Becoming a Sales Representative
Weigh the pros and cons of reselling makeup. If you don’t have a lot of spare time to develop your own products, consider selling makeup products part-time, like Avon or Mary Kay. Search online to find a local representative, so you can contact them for more information. While working for a more corporate makeup company, you might learn invaluable experience about how to network with potential customers. If you eventually want to sell your own makeup but don’t know where to start, this could be a great starting job.
Choose a company that you’d like to sell for. Search online for different companies that offer selling commissions, like Mary Kay, Avon, Rodan and Fields, or Senegence. When choosing a manufacturer to sell for, think about the types of products you’d enjoy offering to your clients. Once you’ve made a decision, you can sign up with a specific company online. For instance, Senegence is well-known for their lip products, while Mary Kay is known more for their skin care products. When you resell makeup for a larger company, you’re often referred to as a distributor.
Work to achieve sales goals and make commission sales. Arrange a manageable schedule where you can network with new clients while selling a consistent amount of makeup products. To meet with potential customers, try hosting a glamour party, which allows your possible clientele to test different makeup products in person. If you’d prefer a more hands-off approach, try using sites like eBay to sell your products. Reselling makeup can be as personal or impersonal as you want it to be.
Developing Your Own Makeup
Research indie brands that are successful in the industry. Search online to find a variety of independently owned makeup brands that have developed a lot of buzz. Specifically, pay attention to the groups that these brands cater to. Are these products designed for a certain skin type or tone? Keep these factors in mind as you conduct your research. Realistically, you won’t be starting off as a large scale business. Look to these groups for inspiration instead of viewing them as a realistic business model to follow. As you look into different makeup brands, see if there are any parts of the beauty community that aren’t being represented well in different makeup products, like certain skin tones or ailments (e.g., eczema).
Pick a specific market where you can sell your products. Choose what kind of individuals you think would enjoy your makeup product. If you’re developing more than 1 shade, try to pick a variety of colors that could appeal to different kinds of beauty aesthetics. For example, if you’re developing a lip gloss, don’t just create a red shade. Try creating pink, purple, and nude hues as well!
Create a logo and brand identity for your makeup shop. Decide on a name for your makeup shop or line. While this store name doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel, try and think of something clever, fun, or elegant that stands out to potential customers. Once you’ve decided on a name, choose a simple symbol or logo that can represent your product line. A consistent logo and brand identity will make your cosmetics look much more consistent and professional. Your logo doesn’t have to be anything complex. Start with a really simple design, like a circle or square with your brand name written in the center.
Develop a marketing plan for your future sales. Think about how much your makeup supplies will cost when creating multiple units of cosmetics. Next, determine how much time it will take you to create each unit. After considering these factors, develop a rough marketing plan of how you’re going to price your makeup, and how much you’ll need to pay for new supplies. Try following this formula: Materials + Time + Overhead Costs = Minimum Base Price. For example, if it costs you $10 dollars to purchase the powder for an eyeshadow, 30 minutes to make and assemble the product (at a $15 per hour rate), and $2 for a makeup container, your base price for an eyeshadow would be around $20.
Apply for a vendor’s license before setting up shop. Go online and register your cosmetic business with the local government by completing the proper forms. Check your city’s website to see if you can download the necessary forms to become an official vendor. You have to register your business beforehand so you can provide proof that your makeup line is legitimate.
Assemble a workspace if you’re making products at home. Pick an open area in your home to use as your makeup-creating space. Try to find an area that won’t get contaminated easily, and isn’t overly cluttered with other items. Ideally, look for a place like a spare room or other space that can be repurposed for your business’s needs. Make sure that your work area can fit all of your necessary ingredients and makeup containers.
Create your products before advertising them online. While you might be eager to upload your listings to your digital store, first make sure that you have a concrete item to sell and ship out. Depending on the size of your makeup business, you might want to make at least 5-10 units of each product. If your business starts booming right off the bat, you might get overwhelmed by the number of orders you need to prepare. You’ll also need physical products to photograph, so you can upload these images to your store and website.
Research federal standards for producing makeup at home. Check with your country’s regulations to see what kinds of ingredients you’re allowed to use. Contact your local health and drug organization to see which ingredients you’re allowed to use. Additionally, research which color additives are permitted and not permitted before developing your products. Keep track of all the different ingredients you use in your cosmetics. You’re required to include all of these items on your product’s label.
Distributing Makeup Online
Choose a marketing platform to sell your makeup. Decide if you want to sell your hand-crafted makeup from an established marketing website, or if you’d prefer to sell your beauty products from a website. Look at your different online options—some platforms are easy to use, and don’t require a registration fee. If you don’t want to use a third-party site, flesh out your website to include an online store. There are many website builders that make site design and development very simple and inexpensive.
Create a website to sell a variety of products. Choose a domain name that helps establish your brand, so your potential customers have a clear idea of what you sell. To make your site more engaging, use a service like WordPress or Wix to develop a sleek design that’s easy to navigate. Create a separate tab on your website that links to your online store, so customers can have a clear vision of what you’re selling. If you sell products on a third-party service, like Shopify or Etsy, you can provide links these shops on your site. If you work for a larger makeup brand, like Mary Kay or Avon, you can link to the main company website.
Develop a blog that caters to your desired audience. Envision the target audience for your makeup, as well as their age, income level, and specific interests. With this in mind, use your blog to create attention-grabbing content that appeals to potential readers. Additionally, use your site to include links to your digital shop, or your main distributor’s site. For instance, if you’re catering to an adult audience, try blogging about skin care tips that help keep your complexion youthful.
Promote your products on different social media platforms. Post regularly on different networking sites, like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. In your posts, mention the different products and bargains you have to offer, as well as a link to your digital store. To keep your content fresh and engaging, try publishing a variety of content that appeals to your customers’ interests. Ideally, only 1 in every 7 posts on social media should directly promote your business. Try promoting your blog’s content on your different social media platforms!
Making Sales by Networking
Contact your local mall and see if you can set up a kiosk. Rent a cart or kiosk at your local mall, so you can sell your makeup in front of a larger crowd. Use this selling space for your own products as well as your sales rep marketing, so customers have a wide variety of products to choose from. Note that this type of sales work can be expensive, as many kiosks cost at least $9,000 to rent. Carts are a slightly cheaper option, but they usually cost over a $1,000 to run and manage.
Sign up for craft shows to sell your products in person. Set up a table at a local craft fair, where you can advertise your most prominent goods. Use tablecloths and decorative banners to make your table space look interesting. To demonstrate that you’re an established brand, leave a stack of business cards in a visible place for people to see. If you’ve made a lot of makeup ahead of time, consider offering free samples to interested customers. Remind the craft fair patrons to check out your business online, as well as on social media.
Reach out to different websites if your business grows. Keep track of your makeup selling progress. If you’re generating a lot of sales, consider reaching out to different retailers, social media selling groups, or additional websites. You might be able to network with other makeup sellers by using new e-commerce sites! Reddit’s Makeup Exchange, Poshmark, Glambot, and eBay Makeup Sales are great places to start.
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