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How a blog became a billion dollar beauty brand
This is the New Money Talks Newsletter, the newsletter packed with entrepreneurs' personal stories, financial tips, and more!
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You’re probably wondering how a blog can turn into a billion-dollar beauty brand in less than a decade.
Well, today you’re in luck, because we’re going to reveal the secret behind Glossier, one of the most successful and innovative beauty brands in the world.
Glossier is not just a beauty brand. It’s a movement. It’s a community. It’s a lifestyle.
And it all started with a BLOG.
Emily Weiss, the founder of Glossier, was a former fashion assistant at Teen Vogue magazine.
She launched a blog called Into the Gloss in 2010, where she shared her passion for beauty products and tips with other enthusiasts.
The blog quickly gained a loyal following and became a reference in the industry.
But Emily had a BIGGER vision.
She realized that there was a gap in the market for a beauty brand that was more authentic, inclusive, and customer-centric.
She decided to create her own line of products, based on the feedback and preferences of her blog readers.
She raised $2 million in seed funding in 2014 and launched Glossier, an online-only, direct-to-consumer beauty brand.
Glossier’s products were designed to enhance the natural beauty of its customers, rather than cover it up. They were simple, effective, and affordable.
They also came in minimalist and Instagram-friendly packaging, which appealed to the millennial generation.
But what really set Glossier apart was its marketing strategy.
Instead of relying on traditional advertising, Glossier leveraged the power of social media, word-of-mouth, and influencer marketing.
It created a community of loyal fans, who became its best ambassadors. It also encouraged user-generated content, such as reviews, photos, and videos, which showcased the real results and experiences of its customers.
Glossier’s approach paid off.
In less than a decade, it grew from a blog to a billion dollar business, with over 400 employees and millions of customers worldwide.
It also expanded its product range, from skincare and makeup to fragrance and body care. It even opened a few physical stores, which became destinations for its fans.
So, what’s the secret behind Glossier’s success? How did they manage to achieve such phenomenal growth and loyalty? And more importantly, how can you apply their lessons to your own ecommerce business?
The secret behind Glossier’s success is simple: they put their customers FIRST.
They listen to their customers and create products that solve their problems and meet their needs.
They build a strong brand identity and voice that resonates with their target market. They use social media, word-of-mouth, and influencer marketing to spread the word about their products and create a community of fans.
They encourage user-generated content and feedback and use it to improve their products and services. They experiment, innovate, and adapt to changing customer preferences and market trends.
These are the ecommerce tips that you can learn from Glossier’s story and use to grow your own business:
1) Find a niche that you’re passionate about and that has a loyal and engaged audience.
Glossier focused on the beauty niche and the millennial generation. They created a blog that catered to their interests and needs and built a loyal and engaged audience.
Use market research and online tools to find out what topics and keywords are popular and relevant to your audience.
Create a blog or a website that provides valuable and engaging content to your niche, and build a relationship with them.
2) Listen to your customers and create products that solve their problems and meet their needs.
Glossier created their products based on the feedback and preferences of their blog readers. They created products that were simple, effective, and affordable, and that matched their customers’ EXPECTATIONS and DESIRES.
Use surveys, interviews, or online tools to collect and analyze your customers’ behavior and feedback.
Use this data to create products that solve their problems and meet their needs, and that differentiate you from your competitors.
3) Build a strong brand identity and voice that resonates with your target market.
Glossier built a strong brand identity and voice that resonated with its target market.
They used a minimalist and pastel aesthetic, a friendly and conversational tone, and a catchy and memorable name and slogan. They also created a logo that was simple and recognizable, and that could be easily applied to their products and packaging.
4) Use social media, word-of-mouth, and influencer marketing to spread the word about your products and create a community of fans.
Glossier used social media, word-of-mouth, and influencer marketing to spread the word about their products and create a community of fans.
They used platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest to showcase their products, share their stories, and engage with their customers.
They also encouraged their customers to share their own photos, videos, and reviews of their products, and to tag them with #glossier.
They also collaborated with influencers, celebrities, and media outlets that had a large and relevant following, and that shared their brand values and vision.
Create a referral program, a loyalty program, or a giveaway to incentivize your customers to share your products and brand with their friends and family.
5) Encourage user-generated content and feedback, and use it to improve your products and services.
Glossier encouraged user-generated content and feedback, and used it to improve their products and services.
They featured their customers’ photos, videos, and reviews on their website, social media, and newsletters.
They also asked their customers for their opinions and suggestions on their products, packaging, and website.
They then used this feedback to make improvements and changes, and to create new products and features.
Use online tools to collect and display your customers’ reviews and ratings on your website and social media.
Use online tools to create and send surveys and polls to your customers.
Use this feedback to make improvements and changes, and to create new products and features that your customers WANT and NEED…
Now, after you have learned the ecommerce tips that can help you grow your own business, based on Glossier’s story.
But learning is not ENOUGH. You need to take action and apply these tips to your own business. You need to turn your passion into a profitable and sustainable ecommerce brand.
You have the POTENTIAL to do it.
You have the vision, the skills, and the tools. You have the chance to build a strong brand identity and voice that resonates with your target market.
You have everything you need to SUCCEED.
You just need to believe in yourself and TAKE ACTION.
You need to overcome your fears and doubts, and face the challenges and risks. You need to experiment, innovate, and adapt to changing customer preferences and market trends.
You need to work hard, smart, and consistently.
You can do it. You can achieve your ecommerce dreams.
You can become the next Glossier.
You can create a billion-dollar beauty brand that started as a blog.
We believe in you.
So, don’t give up. Don’t quit. Don’t settle. Keep going. Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep creating.
Tweet of the day
Your best decisions are driven by:
⁃ Data
⁃ Past experience
⁃ First principles
⁃ Long term thinkingYour worst decisions are driven by:
⁃ Ego
⁃ Fear
⁃ Greed
⁃ What everyone else is doing— daviefogarty (@daviefogarty)
6:28 AM • Nov 25, 2023
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