere. 

CC: Glad you told us about that tip because no one wants suds everywhere.

SD: No, it reminds me of an I Love Lucy episode. 

CC: Tell me about a Shaklee product that people may be surprised to learn that you carry?

SD: We have a Get Clean water pitcher which removes lead, chlorine, and chemicals from tap water. It’s more cost effective that bottled water. It’s the best. 

CC: Shaklee has been doing the “green thing” long before it became the “it” thing to do, but I get the sense that many people still may not be aware of the company. How do people purchase Shaklee products?

SD: You can only buy Shaklee through a distributor. All Shaklee products have two prices: a retail price and a member price [which is 15 percent less than the retail price]. A point value is assigned to every product, also. Currently, there is a special running through the end of March – if a customer acquires 70 points they get so many free products. 

CC: How can anyone interested in Shaklee contact you directly?

SD: My direct Web site is http://sandrad.myshaklee.com and I can be reached via phone at (734) 453-4407, too. I also have a toll free number, which is (800) 297-7444. 

CC: Okay, Sandra, we all want to use cleaner, healthier products for the betterment of our homes and families, and today we have a lot of choices. Why should we choose Shaklee?

SD: I am a person who is dedicated to making sure you have good health, and I like people to be aware of natural alternatives. Our products give you give health benefits – not side effects.