Cheap Slap Wholesale Makeup & Cosmetics » Wholesale Cosmetics Tips

MAC Wholesale Makeup

Melissa — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:12:18 +0000

Looking for MAC wholesale makeup? If so, join the queue, because so is just about every other person thinking of selling makeup. This sheep factor has me worried, not because I don’t love MAC makeup (oooh yes I do) but there are a few other things to consider before you jump on the MAC cosmetics bandwagon with every other Tom, Dick and Harriet.

As I have written about at length already, there is loads of fake MAC around. Hello Kitty this, Hello Kitty that. But finding authentic MAC wholesale makeup products is not actually very difficult if you know where to look – there are trusted sellers of MAC listed on our Members Area that you can access right away if you decide to join Cheap Slap.

So, going back to my point about MAC wholesale, and this applies to Benefit as well, is they are the most in demand brands that everyone is looking for. This inflates the wholesale price making them both more expensive, because of the limited supplies. If I had the choice between an $8 MAC wholesale item and a $2 Stila or Clarins item, I know which I would pick.

Also, eBay is not a good place to sell authentic MAC or Benefit because you are competing against people selling much lower priced fakes. But you can still get a good mark up on MAC and Benefit if you sell elsewhere, e.g. cosmetics parties, fairs and market stalls or car boots. The trick is to be the first person in your area doing it.

Post flyers on cars or through letterboxes offering makeup parties or letting people know where you will be. Think about a website, even if it is only one page, showing your offers and put the website details on the flyers too. It’s about getting yourself in people’s faces, so get some slap on and don’t be shy!

Now is a really good time to get going because the busiest time of year is coming up – if you can get organised now you can seriously clean up in October and November with customers buying for Christmas. It seems like the whole world is skint and looking for bargains at the minute, so I think this year will be busier than ever.

Buying Wholesale Makeup From The US

Melissa — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:50:35 +0000

I have been asked to post about buying wholesale makeup from the US and importing it into the UK. I can understand that for anyone starting out it can all seem a little scary so hopefully this information will be useful and put any fears you may have at rest.

Just for the record, there are several good wholesale cosmetics and beauty suppliers in the UK and you will get full details of those if you are a member of Cheap Slap (what do you mean, you’re not? You need to join Cheap Slap right now!!) There is easily enough of a good selection available from the UK sellers to get started, and I know some people with established cosmetics businesses who only ever use the recommended UK suppliers.

However, a lot of the best wholesale makeup deals are to be had from US sellers, especially for the most in demand high end brands like MAC, Benefit and Bobbi Brown. There are quite a few trustworthy US sellers with authentic wholesale makeup products for sale, so it makes sense to keep your options open and consider buying from them at some point down the line.

When buying from the US, the additional costs you need to consider are the shipping costs, VAT and customs duties, and also any extras like a handling fee.

The main suppliers all use major couriers to ship to their UK customers, and shipping quotes are usually available before you order. The cost depends and the size and weight of the package. You pay the agreed shipping cost up front at the same time as you pay for your order.

Obviously, and it depends what you are buying, but in my experience shipping is usually never more than around $50, and that can be for up to 200 items – remember that lipsticks, mascaras, eyeshadows etc are small and light. So the cost of shipping per item for small items can be very reasonable.

You can always ask for a couple of shipping quotes depending on the quantity of items, as there may be a minimum charge which makes it work out more expensive per item. For example, the cost to ship 100 items may be only a little bit more than for say 20 or 30 pieces.

VAT also gets added to any goods shipped to the UK with a value over £18. VAT is charged at 17.5% on the value of the goods so you will need to factor this cost into your budget as well. I should also mention that VAT is also applied to all orders from UK suppliers as well, and UK suppliers always list their prices before VAT. That means that you will always have to pay VAT, and you will never have to pay any additional VAT just because you are buying from the US. It is possible to reclaim VAT if you are VAT registered, but most people reading this will not be.

Next up, customs duties. I am no expert on this because there are loads of different customs rates depending on what the product is, so as a rule of thumb I just budget for another 10% of the order value.

Finally, a handling charge of around £10 or £15 is added by the courier company (or £8 if your package is delivered by normal post). You will need to pay the VAT, customs duty, and handling charge when the package is delivered. The courier company usually telephones you for payment by credit card beforehand and the post office leaves a red card through your door with details of the charges due before the item can be delivered.

When you work it all out, the additional charges of buying from the US still make it worthwhile. I know, because I do it all the time, and so do a great many other eBay cosmetics sellers. The fact is that to get the best stock, the US is where it’s at. It may take a little longer for your goods to arrive, but only a few days, and the little extra effort involved is well worth it.

Alice & Olivia MAC Collection

Melissa — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:26:23 +0000

I love how MAC cosmetics continually reinvent the cosmetics wheel through their partnerships with the greatest stars in the world of beauty, fashion, and music. Their latest, to die for, make-up collaboration is with designer Stacey Bendet, the founder of New York based clothing line Alice + Olivia. Alice & Olivia is one of those eclectic fashion brands from the US with an A-list following that includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Blake Lively and SJP.

The collection was announced at New York’s cool Beauty Bar, a place that sounds like my kinda heaven. It is a bar where you can indulge in beauty treatments, cocktails and cosmetics. It’s a converted salon with a retro feel and I would like one to open over here in the UK, please.

Described as a “frump-fighting, pro-pixie, anti-seriousness collection of colour” the limited edition Alice & Oliva for MAC line includes three shades of So Rich So Pretty Nail Lacquer, £8 each, three shades of Dazzleglass Creme gloss, £14.50 each, and three shades of Partylicious Pigment, £15 each.

My top picks are the Nail Lacquer in Morning.After; as the must have nail shade for next season is deffo teal – so it’s worth getting in on the act early with this creamy, opaque version. And I also love the Pigment in Later, which is a loose black eye shadow shot through with purple – which is perfect for creating a fast, multi-tonal smoky eye with just one product.

Word on the beauty boardwalk is that Harrods in London have bagged the exclusive launch of the collection this August. I can’t wait!!

Keep your eye out for any wholesale makeup deals on the collection coming up in the next few months after its launch. MAC bring out new limited edition makeup collections so regularly, that you can be sure that this one will not be around on MAC counters for very long.

For reliable sources of authentic MAC wholesale cosmetics, just check out the sellers on Cheap Slap. If you are not already a member, why not join Cheap Slap today? It only takes a minute and gives you instant access to an enormous range of high end wholesale makeup deals, all of which are available for immediate purchase.

Avoiding Fake Wholesale Makeup

Melissa — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:10:33 +0000

The only way to ensure that your wholesale makeup is authentic, is to know your cosmetics products and brands inside out and if necessary compare with the real thing. You can also take precautions by only ever using reputable suppliers.

A lot of fake beauty products are for items that do not actually exist in the proper range – different MAC colours etc. I give several warnings on Cheap Slap about sellers to avoid, but always always do your own due diligence as ultimately your cosmetics business transactions are your own responsibility. Pay by Paypal for maximum buyer protection (and make sure that you NEVER pay by bank transfer).

Sorry that’s not more definitive, but it pays to trust your own intuition and if anything seems at all dodgy, then always walk away. There are enough genuine deals around to get a good selection of stock without resorting to desperate measures.

Two very widely faked cosmetics brands are MAC and Benefit, but many other beauty brands are too, so never assume that all the other brands are okay either! You will gain a lot more confidence once you have more experience dealing with the wholesale makeup sellers and a wide range of cosmetics products, but when starting out it is a good idea to be cautious.

If you are sourcing wholesale cosmetics products yourself, do a who.is search to check where the website is registered. If it is registered in China – avoid! A lot of Chinese websites look like they are US sites because the products are listed in US dollars but a who.is search should give you more information.

Cheap Slap members have a head start with our list of trusted wholesale makeup suppliers, as well as warnings about the cosmetics sellers to avoid. Many people have thanked me for saving them from unscrupulous sellers.

If you are not a member yet, why not take a minute and join Cheap Slap today – members can contact me directly any time for advice on wholesale cosmetics sellers or websites you may be unsure about.

Wholesale Makeup Images For Your Products

Melissa — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:57:53 +0000

Whether you are selling your wholesale makeup on eBay, or on your own website, you will need images of your beauty products so people can see what they are buying.

Strictly speaking, if you are not an authorised supplier of the cosmetics brand you are selling, and you do not have permission to use the makeup brand manufacturer’s stock photos (which are copyrighted) then you
are supposed to take your own photos of the products and use those images on your site (or eBay).

In reality, if you copy and paste photos from another site you might be okay but you could be asked to remove the photos if anyone checks. In that case you would have to use your own images.

My recommendation would be to always use your own photos for selling makeup on eBay. There is so much fake high end makeup on eBay that using stock photos actually makes the listing look dodgy, even if your products are authentic. Also, there are more official checks on eBay making it more likely that you will be asked to remove the beauty product image if it is copyrighted.

If you have your own cosmetics website, then you are less likely to be caught using someone else’s images. Not that I would ever encourage you to do that. Of course not.

For authentic wholesale cosmetics stock to sell on eBay or for starting your own website, you will find great deals on authentic MAC, Bobbi Brown, Stila, Too Faced and more from the trusted sellers featured on Cheap Slap.

Not a member yet? Big mistake, as your competitors already are!! Get a move on and join Cheap Slap today!!

Wholesale Directory Guide

Melissa — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:12:11 +0000

A wholesale directory is a specialised information resource containing information on suppliers of wholesale products. Usually you are required to become a member before you can access the information online. The cost of membership can vary from a one-off fee, to a monthly or annual recurring subscription payment.

Some of these sites claim to have details of thousands of suppliers for products that you can sell for a profit.

Before you decide to pay for this type of information, you should consider the following:

1. The purpose should be to make life easier and save you time so you do not need to search for suppliers of your chosen products. However, some of the directories, like Salehoo, are massive so you may still need to trawl through a lot of information to find what you are looking for.

2. Large directories can be a useful guide if you are not sure what to sell or what is available. If you only are looking for niche products, like high end wholesale cosmetics, then a lot of the information in a large directory may not be relevant for you.

3. Always check the sellers’ credentials before buying. If a seller is verified by the site, check what that means. Only ever use secure payment methods, and never send cash.   

Cheap Slap is a specialised high end wholesale makeup directory, featuring trusted top end branded cosmetics and beauty wholesalers only. I have already done all the hard work weeding out the bs so you don’t have to.

The wholesale cosmetics suppliers featured on Cheap Slap have been tried and tested by myself and other members. Warnings are also included on the site about specific sellers and websites known to be selling fakes.

There is a nominal joining fee to cover my costs of maintaining the site, and you will never have to pay anything else. You will save yourself tons of time and effort, and have the benefit of advice from myself at any time. It really is a no brainer for anyone serious about succeeding in the cosmetics business!

Wholesale Makeup Salehoo Review

Melissa — Tue, 04 May 2010 21:54:16 +0000

Here is my (quick and dirty) what/when/where/why review for anyone thinking of sourcing wholesale makeup from Salehoo.

What: Salehoo is a popular wholesale directory that claims to give you an advantage over the competition through access to the world’s top suppliers of top name brand products, and smart advice from experienced people. There are thousands of suppliers, and most ship internationally so it does not matter where you are located.

When: This online resource is open 24/7 and you can get started once you have paid a one-off joining fee of $67. They also offer a money back guarantee.

Where: At www.salehoo.com   

Why: The site has a feedback system which makes it easier to check out potential suppliers before you buy. Sellers are given independent ratings by eBay powersellers and other members. There is also a lot of free information and advice, various bonuses when you sign up, and a forum where you can ask questions. Overall it is a good general wholesale directory site, and a good place to start if you are not sure what to sell on eBay, because there is such a massive selection of products available.

Why not: Well, call me biased , but if you are specifically only looking for high end wholesale makeup and cosmetics brands like MAC, Clinique etc, then for a tiny fraction of the cost of joining Salehoo, you will find all the specialised wholesale cosmetic suppliers you need on Cheap Slap. By all means, join Salehoo if you wish to review a wide range of other product categories, but for wholesale makeup and cosmetics Cheap Slap already has it covered.

If you really don’t believe me, please check out Cheap Slap has to offer before you join Salehoo, I think you will be delighted with what you find!

MAC Cosmetics Wholesale Warning

Melissa — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:20:04 +0000

Yawn, here is yet another warning about fake MAC cosmetics from our friends in China.

The website maccosmeticswholesaler.com is ranking high in Google at the moment, but a quick check reveals that all is not as it seems. At first glance the site looks as if it is in the US, but actually it is registered in China, which immediately sets alarm bells ringing in Cheap Slap towers.

The site says that the products are genuine, but the sheer volume of products on offer and also the prices (too low) would suggest to me that this is unlikely.

Personally I would not touch this site and I would advise anyone to be very cautious if you are thinking about sending them any money. I know that some people have no problems buying fake makeup products and selling them on, but I am not one of them. I have a BIG problem with the counterfeit beauty industry, it is not only illegal, the products are rubbish, untested, and potentially dangerous. The practice of selling fake wholesale makeup is depriving honest sellers of the chance of earning a decent profit.

The sellers recommended on Cheap Slap sell only authentic high end wholesale cosmetics products. Do yourself a favour, join now then log in for immediate access to trusted MAC, Benefit, Bobbi Brown and other genuine high end makeup suppliers. There is a small membership fee to join, which covers lifetime membership and helps me maintain the site. Once you are signed up you will start receiving deals very quickly.

Get real and do not be tempted by, or accept, fake China imports. Okay, rant over for another while!!

Selling Cosmetics On eBay

Melissa — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:38:11 +0000

Selling cosmetics on eBay is a great way to earn some extra cash. When choosing what type of product to sell, it is always a good idea to choose something that you know a lot about, and it is even better if is something you have an interest in as well.

In this case, the ladies may have a big advantage over the guys due to years of experience using these very products. We all know what lotions and potions we like personally and what brands of makeup and beauty products our friends use and prefer. Through magazines, TV and general girlie chit-chat, we absorb all the hype of the latest hot products.

While this level of knowledge and experience is a great starting point, always do your research and keep an open mind before deciding what specific products or brands to sell. Just because you use and love Clinique (or Benefit, Clarins, Smashbox or whatever your favourite may be), sometimes these may not be the most profitable items for your business.

First and foremost you need to keep your business head on. It is a bit like renovating houses to flip and sell – er, that was before the recession wasn’t it. Anyway, remember how the experts on the television shows always advise not to get too obsessive about the personal touch if it ends up being too expensive? You must always be objective about what you are selling in order to maximise profits.

Yes, it is boring, but do your sums before you buy anything to sell on eBay. Decide if the profit margin is acceptable after deducting the original cost of the item, as well as the eBay selling fees and paypal fees.

To source wholesale makeup to sell on eBay, members can check out the latest listings on Cheap Slap today.

If you are not already a member, the cost to join is only £7, which includes lifetime membership and also personal advice from me if required. You will get instant access to a great range of deals from trusted suppliers of the best selling makeup and cosmetics brands including MAC, Benefit and Smashbox. Go on, you know your business is worth it!

MAC Cosmetics Wholesale

Melissa — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:20:06 +0000

Let’s face it, reputable MAC cosmetics wholesale suppliers are few and far between. Finding authentic MAC wholesale makeup is the holy grail for all high end cosmetics sellers.

Anyway, here’s the lowdown…

Only MAC sell MAC products. Luckily for people like us, with any brand there is always some overrun/discontinued/shelf pull stock that ends up on eBay or other discounted websites. Because MAC is so popular, there is even less of this type of stock to go around. Have you ever seen a sale on at your local MAC counter? Wow, never? See – that is exactly my point!

MAC also often have special edition product lines that are only available for a short amount of time. Discontinued items that end up being made available on the cosmetics wholesale market, have a rarity value that increases their value sometimes way above the original selling price. Super low cost + high demand and low supply = super high profits. That is why any cosmetics business owner worth their salt wants to get hold of authentic MAC wholesale makeup at any cost.

A final point to mention is that wholesale makeup suppliers offer new stock to their best customers first. That makes it even harder for newbies to get started. So always build a good relationship with your supplier. Small but regular orders are a good way to build up your profits and reinvest in your business, while at the same time showing suppliers that you are a reliable customer with staying power.

To find the trusted sellers of authentic MAC wholesale makeupyou may need help from a specialist wholesale cosmetics source, like Cheap Slap. This information is so valuable that really it is a business investment and worth paying a little for.

To find MAC cosmetics wholesale join Cheap Slap today. Members get instant access to all the best deals from trusted MAC cosmetics sellers.