These days not many of us have much extra money left to spread around. It’s harder to buy a car or a house. But most of us still have enough money to splurge on a tube of lipstick. Call it a lipstick economy.
The term was coined in 2001 by Leonard Lauder, from Estee Lauder, because he noticed his company was selling more lipstick after 9-11. A time when women needed a quick fix, mood up-lifter.
That time seems to be back, says the people who sell affordable make up. For them, business is good. “I’m up at least 10%,” says Mary Strauss, an Independent Sales Director and with Mary Kay for 31 years. Her husband even stays at home and has been for years. She says they have a lifestyle to die for because business couldn’t be better, “we have an unlimited potential (to earn money)”. She’s not alone. Betsy Carrie, from Fountain Hills, is also an Indepedent Director with Mary Kay. “If women feel better about themsleves it just brightens up the whole day. Might seem a little silly but makeup can do that… you feel better on outside, you can feel better on the inside.” Betsy started 12 years ago when she got out of college, worked for a bank and didn’t see a future. She bought some Mary Kay from a friend and decided she would give it a whirl. She was glad she did, she fell in love with it. Working 30 hours a week, she made great full time money. Then, one year ago, she had a baby.
When Madigan came into the world nothing else mattered as much and all Betsy wanted to do, was be with her. Her job with Mary Kay allowed her to do that. She cut back on her hours but due to our now lipstick economy, she has more business than ever. “As a matter a fact, I have more business than I have time for!” It’s a good problem to have. She works when she wants to work, typically selling at night when her husband is home and just making phone calls during the day.
Logo from Mary Kay.