Holiday Pop-up Store - Chemists Corner

Starting a cosmetic line

Holiday Pop-up Store

Posted by Hilola on July 29, 2015 at 5:48 pm

Good Day to All,

Well, I have be given an opportunity to open a small pop-up store for the coming holidays and natural skincare products would do very well. I have been interested in getting involved in skincare for some time and I think this platform would be a great temporary reference point. Eventually, I would like five stellar products (very difficult to pull off everything to everyone) with a private label while I focus on marketing.

Since the holidays are close is it too late to start? I would like to offer small natural go-to products like soaps, hand lotions, bath scrubs and Korean facial sheet mask - in NY the masks are really gaining traction and they will definitely sale.

As for the space, it’s 200 sq. ft., located at the main entrance which has intense foot traffic. I can start late October or early November until first week in the New Year. Any advice or suggestions you may have would be helpful.

Thanks for you time,

Hilola

cherri replied 9 years, 1 month ago 5 Members · 8 Replies
8 Replies

belassi

Member
July 29, 2015 at 6:11 pm

Those Korean masks were a complete bomb in my market. We ended up giving them away.
Hilola

Member
July 29, 2015 at 6:37 pm

Thanks for your response.

The few stores that carry them by me, seem to be doing very well.
Microformulation

Member
July 29, 2015 at 7:06 pm

You would be hard pressed to develop, test, and package an effective and safe product before the Holidays.
Hilola

Member
July 29, 2015 at 7:23 pm

Thanks for your response.

This is true, which is why I would probably go the private label route, then consider approaching a company to discuss formulations I would like to develop eventually.
Bobzchemist

Member
July 29, 2015 at 7:38 pm

I think Private Label will be your only choice.

First, you need to figure out finances, projected sales, and number of products (SKU’s).

I strongly doubt that you’ll be in a position to have time to re-order/re-stock, so you’re going to have to be able to finance the entire inventory amount yourself. Unless you or your company has stellar credit, most if not all private label manufacturers will require payment up-front for everything.

Good Luck!
Hilola

Member
July 30, 2015 at 2:24 pm

Thank you for the advice.

Finances are there for a temp pop-up store. Holiday sales seem to do very well in this space. The foot traffic is amazing. I am on the fence on sku’s.

As for reorder, since it’s only 8-10 weeks I would prefer not to have much inventory left. After the holidays, review my marketing, shave down my sku’s to the prime sellers, and build from there.

Another question, beside one’s natural instincts, any telltale signs when dealing with a private label that will let me know this may not be a good match?
Bobzchemist

Member
July 30, 2015 at 6:19 pm

Determine your quantities needed and start looking around. Don’t trust a private label manufacturer who won’t let you tour his facility.
cherri

Member
August 3, 2015 at 6:22 pm

recently I heard coconut mask and hydrogel mask are popular… they are not like masks you find in the store little expensive but has good marketing story — NATURAL