How I started my makeup business

I can't sleep. I have a lot of work ahead of me with Love Me Recovery makeup line. I though when the information is fresh and I have some control over my notes, I would share how I started Love Me Recovery. You see, my goal isn't to make lots of money. I just want to take care of my family and be comfy. I also want to help others learn how to make their own makeup. Honestly, it really disgusts me how many toxic chemicals and cancer-causing agents are in makeup today.

It all began with a question. What can I sell that is popular, mulch-faceted, easy to market, and most of all fun to do? I didn't have to think for long. I've been struggling to find the right makeup for my skin tone for years. The cosmetic industry doesn't really cater much to the light-skinned. I am fair-skinned, freckled, and have red hair. My biggest struggle is foundation and concealer. My favorite makeup is eyeshadow. I can never find the right greens. If I do, they are so expensive! Lately, I've read a lot about talc and preservatives in makeup. I even read an article about the estrogen in makeup that causes breast cancer. I mean this stuff is marketed to women and we have enough high-risk of cancer anyways. I have two missions. 1) make beautiful eye shadows catering to everyone's desired color and 2) take away all the artificiality in makeup and make it as natural and safe as possible.

So, I started to research making makeup at home. I found a lot of helpful websites. I will post those at other time. I found scads of youtube videos on how to make eye shadows, blushes, mascaras, foundations, ECT. The main task was to find a supplier for product. I finally did. I picked tkbtrading.com. I ordered their "Absolutely Everything Kit" for $155.00. It's going to arrive Tuesday. This kit comes with everything except the grinder. Here is the link: http://www.tkbtrading.com/item.php?item_id=1360&category_id=69. Why did I chose this kit? It comes with everything and they offer it in talc-free and vegan-friendly. All of their micas are vegan friendly too. The kit also comes with a book on how to make natural makeup at home. Once I make a small profit, I will be able to order $140 more in micas. This will give me several of colors to mix and blend. I want my customers to have lots of choices. My eye shadows are only $5.99 or $9.99 for a custom-color and custom-named eyeshadow.

The kit also comes with everything to make blush and foundation. I am start starting slow. Eyeshadow only until I have enough money to buy significant inventory and supplies. Instead of rushing into too many products at once, I am going to focus on one product and market it in several ways. My sales ideas include:

• Makeup parties
• Bridal Showers
• Birthday parties
• Workshops on "How to make your own makeup"
• Makeover parties
• Gift certificates
• Baby Showers
• Fundraisers
• Consignment Stores
• Independently-owned businesses
• Community markets (flea markets/Saturday markets/Farmers Market)
• Facebook
• My own website www.lovemerecovery.com
• Craigslist
• Ebay
• Amazon
•  Local coffee shops
• Tanning Salons
• My local college

The list goes on. First, I am waiting for my logo. My boyfriend is creating my logo. I have started my website and my Facebook page. My first marketing campaign is my pre-order sale. I just posted it on my website and Facebook:

http://www.lovemerecovery.com/#/shop/4574177739/Eyeshaow-Pre-Order-%28Discounted-Custom-Color%29/5064118

People can order a custom-made color or "Surprise" color. I usually charge $9.99 for custom colors. I am only charging $5.99. Soon, I will have all the color choices up. I just can't keep up! It's only me doing all of this. I hope the pre-order event will bring in enough revenue to order all the supplies I need to launch my company on a larger-scale. I will stick mostly to web-orders and party orders until I have more revenue for marketing. I am giving this 3-6 months.

In the meantime, I am working on names for eyeshadow. Here are some other things I have accomplished:

• Started the website www.lovemerecovery.com (Free website moonfruit.com)
• Registered my URL
• Opened up email: jennifercerf@lovemerecovery.com
• Ordered business cards on vistaprint.com (Great Deals!)
• Talked to my local consignment store about selling Love Me Recovery
• Researched FDA guidelines on cosmetics http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/default.htm
• Submitted application for Oregon business license
• Researched label orders sklabel.com
• Started my PayPal business account and linked it to my website (paypal.com)
• Started networking for a photographer to photo shoot women wearing my makeup for our website and marketing materials. Also, contacted friends to model makeup.
• Working on quote for business liability insurance (State Farm)

I need to:

• Find a tax accountant
• Open a business banking account
• Get organized for receipts, storage, categorizing, ECT.
• Find the perfect preservative for my makeup (almost there!)
• Open up a separate account for foundation contributions to NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)
• Get an ebay and amazon account set up for Love Me Recovery

You can see why I just can't do it all! I started somewhere. I hope my friends and family will pre-order at least one eyeshadow. This will really help me get the business rolling. I have plenty of product to get over 100 shipments out in the next 30 days. My goal is to sell 100 units a month. I'd like to triple that in 6 months. I've even found a manufacturer once I can create enough volume in sales. I need to average 500 sales a month before I can start using a manufacturer. Once I have that, I can start distribution with retailers!

BTW...the website for information on "The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics" is www.breastcancerfund.org. I highly suggest checking it out! Oh! I hope to make those bracelets part of the website too. The ones everyone wears for a cause. I want them to be for NAMI and alll proceeds for the bracelets will go directly to helping the mentally ill.

There's more I need to do:

• I need a car decal
• Somewhere to hold makeup classes
• Brochures, flyers, bumper stickers
• I need to join a Women's Networking group
• Gotta do a sample party
• Write recipes
• Make a book!
•  Work on copyright/patent

These are not immediate. I am just sharing. If you are thinking about doing a makeup business where you actually make the product, it isn't easy. I just don't want to be a Mary Kay, Avon, Pure Romance girl. I want my product to be unique and special. I want my makeup to mean something more than a multi-level marketing scam. Sorry. This is how I feel about those companies. There isn't any human connection. It's all about networking for a profit. I want my makeup to stand for individuality. I want my customers to feel valued and appreciated. My makeup will be hand-made with care. Every eyeshadow will be personally made with my customer in mind. The color will represent the customers desires. Does that make sense?

I've probably went on long enough. Check out my website and Facebook.

Love you,

Jenny