The beauty industry is an incredibly profitable one to get into and eyelash treatments and false eyelashes are becoming more and more popular. Still, as with any business, starting a lash brand is still a big challenge to take on. There are significant financial risks and there’s a lot of work required to develop your own brand and own your business. You’ll need to be clear about what sets you apart from the competition, know your market, and create a brand and a product that draws in consumers. If you have a dream, a business plan, and the funds to invest, you can create your own eyelash empire. Let’s go over five simple tips for getting your lash brand started.
Develop your brand.
Why should customers buy your products instead of your competitors? Your brand needs to communicate clearly what your business is and what your customers can expect. Think about your target demographic and your ideal customer and try to build an image that appeals to them. Your brand is the identity of your business and it’s important that you show exactly who you are. One of the most important things for a brand is your visual identity, so make sure you’re investing in graphic design and product photography that fits. You can use a service like ibi the smart photo manager to get personal cloud storage for your digital designs.
Understand the market.
Depending on whether you’re selling in a brick and mortar store, online, or both, the demographics of your customers will be different. You need to research who is buying the types of products you’re selling and find ways to market your lashes that will reach those customers. Identify influencers and bloggers who have reach in the online beauty world and offer free eyelashes for them to try if they’ll review or share your product. There are plenty of opportunities online to find unique ways to communicate with your audience.
Find a reliable vendor.
Obviously the actual product itself is of paramount importance and finding a vendor you trust is essential. You want a high-quality product but you also want someone who will get your products shipped to you on time and at a reasonable cost. Understand exactly what your profit margins will be and invest accordingly. Some vendors can also provide logo and packaging assistance, so make sure you have a way to handle those needs if your vendor won’t be.
Research your competition.
You need to know who the leaders in your industry are. Don’t just look at local shops, look online. Search the names of the products you’ll be selling and see which websites and stores are at the top of the search engine rankings. If you want to become a leader in the business, you’ll want to make sure that your website shows up as high as possible. Look into hiring someone to help your business with search engine optimization if you’re having difficulty gaining visibility online.
Create an online store.
An online store is all but a requirement for a business today. If you have a brick & mortar store, you might think you don’t need to sell online, but there are plenty of advantages to doing so. Your website also doesn’t have to solely be a shop, you can help your customers learn more about your products. With lashes, not everyone understands how to use them already. Having things like videos about applying magnetic lashes, tutorials on various lash types, and makeup guides, you can engage your customers and potentially get them interested in additional products.
Eyelashes are a growing market with plenty of opportunities available for a savvy entrepreneur and the beauty industry has always been profitable. With so much competition and the capital required to get started, it can ultimately still seem daunting to start your own business. Creating your own brand involves differentiating yourself from your competition, understanding your market, and making sure your product is visible in the online space, in addition to the specific challenges of finding a vendor. With enough money to invest, thorough market research, and a unique look, it’s possible for anyone to start their own lash brand.
