It is the end !!!

This is my final post. Here you are what I learnt from this project, the difficulties I had, my feelings and some suggestions for improving the project.

What I learnt from this project: I learnt to use some softwares on Internet I didn't know such as Blogger or Flickr.

What difficulties I had: The main difficulty I had was some tecnical ones such as how to put a link or an image on my blog.

My feelings about the project: At the beginning I thought it was too hard to make a blog. But today I am proud to see I managed to do it.

Suggestion for improving the project: I think the topic is quite large. As a matter of fact, I didn't know exactly what to post on my blog every week. Maybe it will be usefull to impose a subject every week. For example, this week you have to write an article about the promotion policy of the company you deal with. (It is just a suggestion)

The distribution networks of cosmetics.

Cosmetics in a departement store
Originally uploaded by idealme.

During my course, I had the opportunity to make an internship in a specialized store of cosmetics: Sephora.

I learnt there are many distribution channels on the french cosmetics market. These channels depend on the positioning of the product.

In fact, there are two main categories of cosmetics: the luxury cosmetics brands and the others.

Luxury brands of cosmetics such as Chanel, Dior or Yves Saint Laurent are mainly sold:
- in specialized stores as Sephora or Marionnaud.
- in department stores as Printemps or Galeries Lafayette
- in shops of the brand
These brands are not available in others point of sales in order to keep their image of premiums.

The others brands of cosmetics, these which are more accessible to all, such as L’Oréal, Gemey, Nivea, Bourgeois are not only sold in specialized stores and in department stores but also in supermarkets such as Monoprix, Auchan or Carrefour.

Finally it is important to notice there are others distribution channels such as the mail order trading.

Laetitia Casta, one of the famous models of the l'Oréal company

news_tof_consumer
Originally uploaded by idealme.

Are stars used by cosmetics companies?

Today, cosmetics companies use to employ stars such as models, singers or actresses to promote theirs products. It is a marketing technic which allows to increase the sales of the cosmetics companies. As a matter of fact, women wants to look like stars. So they buy the products represented by theirs favorite stars .

You can see the picture of Laetitia Casta on the blog who represents the l'Oréal company

Men, a new target for cosmetics companies.

In our everyday life, cosmetics are an important thing. Today, we live in a society based on the appearance and the image. But cosmetics are not just for women anymore, men are targeted by cosmetics companies as well.

Cosmetics companies used to sales products for women. But they have decided to diversify their range in launching products destinated to men. As a matter of fact, today, men take care of themselves in putting skin creams for exemple.

So some brands as Lancôme, Calrins or Nivea have made the bet to create products for men. Moreover other brands such as Nickel are specialized in men's products.

Lancôme creates exclusive perfume collection

The 4th of April, the famous French cosmetics company has decided to launch one more time four fragrances of the brand under the name La collection Lancôme. Those fragrances were created by the company between the 1950’s and 1980’s.

The fragrances will launch in limited points-of-sale such as Harrods in London, Le Bon Marché in Paris, Saks Fifth Avenue in New York, Rinascente Duomo in Milan and in Lancôme boutiques around the world. The fragrances is quite expensive, it will price about 80 Euros for the 50ml, but this brand is a luxury brand and the price of the

This kind of action is typically a marketing action. As a matter of fact, it was made to promote the brand and its sales.

China, a new market for cosmetics companies

Today, China has an important place in the world and chinese women want to have the same life as European. The big cosmetics companies such as L'Oréal or Maybelline decided to enter in the chinese market.

To manage to enter in this market, cosmetics companies use the same tecnics as in West countries. As a matter of fact, they made TV commercials with stars like in France.

Moreover, in China, we can see departement stores like in Paris or New York. Cosmetics companies made demonstrations in these stores. Even if demonstration places in retail stores are very expensive, companies earn many money with these actions. Consequently, there is a real battle between the differents cosmetics companies to have these demonstration places but departement stores prefer reserve these places to luxury brands such as Lancôme, Chanel or Yves Saint-Laurent because it attracts customers.

However, chinese women have a particularity: they want to have a white skin. In fact, in China, have a white skin is smart. The cosmetics companies launch special creams to bleach skin.

To conclude, China is a profitable market. This market is comparable to the European one but have some cultural aspects cosmetics companies have to respect.

Cosmetics = Danger ???

Thursday, the 3rd March 2005, I saw in a french television program ("Envoyé Spécial") a documentary about cosmetics. This last one was about dangerous products in cosmetics. In fact, it shows that cosmetics companies use some elements which can provocated cancers in theirs products. These elements are called "parabens".

However to be dangerous, these products must be often used in big quantities by consumers.

Face to these kind of problems, some small companies decided to create a new type of cosmetics. These companies launch more natural cosmetics without chimicals.

To my mind, natural cosmetics are more healthy. However, to be effective, creams such as creams against wrinkles must have some chimicals. Now the question is: "Is it better to be healthy with wrinkles or to be sick without wrinkles?"