This question comes up over and over again… “Where can I buy high end department store cosmetics and fragrances?”… “I do not want to buy any sample sizes or customer returns…I want new designer label cosmetics”….
Well, as Simon Cowell often says in that snobby British accent…”SORRY!!!”.
Finding fresh new overstock cosmetics is next to impossible and I will tell you why…..Lets thinks about it for a moment…high dollar brands are expensive due to “Perceived Value”. Honestly, how much do you really think it costs MAC to produce a tube of lipstick? With packaging I would venture to say that the cost to manufacture a single lipstick is probably under fifty cents. But wait…why then at the cosmetics counter does it cost $18-$24 for that same item? You are paying for the name…MAC.
Lets make some sense of this. MAC Cosmetics knowing that its brand name alone is worth someone paying $24 for a tube of lipstick will not be inclined to allow its merchandise out on the secondary wholesale market. Most cosmetic manufacturers require department stores to return any excess or customer returned items to the distributor to be destroyed.
If hoards of high end cosmetics make it to the secondary or liquidation market the companies “brand perception” will be compromised due to sellers selling designer cosmetics at 50-80% off of retail.
High End Cosmetics such as Dior, Elizabeth Arden, Chanel, Armani, Lancome, Mac, Kathy Hilton, Philosophy, Clinique, Benefit, Prescriptives, Shiseido, Urban Decay, Origins and Fashion Fair are not readily available on the secondary liquidation market to protect brand integrity.
You will note that a lot of liquidators will offer shelf pull or new high end cosmetics, but often when your shipment arrives it is less than appealing…Used cosmetics, trial sizes, off brand names etc
I would suggest buying cosmetics such as Mabybelline, Cover Girl, L’oreal, Revlon and Max Factor which are readily available in new, shelf pulls. Think of it this way…most women do buy these brands. Not everyone can afford the high end brand names.
West Coast Liquidator Via Trading sells HBA products including cosmetics by the small case lot. They have a very large extensive inventory of name brand closeouts.
By Myriam on Jul 4, 2008 | Reply
I need to buy cosmetic brands like mac, Clinique, Estee Lauder & Dr Brandt etc, can you help?
By Robert The Wholesale Guy on Jul 8, 2008 | Reply
Myriam Writes..
“I need to buy cosmetic brands like mac, Clinique, Estee Lauder & Dr Brandt etc, can you help?”
Well, everyone wants these brands and like the post sez - “sorry” it is not going to happen..
I did a search for Estee Lauder and Mac last year. It was one of the most frustrating research exercises I ever participated in.
Bottom line - is that I came up with nothing in terms of viable supply sources..
Estee Lauder will sponsor a warehouse sale at their Long Island facility where you can get a shot at some of their product at bargain prices.
Even if you did get a “trust pass” only certain organizations like school administrators, union members, and employees are issued said passes..
In addition, you can only buy a certain amount of product. You cannot come out of that sale with a pallet load of merchandise.
Some people have asked me - if these brands are so hard to find, then why are there people selling products like Estee or Mac on Ebay?
Where are they getting it from?
Chances are they have a connection within the industry, are selling fake goods, found them on sale in their local shops, or importing the product from an overseas manufacturing facility. And no, I have no idea where that might be. (LOL!)
Some people might even be selling what little product they got from the Estee Lauder warehouse sale they attended.
As mentioned in his post, Robert correctly points out that Cover Girl, Maybelline, are readily available as shelf pulls..
But, high end cosmetics that bring in substantial profit are not going to be available in the wholesale or surplus products stream..
Why sell an ounce of gold for 400 dollars to a wholesaler or surplus dealer when the open market can get you 1000 dollars an ounce?
The point being is - if you have something of value, you are going to sell it yourself or keep it’s distribution limited.
You are not going to let the general public have access to it as secondary or wholesale market prices. Limited supply commands value..
As a side note on the “surplus side” of cosmetic distribution. The other reason most companies will not sell their products out into the surplus market is expiration dates..
If a customer gets a hold of expired product, applies it to their skin, has a break out of some kind, or worse, an allergic reaction resulting in injury or death, now you have yourself a lawsuit on your hands..
Yes, this is a worse case scenario, but still, all things are possible. Most expired product is headed toward the landfill.
I knew someone who worked for Revlon and that is what they do. They will give some of the product to their employees and the rest they destroy..
I think that chasing brands that have limited distribution, at least in my opinion, can be a tremendous waste of time.
Finding a niche with a product that is readily available in the market, but undervalued, is probably the best course of action..
But, I have been wrong before…(LOL!)..
Thats my rant..
Robert C.
The Wholesale Guy