You don't need scientific research to make an educated choice about your makeup. But, if you are on the fences about what makeup to wear this research will help you make the right choice. When BareMinerals was first introduced I was ecstatic! I picked up my first kit at Fred Meyer, went home and applied my foundation. My psyche was telling me, "Oh, Jennifer...this stuff is so healthy for your skin, you won't breakout, it won't turn you orange, and it's not expensive. After a few weeks of use, I started breaking out, my skin was irritated, my sister attempted to tell me the tone wasn't right. I kept coming up with excuses, "Something else is causing my breakouts, there is no cure for my sensitive skin, at least it's not expensive." I ended up switching back to liquid foundation and pressed powder. Just going back to what I knew. I went on for years like this. The past few years I've just given up on foundation all-together. I looked dead, tired, purple under my eyes. Nothing ever worked.
That has all changed.
My life directed me into opening my own business and I chose mineral makeup because I was personally motivated to find a solution for sensitive skin. I believe I've found a solution. I've quickly learned that all mineral makeup is not created equal. Consumers are being lied to, the FDA regulations are too loose, and consumers don't have the time or energy to stay properly informed. But isn't makeup supposed to make us feel better and help our skin actually improve? I expect my makeup to make me feel good and to help my sensitive and fair skin. I don't think I should have to pay over $25 for mineral foundation. It's minerals for goodness sakes! Minerals are all-natural and HELLO! they are not expensive. Not only are we as consumers being lied to about our makeup ingredients, we are being royally ripped off.
All of my mineral products are under $9.99 each.
I believe in honesty, quality, and affordability. Mineral makeup supplies and all-natural preservatives are not expensive. I can make a decent profit selling my mineral foundation for $9.99 (30g jar). Of course, once I get my product recognized for its quality and affordability I will have an opportunity for moderate profit. Honestly, I just want to take care of my family and live a good life. I want to make a product that consumers can buy with confidence knowing it's truly all-natural and good for their skin.
The research doesn't lie.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and EWG (The Environmental Working Group), along with many other organizations have compiled the research. Our main cosmetics companies, bath and beauty companies, along with other organizations have been taking consumers for fools. Even our babies aren't safe. Johnson and Johnson is stepping up to the plate and making changes. Carcinogens in our baby products? Really? This should never have happened. EVER.
BareMinerals is one of the leading culprits.
There is nothing bare about BareMinerals. Instead of going on a huge rant about it. Just visit this website and google the ingredients in your makeup.
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/search.php?query=bareminerals&h=Search
Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation is the worst.
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/search.php?query=rimmel+lasting+finish
Maybelline and Jane Iredale are leading the way to unsafe cosmetics.
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/search.php?query=maybelline
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/search.php?query=jane+iredale
Just go back to what I said in the beginning. You don't need scientific evidence to know your makeup is bad for you. Just think. How does it make your skin feel? Are you breaking out? Do your pores feel clogged? Are your eyes irritated?
Is it worth it? Does expensive = good for your skin?
NO. NO. NO.
Just take the ingredient challenge. Visit these two websites and look up the ingredients in your makeup. Try Love Me Recovery Mineral Makeup. I don't use any talc, paraben, bismuth, nano-particles, or animal testing. That makes a huge difference. My makeup is won't clog your pores, cause breakouts, or irritate your skin. My skin has never felt better. I won't sell my makeup if I won't wear it myself.
safecosmetics.org
ewg.org/skindeep
Love,
Jenny
Monday, April 29, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
Planning my next fundraiser. Thinking big!
I had a lot of time to breakdown my short-term and long-term goals for Love Me Recovery today. My initial fundraiser on Indiegogo (http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/start-up-funds-love-me-recovery-mineral-makeup/x/2750150) has been an epic fail. No one has contributed anything. The campaign only has 24 days left. I need to do some serious legwork before starting my Kickstarter campaign (http://www.kickstarter.com/). I've made some new connections this week. Exciting connections. For example, I found someone through my Craigslist ad who owns a bartering network (TradeonBarter.com). She and I will be trading services for my website development. I also came across a new supplier. This connection will bring down my overall product costs by over 35%. I was worried that my goal of offering all of my products under $9.99 ea. couldn't become reality. Now, I think I can manage to profit while offering all-natural products at an extremely affordable price.
So...what's my plan? Let me talk about all products for under $9.99. I've decided to make this goal a top priority. If I plan on reaching the masses I need to stay price competitive. I want my customers to come back over and over again. I also want to equate quality with affordability. So many makeup companies call their products high-quality but they don't mean all-natural and high-quality. I want Love Me Recovery to offer both aspects. Mineral makeup isn't complicated or expensive. The natural bases for bath and body products aren't either. My profit margin will rely heavily on quantity of purchases and not a higher profit margin per product. Imagine this...
I want part of my fundraising campaign to include a day of recovery. I want customers to buy in advance $100 of product with their contribution. Basically, the perk has two parts. The customer donates $200 and 50% of that donation is directly put back into their pockets through receiving $100 in product. Second, the customer is going to throw away all their previously used products and replace them with their new LMR kit which includes:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Face Wash
- Body Wash
- Toner
- Foundation
- Blush
- Eyeshadow
- Lip Balm
- Facial Moisturizer
10 products for $100. That is my pitch. Help me start a company that is going to offer all their products under $9.99 ea., all-natural, and environmentally friends. The environmentally friendly piece also means I will offer refill packs at a discount rate for those who reuse their packaging. I plan on marking these refills down 25% of the original cost of the product.
I need to start putting together a fundraising team. There are several components to the Kickstarter campaign. I'm working on solidifying my supplier relationships and building a network of local support. I need to build relationships for sales and marketing opportunities. I also need to find a few investors to make my dream of opening up a shop come true. First, I must copyright and register my trademarks. This means I need to raise my initial $5k to move to the next step.
I've even sketched a new custom-compact design for my makeup today! It's a compact that will have room for your foundation, blush, eyeshadow, concealer, color corrector, brushes, and liners. It will be deep for mineral makeup and have a large mirror for makeup application. Of course, I have to find a company to manufacture my design. Just keep thinking BIG!
Last, but not least, I will talk about my eBook I plan on writing. I have organized a layout of topics. I plan on charging $4.99 for the eBook. It's main theme is safe cosmetics and bath/beauty products. It offers an ingredient challenge, encouraging consumers to read their labels and get rid of unsafe products around the house. It debunks the rumors that all mineral makeups are manufactured alike and the truth behind companies like Bare/Essential Minerals. I'll talk about how expensive doesn't necessarily equal healthy or good for your skin and body. I will talk consumers through taking my challenge. A campaign to throw away the old stuff and invest $100 in Love Me Recovery. We'll walk through my product line and all its benefits. Finally, I will encourage ongoing support of Love Me Recovery and our mission to offer all-natural and affordable solutions for your head to toe business needs.
I am getting tired. This isn't meant to confuse anyone. I am rambling a little. Just so excited!
Love,
Jenny
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The Facebook Following
Facebook is so powerful as a sales and marketing tool. The connections are endless. You can build a network of people you barely know and they draw people to you seamlessly. Just in 24 hours, I doubled my companies page "likes" because I knew this one person. She owns an amazing photography company and her connections doubled my pages exposure. I believe that action will have a positive ripple effect. My pages "likes" are growing every hour. I am meeting new people, chatting up on Facebook, and my confidence is boosting 300% that my mineral makeup company might have a fighting chance after all.
I started shopping around on the internet last night for private label liability insurance. I am determined to open my market locally through selling at independently-owned locations. In order to accomplish this, I have to harbor the liability with appropriate insurance. The premium shouldn't be too bad since my products are FDA-approved and all-natural. I just want to open the doors to many local opportunities. I want to make connections with my community and become recognized for amazing and affordable mineral makeup.
I need to work on some tedious tasks over the next couple days. Mainly, product labeling and data entry. I need to streamline my tracking for product, printing for labels, and get all my recipes in one place. Before everything gets out-of-hand and I have over 200 recipes! I'm working hard to locate the perfect mascara recipe for vegan and all-natural mascara. I'm going to try a couple different kinds and get people to try them before selling the product. Also, I'm dabbling with the idea of offering candles. Not just any candles. Cupcake candles. They are so amazing and smell so good! This is mainly for my vendor fair but I could sell them on my website. I'm obsessed with these DIY projects.
I just feel so much better starting my own business, having control over everything: creation, organization, sales and marketing, no bosses! I'm gonna try and keep the dream alive!
Love,
Jenny
I started shopping around on the internet last night for private label liability insurance. I am determined to open my market locally through selling at independently-owned locations. In order to accomplish this, I have to harbor the liability with appropriate insurance. The premium shouldn't be too bad since my products are FDA-approved and all-natural. I just want to open the doors to many local opportunities. I want to make connections with my community and become recognized for amazing and affordable mineral makeup.
I need to work on some tedious tasks over the next couple days. Mainly, product labeling and data entry. I need to streamline my tracking for product, printing for labels, and get all my recipes in one place. Before everything gets out-of-hand and I have over 200 recipes! I'm working hard to locate the perfect mascara recipe for vegan and all-natural mascara. I'm going to try a couple different kinds and get people to try them before selling the product. Also, I'm dabbling with the idea of offering candles. Not just any candles. Cupcake candles. They are so amazing and smell so good! This is mainly for my vendor fair but I could sell them on my website. I'm obsessed with these DIY projects.
I just feel so much better starting my own business, having control over everything: creation, organization, sales and marketing, no bosses! I'm gonna try and keep the dream alive!
Love,
Jenny
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Please share my fundraising page on Ingiegogo! Less than 30 days left!
Please share my fundraising campaign for Love Me Recovery Cosmetics. This campaign has less than 30 days. I am trying to raise sales and marketing start up funds of $1,000. I am offering great perks for contributors!
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/start-up-funds-love-me-recovery-mineral-makeup/x/2750150
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/start-up-funds-love-me-recovery-mineral-makeup/x/2750150
Sunday, April 21, 2013
I'm so ready! Let me share my dream.
I made four new eye shadows tonight. It actually calms me, mixology. I had my b-roll for my fund raising video today. I am working with 4 journalist students from the U of O who are helping me make a video to use on my Kickstarter campaign. I made makeup and applied makeup to friends and family. I also gave the girls who videotaped eyeshadow and foundation. I'm so excited to raise money. I started thinking, realistically. $1,000 just isn't enough to really get things going for my new mineral makeup business. I need to be honest. I have such high hopes for my company.
So....I am going to raise my fund raising goal. There isn't anything I can do about the Ingiegogo campaign. It's already launched and has less than 30 days left. We haven't raised any money. I also haven't dedicated enough time and energy to the campaign. I want to start fresh with kickstarter.com. I am going to raise my goal to $5,000.00. I do hope to exceed this goal but I can't go too high. If you don't raise all the funds you ask for you don't get any of the money. My dream mineral makeup company needs more like $15k to get started. Let me explain.
The $5k will help me sell makeup locally and on the web without a store front. I will be able to get a real, full e-commerce web site, buy profession business cards, stock up on packaging and labels, buy retail displays, a banner for vendor shows and other events, advertise locally and on the internet, and buy a few more products and supplies. Most importantly, I can pay for minimal copyright and registration of my company and product idea. I could sustain myself, until I become profitable.
Ultimately, I want to open a local retail store. Once this store is successful, I want to open a chain of stores. I'm thinking franchising the business. Here's my idea. Imagine walking into a cosmetics store and seeing rows of colors. Every color you can imagine. All of these rows are labeled: eyeshadow, foundation, blush, concealer, mascara, lip balm, ECT. You take a tray. This tray has little tins. You get to walk through these rows and pick whatever color, texture, tone, shimmer, and container you want. There will be posters of colors you can mix to make any color under the rainbow. There will be consultants on-hand to help you pick and choose. Then, you sit down with a personal mixologist you consults and mixes you makeup on-the-spot.
more...
You can tell the consultant if you want power or pressed makeup. Maybe even both. Do you want shimmer or a matte look? What kind of coverage do you want for your foundation? Sheer, medium, or full-coverage? Maybe you want a little darker tone than last time because you are tanner from the summer sun. We can do that! Then, you watch your beautiful colors mix, we package them, you can even name the colors if you want. We give you a card that you swipe every time you come in. We save your color choices for the next time. Oh! You get a punch card: buy 5 and get one free!
more....
If you don't want to walk through rows of colors, our store will have plenty of ready-made eye shadows, blushes, foundations, and more! Did I mention that we will also have shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toner, bath products, and even laundry detergent? Yes! You can custom-make these too or just order what we have in stock. All of these products we be:
Wanna have a makeup party? We will have rooms reserved for these parties! Perfect for bridal, baby showers, birthdays, graduation, and any other party. Everyone gets makeup, bath & beauty products, and gets to choose their colors, scents, and well...everything! I will also offer makeup consults for weddings, prom, events, anything you need makeup and beauty products for. Just imagine the fun!
This is my dream. My goals as a business owner. I want to share Love Me Recovery Mineral Makeup with everyone. Makeup is personal. I want to offer an infinite selection of colors. The spectrum is endless! Help me make this dream come true and donate to my fund raising campaign.
Click here to visit my current fund-raising campaign:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/start-up-funds-love-me-recovery-mineral-makeup/x/2750150
Love,
Jennifer
So....I am going to raise my fund raising goal. There isn't anything I can do about the Ingiegogo campaign. It's already launched and has less than 30 days left. We haven't raised any money. I also haven't dedicated enough time and energy to the campaign. I want to start fresh with kickstarter.com. I am going to raise my goal to $5,000.00. I do hope to exceed this goal but I can't go too high. If you don't raise all the funds you ask for you don't get any of the money. My dream mineral makeup company needs more like $15k to get started. Let me explain.
The $5k will help me sell makeup locally and on the web without a store front. I will be able to get a real, full e-commerce web site, buy profession business cards, stock up on packaging and labels, buy retail displays, a banner for vendor shows and other events, advertise locally and on the internet, and buy a few more products and supplies. Most importantly, I can pay for minimal copyright and registration of my company and product idea. I could sustain myself, until I become profitable.
Ultimately, I want to open a local retail store. Once this store is successful, I want to open a chain of stores. I'm thinking franchising the business. Here's my idea. Imagine walking into a cosmetics store and seeing rows of colors. Every color you can imagine. All of these rows are labeled: eyeshadow, foundation, blush, concealer, mascara, lip balm, ECT. You take a tray. This tray has little tins. You get to walk through these rows and pick whatever color, texture, tone, shimmer, and container you want. There will be posters of colors you can mix to make any color under the rainbow. There will be consultants on-hand to help you pick and choose. Then, you sit down with a personal mixologist you consults and mixes you makeup on-the-spot.
more...
You can tell the consultant if you want power or pressed makeup. Maybe even both. Do you want shimmer or a matte look? What kind of coverage do you want for your foundation? Sheer, medium, or full-coverage? Maybe you want a little darker tone than last time because you are tanner from the summer sun. We can do that! Then, you watch your beautiful colors mix, we package them, you can even name the colors if you want. We give you a card that you swipe every time you come in. We save your color choices for the next time. Oh! You get a punch card: buy 5 and get one free!
more....
If you don't want to walk through rows of colors, our store will have plenty of ready-made eye shadows, blushes, foundations, and more! Did I mention that we will also have shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toner, bath products, and even laundry detergent? Yes! You can custom-make these too or just order what we have in stock. All of these products we be:
- All-natural
- Vegan
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Talc-free
- Icky chemical-free
- Affordable
Wanna have a makeup party? We will have rooms reserved for these parties! Perfect for bridal, baby showers, birthdays, graduation, and any other party. Everyone gets makeup, bath & beauty products, and gets to choose their colors, scents, and well...everything! I will also offer makeup consults for weddings, prom, events, anything you need makeup and beauty products for. Just imagine the fun!
This is my dream. My goals as a business owner. I want to share Love Me Recovery Mineral Makeup with everyone. Makeup is personal. I want to offer an infinite selection of colors. The spectrum is endless! Help me make this dream come true and donate to my fund raising campaign.
Click here to visit my current fund-raising campaign:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/start-up-funds-love-me-recovery-mineral-makeup/x/2750150
Love,
Jennifer
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Only 29 days left on my fundraising campaign! Donate and share!
Only 29 days left on my Indiegogo campaign! Please contribute and share! Thank you
http://igg.me/at/lovemerecoverymineralmakeup/x/2750150
I really need your help getting Love Me Recovery jump started. I need $1,000 for sales and marketing. I've divided my spending into several categories including:
Local $100: retail sales and marketing at 3 consignment shops
Web $300: I need a new website! Mine is templated. I need to start a Cafe Commerce.
Packaging $100: I need to streamline my packaging and buy in bulk to save money.
Labeling $90: I need labels for product with my logo and ingredients.
Display cases $100: They are $32.50 each and are for my local retail consignment shops
Banner $70: This is for vendor fairs
Business Cards: $240
I appreciate your support and I am offering great perks to contributors. Please visit my campaign sight above for all the details.
Love,
Jennifer
http://igg.me/at/lovemerecoverymineralmakeup/x/2750150
I really need your help getting Love Me Recovery jump started. I need $1,000 for sales and marketing. I've divided my spending into several categories including:
Local $100: retail sales and marketing at 3 consignment shops
Web $300: I need a new website! Mine is templated. I need to start a Cafe Commerce.
Packaging $100: I need to streamline my packaging and buy in bulk to save money.
Labeling $90: I need labels for product with my logo and ingredients.
Display cases $100: They are $32.50 each and are for my local retail consignment shops
Banner $70: This is for vendor fairs
Business Cards: $240
I appreciate your support and I am offering great perks to contributors. Please visit my campaign sight above for all the details.
Love,
Jennifer
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
My new mineral blushes and foundations!
I wanted to share pictures of my new makeup with you! I won't post everything here. Make sure to visit my website: www.lovemerecovery.com. I registered www.homemademineralmakeup.com today courtesy of Moon Fruit when I upgraded my website. I had to upgrade in order to add more products. Now, I can have 150 products listed and I only pay $20 a month for hosting and website development. Not too shabby. I'm dropping off blush and foundation to my local consignment store today. They are already selling my eyeshadow. It's a 75/25 split. Not too bad.
I start selling at the Monmouth Market tomorrow. I have everything ready-to-go! I'm just waiting for the rest of my lip balm stuff to make that. I'm starting out with two flavors: pineapple-banana and bubble gum. The lip balm is all-natural and awesome! I'm selling them for $2.50 each. I recently posted on my Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin that you can buy a eyeshadow, blush, and foundation off my website for less than $22.00! That is one awesome deal. Some mineral foundations cost over $20 on their own. My product is all-natural and homemade. You can still custom-order your colors for the same price. That is a deal. I hope sales increase soon.
On Friday, I start my Kickstart campaign. My fundraising campaign on Indiegogo hasn't made one cent. I am pretty disappointed. I'm trying to raise $1k. I need to jumpstart my marketing efforts. I have a streamlined plan including local and internet advertising that will be cost-effective and successful. I just need the start-up capital. I've investing well over $1k already into my business. I'm working hard to get noticed by my local boutique "Amanda's Closet." I know my makeup would sell there because her clothes and accessories really draw in the college women. These women have no way to get into town and buy makeup. My makeup is reasonably priced and great quality. I hope she contacts me soon!
So...here are my pics! Thank you for reading.
Love,
Jenny
I start selling at the Monmouth Market tomorrow. I have everything ready-to-go! I'm just waiting for the rest of my lip balm stuff to make that. I'm starting out with two flavors: pineapple-banana and bubble gum. The lip balm is all-natural and awesome! I'm selling them for $2.50 each. I recently posted on my Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin that you can buy a eyeshadow, blush, and foundation off my website for less than $22.00! That is one awesome deal. Some mineral foundations cost over $20 on their own. My product is all-natural and homemade. You can still custom-order your colors for the same price. That is a deal. I hope sales increase soon.
On Friday, I start my Kickstart campaign. My fundraising campaign on Indiegogo hasn't made one cent. I am pretty disappointed. I'm trying to raise $1k. I need to jumpstart my marketing efforts. I have a streamlined plan including local and internet advertising that will be cost-effective and successful. I just need the start-up capital. I've investing well over $1k already into my business. I'm working hard to get noticed by my local boutique "Amanda's Closet." I know my makeup would sell there because her clothes and accessories really draw in the college women. These women have no way to get into town and buy makeup. My makeup is reasonably priced and great quality. I hope she contacts me soon!
So...here are my pics! Thank you for reading.
Love,
Jenny
Sunday, April 14, 2013
26 new product items in less than one week!
I've been busy! I'm pleased to announce that Love Me Recovery Mineral Makeup finally has foundation and blush! I will have all the products posted in the next couple of days. My camera isn't working out. I need to rent a different one tomorrow. I was pretty peeved when I sat down to take my pictures and the camera wouldn't focus. I like to take them in natural light, outside. Our weather didn't permit that today. Gotta love Oregon! The variety of foundation and blush is excellent. I have 9 different color grinds for foundation and 14 for blush. I also made three color correctors in violet, green, and yellow. The makeup is flawless, weightless, and busting with color and silky texture. I also toyed around with some new eyeshadow colors this weekend for fun. I made a light peaches 'n' cream, apple pop, and rock star green. I can't wait to share the pics. I have so many pigments. I want to safe them for custom-colors. I have over 20 eyeshadow colors for sale, right now. I'm ready for market Wednesday and ready to bring more product to my local consignment store when sales are rolling in. I even had a customer come back for more after only two days. She loves my peaches 'n' cream eyeshadow.
I got my new x-large Tupperware container to organize all my supplies and paperwork. I spent all day categorizing, organizing, and planning. I finished off my makeup business frenzy with making rock star green eyeshadow. Now, I'm ready to make my lip balm once all of my supplies arrive. I'm making mango butter lip balm with two flavors: pineapple/banana and bubble gum. The line will get bigger as time goes on. I am starting with these two. I'm also working on a mascara. I don't want to give away any details. The idea is original and is meant to get rid of all the icky crap most cosmetics companies but into your mascara.
Even bigger news! I've been picked up by a group of University of Oregon journalist students for a Kickstart fundraising campaign! They are coming up from Eugene this Friday to interview me and others for our campaign video. Since my Ingiegogo isn't getting much attention, I hope this campaign flourishes! What an awesome opportunity. I don't think I've had a chance to mention that I totally messed up my labels Friday trying to print them myself. Now, I have to go spend big bucks at my local print shop to get them done. I was so sad when I didn't have labels Friday. I want them before market and before I pitch my local boutique store for retail sales. I am in desperate need of eyeshadow, blush, and foundation jars. I need at least $50 to get more before the Jane Austen Fair. I'm hoping to sell a lot my first day at market.
My website almost has 2000 views! I've only been in business since the beginning of March. That isn't too shabby. I'm still working on website assistance and photo shoot help. I just haven't moved much product yet. I've been running a 50% off eyeshadow sale for over a week and not a single web order! Maybe customers are waiting for more variety in product? Maybe I'm just some unknown mineral makeup company. I am going to get noticed soon. I will sale lots of makeup. I am sure of it. I just have to keep pushing, working hard, and never give up.
Love,
Jenny
I got my new x-large Tupperware container to organize all my supplies and paperwork. I spent all day categorizing, organizing, and planning. I finished off my makeup business frenzy with making rock star green eyeshadow. Now, I'm ready to make my lip balm once all of my supplies arrive. I'm making mango butter lip balm with two flavors: pineapple/banana and bubble gum. The line will get bigger as time goes on. I am starting with these two. I'm also working on a mascara. I don't want to give away any details. The idea is original and is meant to get rid of all the icky crap most cosmetics companies but into your mascara.
Even bigger news! I've been picked up by a group of University of Oregon journalist students for a Kickstart fundraising campaign! They are coming up from Eugene this Friday to interview me and others for our campaign video. Since my Ingiegogo isn't getting much attention, I hope this campaign flourishes! What an awesome opportunity. I don't think I've had a chance to mention that I totally messed up my labels Friday trying to print them myself. Now, I have to go spend big bucks at my local print shop to get them done. I was so sad when I didn't have labels Friday. I want them before market and before I pitch my local boutique store for retail sales. I am in desperate need of eyeshadow, blush, and foundation jars. I need at least $50 to get more before the Jane Austen Fair. I'm hoping to sell a lot my first day at market.
My website almost has 2000 views! I've only been in business since the beginning of March. That isn't too shabby. I'm still working on website assistance and photo shoot help. I just haven't moved much product yet. I've been running a 50% off eyeshadow sale for over a week and not a single web order! Maybe customers are waiting for more variety in product? Maybe I'm just some unknown mineral makeup company. I am going to get noticed soon. I will sale lots of makeup. I am sure of it. I just have to keep pushing, working hard, and never give up.
Love,
Jenny
Thursday, April 11, 2013
It's been awhile: New Product Development
I got my supplies on Tuesday and went to work creating 8 tones of foundation, 14 blushes, and three color correctors. Today, I set up a display of 60 eye-shadows at my local consignment shop. I have to say, I'm pretty proud of the set-up. I also took a trip down to our new local boutique and spoke with the owners mom and selling my makeup there. I got the owners information and plan on contacting her once I have labels and brochures ready. I am working on label design and really inpatient about it. My friend is helping me get my logo on the labels. The ingredient list and directions won't fit. I need a solution. Back to the drawing table!
Otherwise, I have so much work to do! I need to make samples of each foundation and blush. That will take some time. I am thinking about starting tonight. I just finished a lot of biology homework. I gave out an ivory foundation sample today to a neighbor. I want to see how others like the product. I made some fliers for the consignment shop and I want to take those and reproduce them for general public fliers. Also, a brochure is in order. My lip balm supplies should be here any day. Market starts Wednesday!
I hope to post pictures of foundation, color corrector, and blush by Sunday.
Love,
Jenny
Otherwise, I have so much work to do! I need to make samples of each foundation and blush. That will take some time. I am thinking about starting tonight. I just finished a lot of biology homework. I gave out an ivory foundation sample today to a neighbor. I want to see how others like the product. I made some fliers for the consignment shop and I want to take those and reproduce them for general public fliers. Also, a brochure is in order. My lip balm supplies should be here any day. Market starts Wednesday!
I hope to post pictures of foundation, color corrector, and blush by Sunday.
Love,
Jenny
Monday, April 8, 2013
There is nothing affordable about www.affordablemineralmakeup.com/
I began my industry/market research today using the resources I gathered from Jonathan Fields book "Career Renegade: How to make a great living doing what you love." He refers to several websites that aid in market research. Two of them are: popurls.com and addictomatic.com. I found addictomatic.com very useful. There is so much information I've only combed through two articles so far. I want to cover what I found. It's very insightful.
First, I read an article about spring and summer trends on Yahoo in regards to makeup colors. I focused on eyeshadow colors. I found out orange is coming back and coral, peach, baby blues, aquas, and light browns are really popular. So...I have a bunch of those pigments on the way! I plan in mixing up these colors for sale this week. It's very important to watch the trends and adjust your product accordingly. The most disturbing part of this article was my further research into Prada's eyeshadow line. OMG! They are so expensive. Their mineral eyeshadow runs $25 and it doesn't have anything special going on for it. It's just highly-pigmented. All mineral makeup isn't created equal. Many companies use more fillers to make the makeup less expensive. But even if you much mostly pigment and just a little tiny bit of filler, it doesn't cost that much. $25 is an insane price for eyeshadow. I'm sorry. INSANE!
Secondly, this next article baffled me. I read a blog about a mineral makeup company who distributes like Mary Kay and Avon through private representatives. I went ahead and followed the company's link from the blog. The company is named Affordable Mineral Makeup. At first, I was shocked by how low their prices were on foundation, blush, and eyeshadow. (Their pictures are awful) Then, I clicked on one of the product offerings and realized they were showing a cheap price for a little container of product. Basically at 5 gram jar of foundation for like $6.00. That is the size of a typical eyeshadow container. I proceeded to find the regular sized foundation (30g) and it was almost $30! That is not affordable. Period.
This excited me. Why? Because I make the same product and my price point is insanely better. My product quality is excellent and my website pictures are way better. If I can just get noticed, I have a chance to out-sell my competitors. Whether it be high-end Prada or Affordable Mineral Makeup. I just need the funding to market.
I was very excited when I received 100 web hits in only 24 hours from simply posting a Craiglist ad under health and beauty. I also make a contact who wants me to call her tomorrow about ordering makeup. This coming week is filled with manufacturing my new products and getting ready for market and Jane Austen. I will fill in the gaps with additional market research and fund raising promotion.
I just want to say thank you to everyone who reads this blog. I hope to eventually see some comments. I've had over 700 visitors and no comments! Please, also share my blog.
Thank you,
Jennifer
First, I read an article about spring and summer trends on Yahoo in regards to makeup colors. I focused on eyeshadow colors. I found out orange is coming back and coral, peach, baby blues, aquas, and light browns are really popular. So...I have a bunch of those pigments on the way! I plan in mixing up these colors for sale this week. It's very important to watch the trends and adjust your product accordingly. The most disturbing part of this article was my further research into Prada's eyeshadow line. OMG! They are so expensive. Their mineral eyeshadow runs $25 and it doesn't have anything special going on for it. It's just highly-pigmented. All mineral makeup isn't created equal. Many companies use more fillers to make the makeup less expensive. But even if you much mostly pigment and just a little tiny bit of filler, it doesn't cost that much. $25 is an insane price for eyeshadow. I'm sorry. INSANE!
Secondly, this next article baffled me. I read a blog about a mineral makeup company who distributes like Mary Kay and Avon through private representatives. I went ahead and followed the company's link from the blog. The company is named Affordable Mineral Makeup. At first, I was shocked by how low their prices were on foundation, blush, and eyeshadow. (Their pictures are awful) Then, I clicked on one of the product offerings and realized they were showing a cheap price for a little container of product. Basically at 5 gram jar of foundation for like $6.00. That is the size of a typical eyeshadow container. I proceeded to find the regular sized foundation (30g) and it was almost $30! That is not affordable. Period.
This excited me. Why? Because I make the same product and my price point is insanely better. My product quality is excellent and my website pictures are way better. If I can just get noticed, I have a chance to out-sell my competitors. Whether it be high-end Prada or Affordable Mineral Makeup. I just need the funding to market.
I was very excited when I received 100 web hits in only 24 hours from simply posting a Craiglist ad under health and beauty. I also make a contact who wants me to call her tomorrow about ordering makeup. This coming week is filled with manufacturing my new products and getting ready for market and Jane Austen. I will fill in the gaps with additional market research and fund raising promotion.
I just want to say thank you to everyone who reads this blog. I hope to eventually see some comments. I've had over 700 visitors and no comments! Please, also share my blog.
Thank you,
Jennifer
Sunday, April 7, 2013
May 4 Jane Austen Faire at the Ike Box
Jane Austen Faire
Saturday, May 4th 12pm-4pm
Vintage Chick Designs
Event coordinator
www.VintageChickDesigns.etsy.com
A Baronet's Daughter Designs
www.abaronetsdaughter.blogspot.com
Aria Couture
www.ariacouture.com
Brenna Reyes
www.brennisa.scentsy.us
Butterfly Garden Creations
www.BGardenCreations.etsy.com
CoCo & Lily
Aunt Bee’s House /
Mission Mill
Crazy Aunt Dawn Zany Creations
www.CrazyAuntDawn.etsy.com
Creative Call
www.CreativeCall.etsy.com
Dynisio
www.dynisio.etsy.com
Emma Rose
Aunt Bee’s House
Every Whim Designs Bridal Boutique
By: Carrianne Rhodes & Emily Brittsan
Letters Suite
www.LetterSuite.etsy.com
Little Laura Stitches
www.LittleLauraStitches.com
Love Me Recovery Cosmetics
www.LoveMeRecovery.com
Mata Hari Jewelry
www.MataHariJewelry.etsy.com
Mazie & Hazel
www.MazieAndHazel.etsy.com
Nameun House
,artist
Phytotherapy
www.Phytotherapy.etsy.com
Rebecca Mabon
, designer
Stella Arbor Boutique
www.StellaArborBoutique.etsy.com
Two Birds Creations
www.TwoBirdsCreations.wordpress.com
Urth Tones
www.UrthTones.etsy.com
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IKE Box Café
299 Cottage St. N.E. Salem 97301
50% off all mineral eyeshadow! Only $1.99-$3.99 Shop Now!
I am running a 50% off sale on all mineral eyeshadow to raise funds for my upcoming vendor booth and photo shoot. Please share and buy eyeshadow!
Thank you
www.lovemerecovery.com
Thank you
www.lovemerecovery.com
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Makeup Survey - Please take a moment to fill out this quick survey! Thank you
I've developed a simple, yet effective survey to gather some industry information. Please fill it out and share with everyone!
Thank you
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y9Q36GS
Thank you
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y9Q36GS
Video Blog for Fundraising and pictures of my new logo!
A lot has happened in the past few days. I started toying around with sugar scrubs and tested them out today. I used my oatmeal exfoliant and was extremely impressed at how much it moisturized my skin. I used olive oil because of the wonderful antioxidant properties, vitamin A, and neutral moisturizer it provides. I handed out a bunch of samples and hope to hear good things. Tonight, I ordered a bunch of stuff to make all-natural lip balm. I choose some yummy flavors. Finally, I recorded my first fundraising video. One of my major goals is to get my fundraising campaign off the ground. I only have 40 some days left and haven't raised one penny. Please watch the video and share the campaign with everyone you know!
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/start-up-funds-love-me-recovery-mineral-makeup/x/2750150
In other news, my makeup supplies will be here early next week. I have a lot of work ahead of me. I will be making: foundation, blush, concealer, color correctors, sugar scrub cubes, and lip balm over the next few weeks. I am looking for a couple volunteers to help me. I start my market next Wednesday. Oh! My log is finished. I love it! I only said $50 and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Now, I am working on getting my labels done for my jars. Here is the logo design:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/start-up-funds-love-me-recovery-mineral-makeup/x/2750150
In other news, my makeup supplies will be here early next week. I have a lot of work ahead of me. I will be making: foundation, blush, concealer, color correctors, sugar scrub cubes, and lip balm over the next few weeks. I am looking for a couple volunteers to help me. I start my market next Wednesday. Oh! My log is finished. I love it! I only said $50 and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Now, I am working on getting my labels done for my jars. Here is the logo design:
I plan on using the black one. I just like it. I'm thinking about using the white one for banners and advertising. The designer, Rebekah Komp, was inspired by a beta fish. I just wanted something resembling a peacock design and the heart pupil was very important. Her vision and my vision perfectly messed. The heart pupil represent our internal beauty, how we see ourselves.
This blog will be short. I start biology tomorrow and have to get up early to do homework. Please share this blog and I hope you'll consider donating to my start up campaign.
Love,
Jenny
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The right light, the true color
I'm enjoying my camera rental from the college resource center. My website pictures just don't represent my products. My eyeshadow colors are vibrant and bold. Some are elegant and light. I hope these photos I took today help to illustrate their true colors. I've worked so hard to develop my eye shadows, blush, and foundations. I'll post the photos here. My mind is overwhelmed with the tasks I have to accomplish within the next 2-6 weeks. I have numerous appointments, homework, business related tasks, family commitments, and household chores. I've been experiencing a good amount of insomnia lately. My seasonal depression is worsening.
We are barbequing for the third day in a row. Oregon weather has been awesome! My boyfriend and I are enjoying Kevin Bacon's new show called "The Followers." If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend doing so. I serial killer influenced by the literary works of Edgar Allen Poe.
I cannot wait for my supplies to arrive in the mail. Now that I have 17 eyeshadow colors, I can start formulating my blushes, foundation, concealer, and color correctors. I have my photo shoot coming up in less than two weeks. My logo should be ready any day and I can start creating my product labels. I plan to start the farmers market next week and the Jane Austen Fair is in May.
This is just a quick blog. I have a lot to accomplish. Thank you everyone for reading! Please comment. I want to know why you read my blog and anything else you want to say.
Love,
Jennifer
We are barbequing for the third day in a row. Oregon weather has been awesome! My boyfriend and I are enjoying Kevin Bacon's new show called "The Followers." If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend doing so. I serial killer influenced by the literary works of Edgar Allen Poe.
I cannot wait for my supplies to arrive in the mail. Now that I have 17 eyeshadow colors, I can start formulating my blushes, foundation, concealer, and color correctors. I have my photo shoot coming up in less than two weeks. My logo should be ready any day and I can start creating my product labels. I plan to start the farmers market next week and the Jane Austen Fair is in May.
This is just a quick blog. I have a lot to accomplish. Thank you everyone for reading! Please comment. I want to know why you read my blog and anything else you want to say.
Love,
Jennifer
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