Zhen Beauty Product reveiw

You can check out a review of Zhen Beauty products on the Funky Monkey blog. Susannah reviews products for moms and dads, she had a chance to try a number of our items.

You can click here to see the review.

Recyle, Reuse and Reduce

I love the idea of recycling of beauty packaging, we have been looking cost effective ways to reuse bottles, boxes and compacts. The problem is that its more expensive and labor intensive. Many customers have sent ideas to be more green by either recycling, reusing or eliminating packaging.

I found this article about what Origins is doing on this subject, just click here to read more.

Zhen Beauty eBay Store

We have just opened our eBay store, it was one of the great ideas we received. You can check out the Zhen Beauty eBay store here.

Marketing Ideas For Zhen Beauty

I wanted to share some of the great marketing ideas I have received, please feel free to comment;

- One thing that comes to my mind is the fact that Zhen is a family-owned company selling Made in the USA products. Maybe that could be a strength. I bet people would love the story of the Yee Sisters and their company- I know it captured me when I read about it years ago. People these days are
looking to buy local instead of from some global giant group.
Bernice

- I noticed that you dont have anything posted on youtube... There are thousands of youtubers that feature Asian inspired looks. I recall seeing you on television with your products and I thought that perhaps a tutorial featuring some of your products might be a good thing. I have already sent your website to a few of my cosmetic gurus to check out.
Eirika

It seems the best place to show off your stuff and get free advertising is on YOUTUBE. My wife found endless people from the girl around the corner to make up artists and other professionals that are giving tutorials on applying make up and covering all areas from within the make up industries, like costs and colors and where to find the products. Amazon is where we spend alot of money and time and that's where we found you, but I think You Tube will give you the exposure that your gorgeous line of cosmectics deserves.
Tom and Tammy

- A possible way to get more customers is to partner with MyPoints.com. Or is it possible to do with Zhen Cosmetics what they do with Avon (get sales reps from around the country)?
Kristy

- I just sent a personal message to my 34 “Asian Chicks” on my Facebook Friends list asking them to check out your product line (included a link to your F/B fansite).
Diana

- Would you consider printing a tear off pad type advertisement that can be hung in the front areas of Asian and Latino Grocery stores? Many of the ethnic stores have bulletin boards where customers can hang advertisements. I live in an area which has a very high population of Asians and would be more than happy to hang up some type of advertising pad at the Asian and Latino grocery stores that I frequent. I would not be surprised if you had customers in other ares with high populations of Asian and Latinos who would be willing to do the same!
Cecilia

- Yesterday, I used my make up and gave my sisters a makeover. They loved the products, and I forwarded your email about the $10 to them today. It made me think that it might be fun to have a referral plan, or something like that where customers could earn a free product or discount for referrals.
Julie

- There must be Chinese Chambers and Asian associations or groups all over the country that would be happy to provide you with some exposure. It would really be ideal, however, to try to get into the stores.
Lisa

Green Ideas For Zhen

When we started Zhen back in 1994 I did not want to use boxes or unnecessary packing materials. Now 15 years later I going back to that philosophy. I listed some of the green ideas I have received in last few weeks.
Susan Yee

I was thinking that perhaps you could put in a check option at the end/confirmation of order on whether or not they want the additional packaging for the products and or catalog. I realize that you may be required to have this information for the products available, and if this is a requirement, I was thinking that perhaps changing the ID stickers on the product to include them. This may save you a bit in printing and material fees. If you must use the black sleeves, perhaps you can add in the end/confirmation a check mark asking if they would want to keep them, or offer something like a self addressed stamped envelope option to have the customer send it back for reuse and offer a small incentive like a coupon or even a credit if they do so.
Eirika

- Reuse the glass bottles that you send my foundation in, i feel awful just throwing them away. Lose the boxes that they come in, find a way to use refill instead of all new packaging
Gabbriellea

- I have been concerned about Zhen's excessive packaging- paper bags in plastic bubble wrap in mailing envelopes. Save on packaging, save on costs, save on environment! Why not offer refills for items like powders instead of the regular compact? What about offering discounts for customers returning a certain number of jars for refill or recycle-- not sure about the details, just the concept. Also, in the age of TSA liquid restrictions at airports, travel sizes would be so helpful.
Meg

Distribution ideas for Zhen

My sisters and I started this company as mail/phone/Internet order company, but over the years we expanded to retail locations from Nordstrom, JCPenney to Ulta Beauty stores. Over the past several years we have had to leave our retail locations for different reasons. I have received many innovative and interesting ideas for expanding our distribution in order to get our products onto our customers faces. Thanks for all the great ideas.
Susan Yee

- Increase your online exposure with distributing through Walgreens and CVS. They sell many more brands online than are available at their stores.
Fredda

- I wonder if a Zhen counter would go over at a university such as Berkeley or other UC or Cal State campuses, University of Hawaii, or any school with a large Asian population. Coupons for discounted products or free makeovers could go in new student orientation kits, and I'm sure you would have many applicants to be sales associates at such a counter.
Beth

- I support the suggestion that your products be sold at kiosks in shopping malls, especially at Asian malls where a 99 Market is located. I would suggest a kiosk in the San Francisco area at the Pacific East Mall in Richmond, CA. and also a kiosk in S. Calif. at the Westminster Mall, which is
adjacent to the largest Vietnamese population in the US.
Lynn

- Long's Drug Stores in Honolulu. Some stores used to sell Shiseido cosmetics, and there was a trained salesgirl in each store who knew about the line who could help. But Shiseido pulled out of Longs in Sept 2007 (I believe). Longs is capable of selling high-end cosmetics, stores have a cosmetic counter, but don't have a "luxury" cosmetics line to market. And EVERYONE shops at Long's. It's a well-respected drug store. They know their customers and have a loyal local following.
Christine

- In the SF Bay area, the Indian Casinos cater to Asian customers. Get products into gift shop or hotel.
Julie

- I wonder if it's worth it to market your line in Asian supermarkets, like H Mart on the East Coast and Ranch 99 on the West Coast. I haven't been in a Ranch 99 in three years, so if you're already there, apologies. The H Mart near me has a cosmetics counter that carries VOV, some Laneige, and some other high-end brands.
Beth

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Ideas For Saving Zhen Beauty

Here some of the great ideas i have received. If anyone knows more about some of these topics, such as Asian Student Groups, Long Drugs in Hawaii, or Ranch 99 please post your comments.


I've always wondered why your company never got into the larger or more mainstream dept stores in California. I am from the SF bay area and there are so many Asian women here who would appreciate your make-up. I had always had trouble finding a foundation that matched my skin color until I came across your brand when I was in Hawaii many years ago.I would be so sad and lost if you had to close production. Have you ever thought of opening satellite boutiques or kiosks in the malls? I'm sure I can't come up with any ideas you haven't already thought of. Would you be willing to partner with somebody who could distribute for you in areas you may not have reached?
Robin

Long's Drug Stores in Honolulu. Some stores used to sell Shiseido cosmetics, and there was a trained salesgirl in each store who knew about the line who could help. But Shiseido pulled out of Longs in Sept 2007 (I believe). Longs is capable of selling high-end cosmetics, stores have a cosmetic counter, but don't have a "luxury" cosmetics line to market. And EVERYONE shops at Long's. It's a well-respected drug store. They know their customers and have a loyal local following. And I bet local ladies would love Zhen if only they had more exposure to the line. In fact, just thinking about Zhen in Long's makes me really excited. I hope that you can investigate this angle. www.longs.com (they have a terrible website, but the stores are great)
Christine