Hello, all. I just left my demo for MAC at the local Nordstrom. It went really well, I think. I wanted to give the details for anyone who's curious before I forget!
My model, Tammy, and I got there about 15 minutes early, but they didn't make us wait a bit. The counter manager waved as soon as she saw me, and I introduced her to Tammy. Then we were both introduced to Danny, one of the trainers.
They showed us where Tammy would sit, and collected some things like brush cleaner, disposable mascara wands and lip gloss applicators, a sharpener, hand sanitizer, the brushes and two petri dishes. I also asked about alcohol to dip the lippies in, and he grabbed that, too.
He told me he wanted me to do a neutral look that included a full face (concealer, foundation, powder, blush), at least 2 eye shadows, mascara and brows and liner, and at least 3 products on the lips. He asked me how familiar I was with the MAC line (pretty familiar, I told him) and if I had any questions. I asked him to run through the sanitizing process for me, even though I felt pretty comfortable from reading
Specktra
. During his explanation, I watched him think about telling me about the hand sanitizer, but then he pulled his hand back and didn't say anything about it. I made sure he saw me use it once I started.
So there's a tip: l
isten for what they don't say, as well as for what they do tell you!
He told me I had a half an hour to do the look, but could take as much time as I wanted to collect what I needed. Sanitizing time was to be done in the half hour time limit, for me. I took Tammy with me and we talked as I selected things. For example, I asked her what colors she usually wears, what types of blush she is comfortable with, and about her skin. She told me about her skin problems (redness, shadows under the eyes, some lines). Then we got started.
I talked about using brushes (she doesn't now-she uses sponges and the applicators that come with the makeup she buys) and why I liked them. I put on Strobe Cream and Prep + Prime face, and explained why I had chosen those (not going to go into it here- ya'll know what these products are!
) I applied Prep+Prime Eye in light. Honestly, that's the first time I've ever used that! I'm a Urban Decay Primer Potion addict, frankly. I let the primer sit as I poured out the foundation and concealers, and explained that this exactly what I do at home- let it kind of "settle". Then I put on the foundation (Mineralized Satinfinish)and concealer (Select Cover-up). I used the same brush I had used for the Strobe Cream and Prep+Prime (the 190- which I actually don't own but now MUST HAVE!) for the foundation and told her why I did that. I used the 194 for the concealer.
Then I started on her eyes. I used Phloof! on the lid and Tempting on the crease. I didn't take the color all the way up to the brow because of her eye shape and because this was supposed to be a "natural" look. I shaded her brows with the Brow Shader and a very battered 263 (that's all they had that was appropriate). On the eyes I used a 242 and a 224 to blend. I took Tempting into the outer V and under the lashes, and explained why I did that (her eye shape, etc...). I quickly lined with Teddy only on the upper lid, then I used Zoom Lash in black, I talked about those products a bit as I applied them (totally BS'ing, because I've never used either one!
Thank you, Specktra!
). I used the hilighter from the Brow Shader at the end of the whole application, to show her how that pulls the whole look together.
I went back, then, and used the Mineralized Skinfinish Natural to powder and even out the color a bit more, and then added the powder blush we had picked (I think it was Springsheen, but I can't be 100% sure). That was also my first experience with the 187 brush. Of course, I am totally in love and want one. (I've been holding off on brush purchases, 'cause I'd rather wait 'til I have a discount!
)
I quickly lined her lips with Whirl and shaded in the lips a bit with it, topped it with a lipstick (I have no idea what color I grabbed, but it looked good!) and Viva Glam VI lipglass. I used the disposable applicator for the lipglass, and some raggedy looking brush for the lipstick. I have no idea what the hell that was, because they'd scratched the # off of it, but it was the only thing that looked right-ish. Man, that was a wretched brush!
I purposely picked VG VI l/g not only because it's my favorite lipglass EVER, but also for its versatility
and because it gave me an easy opening to talk about Viva Glam, the MAC Aids Fund, and then I mentioned Back 2 MAC while I was talking about the company philosophy. SWEET!
I stepped back, took a look, and asked if it was ok for me to run and grab something I had forgotten. The trainer said it was, so I scurried off to grab my beloved Fix+. I described the product and told her how I carry a smalled decanted bottle with me in my purse for touch-ups during the day, then warned her to close her eyes and spritzed her.
I took another look and was fairly satisfied, so I handed her a mirror. I treated her like a customer the whole way through and basically ignored the trainer except the the Fix+ thing and the one time I realized I had stuck a brush on an eyeshadow I hadn't sanitized. He went and grabbed me a new brush. OOPS! Lesson learned:
sanitize everything first, don't do it as you go along, like I mistakenly tried to do.
Meanwhile, the counter manager had come by once or twice, and so did one of the employees who whispered "we've been talking about you!" and winked. The counter manager chased him off.
By the way, I was done with a few minutes to spare, which didn't hurt! This is a really busy counter and since it's Nordstrom, they do
a lot of makeovers because they're free (no obligation to buy unless it's New Year's Eve or Prom).
So, the trainer took a look and asked me what I'd do differently or what I wasn't happy with. I told him I was not pleased with the foundation color I selected, and he asked me why I chose that one. I told him (in a more professional way than this) that Tammy and I had looked at the colors and she had been scared of the NC colors, even though that's what she needed to counteract some redness she had (even though she's cool complected). But what I picked looked good, it just could have looked
better, he said, and told me later that I had to do what the customer wanted, ultimately.
So he then handed me a bright purple eyeshadow. I forgot to look at what it was, but I'm betting that was Purple Shower. He told me that my customer wanted to try brighter colors, but wasn't sure how to wear them. I was to tell her how to ease into them and then apply it. I told her I love to use colors like that with Tempting (aha! it was already on her eyes- don't think I didn't think that through in advance, guys!
). I asked her if she'd like me to apply it, and of course she said "sure!". I put Tempting over the lid (remember, it had only been in the crease and outer v) and then used the purple in the inner corner about midway across the lid. I explained the blending and that she could wear these bright colors sheerly or more intensely and explained how. She preferred to keep it sheer. I showed her the mirror when I was done, and she really liked it. YAY!
And that's about it. She went and looked at shoes while he and I went and chatted for a few minutes. He told me the MRO wasn't going to be down in this area for awhile, and they couldn't wait for her 'cause they're down two full-time people so he'd handle the interview/follow-up (I guess normally she would have done that part?). He asked me some typical interview questions including about my availability, asked if I had any questions for him, and then told me that the counter manager or Cosmetics Dept. manager would be in touch. I went back and thanked everyone and we left.
Now I wait...
Oh, one more thing I forgot to mention: the trainer told me he wasn't going to be next to me the whole time, partially because he said he would watch me from further away to observe my body language and how I interacted with the customer. So, tip #3:
just 'cause they ain't right there, don't mean they ain't watchin'!
Sorry this was so long, but I wanted to make sure I got it all in there... Thanks for reading this far, if you did!
*jen
