It's easier than ever to sell beauty products at home. The beauty and cosmetics market in the United States will not disappear. In 2016, it was worth $60 billion, and this year it will reach $90 billion. Why don't you get a piece of the profits?
Before you start selling cosmetics online, it is important to know who your sales target is, so that you can provide personalized experience for your buyers. Here are some points to consider:
Due to COVID-19, more and more people are shopping online, and many of them may prefer to buy cosmetics in person before the pandemic. It includes many detailed descriptions and high-resolution product photos to provide as much information as possible about each product, so that people will not feel that they have missed the opportunity to test in person before purchasing.
Put your makeup photos on multiple models, so that people can see what different colors of makeup look like on them.
Include customer reviews to make your cosmetics brand more trustworthy - 95% of shoppers read reviews before buying! If you are using the website builder, you can collect comments through the comment area or forum on your page. Don't be afraid to use incentives, such as sweepstakes or free samples, to encourage customers to take the time to leave comments.
The beauty industry is already very large, and the US market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 3.5%. Although this means that you have a huge potential audience, it also means that you must find a way to stand out from those who sell beauty products online.
To differentiate yourself, don't try to attract every consumer - if you spread your net too wide, your product won't resonate with anyone. Instead, you can narrow your target audience by asking yourself two questions:
What makes your product different?
Who will be attracted by the unique selling point (USP)?
Your USP can be a simple low-cost or non-traditional color, or a complex sunburn reversible moisturizer (please let us know if you think of it). Anything that clearly and boldly makes your product stand out from the competition is the goal you should pursue.
There are two main options for finding manufacturers. The first option is to cooperate with manufacturers to produce their own unique products. This means that research cosmetics manufacturers - whether local or foreign - will work with you to create an original product line. This is a good choice, because you can still get brand benefits by marking your product as "original". You can even find a suitable manufacturer in your area, which will make it easier for you to monitor the creation process. Look at this list of American cosmetics manufacturers to see if there is a good supplier that is also local to you.
The second option is a white label, or use a generic product that the manufacturer allows you to rename under your own label. In the case of cosmetics, this usually means a slight change in color/fragrance, etc. A beauty product, then sell it under your own brand. The white label is very convenient, because you only need to click a button to get ready-made products, and then you can sell them through your own brand. Of course, the disadvantage of white label is that it is difficult to establish credibility, because you cannot claim that your product is unique.
If you decide to adopt this model, you need to conduct a thorough investigation of your suppliers. When considering potential white label manufacturers, please keep the following questions in mind:
Are there any unnecessary ingredients in your product? For example, if you want to sell organic or vegetarian cosmetics, make sure your suppliers can meet these requirements. Similarly, you also need to know what preservatives suppliers use to keep their products fresh.
Is the supplier approved in your country? For businesses headquartered in the United States, you need to ensure that your suppliers comply with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). Unlike drugs, cosmetics do not need to be approved by FDA before marketing, but FDA will still conduct inspections and formulate regulations to ensure that "adulterated and counterfeit" products are removed from the market.
Is there a minimum order? Make sure your supplier doesn't ask for more from the beginning than you are prepared to promise. As your business matures and you gain more customers, your inventory orders will grow. But when you first start selling cosmetics online, it's best to save money and resources where you can save - including inventory!
