Black women discuss their successes as entrepreneurs and why they want to give back.
See Full Article:
https://temple-news.com/black-women-are-raising-the-bar-for-entrepreneurs/
See Full Article:
https://toitime.com/2019/01/02/meet-india-green-of-naturally-green-urban-glow-cosmetics/
By Kristen Ayannah
See Full Article:
https://www.blacktalkradio.co/post/meet-girl-boss-india-green-founder-of-urban-glow-cosmetics
By: Milly McKinnish
Is anyone else online shopping way too much during the quarantine, or is it just me? If your new hobby is browsing through Target and Urban Outfitters’ sites for the best deals, look no further. Here’s a list of 10 small businesses you can support by ordering online. The best part? They’re all run by women from Temple.
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By Teeara Ida
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https://www.teearaida.com/home-1/cjt4rngifetbwz8aqx2v84q94nwzad
Watch Full Episode Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cdPAnBDd9U
Watch Full Episode Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN0wGiJQNiw
Watch Full Episode Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hXlPgBUUig
Watch Full Episode Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6Yc-Y3PDlU&t=25s
Watch Full Episode Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6Yc-Y3PDlU&t=25s
Watch Full Episode Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkftzaJ1oYE
View Full Article Here:
https://www.tuesa.org/post/student-business-feature-india-green
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by India Green
In the fall of 2019, I was afforded the opportunity to study abroad at Temple University in Rome, Italy for a semester and intern at an Italian production company as a Media and Production Accounting Intern. As exciting as this opportunity was and as much as I wanted it — because listen, I WANTED IT!
I was extremely afraid as a new business owner. NaturallyIndy Urban Glow Cosmetics had been operating a little under a year and I was traveling to the other side of the world, to a different time zone, and had to “pack light”. So yes, I was afraid to say the least! There was no way for me to bring what I needed to conduct business as is in Italy. However, I didn’t bask in fear for too long. Once I set my mind on pursuing this opportunity abroad I began my planning for my departure. I swore the summer was mine. And it was.
If you have read this far, I’m sure you’re ready for the tea and have had enough of the anticipation. So, preparing for departure went something like this —
Assessing Current Business :
Once my abroad program was solidified, I knew that I had to increase sales and brand awareness that would last throughout the duration of my absence. That spring, business was going very well as I had a balance between online, pickup and on-site vending sales. I made sure to book events on campus and in the Philadelphia area because I knew that I connected with customers better at events. It gave me the opportunity to get my products out and also get my name out more as well.
9 times out of 10 people invest in YOU, not your product!
Setting Goals and Developing a Plan:
I had about two months prior to moving back to New Jersey for the summer to create a successful sales and marketing plan so that I could execute as soon as I arrived home. I had to keep the momentum of sales up from Philadelphia to New Jersey — which is harder than it seems! It is true that you gain more support from strangers y’all. However, I am very fortunate to have a supportive customer base. Family, friends, customer turned friends all helped me get to where I am and I am forever grateful.
Ultimately, my plan for the summer was to increase brand awareness, increase sales, and provide my customers with an opportunity to purchase products at the quantity that would last them until my return. I set out to achieve these goals through strategic social media campaigns and promotional events. The biggest event of the summer would be the official Urban Glow Cosmetics Launch Party! The goal for the launch party was to officially declare my space in the market while providing an opportunity for my customers to access my products while enjoying a live experience.
It’s all about Execution, Right?
If you’re following me on the socials, then you very well know about the numerous vending events I took part in over the summer. I traveled between Philadelphia and New Jersey with the support of friends and family who accompanied me in my vending ventures — shout out to yall! At each event, I met new people, networked, and connected with those I met via social media so that we could continue supporting one another.
Meanwhile, my family and I were planning the launch party. We took care of everything from ticket sales, to decor, to food and beverage, etc. That experience was — an experience in itself! Planning events are not as easy as people make them seem. Selecting a venue, catering, entertainment, media coverage, are all important factors in the success of an event depending on the scale. As the months went by vending, party planning, and working a 9–5 (because your girl still needed to live and eat) , the marketing and social media campaigns really started to pick up. I would spend most nights creating promotional content for posting on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook that not only promoted the launch party, but also advertised my actual products. I also booked photoshoots and accepted an interview as I knew that would help contribute to brand awareness. My interview with Clear Colour Entertainment, a broadcast and media production company helped me broadcast my brand and brand identity. It served as an opportunity to compile all of my thought, beliefs, goals, and most importantly my story into a short video that the world could see.
By end of June I was hit with a tough decision. I could no longer keep up with online orders while producing the amount of products needed for display at the party, so I “shut down” my online site. It was a hard decision to make because I was refusing to conveniently provide for my customers, who were expecting to be able to order their skincare from me. Not only that, but the expenses for the party increased yet I had stopped one of the main sources of revenue. I also had to adjust my marketing material and in doing so, created an incentive for people to attend the event by assuring them products on-hand at the event. There were promotional deals and bundles too! I also launched new products at the event such as a skincare travel bag, shimmering body oils, and the new Green Tea Mud mask. All new products were intentional and played a part in the marketing plan.
I landed in Rome, Italy about two weeks after the launch party and the goal was to keep the momentum high on social media. Providing “A1 customer service” to current customers and continuing the social media marketing plan helped to continue on the right path. I made it a point to consistently create and post content while abroad so that my social media presence did not drift. I tailored my posts and tips to travel life and how to maintain healthy skin. The release of the travel skincare bag was the perfect addition!
As we know, nothing is ever perfect so I am here to say that staying in tune with the business while the time zone was 6 hours ahead of my customer base was a struggle. While I was getting ready for bed doing my night-time routine, many of you were justing waking up! Some days, I lacked motivation to create content. Some days I had no wifi to even post.
What helped me continue was seeing the notifications from current customers tagging me in their #MaskMonday selfies and the sweet “complaints” about me not being back yet because their toner was low or that they just used the last of their Turmicnator mask. I had to find solace in the fact that I have products that my customers love and that just because I was away didn’t mean that I would be forgotten. — Glow Babes if y’all reading this, y’all are real ones I swear. Lastly, I networked while abroad. I promoted myself and my brand to fellow classmates, faculty, and my internship supervisors and co-workers. Although I couldn’t provide them with a tangible product at the moment, they were now aware of my business and they supported me.
Most importantly, my family really was there for me and helped me establish customer retention during this time because they became brand ambassadors for me. My mom, dad, sisters, and brother were not only selling the remaining products that were available from the launch party, but they were shipping out orders and fulfilling new orders as they came in. They sold and promoted my brand at school and at their jobs, so that helped raise brand awareness and sales. It was truly a team effort!
Okay, So Let’s Wrap It Up . . .
I know — I done told y’all my whole life story right? Listen, summer and fall of 2019 was long, fun, exhausting, and exciting all in one! But here are the key points to running your business while either on vacation or extended travel;
Those were the four key strategies that helped me maintain my business while abroad. I returned home to eager customers and jumped right back into the swing of business, because essentially it was like I had never left! I hope you find this helpful and entertaining. I enjoyed writing this for you! If any established or upcoming entrepreneurs have any additional questions regarding my journey feel free to email me info@urbanglowcosmetics.org.
Keep Glowing!
]]>India Green x March 14, 2019
With the recent Facebook and its family of apps longest shut down in history since 2008 taking place on March 13, 2019, many small business owners and entrepreneurs like myself were in for a treat! Especially with Instagram being the worst performing app as a result of the shut down. Users were unable to post, share, or send new content and some were even locked out of their accounts. It wasn’t until yesterday that the value of email marketing had become clear !
An estimated 71% of Business Owners use Instagram. In 2018, there were 8 million business profiles on Instagram.
Although Instagram and Facebook like many other social media platforms are beneficial to the growth and return on investment of business, it is important to consider and create other ways to connect to your prospects and for prospects to engage and keep up with your business. Shut downs, crashes, and glitches are unpredictable and bound to happen as we grow digitally. Don’t allow “technical difficulties” be the reason you go out of business. And for customers, don’t allow instagram to stop you from supporting your favorite brand!
I mean, it’s just Instagram right?
Here are some benefits I’ve noticed while working and building Urban Glow Cosmetics’ email list. It is not exactly where I want it as of yet, however I have witnessed amazing benefits not only for the business, but I see how much my prospects benefit and enjoy the experience as well.
Email marketing is used by some of the largest businesses in the world! However, email marketing is not just for big brands with deep pockets.
In fact, email marketing is one of the best marketing methods available for small businesses with little to no budget.
Ready to make the most of your email list? Here are the top benefits of email marketing for small businesses and customers!
Your customers like to know that you’re thinking about them. They want to be made aware of the latest that is happening in your business. If they want to know, tell them! The customer is always right. Right?
Obviously, it is nearly impossible to reach out to all of your customers by phone or DM. Not to mention that would be a very time-consuming task. As if we need to add anything else to our To-Do Lists…email is the best way to quickly reach out with an update for your customers.
The latest product launch, your next big event, and any news about your business endeavors are all amazing topics for newsletters. If a customer has opted into receiving emails from you then you should not be shy about actually sending out emails and making contact with them. They signed up for a reason!
For customer, if you opt into newsletters be sure your actively checking them. Your favorite brand is working hard to communicate with you, plus who wouldn’t want exclusive information and discounts?
People support businesses of the people they trust. Creating content and products that not only appeals to your audience, but educate them as well. Show them why your brand is the brand for them. Show them why you are beneficial.
“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe” ~ Simon Sinek
For example, Urban Glow Cosmetics is not just a skincare brand that produces skincare products. Urban Glow Cosmetics is an all natural health and wellness brand with values rooted community, transparency, education, and empowerment. We are on a mission to empower people to live healthy and happy lives through self-care! Because we strongly believe that what you put into your mind and body is important.
Because of our brand values and beliefs, we produce all natural and quality skincare products like our face masks and lavender collection that work to reflect our goals as a brand.
As a small business owner, you are likely seen as a local or regional expert when it comes to your area of business. Whether its beauty or real estate, your content should reflect your knowledge.One way to further build this identity in the minds of consumers is to continue positioning yourself as an expert through the use of content.
Email marketing does not have to only be about delivering coupons and sale information. We can’t offer sales everyday or we’d go bankrupt! So, in addition to emails designed to drive traffic to your business, you can use email marketing to deliver unique content that your subscribers will enjoy reading or watching. It’s okay to ask consumers what they want and even better for consumers to lend us business owners some suggestions. We are here to provide content and service.
This not only build your reputation as an expert but it also builds the reputation of your business communications. People will be excited to receive emails from you … and READ them too!
We all hate the feeling of being ignored! The worst thing to do is to make your customers feel like they are not heard or values. When social media fails (like yesterday), your business should not suffer. Your customers should not feel in the dark. Email marketing allows you to remain accessible to your audience whether they have questions or simply want to make a purchase.
I check my email everyday, all day and I know I’m not the only one. I am easily accessible to my audience and I make it known. You can always reach me via text, email, social media DM, website contact form, etc.
~ India Green, CEO
Building a website and email list helps to maintain your relationships with your customers and brand audience. There are great, cost efficient tools available to assist in creating and building both websites and email lists. For more guidance on building you brand join Urban Glow Cosmetics’ email list and be the first to know about our brand focused blog posts !
Now we all know this was the goal all along! Who doesn’t like increased sales? Especially when you’re putting in so much work creating content and building connections and brand relationships. Email marketing allows customers to learn more about why you do what you do and the value behind your brand! You can embed links and codes exclusively that will direct your audience to visit your site.
Urban Glow Cosmetics is an all natural health and wellness brand with values rooted community, transparency, education, and empowerment. We are on a mission to empower people to live healthy and happy lives through self-care!
Sharing your journey, advise, and your time with your audience makes them genuinely want to support your cause and your goal. As mentioned, Urban Glow Cosmetics is more than a transaction. We offer inspiration, motivation, and empowerment to those who support our brand’s message. You aren't buying into a product, you’re investing in a lifestyle. The relationship does not end at “check-out”.
I hope that whether you are a business owner or a consumer, you understand the importance of email marketing. Email marketing is a benefit for both the brand owner and the consumer, so proper usage from both parties effect its effectiveness.
]]>As many of you already know Urban Glow Cosmetics is a brand that prides itself in natural skincare products. In addition to our very popular facial masks, we’ve added a new foaming facial wash to the collection! Read more to learn about why this facial wash is a must have for your skincare routine.
“Our new Foaming Facial Wash is formulated to cleanse and moisturize the skin. Beyond reducing stress, lavender may also have a more direct effect on the skin. The lavender essential oil soothes inflammation on the skin lessening irritation. The blend of sweet almond oil and jojoba oil helps to keep your skin cells healthy, protect your skin from UV radiation damage, and helps your skinlook smooth, soft, and free of fine lines. The fatty acids in sweet almond oil helps your skin retain moisture and can reduce chapped and irritated skin. The Vitamin E and B-complex vitamins in the Jojoba oil help in skin repair and damage control.”
The special ingredient in this cleanser is lavender essential oil. Lavender oil is used for a lot of aromatherapy uses, bath, and beauty products since the beginning of time. The origin of Lavender is believed to be from the Mediterranean, Middle East and India. Its history goes back some 2500 years. “ Lavender is a flowering plant of the mint family known for its beauty, its sweet floral fragrance and its multiple uses. Lavender derives its name from the Latin ‘lavare’ meaning ‘to wash”. The Romans used Lavender to scent their baths, beds, clothes and even hair which is something that we Americans continue to do today.
Today Lavender continues to be cultivated across its countries of origin as well as Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North and South America. Its widespread presence is understandable due to its beautiful flowers, its alluring scent and its extensive uses. Lavender is grown commercially for extraction of its oil from its flowers and to some degree from its foliage. The oil is obtained through a distillation process. The oil is then used as a disinfectant, an antiseptic, an anti-inflammatory and for aromatherapy. An infusion of Lavender is claimed to soothe and heal insect bites, sunburn and small cuts, burns and inflammatory conditions and even acne.
And yet, with all of its popularity lavender oil is a know skin allergen. According to an article about essential oils, a tiny bit of diluted lavender oil may not cause irritation if you’re someone who has never dealt with sensitivities. But if you have temperamental skin (like moi), then using lavender-filled products is like playing a game of risk. “Any amount of contact with an allergen, like lavender oil, can be too much for a susceptible person,” says Dr. Zeichner (“susceptible person” including those who frequently battle rashes, hives, and allergic reactions).” This is NOT to scare you or say cut out lavender oil completely, but as someone who is crafting products it is my responsibility to properly educate anyone who may not know and who shows interest in my brand.
However, the benefits of lavender oils contributes immensely to the results of the Foaming Facial Wash! Customers have written reviews about the product already and they’ve said nothing short of great things. Remember to use patch-testing when trying ANY new product to reduce risk of an allergic reaction.
“ I had a pimple on the side of my face near my headline from applying too much heavy oils. I washed my face using the Urban Glow Cosmetics Lavender Facial Wash and the next morning the pimple was dried out!!! I have eczema and there’s no irritation or dryness. My skin in soft and clear!”
— Urban Glow Customer Review
Subscribe to The Glow Experience Beauty Blog to find out more about our featured products and shop all natural skincare at Urban! Share this blog via Instagram and Twitter for other natural skincare enthusiasts.
See original post at https://medium.com/@naturallyindy/the-glow-experience-beauty-blog-45ed1ee731b
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Let's Talk about Regimens,
A Regimen is a systematic plan for some kind of therapy. In this case, skin care therapy! There are various options and combinations to consider when creating a skincare regimen because everyone's skin is different. There are different parts of your skin that requires multiple methods of care. Here are my tips to help guide you in building a successful Skincare Regimen with us.
Remember: There is a four to six week window that allows a full skin-cell turnover to take place, which is when you can usually start to see all the benefits from your new skin care products.
Know Your Skin
Oily
We are launched and ready! Urban Glow Cosmetics aims to do more than provide you with all natural and affordable skincare products. Our goal is to restore and enhance confidence through skincare. We want you to love yourself and have a great time doing so! We are here to prove to you that you have time to take care of yourself with our easy access and on-the-go packaging. Masks are travel sized so you can carve out time ANYWHERE for a quick rejuvenation.
We feature two facial masks right now, Midnight Mint Mask and the Turmicnator. Both masks are great moisturizing agents with gentle exfoliation properties. Wondering which mask is for you? Let me help!
If you are interested in the Midnight Mint Mask you maybe looking for a gentle exfoliant and skin detox. Activated charcoal draws bacteria, poisons, chemicals, dirt and other micro-particles to the surface of skin, helping you to achieve a flawless complexion and fight acne. Charcoal is not metabolized, adsorbed or absorbed by the body. This formula includes other ingredients such as essential oils and aloe vera to combat dry skin. This facial mask is good for normal to combination skin, heavy usage may irritate sensitive skin types, but if used in moderation there should be little to no irritation.
If you are interested in the Turmicnator, (everyones favorite) then your skin maybe a little more acne prone and/or you're looking to reduce scars: The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric work on your pores and calm the skin. Turmeric also contains curcumin (a bright yellow chemical produced by some plants. It is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric, a member of the ginger family), which inhibits pigmentation in skin. This leads to diminishing of dark spots and lightening of skin over time. Use in moderation to prevent temporary staining, less is more! This formula includes other ingredients such as essential oils and carrier oils to combat dry skin. This facial mask is good for normal to combination skin, heavy usage may irritate sensitive skin types, but if used in moderation there should be little to no irritation.
Now that I have shed some light on our Glow Collection I hope to see you at check out! More information and tips will be posted to help you better care for your skin, so be sure to join #TheGlowExperience and subscribe to our newsletter for more updates.
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