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By Ben Arnold O. De Vera, Reporter
Even amid a global economic meltdown, many Filipinos still want to
look good, as sales of cosmetics and beauty products in the country
are rosy this year, some sellers told The Manila Times.
“People do not want their faces to mirror
these hard times,” said Kristine Joy Santos, sales development and
education manager of the local unit of US cosmetics manufacturer
Mary Kay.
Such observation reflects increased sales of
cosmetic products this year.
For instance, Santos disclosed that Mary Kay
Philippines has already hit its year-end sales target, and so far
has sold 30 percent more than its annual sales target.
Glen Baro, a product specialist of Ever Bilena,
also said their company is selling more this year than last year.
And Lenny Ragasa of Beauty Lane Philippines, a
local distributor of US-made waxes, nail polish and eyelash and
eyebrow accessories, said the good performance of their barely
two-year-old business impressed their American suppliers.
But of course, beauty product sellers have also
felt the crunch this year.
Baro noted that sales of Ever Bilena products
slightly dropped when the price of rice went up in the early part of
this year. Also, Ever Bilena this month raised prices of its
products by between P5 and P10 because of increased costs imposed by
suppliers, he said, as the company imports its products from France,
Germany, Luxembourg, Taiwan and China.
Ragasa, meanwhile, related that since Beauty
Lane is trying to maintain its products’ current prices, the
company is cutting on costs, especially on fuel. She said Beauty
Lane now impose freight charges from beauty salons where goods are
delivered.
But these beauty product sellers interviewed by
The Times all said that sales of cosmetic products are back to
normal, if not doing even better, these days.
Because of impressive sales, Mary Kay
Philippines this year has even expanded its local line to include
anti-acne products, and last year also introduced a product line for
men, Santos said. Mary Kay’s product line for men was received
well, she said, adding that more and more men in the country are
becoming “vain.” The company already sells imported make-up,
lotion, scrubs, perfumes, and anti-ageing, facial and skin care
products for women, all sourced from the parent company’s
production facilities in the US, Europe and China.
Ever Bilena is also selling a female underwear
line and footwear, and this month added bags to its range of
products, Baro said.
Ragasa said that while Filipinos still
prioritize buying food, they would willingly spend on beauty
products—as long as Filipinos they have extra money.
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