Final February, I used to be having a “make-up lesson” at an exquisite cosmetics retailer in Salem, Massachusetts. The make-up artist (and retailer supervisor) naturally struck up a dialog by asking me what I did for a living.
I defined that I labored with companies in historic communities to include historical past into their branding and advertising, and I additionally revealed that I used to be placing collectively a program for Nationwide Ladies’s Historical past Month — which takes place each month in March. “I’m a business owner and historian,” I continued.
“That’s really attention-grabbing,” she mentioned “but I don’t see how history may work here.”
I immediately swung into action. “What are you aware in regards to the history of ladies’s cosmetics?” I asked her. In spite of everything, girls have been utilizing varied potions and substances since historical instances – a few of which we’re rediscovering in the present day, like mineral-primarily based products.
Make-up itself and requirements of magnificence have modified dramatically over the centuries as we see in portraits and, extra not too long ago, in photographs. Throughout the twentieth century alone, take into consideration make-up kinds within the flapper period, within the silent and discuss motion pictures of the Thirties and Forties, within the “home goddess” look of the Fifties, and the novel departures of the Nineteen Sixties and 1970s. All of this history is fun to review, to question the which means of, and to take a look at visually.
As it turned out, my new good friend the make-up artist had a personal passion in regards to the historical past of ladies’s cosmetics. Excellent! I then made the next suggestions.
For the Girls’s Historical past Month program I used to be creating, I supplied to let her give a chat on ladies’s cosmetics in eighteenth century America. Our theme was ladies retailers in eighteenth-century Salem, so her speak would fit right in. Her speak, business, and website would all be featured in advertising materials and social media communications.
On the day of her discuss, which might happen at a preferred Salem operate corridor, I steered she may have a desk with data, samples, members of her workers, etc. She additionally had 10% off postcards to present out to new customers.
She was thrilled! These small actions would put her in entrance of recent audiences AND give her the stature that comes from talking knowledgeably about her industry’s history. She would also gain credibility as an active corporate citizen, which, in her case, as a new business in town, would do wonders.
I urged she might additionally write articles on the topic, publish a small e book or E book, do an area cable present with a brief chat about make-up then and now and give live demonstrations, and the list goes on. Again, all of these actions would really set her aside from other make-up artists in a manner that residents of a very historical region would notice.
These ideas could also apply to skin care companies, hair salons, women’s clothes and accent shops, jewellery boutiques – you title it!
What about well being and wellness companies?
Who else could benefit from this approach? Health clubs, spas, massage centers, and health care practices; chiropractors, acupuncturists, physical coaches, nutritionists, and other solo practitioners. Again, it’s a long list.
Not only have requirements of magnificence modified over time, so have requirements for girls’s health, strength, and overall wellness. We now have come a long way from the days of corsets, “women’s troubles” that had been “evil” and by no means mentioned, stress and anxiousness that girls had been told existed only in our minds, and putting everyone else’s well being first to the detriment of our own.
Right now, we know so much more about nutrition, the benefits of exercise, non-Western remedies, the effects of stress, how connected our self-esteem is to our well being and look, and that if we girls deal with ourselves first we will more easily take care of others. Sometimes it’s helpful to take a look at how far we’ve come, and to rejoice where we are by renewing our commitment to beauty, health, and wellness – our own, and our clients’.
More concepts to implement
Ladies’s History Month offers an annual opportunity to promote your beauty, health, or wellness business to women. Find out if your local historical society or museum is celebrating March. In the event that they haven’t any plans, supply to work with them to develop a program that is a win for you and a win for them. You may think about collaborating with other woman-focused businesses in your group for a bigger or multi-week event.
Past March, take into consideration methods by which you can insert your historical knowledge of your subject into your historic society or museum’s lecture collection or publication, publish your story in your native newspaper and on your website, create a fun “Did you know?” handout in your topic then and now. The chances are limitless!
That is an uncommon advertising and marketing strategy for magnificence, well being, and wellness companies, however individuals who reside in historic communities actually are inquisitive about historical past and they’re going to recognize your individual interest.
I really consider that adopting some of these methods will position you and your enterprise a minimize above the remainder!
Bonnie Hurd Smith is the President and CEO of Historical past Smiths, a advertising and marketing company that works with businesses in historical communities to include historical past into their branding and advertising – their very own history, and their neighborhood’s. Bonnie can be a cultural tourism professional, revered historian, and author.
This post is written by Manuel Hayes 3. Discover more bh cosmetics coupon code.