Mary Kay Lipstick Sales Up In Tough Economy
See? Just like your Mary Kay director told you.
Even when the economy is iffy, women buy lipstick.
Mary Kay Inc. reports that lipstick sales for the first six months of 2008 is up 60% over the same period in 2007.
“That tells me that more women are buying lipstick during these tough economic times,” said Rhonda Shasteen, Mary Kay’s senior vice president of corporate brand strategy.
“A woman needs something positive to brighten her day, and a $10 or $15 lipstick will do that,” she said.
Lipstick on 
Ann on 
Brooke on 
Tam on 
“That tells me that more women are buying lipstick during these tough economic times,” said Rhonda Shasteen, Mary Kay’s senior vice president of corporate brand strategy.
WOW Rhonda, you forgot to tell everyone that MK’s numbers on lipstick “sales” come from the amount of lipsticks purchased by your sales force, not the customer. Oh, and Rhonda, you also forgot to mention that MK changed their line of lipsticks, so in order to stay current with what MK shows in their catalogs to the customers and on-line the sales force HAD to purchase the new lipsticks.
Wonder how many of these lipsticks are sitting on the shelves or in boxes in the homes of your sales force, instead of on the lips of customers?
My, my Rhonda, I do believe you are stretching the truth! Shame on you Rhonda and shame on MK for deceiving the public and for making profit at the expense of your sales force!!!!
I might mention that most of those lipsticks were purchased on credit which means your sales force is just deeper in debt at a time when few can afford those additional credit card paymetns and the hgh interest associated with credit card debt!
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Oh, and don’t forget the “challenge” to sell 21 lipsticks each month – wonder how many consultants completed this? Which, of course, would result in MORE lipsticks purchased and would be reflected in these numbers?
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i’ve been selling mary kay for 28 years and i don’t know of a “challenge” to sell 21 lipsticks each month. some unit, on their own, may have that, but, tam, you implied this was a challenge from corporate. if you’re going to complain, please complain correctly, would you? the company does have challenges, sometimes quarter to quarter, but never have they had one like you wanted readers not to forget. i, like some other consultants buy a few lipsticks to have on hand, but i don’t use a credit card and have only 11 currently. a consultant friend of mine doesn’t keep inventory at all and orders from the company when she needs to fill a customer’s order, charging the customer 1/2 of the $8.35 shipping. nothing wrong with that – i’ve ordered from pampered chef, home and garden party, premiere jewelry, partylite candle and a scrapbooking business and all charged me at least a $4 shipping charge. also, even though the tubes of lipsticks did indeed change to black from silver, the 11 i have are the silver ones and i continue to sell them (sold 2 yesterday); haven’t HAD to buy any of the new yet. if one of my customers just had to have the black tube or i didn’t even have the color she wanted in the silver, i would order.
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“some unit, on their own, may have that, but, tam, you implied this was a challenge from corporate. ”
I didn’t see anything about Tam’s comment that implied that it was a corporate challenge. She is referencing the many challenges that directors throw out.
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LJ – I thought that the lipstick challenge was in the Applause Magazine?
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“Kissed for Success” lipstick challenge, 12-15-2007 to 3-15-2008, listed in January, 2008, edition of Applause – it was company wide. Sell Triple 21* (63 total) – think it had anything to do with the lipstick sales being up?
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Tam, I think I remember now…didn’t those who met the challenge get a “lipstick” charm and recognition at Career Conf or Seminar?
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Yep, you sure did, but I don’t remember which it was. I guess I’m not “complaining correctly” LOL!
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Tam, Lisa has been selling for 28 years. I think her memory is fading.
She told you to complain correctly when she was the one that was wrong. How embarrassing!
Now she has caked on makeup AND egg on her face.
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Kelly, thank you. You really gotta join the forum - you’d fit right in! We really don’t talk MK much at all, but we do talk about everything else!
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I’ve heard this before. Ms. Shasteen’s comments don’t surprise me. The comments run along the line that all MLMs spew — which is the total lie of MLMs and their products being recession proof.
What would surprise Ms. Shasteen (and others in MLM) is that a day brightener for me isn’t a $10 or $15 dollar lipstick. What is a day brightener is for me is to know that I am no longer in the clutches of an MLM monster. Because of that, I spend more time with true day brighteners, which are family and friends.
Michelle
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Yea, I imagine that my old director would have said “O.K. ladies stock up on lip stick, because women always buy lip stick duringtough times”! WTF? Why did I fall for that, did I really believe that selling lip stick would make me wealthy? WTF?
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I remember that challenge Tam. My ex-director used to try to get everyone in her unit to do those challenges.
When did lipstick make anything brighter?! Sorry but I consider myself still an average woman and the only time I wear lipstick is to please my grandmother (who thinks that when you wear makeup, you better be wearing lipstick if nothing else) lol
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sorry, tam. the way you worded, “and don’t forget about the lipstick challenge each month” to me implied that it was more than a quarterly challenge. my memory isn’t fading – just sounded like corporate had thrown out a year challenge and that’s what i had never heard of before.
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I found it odd that they put out the sales challenge and then report that sales are up – kinda like stacking the deck. JMO
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MK did one of these lipstick challenges back in 2005 (?) when they revamped the colors to Pink This, Pink That, and Pink Everything Else for the color names. My SD preached to us at training that we had better have at least one of every color on hand before the catalogs get to our customers! She also let us in on which of the new colors she was selling in our town like “hotcakes”, so we’d know which ones to get 2 or 3 of. OH how very generous of her (barf!).
Even during my 50% off going-out-of-business sale, there were some colors that I couldn’t even give away for free because no one wanted them. They really are that OFF-trend and ugly.
Sales are up because MK holds these stupid challenges and awards some cheesy $1.99 prize that they get in bulk from Oriental Trading or the like. If you look up the prizes they award and find the retail price (which MK doesn’t pay, they get a bulk deal on them), you’d be disgusted by how much $$ you “invested” to get them! The 21 (or 39 or whatever this quarter/month/year’s challenge is) lipsticks are largely just sitting in consultant’s homes while MK projects a false sales report. They imply that sales are up to customers. How would they know? They don’t even track sales to consultant’s customers. Entering sales into InTouch is voluntary, therefore unreliable for use as firm sales data.
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Oh yeah, I got one of those faker than fake neon gold looking bracelets from MKC with ? charm, which fell off within 2 weeks! Yep, good stuff. (NOT)
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I too have had my share of cheap prizes and it always kind of made me mad that the apparel was never offered in anything larger than XL and the bracelets were all 7-1/2 ” with no extenders and the necklaces were all 16 or 18 in. The only exception was the beauty coats whichi believe finally were offered in 2x and 3x…I guess they never thought a plus sized woman was sharp enough to go very far in MK.
That kinda limits the choices of plus sized ladies. I always wanted to write them and let them know that plus size women are in MK too and we have money to spend. But on the other hand, I am allergic to nickel which is what is usually used in goldfilled jewelry , so I couldn’t wear any of the jewlery they had without breaking out anyway.
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The prizes are definitely cheap and chintzy. I did, however get one pair of earrings for selling a certain amount of the Satin Hands and I’m highly allergic to nickel. These appparently did not have any nickel in them, because I’ve continuously worn them since I got them 6 months ago. But the 45th anniversay ring, the dream catcher, the regular size pic of our nat’l dir and mk herself were just plain cheesy and tasteless. That’s why I no longer sell actively. Only trying to get rid of as much of my inventory as possible before sending it back to MK and never have to deal with it again!
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Ladies, stop hating. Let’s face it. For those of you who left MK, be clear, it wasn’t because MK didn’t work, it was because YOU didn’t work. So, stop your MK bashing, obviously, non-MK-Car-Driving, complaining and just keep your day job or how ever you support yourself and your family, if in fact you do at all.
As for me, I am thankful for the awesome opportunity that MK provides ANYONE who is willing to do the work!!!!
One more thing, thank you for all your ex-customers who are loyal to MK!!!!!
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Excuse my French, but BULLSHIT!
I hate to inform you, but I DID work my freaking MK business. It’s a losing proposition.
And I woke up BEFORE I “won” any car. I wouldn’t want that expensive lease for a crappy car anyway.
It may sound like a bad attitude to you, Clear Thinker (bad name choice, evidently, by the way) but it’s not.
All those multiple exclamation points after your sentences will disappear once you realize the challenge and fallacies of MK.
Thanks for stopping by in your busy MK day to try to put us in our places though!
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Clear Thinker, you are being down right nasty and rude and there is no reason for your personal attack on those you don’t even know anything about.
It is one thing to tell your own story about your personal experiences and quite another to make a personal attack!
Your comments were out of line. If you want to make a comment on your personal experience with Mary Kay you are welcome to do so, but please don’t bash “people” just because you disagree with them. This forum is full of discussion that is open and honest, but we do not
make personal attacks on others and we show respect for others.
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LOL!
LOL! 
LJ you call ‘em like you see ‘em! LOVE it!
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Ladies, you are all attacking someone and none of it is necessary. Just discuss things civilly and no one will look bad.
I have been with Mary Kay for two years. I have worked my business and not worked my business. When I work, it pays off. The times that I let myself fall into a slump, I get nothing out of it. Also, everyone gets different results. I love this company, but I will be honest and say that when they claim “anyone” can do Mary Kay, I disagree. Not everyone is cut out for a career in sales and perkiness. It is, however, a great opportunity for those who can learn and stick with it. That doesn’t say anything negative about those who can’t, it just means they have different talents that should be put to use elsewhere.
About the cheap prizes, yes, they are cheap, but it’s not all about the prize. They are just there as small incentives to keep you working. If you don’t want the prize, don’t take it. I have my share of cheap prizes that I’ve earned, but instead of getting upset that the company or my director didn’t get me something fancy, I recognize it for what it is- a small piece of recognition for the work I did (which is more than I ever got at any other job I worked). Just say thank you and set it aside.
As for the car program- one of the silliest things I hear from people is “oh my gosh, they say you “earn” your car, but you have to keep requalifying for it!” Well, yes, you do, but when you take out your own car loan to buy a non-MK car, do you not have to keep working at your job to keep your paycheck coming in so you can make your car payment? And even then, those payments last five years (usually) and you keep the same car. With MK, you get a new one every two years. True, with your own car, you eventually own it, but by the time most people are able to pay off a car, they want a new one anyway and end up trading it in for a new car and more payments.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that there are pros and cons to Mary Kay, but for those who can and do make it work, it’s a wonderful opportunity that should not be bashed. To each their own, so if MK works for you, great! Keep at it. If you tried it and it didn’t work, then maybe it just wasn’t for you, but you will do great at something else.
Either way, it’s nothing to bash each other about!
Have a good day, ladies.
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Vee,
We respond in kind when attacked. It’s as simple as that. As a polite & reasonable poster you will probably find us to be a friendly crew who speaks from knowledge & experience. Posters like Clear Thinker will think we’re henious, and that doesn’t bother us.
There’s quite a few MKers on these boards we consider friends who will never run into the problems here they would on other antiMK sites.
On your point about the MK car vs. a regular car: when I walk into a car dealership I know I’m buying a car. No one at the dealership tells me that if I meet their requirements I can earn* a car. It’s comparing apples to oranges, especially when you look at lease prices vs. production requirements & co-pay prices. If I go lease an Escalade I can quit my job the next day, as long as the payments are made I get to keep it. Not so with MK.
At this point most MKers point out that they’re still treated better than most corporations treat employees, no one else has the opportunity to earn a car.
BeautiControl gals earn their cars too, but these cars are bought outright by BeautiControl and titled to the earner. No lease. No co-pay. No return requirements upon earning another car.
My business pays for my car, my insurance and registration.
I used to work for an insurance brokerages that specialized in fleets for corporations & their executives.
That’s just my experience. I’m sure there are many others with other examples.
I’m with you on the jewellrey. Most of it is nothing you’d wear in public, but a visual goal to work towards & remind you of your accomplishment. I think visualization is very important.
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hahah such girls arguing over lipstick who cares there are bigger problems in the world rather than who’s wearing whose lipstick, pull your heads out of the clouds and wake up. im sure the all the animals out there being left without homes and dumped in the shelters are arguing over this petty little matter also and on their way to be euthanized they’re all just wondering if their lipstick clashes with the color of their fur, keep going girls youve got a chance to change the world one tube of lipstick a a time we’re all so proud of you!! its not like you could be using this valuable time to make a difference in the world.
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We actually ARE making a difference in the world.
You? Spewing barely-literate drivel on a site you haven’t even taken the time to read to understand what it’s about.
Who needs to pull their head out? No us…if that gives you a clue!
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i hate lipstick…..who peed in your cornflakes? How did the status of aanimals get into this conversation, anyway? Most of us have pets and treat them very well, thank you!
The purpose of this site is to tell women the truth about MK, how it does not enrich your life, empower women and thereis no money to be made…a worthwhile cause considering how many are out of work and short of cash these days. If we don’t warn them, they may be in worse financial shape!
Since you’re so judgemental, why don’t you tell us what you have done lately to make the world a better place?
Where’s the troll patrol when you need them?
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“Those who can, do…those who can’t, criticize.”
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And those who come on anonymous message boards trying to sound knowledgeable about a subject they know nothing about are sad.
i hate lipstick, seriously? There are children around the world dying of dehydration and preventable diseases and you’re worried about animals?? You prioritize animals before defenseless babies? Yah, yours is an opinion I’ll make sure to take note of.
Sorry, was my sarcasm showing?
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Well said, Tam! I just wasn’t quite sure how to answer MaryKay Consultant, but you did it well and with TRUTH and respect!
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Ya’ll are just a bunch of bitter old hags who are mad because you couldn’t get your business off the ground so now you want to harp on everything that Mary Kay does. Get a life!!! The truth is you don’t know the truth about MK; only your faded dreams. Maybe if you had worked your businesses instead of sitting there complaining as you are doing now then you could have been a success. Because if you were really telling the truth, then you wouldn’t be sitting her complaining and dumping on Mary Kay if you were making money. And for the other people who are not in Mary Kay talking smack, then if you don’t know anything about the business then you shouldn’t say anything. Beauticontrol reps should be the last ones saying anything since there founder stole her ideas from Mary Kay. But you have the nerve to talk about truth. You shouldn’t be attacking anyone because we all choose to work with whatever company we want to and that is no one’s business but their own. If you don’t like a particular company, so what. Life goes on and no one will stop doing business with Mary Kay, Beauticontrol or anyone else. Grow up and stop gossiping about stuff you don’t know
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When I was in MK, I saw most consultants sitting online for hours a day, talking about the best ways to sell MK, etc, instead of “working their business.” The fact is that direct sales isn’t easy and mostly isn’t fun. It takes a particular personality to really do it.
That second sentence of your above makes no sense to me at all.
Don’t accuse me, or others here, of not knowing what they are talking about. It’s inaccurate. What the heck do YOU know about the subject?! I’m guessing not much. You’re either in Mary Kay and blinded by the rah rah and brainwashing and still think that if you try hard you will make lots of money, etc, or you’re just moron…or both.
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We have all been called bitter, lazy loser, and negative before.
The rest of your post is so rambling and contradictory that it doesn’t merit a response. I don’t know your reason for visiting this site, but there is no reason for anyone to lie about their experiences, most of us couldn’t have made up such stories if we tried. They are what they are truthful experiences from those who had them.
I don’t think any of us have complained because we made money, but because the truth was misrepresented and we were led to believe that we could make a 50% profit from every sale (no mention was ever made about the expenses that would come out of that sale, hostess gifts, class supplies, PCP gifts).
Many of us were told that we could make a 6 figure income working less hours than our full time jobs and that Mk sells itself, you don’t have to be pushy or a sales type and that the product would fly off your shelves.
Instead of telling us what’s wrong with us, why not spend your time posting about what is right about your business…is there anything right about your business?
The last thing I want to say is that all opinions are welcome on this site pro or con, but we do not make personal attacks on others. We respect the right of each person to relay their own personal experiences. It is rude to make assumptions and derogatory statements about those you don’t even know.
I hope you will spend some time reading on this site before you make another rash post. Thanks for coming for whatever reason brought you here, I hope you found what you were looking for.
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Mrs. Moe,
Unlike some sites your opinions are welcome here, however, you could use some “Go Give” lessons and learn to post them in an acceptable manner. Whatever OUR reasons are, they are OUR reasons and your negative, derogatory comments are YOURS!
I would beg to ask, “Whose the “bitter old hag” now?
Wishing you happiness in what you do.
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