Carl Franklin Rehnborg American chemist and entrepreneur Date of Birth: 15.05.1887 Country: USA

1. Biography of Carl Franklin Rehnborg
2. Early Career in China
3. Discovery of Nutrilite
4. Network Marketing and Success
5. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Carl Franklin Rehnborg

Carl Franklin Rehnborg was an American chemist and entrepreneur, best known as the founder of NUTRILITE™ in 1935. He was born on May 15, 1887, in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA. From a young age, Rehnborg had a passion for reading and was well-versed in areas such as philosophy, religion, history, politics, astronomy, mathematics, aerodynamics, chemistry, and human rights. He could speak multiple languages, including Chinese. For many years, Rehnborg dedicated his life to studying Christianity, going on pilgrimages to Palestine, Israel, and Egypt. However, his main interest in life, even from a young age, became the study of global plant populations, the planet's food reserves, and the technology of natural product preservation.

Early Career in China

In 1915, Rehnborg signed a contract with an American oil company and moved to Tianjin, China. There, he worked as an accountant, controller in a shipbuilding company, representative of the American Milk Company, and representative of the Colgate Products Company in Shanghai.

Discovery of Nutrilite

Observing the poverty and hunger around him, Carl Rehnborg embarked on a search for cheap food additives. After reading many books, he concluded that human health depended not only on what one consumed but also on specific diets. In 1927, Rehnborg returned to the United States and set up a small laboratory in a rented attic in Balboa Island, California. It was here that he conducted experiments to find methods of concentrating nutrients from plants.

In 1931, he discovered that alfalfa contained almost all minerals and vitamins, protein, and many other beneficial substances. Rehnborg developed a new food supplement consisting of alfalfa, parsley, and watercress. In 1933, he tried to convince his acquaintances to try the supplements, but they were mostly skeptical. Rehnborg decided to attempt selling them, and the products showed promising results. Rumors about the miraculous effects of his supplements began to spread. His developments caught the interest of others, and Rehnborg devised a new business strategy.

Network Marketing and Success

During the Great Depression, many people were searching for ways to succeed in business. Rehnborg enlisted his friends and acquaintances as his distributors. They offered the supplements to people they knew and earned commissions on each purchase. Rehnborg referred to this as referral marketing, and it is now commonly known as network marketing. His scheme worked and yielded positive results. In 1934, California Vitamins Inc. was established in Balboa Island. Later, the product was renamed Nutrilite. In 1939, Rehnborg relocated to Los Angeles and founded Nutrilite Products.

Later Years and Legacy

Having achieved financial success, Rehnborg pursued his hobbies. He purchased a small observatory in the California mountains and was preparing to release a book on the wonders of the stars and astronomy. He often vacationed in Tahiti. In 1973, at the age of 87, Carl Franklin Rehnborg passed away, leaving behind a legacy of innovation in the field of nutrition and the establishment of a successful network marketing business.