NYX Sale Fail, Revised.

I'm forced to revise my initial opinion of NYX's Anniversary Sale fiasco. While I still maintain that it was simply a freak accident without an easy fix, a business has to do whatever it takes to keep their customers happy. While it's impossible to buy additional server space to fix the website bandwidth in time before the sale ends, there are other routes they could have taken to assuage their customers. At first, I couldn't help but to err on the side of empathy because all I could think was "What if that happened to me?" But keeping in that same mindset, I couldn't help but to think about what I would to do keep my customers.

When they initially agreed to extend the sale, I thought that seemed pretty fair. But now there's one hour left in the extended sale, and the website has still not been fixed, rendering the extension useless. Now they say they're giving a 50% coupon code, which is better than nothing, but it certainly doesn't compare to the original sale they offered ($1.20 for all cosmetic items).

After the onslaught of demands that they end the sale and reintroduce it once the bandwidth issue has been resolved, I'm certain that's what I would have done for my business. I would have been tempted to keep the sale going, because even though there is only a small percentage of customers that are able to complete orders, that percentage works out to be enough people to cause many items to sell out. However, continuing the sale and reintroducing it later gives an unfair advantage to those who have already made a purchase as it would give them a second opportunity to take advantage of the sale. This probably isn't something that would cross my mind if it hadn't been for the barrage of Facebook comments describing how unfair it is that only a select few have the sale available to them, and finally others have gotten through after waiting 7, 12, 20 hours or more, only to find that most of the products have already been sold out.

Secondly, if I were them, I'd have to take extreme precaution in reintroducing the sale. I honestly can't imagine how much server space they'd need to get their hands on to accommodate over 55,000 Facebook fans alone. I think I'd have to find a way to split up the sale so that there aren't so many people trying to log on all at the same time. I might even go so far as to offering the sale 10 more times, making it available to residents of 5 states at a time.

For example, I could offer the sale to residents of Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida on June 1st for 12 hours, using discount code TNSGF120. Then take a couple of days to restock sold out products and offer the sale to residents of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Deleware, and Pennsylvania on June 5th for 12 hours, using discount code VWMDP120.

This is of course, assuming there's a way to verify the restrictions of the discount code against the locations given in the billing and shipping addresses. I'm not that tech savvy just yet, but I imagine there's a way to do it.

And that's just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are many, many other ways around it. Now would be the time to spend some extra money on a consultation from an extreme web developer pro.

There's simply nothing that any business can do to keep all of your customers happy all of the time (something you learn quickly as a waitress, lol). But when you get 15 angry customers PER MINUTE for a solid 24 hours telling you to take down the sale and reintroduce it when you're better prepared, that kind of seems like a no-brainer.

I still can't find it in my heart to be nearly as angry as many of the other customers are, but I must admit that I have grown severely disappointed in the way NYX has been handling the situation. I hope they step up their game and offer something much better than the 50% coupon.

Sale Fail.

As some of my fellow makeup addicts may already know, NYX Cosmetics is celebrating their 12th anniversary with a wicked awesome sale. Sort of. They've been having major, major problems with their servers and the vast majority of the world is unable to access their website. The few that get through are unable to add items to their cart or checkout and complete their orders. NYX's Facebook fan page is blowing up with complaints; I literally just counted 13 negative posts on their page within a span of ONE MINUTE.

I fully believe that customer service is the most important part of any business. You can't disappoint your customers. But sometimes crazy things happen. Some things just can't be avoided. There are a lot of angry potential customers saying that this is some kind of scam, but trust me, it's not like they don't want your money. Many customers are even vowing to never buy from NYX again.

It just seems a bit extreme to me that so many people are being so harsh about a problem that no one would have expected and that there is no quick fix for. I'm not going to lie; this scares the crap out of me. It makes me wonder what kind of unavoidable freak accident could happen to ruin my business? NYX is already a big enough company to bounce back from this, as bad as it is. But if something similar happened to me in my first year- or five- of business, it'd be the end of me.

Of course in this particular example, the servers are overloaded due to extreme traffic, which is not something I'll have to worry about any time soon, but you get my drift.

I'm already worried that, although no one has expressed it, maybe people are starting to lose faith because it's taking me so much longer than expected to open my doors. There are just so many things that can greatly damage the very delicate balance necessary to run a business, especially with a one-woman-show like mine.

But don't worry about me. I'm stubborn. Vexxy is going to happen and be successful no matter what it takes. These are just some ramblings about the kinds of things business owners have to take into consideration.

The show must go on!

Stay Positive.

I mentioned in my second blog that I would grant FULL access to the behind the scenes look- including my fears and insecurities. Well here it goes. I'm starting off with just a handful of jars of five different colors for my soft opening, which is really more market research than anything. I made a comment on Vexxy's Facebook recently that mentioned that I had spent an entire paycheck on my new materials. That was no exaggeration, folks! If I don't at least get my money back on this, I'm completely screwed. In fact, I'm going to be phoneless for two days because I can't pay my bill on time! Suffice to say- I'm terrified.

I actually do feel confident that I can make my initial investment back, but I don't know how long I can keep pouring money into this to see if things pick up. But I am determined! This is my dream and SOMEHOW I simply HAVE to make it work!

I'm not looking to get rich off of this. I don't even need the company itself to profit; I'd just love to be able to pay my own salary. I'd be in a wonderland if I can eventually make this my full time job, but realistically I see myself working at least one part time job for, well, a helluva long time, haha.

Opening your own business is a scary venture, no matter how much research you've done or how careful you are. You just can't really know what's going to happen until you have a go at it. So I am praying, keeping my fingers crossed, working my butt off and doing whatever it takes to see this through.

Just stay positive! Stay positive, stay positive, stay positive...

Good Times!

WOOOO!!! I finally got my new shipment the other day and almost have my first five colors ready to roll out!

Don't forget, followers of this blog will receive a 10% discount! Follow me now cause we's about to roll out the red carpet ANY DAY NOW!

Insider's Discount!

After I get paid today (Oh, how I love working again!), I'll be ordering my next shipment of materials tomorrow. It won't be much longer at all until Vexxy hits the shelves!

As a special thank you for putting up with the wait, I'll be offering a 10% discount coupon to all of my Backstage Pass followers! But you must be following the blog to get the 10% off! I may decide to offer a 5% discount to Facebook and Twitter followers, but that's undecided.

This discount will not last long so start following NOW to take full advantage!

Stay tuned and I will announce the discount code (which must be accompanied by your blog name at time of sale) with the soft opening date. ;)

Five Cubed

I just wanted to make a quick post because I can't contain my excitement. :)

Vexxy will be cracking the doors open very soon. After finally being back at work for a few weeks, I've come across a little extra cash to do a sampling of some pigments. The current plan is to post up five colors in five gram jars for five bucks each on Etsy. I was originally wanting to start with something bigger, but I've decided that I simply cannot wait any longer!

As each bit sells, I'll be able to offer more and more of the starting line I originally had my heart set on. I think this is a wonderful compromise. Starting a business is all about flexibility, you know. Keep your eyes peeled and I'll be announcing the official date soon!

The Ethics of Beauty.

Ethics play a major role in any business. This doesn't just mean fair wages and good working conditions for employees and not scamming your customers, but ethics are at least somewhat involved in every single aspect of running a business.

I feel that it's my duty to make sure that every decision I make for Vexxy is responsible for my customers, community, and environment.

Vexxy Principles:

• All Vegan Products. 100% free of animal cruelty and animal by-products.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. I only use recycled paper in my office, and recycle it again when I'm done. I will offer discounts to people who choose to return empty jars so they can be sterilized and used again. I will always opt for a more environmentally friendly option whenever given the choice. Even when it comes to oil use and toxic emissions from overseas shipping, which brings me to...
• Made in USA. I personally manufacture all of Vexxy's products in my home office in Spartanburg, SC. I do my absolute best to only use components that are also made in America to keep our money in our country and help stimulate the local economy. Some of my materials (particularly some minerals that are only found in certain parts of the world) must come from outside the US, but I do my best to keep these to a bare minimum.
• High Quality, Good Deal. I am only interested in offering the highest quality products at the lowest reasonable price. My pigments are jam packed with color and absolutely no unnecessary fillers. I'm out to offer makeup counter quality at drugstore prices (most prices averaging out to about $5!).
• Zero Tolerance for Judgement. I am an avid supporter of GLBTIQ rights (that's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, intersex, and queer/questioning). If your views don't coincide with mine, that is perfectly fine and I respect your beliefs and opinions. However, Vexxy will always be a safe haven for all men and women alike. If you were born as a biological male (or something in between), I want you feel secure purchasing from Vexxy whether you are transgendered, intersex, cross dressing, transsexual, or even just a fan of some hot guyliner. By the way, manly men: Eyeliner on guys is wicked hot. Just look at Nikki Sixx. In fact, I may have to do another blog dedicated to guyliner... I will also offer a "Discreet Shipping" option if you don't want to advertise that you're getting makeup delivered to your door.
• No Peer Pressure. Women are bombarded daily to be sexier, thinner, smarter, etc. You're just not cool if you don't dye your hair or wear the right shoes or get that perfect smoky eye. Men are also being pressured into sporting six pack abs and a full head of hair. Even working in the cosmetics industry, this infuriates me and I will not condone that kind of behavior. Makeup is about self expression and about making YOU happy. If you are in love with the color blue, throw some on your eyes. Don't do it because the magazines tell you to.
• Seriously, the Customer Comes First. If you're not happy, then I'm not happy. It's as simple as that. I will do everything in my power to keep my customers satisfied and coming back to me. I will always do whatever it takes to answer questions and ship orders as promptly as possible. Refunds and exchanges are totally cool with me. If you have a gripe, we'll talk it out. You can feel secure ordering from me knowing you'll be taken care of.

I want my products to make you feel good inside and out.

What's the Hold Up??

I already have my plan of attack; I've been ready for months- So what's taking so long for this grand opening???


Money, naturally. Vexxy is a one-woman show, and I want to keep it that way, even financially. I don't need investors or a loan; I just need a little more time to raise some capital on my own. I was set to go a few months back, but I got sick and had to leave work. Everything I had saved up then went to medical bills (by the way, my new least favorite word is "deductible") and basic living expenses. Now I'm back to square one, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I'm back at work, and even got a second job to boot. I wish I could say this means I could stock up on materials with my next check, but the truth is that it's going to take me a while to get back on my feet. I should be back on my old budgeting routine in a few weeks, but then I also have some medical bills to pay off as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a soft opening in two to three months, but I just can't make any promises. Since I've eaten up all my savings, another medical emergency or car troubles or a number of things could set me back again.

However, there is a reason they say that good things come to those who wait. This is my passion, and nothing will stop me from realizing my dream. When life gives you lemons, you throw them right back and tell life to suck it. People will tell you stay positive when you're troubled, but I disagree. I say you have to stay fierce. An insurance company can't take away your brass knuckles. So I can't open Vexxy's doors just yet; it will be all that much more badass when I do.

VIP Access!

So just what exactly does Vexxy's Backstage Pass have to offer? Think of it as a backstage pass at a concert. You get a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the band and have all your questions answered. You get a glimpse of what life is like on the road, the inner workings of a busy tour.

Vexxy's Backstage Pass offers you VIP Access to all the behind the scenes happenings.

Be the first to know. Be the first to receive updates on new products and special offers before they hit Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, or any other media.

Are you experienced? Find out what it takes to manufacture cosmetics and start your own small business.

Learn from my mistakes. Life is full of ups and downs and no business owner can claim to be perfect. The trick is to learn from your mistakes and let them roll off your back. Hopefully you can learn from my whoopsies and prepare for them in your own endeavours.

Peek into my insecurities. You heard that right. Starting your own business leaves you wide open and vulnerable to judgement and failure. You have to know, without any doubt, that you have what it takes to succeed. But you can't always know that every single move you make is the right one. Never before have I seen a business owner admit to their fears publicly, but now you all can have the chance to know what brews in the mind of an entrepreneur.

So take a seat, get comfy, and enjoy the show!

A Proper Introduction.

I'm Rebecca Williams, the owner of Vexxy Cosmetics. There's about a ninety-nine percent chance you've never heard of my company, because it doesn't quite exist just yet. Making cosmetics has been a hobby of mine for quite some time, and now I'm working towards sharing my creations with the world. But you'll see more on that later.

I'm twenty-four years old, from a very small town near Spartanburg, South Carolina. I have a wildly artistic temprament, and have always known that one day I will have to use that as an avenue to be my own boss. That day hasn't come yet, but hopefully in the not-so-distant future I'll be reporting on this very blog that I am working for myself full time, once and for all.

I am addicted to color. Period. Sometimes I try to simplify my hobbies and passions and refer to myself as an artist, but I never can quite pin down exactly what it is that I do as an artist. I do all sorts of odd crafts and mosaics and collages and painting and faux finishing and tweaking and customizing and so on, and so on. So yes, the long and short of it is just this: I am a color junkie. I have to have it in my life, I have to be surrounded by it, and I have to have complete control over it. Everything that surrounds me must be aesthetically pleasing to my tastes. My clothes, my hair, my makeup, my house, my garden, my art, my everything!

Working with cosmetics allows me limitless options in playing with colors. Whenever I get a new shipment of my lovely ingredients, I can't help but lock myself in my office for two or three days and experiment with new colors and finishes. Soon it will be time to unveil my precious little Frankenstien creations and share my joy and passion with the world. I only hope that enough people will appreciate my work half as much as I do so I can continue to finance my addiction and realize the classic American dream: working a job that I actually, truly love.

Jargon.

Here's a quick little glossary of terms you might notice me using in future posts.

Vegan - Everything I make is 100% cruelty free. This means no animal testing on my end, no animal testing on any ingredients in my products, and no animal products or by-products. Popular animal by-products used in cosmetics include carmine, lanolin, and beeswax.

Base - Mixture of basic ingredients used to form a product (eyeshadow base, lipstick base, etc.) before adding colorants and additives.

Colorant - Powder or liquid pigments used to color a product. Colorants must be mixed with a base and other ingredients before they are to be used on the skin.

Additives - Additional ingredients used in products to improve specific characteristics, e.g. adhesion, texture, and shelf life.

Fillers - Transparent additives that offer no substantial improvement to the product. These are used by some cosmetic companies to "stretch" a color and save money. Colorants are expensive, and the more colorants you use in a product, the more expensive it is to make. Fillers are used to give a product the same appearance as a more highly pigmented product, but the quality is significantly exacerbated by the addition of fillers. I do not use fillers in any of my products.

In the Beginning...

Welcome to my brand spankin' new blog! It's all about my journey towards making my dreams come true. I've been making my own cosmetics for a while now, and soon it will be time to share them with the world. If you want to know what it's like to make cosmetics and start your own business, then stay tuned to get the inside scoop.