Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bessie Ktistakis on January 26, 2012 at 4:59pm

Hi Erica

I am also an independent esty and I recently started carrying Glotherapeutics.  I LOVE their products both retail and back bar.  The great thing about them is that they have no minimums and they offer a few great start up packages.  I was on a tight budget so I started with the basics and then built it up from there.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck! :)

Permalink Reply by Tamara Townsend on January 26, 2012 at 5:35pm

You should try to use a company that doesn't require minimum orders, or if they do, the initial opening order isn't too high and then after that no minimums.  I've had great customer service with Ilike Organic Skin Care, their opening order was $1500, than none after that.  I have not had even one product return with them from one of my clients and I've been using it since September.  Also, I believe that SKin Fitness, Osmosis and a few others also do not have minimum orders.  Than just carry what you know you need and what you know you sell. 

Permalink Reply by Brenda Griffin on January 26, 2012 at 7:13pm

It's always best to have products on hand because people, especially women, are impulse buyers.  However, when you are first starting out you can always share how great the products are and tell the client that because everyone's skin is different you do not carry everything and that you order it especially for them.  They can pay you up front and you contact them when it arrives.  It's hard when you are a solo to keep everything in stock as the overhead can be daunting.  Bessie and Tamara had good comments too.  Look for a company with no minimum order or a low minimum order.  Also inquire about setting up an account.  You don't know until you ask.  I now order whatever I want and am billed in 30 days.  This might not be available to you until you have some history with the company.  Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Casandra Ocampo on January 26, 2012 at 7:33pm

Hi Erica,

I just opened my own treatment room a month ago and I decided to go with Skin Script because they have a great variety of enzymes and peels that you can combine and be more creative customizing your services, the retail is affordable so is very easy to sell it and for every retail product that you buy they send you a trial size of the same product free (I have found this very convenient because I can give my clients a sample after their facials and most of them have come back to buy the retail size). Though there are a couple of products that I don’t like at all, so far I’m more than happy with most of them. They have no minimum order and shipping is only five dollars. Almost every month they have a webinar for back bar and retail products that is very informative. I have call them a couple times to inquire about which treatments I should do (I’m still learning) and they were very helpful, even they email me just to see how their recommendations worked for me!

I hope this can help you, I know how overwhelm can be going on your own.

BTW  Spanish is my first language, so I apologize for the grammar mistakes.

Permalink Reply by Christine Byer Esthetics on January 26, 2012 at 7:53pm

I've been doing this for 13 years. So when I went back on my own (the second time, after moving from my old clientele -ouch - in another state) I knew I didn't want to make the same old mistake of putting a huge opening order on my credit card. After going to a seminar, I chose Image Skincare because they have some clever products and (most importantly) no minimum order! I brought the line in $200 or $300 chunks. Every time clients came they saw more and more products. I just told them I was liking the line more and more so I was investing in it. That said, they make you pay for samples unless you order over $500, which I don't always, so it sucks.

There are so many companies out there offering no minimums. Le Mieux, skin script, Image, Ilike (which, by the way, is way expensive and you better sell it fast as it is all organic and made in small batches) and the list goes on and on. And thank heavens! It's about time it was easier for the solo esthy to make it on her own!!!

I'm so glad you are asking this question here and doing your research. Whatever line you carry, learn it like the back of your hand because you will be selling alot of it!

Permalink Reply by J.L. on January 27, 2012 at 8:06am

Hi Erica, as far as how many of a single item to carry: I first started off carrying a small number of products (cleansers, moisturizers, my favorite serums) in 2's. Then, as I grew, I moved to having at least 3 of an item in stock. I found that was a good way to have items on the shelf, but also money in my wallet.

Permalink Reply by jackie mozingo on January 29, 2012 at 1:55pm

Find a line you like that has no minimum orders. Try out the samples. See which ones you like best that fit with your current clients skin.  If you don't know what your clients use for skincare tell them your looking into a new line. Get their excitement up. Ask them what they like or don't like about their current line and educate them on which products you think would work for them. Even if you haven't purchased the line yet tell them you are in the process of getting it. Then bring in 2 items of the products you know you could sell them. I brought in Image with a huge up front order  without knowing if I could sell this line or not. Some items I love and some I don't.  But I do know if I didn't have the products in stock they would loose their excitement and not buy them the next time they came in. So hope that helps.

Permalink Reply by Ann Prendergast on January 30, 2012 at 6:33am

one word...KITS!!! Retailing trial or travel size options is a great way to introduce clients to products, easy on your budget (plus you can really fill up your shelves!) Some companies don't offer actual "kits" but if they offer travel sizes you can customize them yourself :)

Permalink Reply by Erica Estrada on January 30, 2012 at 9:48pm

I'm so glad you mentioned this because I had thought about it before. I think I'm going to try this out. It's just really hard for me to have a lot of full size retail products on the shelves right now since my business is in the growing stages and very hit and miss with product sales. Thanks for the tip!

Permalink Reply by Deirdre J. Boath on January 30, 2012 at 4:56pm

Hi Erica. I use Uspa Skincare. It is carried at a local Beauty Supply but manufactured in Australia. It is amazing product and I love it. No minimum order either. The big bonus for me, was that I did not carry retail in the beginning. I did individual orders and either delivered them or shipped them if needed. This allowed me to grow slowly and start purchasing more as I could afford. Now I have just the right amount and can stock up locally anytime I need :) Hope this helps!

Permalink Reply by Erica Estrada on January 30, 2012 at 9:44pm

Thank you everyone for your responses.