Last February, I was having a “make-up lesson” at a beautiful cosmetics store in Salem, Massachusetts. The make-up artist (and store manager) naturally struck up a conversation by asking me what I did for a living.
I explained that I worked with businesses in historical communities to incorporate history 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 enterprise proprietor and historian,” I continued.
“That is actually fascinating,” she stated “however I do not see how historical past might work here.”
I instantly swung into action. “What have you learnt concerning the historical past of girls’s cosmetics?” I asked her. In spite of everything, girls have been using varied potions and substances since historical instances – some of which we are rediscovering in the present day, like mineral-primarily based products.
Make-up itself and standards of beauty have changed dramatically over the centuries as we see in portraits and, more 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 1950s, and the radical departures of the 1960s and 1970s. All of this history is fun to study, to question the meaning of, and to look at visually.
As it turned out, my new friend the make-up artist had a personal passion about the history of women’s cosmetics. Perfect! I then made the following suggestions.
For the Women’s History Month program I was creating, I offered to let her give a talk on women’s cosmetics in eighteenth century America. Our theme was women retailers in eighteenth-century Salem, so her talk would fit right in. Her talk, enterprise, and web site would all be featured in advertising supplies and social media communications.
On the day of her speak, which might happen at a well-liked Salem perform hall, I suggested she could have a table with information, samples, members of her staff, etc. She also had 10% off postcards to give out to new customers.
She was thrilled! These small actions would put her in front of new audiences AND give her the stature that comes from speaking knowledgeably about her trade’s history. She would also acquire credibility as an energetic corporate citizen, which, in her case, as a new business in town, would do wonders.
I suggested she could also write articles on the subject, publish a small book or Ebook, do a local cable show with a quick chat about make-up then and now and give stay demonstrations, and the listing goes on. Again, all of these actions would really set her apart from other make-up artists in a way that residents of a very historical region would notice.
These ideas could also apply to skin care companies, hair salons, women’s clothing and accessory shops, jewellery boutiques – you title it!
What about well being and wellness companies?
Who else may gain advantage from this method? 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 standards of beauty changed over time, so have standards for women’s fitness, power, and general wellness. We’ve come a good distance from the times of corsets, “ladies’s troubles” that were “evil” and never discussed, stress and anxiety that women were informed existed solely in our minds, and placing everybody else’s properly being first to the detriment of our own.
Right now, we know so much more about nutrition, the benefits of train, non-Western cures, the consequences of stress, how related our vanity is to our health and appearance, and that if we women take care of ourselves first we can more easily care for others. Typically it’s helpful to have a look at how far we have come, and to have fun the place we’re by renewing our commitment to beauty, health, and wellness – our own, and our clients’.
Extra ideas to implement
Girls’s Historical past Month gives an annual opportunity to promote your beauty, health, or wellness business to women. Discover out in case your native historic society or museum is celebrating March. In the event that they have no plans, offer to work with them to develop a program that’s a win for you and a win for them. You might contemplate collaborating with different lady-targeted companies in your neighborhood for a larger or multi-week event.
Beyond March, think about methods during which you may insert your historic information of your discipline into your historic society or museum’s lecture sequence or publication, publish your story in your native newspaper and in your web site, create a enjoyable “Do you know?” handout in your topic then and now. The probabilities are infinite!
This is an unusual advertising strategy for magnificence, well being, and wellness companies, however individuals who dwell in historical communities really are all for historical past and they’re going to recognize your individual interest.
I really imagine that adopting a few of these strategies will place 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 firm that works with companies in historic communities to include historical past into their branding and advertising – their own history, and their neighborhood’s. Bonnie can be a cultural tourism skilled, revered historian, and author.
This post is written by Manuel Hayes 3. Discover more bh cosmetics coupon code.