Beauty Product Representative Defined
Some people were born to sell. Some people were born to beautify. In some instances, a person has both sales and beauty running through their veins. Luckily for them, there’s a career perfectly suited for both traits – a beauty product representative. A product representative’s job is to sell hair, skin, and nail care products into salons, build loyalty to the product line they represent, and train clients on product usage or techniques.
Products sold into salons can include shampoos, conditioners, styling products such as glazes, gels, sculpting lotions, sprays or spritzes, facial and skin products including cosmetics, cleansers, toners, moisturizers, waxes and creams, or manicure/ pedicure products like polishes, files, acrylic nail products pumice stones and buffers.
What it Takes
A cosmetology license isn’t required to become a product rep, but it’s helpful if you want to be able to relate closely to your clients – cosmetologists! Many of the most successful product reps are former salon owners or managers who love the business side of the beauty industry. A beauty background allows you to have more technical discussions with your clients and better understand their needs. In addition to knowledge of cosmetology, the following skills are important in order to become a successful product representative:
- Excellent communication skills
- Sales skills
- Congenial personality
- Self confidence
- Organized/ self-motivated/ ability to work unsupervised
- Business and management skills
- Problem solving/ multi-tasking ability
What You’ll Make
Some product reps are salaried employees and others are independent contractors who work on a commission-only basis. In either case, most entry-level product representatives earn $20K-$40K in their first year. With hard work, experience and an established territory, income potential is unlimited – in some cases increasing to six figures. Some companies provide company vehicles while others reimburse for mileage. In all cases, product representatives receive reimbursement for most work-related expenses and travel costs.
Working World
No two days are the same! Most product representatives work from home-based offices on a day-to-day basis and occasionally go to their company headquarters to attend meetings, get supplies, receive training or turn in paperwork. Although you won’t work side-by-side with a team of coworkers each day, the job of a product rep is far from lonely. You’ll work closely with other employees of the product company including administrative and marketing personnel,
salon educators and
design teams in an effort to build sales and increase client loyalty, excitement, and word-of-mouth advertising.
No matter where your office is located, you won’t be spending much time there! Although each day is different, a typical day for a product rep usually starts with communication - calling to set appointments, checking and replying to emails and voicemails, and general follow-up and response with clients and peers. On busy days, you’ll visit your first salon right when it opens. While at the salon, you’ll check inventory levels and arrange a re-order, create or evaluate retail product promotions, implement fun contests and incentives for stylists, and introduce/ sell new products. In some cases, a salon educator may accompany you or meet you at the salon to conduct a training class. After you’ve visited all of your clients for the day, you’ll return to your office and end your day the same way you began – communication. You’ll follow up on missed calls, return emails, take and place orders, and plan your next day.
Being a product representative is a challenging career with lots of variety, great income potential and opportunities to meet new people. It’s a perfect choice for you if you’re an ambitious “people person” with a passion for the beauty industry!