Solutions to the Top 2  Post-Covid Retail Problems

Solutions to the Top 2 Post-Covid Retail Problems

Solutions to the Top 2 Post-Covid Retail Problems

After months of solely shopping online, a survey by Headkount has reported that 8 in 10 customers want customer service assistance in the store. That means they are looking for real, live, sales associates to help them. This great news however, is met with some major setbacks that retail stores are dealing with. CosPro Marketing has the solutions to help!

Great news for retail stores – shoppers are ready and eager to get back to brick-and-mortar shopping!

Problem #1: Sales suffer due to understaffed stores

Unfortunately many store associates were furloughed or laid off to reduce overhead costs during the pandemic. Some of these employees are still concerned for their health and safety, and some of them have discovered new careers, leaving a gap that has become hard to fill at many retail stores.

Solution: Demonstrators &
sample/tester displays in stores

CosPro Marketing has over 8,000 brand ambassadors nationwide who are expertly trained to do live in-person product demonstrations, makeovers, and to help increase sales. We also offer a monthly beauty box program with options for custom in-store product tester displays and sample displays to get your product into the hands of thousands of eager shoppers.

Problem #2: Making a sale when items are out of stock

Eager customers are excited to get out of the house and go shopping at physicial stores, and expect to be able to bring items home with them at the same time. Disappointment abounds when the product they want is out of stock and missing from shelves.

Solution: Coupons for online purchases/associate training

It’s hard to make up for a product being out of stock. A coupon handed out in-stores that can be used for an online purchase, is a good way to direct the customer to where they can buy the item, plus they’ll be happy to receive a discount. Another solution is to train store associates, so in the case that a product is out of stock, they have the knowledge to recommend a comparable product to the customer.

Let’s work together to find the best solution!

Even though there are some post-Covid obstacles in retail stores, this is a great time to take advantage of the buying power of consumers who are ready to get back to brick-and-mortar shopping. Don’t miss out on sales because of missing sales associates or inventory issues. Contact us today so we can help!

Why Outsource to CosPro Marketing?

Why Outsource to CosPro Marketing?

Why Outsource to CosPro Marketing?

As all retailers know, there‘s never enough staff to do all the great, inventive and creative things you would like to get done to boost sales and market presence. The solution?  Do what so many competitors have done: consider outsourcing that wish list to shopper engagement experts. Here are some great reasons why outsourcing works – especially with CosPro Marketing:

1. Outside insights, innovation and expertise

Outsourcing is a great way to explore new programs by giving you access to individuals who bring a fresh perspective and new ideas for innovating your marketing efforts. CosPro Marketing are experts in shopper engagement, with 31+ years’ experience. We can create a complete marketing program or outsource some of your ongoing programs so your team can focus on organic growth.

2. Scale fast

When you need to act quickly, existing resources may lack the critical bandwidth. Working with CosPro Marketing gives you the ability to scale marketing efforts quickly and know things will run smoothly, on-time and with your branding protected. Our creative team turns jobs around quickly while handling all the approval processes with your internal marketing team.

3. Reduced overhead expenses

Outsourcing gives you the manpower and skills you need without the overhead. There’s no need to invest in software or additional staff, because CosPro Marketing brings a deep base of these capabilities.

4. Decreased internal staff load

Outsourcing to CosPro Marketing will lighten your team’s individual workloads and allow them to focus on the parts of their jobs they find most valuable and rewarding. On average, turning over one program to CosPro Marketing saves your company 340 labor hours! You never have to worry again about any gaps in staffing to get programs done.

5. Paid by others

By partnering with CosPro Marketing, you not only SAVE your company money by reducing labor costs, but since most of our innovative programs are share-funded by the vendors, they don’t cost you a dime since our services are free to retailers. There are NO retainer fees or surprise agency charges.

6. Focus

You have a lot on your plate and focusing on these programs is hard. By using CosPro Marketing, you get a team that is completely focused on designing and delivering successful programs that increase shopper engagement and train your sales associates. Our services can be fully turnkey, freeing your time for more important challenges.

7. Achieving results and ROI

At the end of the day, results are what matter to retailers. With our expertise and our ability to serve as extra sets of hands to support your marketing teams, you can be sure that CosPro expertise will deliver higher vendor ROI while boosting overall sales.

Programs we can handle for retailers at NO COST and totally turnkey:

Baby & Pet Clubs

Surprise & delight product sampling

In-store
demo events

PLUS, training store associates, beauty advisor placement,
market activation events and more!

Product Sampling Programs

Product Sampling Programs

Product Sampling Programs

One of our experiential marketing events is to execute product sampling programs engaging customers at multicultural and specific events such as women’s shows, sporting events, colleges and more. We also customize Grand Opening Programs for retailers so that they are assured of product sampling on opening day. Online and .com programs are a great way to provide product samples to shoppers making an online purchase. Offering product samples at in-store events is a great way to reach customers who have never heard of a brand or product before. 89% of all first-time purchases were the result of a trial, so there is proof that product sampling works and 68% of the customers surveyed said they had never heard of the brand before they received a sample. There are no testers in stores, but customers still like to try before they buy – correct product sampling NOW can help you stand out from the crowd and allow the customer the experience they are missing because of COVID. 

There are many ways to distribute product samples and CosPro Marketing can help; we have distributed more than 90 million product samples and have a variety of affordable programs that can get your product sampling done!

It is time to do product sampling now or plan for 2nd half when the world opens back up. Here are some ways to do product sampling and why:

1. People are still using curbside and instore pickup and delivery – this means they are not seeing your brand at the store. 70% of all purchase decisions are made in store, 30% are unplanned (impulse). By doing product sampling on a regular basis, you are giving your brand the exposure it is missing by foot traffic in store. Consider adding your product samples to curbside or delivery packages – not only does the customer get a delightful gift, but your product also gets trial.

2. Product sampling is relatively inexpensive – for example you can send them direct via the mail – Bulk mail rates are low and you don’t have to pay somebody to stand in a store or at an event and hand out samples. Although we do miss in-person events, that’s a big plus if you’re worried about costs, particularly if your product can be mailed in a small package. CosPro Marketing can handle your product sampling via direct mail for you.

3. Consider shared vendor target product sampling – sharing lowers your product sampling costs and results in higher ROI.

a. The world is slowly opening back up and by back-to-school time most colleges will reopen and by fall we can expect to see concerts again. CosPro Marketing has a college product sampling program that places your product samples (combined with others) on the doors of dorm rooms AND at exits after concerts.

b. By fall community events will be back – even if with masks required – these events are perfect for product sampling and bouncing customers back into stores or your website. CosPro Marketing sends their street teams to different community events distributing product samples that target multi-cultural consumers.

c. Both programs above plus a new men’s product sampling program provide up to 20,000 product sampling bags distributed at these venues for a total cost of $6000 (only 30 cents per sample – less than bulk mail). And these are being distributed in person directly to your target customer. One participant saw a 467% increase in website hits while participating in one of our community product sampling events.

4.Consider adding customized QR codes to your product samples or have CosPro Marketing enhance your product samples with more engaging packaging or adhere to coupons or special discount codes. The QR code can take customers directly to your website or a chains .com for an immediate full size purchase. Or you can gain user generated content by having the QR code direct them to review the product they just sampled. CosPro Marketing can also create tutorial videos that the QR code can link to – there are dozens of ways to make these product samples really work for you. All this can help measure the ROI of product sampling. .

We can help!

Whichever product sampling program you choose to participate in, product sampling is a winning proposition that will lead to brand recognition as well as sales. Call CosPro Marketing now for your FREE consultation on product sampling, or ways to enhance your current product sampling campaign or discuss any other experiential marketing activity.

View our sampling programs

Diversity Sampling Program a Hit with 20K Sample Bags Distributed!

Diversity Sampling Program a Hit with 20K Sample Bags Distributed!

Diversity Product Sampling Program a Hit!

If you’re looking for diversity product sampling, we have the experiential marketing program for you! For only 30 cents per sample, vendors were able to participate in our Diversity Product Sampling Program that distributed bags with product samples to 20,000 women at African American and Hispanic events in large markets around the country. CosPro Diversity Ambassadors handed out drawstring sample bags at events like the Malcom Shabazz Harlem Market, Fiesta DC, GirlTrek and more! Each bag contained beauty and personal care product samples and a coupon book encouraging customers to purchase the full-size product either in-stores or online.

Excitement abounded at each event, as our ambassadors safely handed out bags to recipients outside, or at drive up events where they received a bag in their car. This year during the pandemic has been different in many ways, and hard on many consumers so the product samples chosen specifically for them were a welcome surprise, and people were excited to receive the coupon book inside.

Our most popular sampling programs are our target market sampling programs where we send our street teams to distribute up to 20,000 samples at community events, festivals, concerts and parades. One brand saw a 467% website hit lift when he participated in a program! For only 30 cents per sample participation cost, you can’t afford not to participate.

The recipients were familiar with most of the brands and many mentioned that they were super excited to try these product samples. The diversity sampling program was a success with brands benefiting from the opportunity to place their samples right in the hands of their target demographic.

Our target market product sampling programs run every year and include diversity product sampling, a teen & college product sampling program, and a men’s game day product sampling program. Find out how to get your samples into the hands of a specific target demographic!

More photos!

5 Ways to Impress Your Boss

5 Ways to Impress Your Boss

5 Ways to Impress Your Boss

If you’re trying to get ahead at work, one of the key people you need to impress is your boss. Your boss is the person in the best position to improve your work life, as they are the person in control of your daily workload and assignments as well as the one to give a recommendation or referral if you are trying to move into a new position or get promoted. Following are 5 top-rated, proven methods for impressing your boss.

1. Save the Company Money
Obvious, right? It should be! However, many employees get so caught up in their own project budget or bottom line that they don’t think to SHARE their time or money-saving methods, whether their own process or with a third party partner that specializes in an area, with their boss or other departments. As long as their own department looks good, they don’t think or care about the other departments. Or, they count on other departments looking bad to make their own look better. But, by sharing your ideas of how to increase profits or cut costs, you make yourself look good while showing that you’re concerned with the bigger picture and the company’s bottom line – things that upper management is concerned with.

2. Work Smarter
Working hard is not enough – it’s better to work smarter. A hard worker will stay late or stay up half the night to complete a project. A smart worker will make sure that they have the proper support the help complete the task on time (delegate) or find a way to do it in half the time (new process). No matter how hard you work, if there’s someone doing exactly what you do except faster and with less drama, they’ll grab the limelight every time. Also, consider this – a promotion or a leadership of a new project are both ways the company gives you more responsibility. If you’re not handling what you have on your plate currently, how do you expect to be given more responsibility? If you work on increasing efficiency in your job and your department and SHARE those new methods, you’ll be the first name they think of when the time comes for a more important project.

3. Attitude
Attitude matters. Don’t just master the basics of your position, make yourself available for extra duties and volunteer for special projects whenever possible. You don’t want to become a dumping ground for thankless tasks, but you do want to show that you have mastered your current position and are capable of performing at a higher level. Fortune favors the bold! As long as you’re on top of all of your current duties, step out of your box and take on a new task that’s valuable to the company. Go the extra mile, volunteer to help teammates, pick up extra responsibilities, and find ways to leverage new tools to become more efficient. Let your boss know what you’re working on. They may take the task away from you, but they won’t forget your vision. Attitude is key to impressing your manager – the best employees are professional, consistent “thought leaders” with a desire to contribute to the success of the business.

4. Problem Solve
Don’t just hand your problems over to your boss. If it’s not something that you can handle on your own, take a few minutes before reporting the issue and come up with some possible solutions to offer with it. Make sure that what you suggest contributes to the organization attaining its overall goals. Even if your boss decides to handle the problem differently, it will still show that you are a problem solver and thinking of the big picture. Any employee who can solve problems on their own is a truly valuable asset and will always impress the boss.

5. Take Credit
As mentioned already, SHARE your ideas, solutions, and new processes. Business is not the place for false modesty. If you don’t tell your boss of your success, how will they know? You may think that your boss is paying attention to every little thing that you do. However, they have their own responsibilities and are usually just concerned with your results. Managers rely on their team to bring key things to their attention. So, when something goes exceptionally well, let your boss know. There is no shame in highlighting your accomplishments…just remember to give credit to all involved and not annoy your boss with minor things. (You do not want to appear desperate.) A monthly email of your achievements should suffice. Remember, the goal is to be seen as a savvy worker, problem-solver and team player who is aware of the company’s goals and the bottom line. Anything promoting that image should be shared.

Conclusion
Overall, it is a good strategy for your career to work on impressing your boss. In the short-term, your boss will begin to see you as someone who has potential and is looking to move forward within the company. And, in the long run, a former boss can prove to be a valuable career resource once you have moved on. Follow these proven, effective methods to realize a rewarding, satisfying career.

The Real Life Story of Connie’s Success

The Real Life Story of Connie’s Success

The Real Life Story of Connie’s Success

“My boss never noticed me or any of the things I did! I was spending my days meeting with suppliers and then doing my ‘real job’ at night! I had all these great ideas that I wanted to implement but just didn’t have the time, energy or help to do it.

Then I found CosPro Marketing and my life changed! They became the ‘staff’ I never had. They worked direct with the suppliers to implement the things I wanted and not only give me more time but SAVED the supplier’s money as well!

My boss actually noticed me in the hall the other day and said ‘Good Job’… now I am a SUPERSTAR!”

An Interview with Joann Marks, CEO and Founder of Fairy Shimmerhair Extensions

An Interview with Joann Marks, CEO and Founder of Fairy Shimmerhair Extensions

An Interview with Joann Marks, CEO and Founder of Fairy Shimmerhair Extensions

What is your background?
I own a company called CosPro Marketing that was started as Cosmetic Promotions back in 1990 using a borrowed computer and my garage as a warehouse. That inauspicious beginning has culminated 30 years later as a leader in Beauty Marketing, working with CVS and Walgreens as well as every mass beauty brand.  Today the company (rebranded in 2020 as CosPro Marketing) has 23 employees, operates a 40,000 square foot warehouse, and supports two offsite workshops for mentally challenged adults with thousands of hours’ worth of work each year. Altogether, the Cosmetic Promotions team produces and delivers more than 20,000 beauty kits each month.  In addition, I started CosPro Agency 19 years ago to provide makeup artists and brand ambassadors in stores to promote the beauty brands we work with.

What got you interested in Fairy Hair?
About 2 years ago I was in a Bar Method class and the instructor had these shimmering strands in her hair that looked awesome! I was getting ready to go on a weekend girls only cruise and thought it would be fun for our group to get fairy hair. So, I booked a party with a fairy and from that moment on I was hooked. Everywhere I went people wanted to know what it was and where they could get it! I had people following me in Europe!

So, tell us exactly what is it?
Fairy Shimmerhair™ Extensions are delicate, silky, shimmering fairy hair extensions which tie onto one strand of hair. They last until that strand of hair falls out naturally. You can wash them, brush them, comb them, color them, curl them, straighten them, blow them dry, and get a haircut with them in!

What are they made of?
They are made of a high-quality fabric that mimics actual hair. Some companies call it Thai Silk but we had them tested by the University of Florida and it is really a silky polyester that withstands heat up to 350 degrees. There is only one company that manufacturers the strands we choose to use because we wanted the one with the highest quality and largest shade selection.

Can people buy the fairy hair elsewhere and DIY?
There are some on Amazon that are a much lower quality (TINSEL) and usually only offer 12 shades. The issue is not only the product quality but the expertise of putting it in. Doing it on yourself is exceedingly difficult and if not put on the hair correctly, will fall out easily. Our trained technicians know the secret to perfect application so that the strands last longer.

So how long can people expect it to last?
I have one strand in my hair now that has been there since middle of June – over 4 months! But typically anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. The key is that it is tied to ONE hair and when that one hair falls out naturally so does the Fairy hair.

Why did you decide to start this business NOW – especially during Covid?
Our CosPro Agency was not able to book events into stores because obviously to apply makeup you must touch people and during Covid, that is not being done. That means they had nothing to do and I didn’t want to furlough all of them. I also realized there were all these freelance makeup artists out there who needed work. Fairy hair application is Covid safe – everything is sanitized between clients, there is one person there at a time and both the specialist and the client wear a mask. They are not face to face and the specialist is not even brushing the hair, she is choosing one strand at a time.

    But overall, there are 2 more reasons I wanted to start this business:

    1. Many small businesses are hurting. They have reopened and are struggling to get customers in the stores – especially with all the restrictions. By hosting a fairy hair 3-hour event, they can get 12-16 new customers – ONE AT A TIME – into their stores. Plus, we help promote them on our social media. Most of these boutiques are women owned, so we like that.
    2. I wanted to empower as many young women as possible that I could. This gives them the opportunity to run their own business, choose their own hours and make good money.

      Is this a franchise?
      No, it is more like selling Avon, but better. You buy the kit for under $400 and then reorder the hair from us as needed. As your business grows, you can hire fairies to work for you! The group here in Central Florida has been doing it about 3 years and they are always booked solid! Our company is providing the training, the locations, and the booking platform along with robust marketing. They are earning up to 65% of each session plus tips! A fairy working just 6 to 12 hours a week can earn over $50,000 a year.

      Where are you doing these?
      Right now, we have launched in Atlanta and Jacksonville. Tulsa is next. We have agreements with several small chains, so we are launching in areas where those chains are and where we have the most agency people. But we are also accepting applications on our website.

      How does a store get involved?
      If a store is looking for more foot traffic, they can contact us about hosting an event.

      Are these only done in stores?
      No, we also offer Fairy Shimmerhair™ Extensions private parties!   

    What types of women is this for?
    Every woman who has at least 2 inches of hair! Women of all ages love it, you can’t believe how many over 65 women living in the Villages are getting it done. Some people get it for a party, others wear it constantly. Cheerleaders love it, college students get their school colors done. At Halloween you can wear orange and purple. During Mardi Gras, purple, green and gold. And of course, Christmas you can do red and green or silver and gold.

    It can be VERY subtle – I like using colors very close to my hair color that just sparkle in the light. Or you can go all out bling and do our Mean Girls Pink or Pure Sapphire. There is also the very popular Rainbow that the younger gals love.

    How much does it cost?
    It is just $2 per fusion (which hangs down as 2 strands), we sell them in packages of 10, 20, 30 and so on. For every 10 you buy, you get to choose a color. Most people get 20 to 30 strands and 2 colors.

    Anything else?
    Fairy Shimmerhair™ Extensions are FUN – something we all need right now. It is a way to feel good about yourself and get tons of attention and compliments!

    We also have an automatic loyalty club – for every 100 strands you purchase (over time), you get a coupon for 10 strands FREE. We also do FREE strands on the store employees and hope to start doing free sessions for children in need or at women’s shelters.

    Some businesses doing grand openings would hire our fairies for 2 hours to do free fairy hair as a promotion.

    Also, some celebrities have been seen with fairy hair.

    Beyoncé glistened at the 2010 Grammy Awards and in 2019 not only did Saoirse Ronan dazzle on the red carpet for the 2019 Governor’s Award, but Kacey Musgraves rocked a tinsel ponytail during her 2019 tour with the help from celebrity hairstylist Giovanni Delgado.

    Website: www.fairyshimmerhair.com

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairyshimmerhair

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairyshimmerhair/

    Fairy Shimmerhair Extensions Launches

    Fairy Shimmerhair Extensions Launches

    Fairy Shimmerhair Extensions Launches

    CosPro Marketing is partnering with Fairy Shimmerhair Extensions to bring fairy hair events to locations in Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and more! 

    If you haven’t tried fairy hair by now, you’ve probably heard of this popular trend. We all remember how Beyoncé glistened at the 2010 Grammy Awards and in 2019 not only did Saoirse Ronan dazzle on the red carpet for the 2019 Govenors Award, but Kacey Musgraves rocked a tinsel ponytail during her 2019 tour with the help from hairstylist Giovanni Delgado.

    Fairy Shimmerhair™ Extensions are delicate, silky, shimmering fairy hair extensions which tie onto one strand of hair. They last until that strand of hair falls out naturally. You can wash them, brush them, comb them, color them, curl them, straighten them, blow them dry, and get a haircut with them in!

    The first ever Fairy Shimmerhair Extensions event will be held on Friday, November 13th in Jacksonville, Florida. The event will take place at Lilly Pulitzer in the St. Johns Town Center. This is a great opportunity to try fairy hair if you haven’t gotten in on this trendy statement style already!

    For more events and information on Fairy Shimmerhair Extensions, visit FairyShimmerhair.com.

     

    Joann Marks of Cosmetic Promotions: Five Things You Need to Know to Succeed in the Modern Beauty Industry

    Joann Marks of Cosmetic Promotions: Five Things You Need to Know to Succeed in the Modern Beauty Industry

    Joann Marks of Cosmetic Promotions: Five Things You Need to Know to Succeed in the Modern Beauty Industry

    Joann Marks of CosPro Marketing was featured in a recent article in Authority Magazine. 

    Jilea Hemmings of Authority Magazine Interviewed Joann Marks a part of a series about “Five Things You Need to Know to Succeed in the Modern Beauty Industry”.

    Retail in the wake of COVID-19

    Retail in the wake of COVID-19

    Retail in the wake of COVID-19

    By now, everyone has seen the effects of COVID-19 on our current economy. We’ve had to adapt to a changing retail landscape; the way we’ve made purchases has changed in the past month, and it will continue to change in the future.

    There is the Sephora shopper who can’t go into her favorite store and is trying drugstore and supermarket brands because she needs a shopping experience pick-me-up. There is the 83-year-old man who had never ordered anything online and is now using InstaCart for curbside pickup and loves it.

    When this is over there is evidence that many stories like this will affect how people shop more than we expected. Experts believe these adaptations will have a lasting effect on our consumer behavior – especially when it comes to online sales.

    Want more insights like this and on the topics below?

    • E-Commerce in the Wake of COVID-19
    • The Effects of COVID-19 on Retail Sales
    • Innovation Thrives in Times of Change
    • The Lipstick Effect
    • 5 Ways to Market in this Changing Retail Landscape
    Get access to the entire COVID-19 White Paper
    More Beauty Shoppers Want Cruelty-Free Products

    More Beauty Shoppers Want Cruelty-Free Products

    More Beauty Shoppers Want Cruelty-Free Products

    A selling point that is sometimes overlooked by beauty brands is a cruelty-free manufacturing process. This means that the products are not tested on animals. A nationwide survey of 1,300 women found that more than 75% said it was “extremely important” or “somewhat important” that the products they buy are not tested on animals. This was the 2nd most important factor in purchasing decisions; cost of course being number one.

    The survey, conducted by Vitacost, polled 1,266 women, aged 18-60+. Almost a third of women purchase cosmetics every 1-2 months. About three quarters of these women would buy a product labeled “cruelty-free” over the competing product if price and quality remained the same. 45% said that animal rights were “extremely important” to them, and 41% said they were “somewhat important”. 36.7% of those surveyed said that most or ALL of the beauty products they own are cruelty-free.

    Here’s a look at just a few of the popular drugstore beauty brands that are cruelty-free.

    CoverGirl
    One of the more recent in the news; CoverGirl decided to make the leap and is now officially certified that all of their products are not tested on animals. This was huge news for drugstore beauty fans who have been loyal to CoverGirl but also want to support cruelty-free brands.

    Milani
    Another great affordable cosmetic brand that saves animals from harm is Milani. With a wide range of Face, Eye, Lip and Nail cosmetics, they have a huge selection of cruelty-free makeup.

    Love Beauty & Planet
    From shampoo & conditioner to body wash, lotion & bath bombs, Love Beauty & Planet is a great go-to for cruelty free hair and skincare products. Bonus, many of their products are also vegan!

    Love Beauty & Planet
    From shampoo & conditioner to body wash, lotion & bath bombs, Love Beauty & Planet is a great go-to for cruelty free hair and skincare products. Bonus, many of their products are also vegan!

    NYX
    This newer but well-loved drugstore brand made the commitment to go cruelty-free. Some of our favorites are the Sweet Cheeks Blush and the Lip Lingerie Push Up Lipstick.

    These are only a few of the many drugstore brands that have committed to going cruelty-free. Others include Ardell, Hask, Physicians Formula, e.l.f., EcoTools and more. Hopefully brands will see how important a cruelty-free manufacturing process is to consumers, and more companies will take the leap!

    History of a “Miracle Product”

    History of a “Miracle Product”

    One beauty & personal care product we’ve probably all used at some point in our lives is Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. The history of Vaseline dates all the way back to 1870 when chemist Robert Chesebrough discovered petroleum jelly. Chesebrough first started his career as a chemist and oddly enough his job was clarifying kerosene from the oil of sperm whales. His job was no longer needed when petroleum was discovered later in Pennsylvania. Frustrated, Chesebrough traveled to Pennsylvania to see what other products could be created from this new fuel. This led to his discovery of petroleum jelly, which he marketed and trade-named Vaseline.

    One beauty & personal care product we’ve probably all used at some point in our lives is Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. The history of Vaseline dates all the way back to 1870 when chemist Robert Chesebrough discovered petroleum jelly. Chesebrough first started his career as a chemist and oddly enough his job was clarifying kerosene from the oil of sperm whales. His job was no longer needed when petroleum was discovered later in Pennsylvania. Frustrated, Chesebrough traveled to Pennsylvania to see what other products could be created from this new fuel. This led to his discovery of petroleum jelly, which he marketed and trade-named Vaseline.

    The success of Chesebrough’s Vaseline was attributed to his confidence and belief in his own product. In the beginning when he was unable to sell any product at all, he traveled to New York, demonstrating his product so consumers could see the results. He even went so far as to burn his skin with acid or an open flame, and then apply the Vaseline to his injuries. He would show past injuries and how they healed with his “miracle product.” To increase product awareness, he also distributed free samples.

    Vaseline was purchased in 1987 by Unilever, and the company now has a whole range of products including the original Vaseline Petroleum Jelly as well as lotions, serums and lip products. Chesebrough lived to 96 years of age and was so confident in his product that he ate a spoonful of Petroleum Jelly every day! His legacy shows how hard work, determination and believing in yourself can pay off.