NEW YORK — As one of beauty’s newest e-commerce sites gets up and running, another is gearing up to go live June 1.
It’s About Me Cosmetics Inc., a cosmetics company formed in Toronto to introduce a Web venture called Itsaboutmememe.com, launched the site earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Cosmetic Market & Take Out Café, a Nashville, Tenn.-based beauty boutique, will take the plunge into Web retailing with the launch of thecosmeticmarket.com in June.
Former architect and native South African Lisa Pasternack founded It’s About Me Cosmetics. The firm’s Web site is home to a variety of hard-to-find cosmetic brands, including Cake Beauty, Femme Fatale Cosmetics, SweetSpot Labs and Pinkie Swear.
In addition to online retailing, the site also conducts the MeMeMe Diva Rewards Program, in which customers pay an annual fee of $20 to receive a 10 percent discount on purchases, plus special offers and invitations to private events.
Itsaboutmememe.com also includes an online makeup artist feature, where customers can seek advice on products, current trends and makeup tricks. While It’s About Me currently operates only the Web site, Pasternack did not rule out the possibility of launching a signature cosmetics line. Industry sources estimated Itsaboutmememe.com could garner $100,000 in sales during its first year.
In Tennessee, Linda Roberts, owner of both the Cosmetic Market & Take Out Café and Nashville’s Private Edition boutique — as well as president of high-end skin care brand Therapy Systems, said thecosmeticmarket.com will include a variety of options to “make shopping fun again.
“It’s very realistic,” she said. “From the second you sign on, a voice says, ‘Welcome to the Cosmetic Market,’ and when you sign off it says, ‘Thanks for shopping with us, we hope you’ll be back soon.’”
The site will feature an animated 3-D navigation system with panoramic views of the actual store. Using this system, online shoppers can browse an actual shelf from the Cosmetic Market & Take Out Café, i.e. the Bath and Body shelf or the Hands and Nails shelf. In addition, the site uses miniature video clips to give additional information on specific merchandise. Plans call for registered users and frequent customers on the site to receive monthly newsletters on new products and special discounts.
