Dollar Shave Club Sells for $1B

What makes Dollar Shave Club so profitable and valuable enough for Unilever to want it?

People like subscriptions. No one wants to run out of certain products, like razors or toilet paper. Amazon has offered subscription service on consumables for years. Busy customers like knowing that certain products will be on hand without having to remember to pick them up at their local store. Cosmetics fans look forward to finding out what will arrive in subscriptions like Beauty Box. Even kids and dogs get in on the fun with Little Passports and Bark Box!

Discounts are powerful. Dollar Shave Club offers a great deal on both razors and other products like shaving creams and lotions. Other subscriptions also offer discounts and will point out how much more your items would cost if purchased separately. By “locking in” to a subscription, consumers get better, “bulk” pricing, and the business gets solid, recurring revenue.

So how can your business get in on subscription services? Look at your product line. Are there items that people need or want to buy regularly, like personal care products? Cosmetics and beauty stores would make strong contenders in this space! 

And what about hair and nail salons, or spas, that offer mostly services versus physical products? You can still offer regular customers discounts for scheduling monthly or quarterly appointments in advance. Or, for every appointment you can offer a certain percentage in discounts (4 appointments per year gets you 10% off while 12 appointments per year gets your 25% off!). You can also start a preferred customer club that offers previews and special access to new products before they are available to the rest of your customers.

Whether you are running a salon or spa, or a brick-and-mortar or online cosmetics business, you need branded packaging that conveys the importance and elegance of your products and services. We want to help you develop that brand and get your products into your customers' hands. Contact us to find out how.

How Are You Promoting Your Brand?

Branding is intended to generate a response. The feelings and thoughts that the consumer connects with a brand's image will ultimately influence that brand's ability to prosper. It is vital that people associate the right things with your business. What follows are four of the most important things that you can do to bolster your store or brand's image and reputation.

1.) Customer service. Customer service is one thing that will never go out of style. Most retailers make commitments, but not all follow through. In an effort to make sure that your customers have the type of experiences that will promote loyalty, make the most of each opportunity to provide the best in customer service.

2.) Utilize your online presence. The web allows for unparalleled marketing potential. Social media is a place where you can showcase your promotions and products, and you can connect with customers and respond to their feedback. Don't waste the opportunity afforded.

3.) The drive behind the brand. It's important to determine what the driving force of your brand is. What is your goal? Your purpose? Your mission? Customers are experts at understanding whether or not a company has like-minded priorities and intentions.

4.) Be smart about brand placement. How does one do that? It's straightforward: the more your brand in seen, the more people will recognize it and will feel comfortable with it. That means committing to consistent visual elements that will bring to mind your company's strengths. 


We can help you create and accentuate your brand in a way that highlights your company every time the customer sees it. Contact us today so that you can begin utilizing our vast array of package branding options.

Craft Cosmetics Packaging Trends

According to an industry analysis conducted by Grand View Research, the craft cosmetics industry is on pace to become a $16 billion industry by 2020.  This trend represents an opportunity for small retailers to capitalize on the hot concept of "seasonal and local" when sourcing products for both brick-and-mortar and online specialty sales. To better understand the opportunity at hand, let's take a closer look at some of the forces shaping this trend.

• Organic and local: Green is queen in the world of women's marketing, especially in the health and beauty sector. According to WomensMarketing.com, research shows that 54% of women prefer organic skin products and plan to purchase them in the future.  Greater awareness of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals commonly used in the production of such products leads to an "if you can't eat it, don't wear it" mentality. In addition, the reliance of mass-produced cosmetics on petroleum by-products flies in the face of efforts to reduce production of fossil fuels.   
• Cultural marketing: Local craft make-up brands capitalize on another current market force, popular specifically among millennials: cultural marketing.  In the past, cosmetic branding downplayed cultural and ethnic differences and promoted a more generic beauty ideal.  Now, new brands emphasize and value differences between Caucasian, Latino, African-American, Asian and blended-ethnicity customers.
• Indie brands: With the rise of social media as a marketing platform, indie brands offer the unique points-of-view and intriguing brand "voices" that motivate today's women.  The hottest brands tell a story and create a sense of community through their philosophy, their marketing strategy, and even their ingredients.

An enormous opportunity exists for retailers who can leverage the trend of craft cosmetics in innovative ways.  One simple strategy, the packaging of cosmetics according to themes that resonate with a "seasonal and local" ethos, can be used to showcase the unique selling points of products in both brick-and-mortar and online settings. Reusable packaging, including tree-free, linen pouches, and zippered vinyl make-up bags, conveys an overall philosophy of sustainability while allowing for customization in merchandising (think a mix-and-match of products along seasonal, local and/or cultural lines).  


Contact us to learn more about how we can help you find the perfect packaging for your cosmetic items.