Warehousing Your Beauty Product Inventory Correctly
The beauty industry is thriving in the United States, and if the predictions are correct, it will continue to thrive for many years to come. Whether you’re offering a line of affordable skincare or a unique eyeshadow palette to your customers, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when it comes to warehousing and storing your health and beauty products. Below are the top five mistakes beauty-based ecommerce businesses often make and some tips for avoiding them.
#1 – Products are Expiring
Though some makeup products can last for years, others have a pretty specific shelf-life. For example, the moisturizers and pigments in foundations can separate over time, and while some might be able to be revived with a good shake, others are as good as garbage. Make sure that you understand your beauty products’ shelf lives and that you’re buying and rotating inventory in a way that compensates for it.
#2 – The Humidity Isn’t Right
Even when makeup and beauty products are sealed in shrink wrap or plastic, there’s always the possibility for a puncture that can allow humidity to penetrate them. For the most part, makeup and beauty products are best stored at a moderate humidity level. When the humidity is too high, products can become moist and even start to mold; when it is too low, products can crack and fall out of the pots or containers designed to hold them in place. Either way, your customers won’t be happy, so be sure that you keep an eye on that humidity.
#3 – It’s Too Hot (or Too Cold)
Cold makeup typically won’t be bothered, though there are some products that will not fare well in very cold temperatures for long. On the other hand, excessive heat can (and often does) ruin everything from makeup to skincare. In today’s skincare products, a high temperature can render the potent active ingredients completely inert, which means your customers aren’t going to see any of the possible results. Lipsticks and other cream products can completely melt inside their tubes or pans, leading to little more than a mess. Finally, heat and cold can also lead to discoloration that is impossible to rectify and renders the products useless.
#4 – Products are in Direct Light
Many of today’s makeup and skincare products contain a variety of active ingredients that absolutely must remain out of the light in order to remain active. This is especially true for certain antioxidants (like vitamin C) that are only stable for a little while, even when in complete darkness. Make certain that you are storing your more volatile products in the dark whenever possible to extend their lives and ensure that your customers get the full effects.
#5 – They Aren’t Bottled Properly
Finally, whether you’re bottling your own products, you’re buying pre-bottled products from a vendor, or your packaging partner is doing the bottling for you, make absolute certain that you’re using the right bottles for your products – especially for skincare ingredients. Most ingredients fare far better in glass bottles than in plastic jars or tubes, and certain ingredients – again, like vitamin C serums – must always be bottled in dark glass in order to keep them viable.
This can be a lot for small business owners to take in, and for some, making sure that their health and beauty products are properly packaged and stored is all but impossible. If this is the case for you, consider hiring an order fulfillment partner who can help with every single step of the supply chain. This is a great way to ensure the quality of your products and the satisfaction of your customers.
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