I have just finished up my first week with GIELLA Custom Blend Cosmetics. I have been able to work in multiple aspects of the business in just one week. This company works with each client to create customized cosmetics for each person’s individual needs and can even match discontinued products from another company. I have taken inventory, worked a PR event, made custom cosmetics, and created social media posts. GIELLA Custom Blend Cosmetics is located in multiple salons and shops nationwide and I have already been to three NYC locations this week. There is a location in Houma, Louisiana that I will definitely have to check out when I am back in New Orleans.
My responsibilities thus far have included working on our social media accounts to keep posts current and fun, learning from Giella and the other artists on how to apply make up and analyze a person’s coloring to help match the best pigments for one’s skin, and serving as an extra hand for clerical work. I have seen first-hand how much work goes into being a business owner and how when you own a business you must be able to also put your emotions aside sometimes to make the best, logical business decision.
As I mentioned in my last post, I heard of this company when I was eight years old. At the time, I had this HUGE lip gloss collection, and I went to NYC with my aunt to go to the American Girl Store for my ninth birthday. Before I spent the entire day at the American Girl Store, I went to Henri Bendel to the GIELLA Custom Blend Cosmetics counter. My aunt had heard form a friend that you could make your own make up there, so obviously she had to take me. In the typical fashion of an eight year old, I was extremely indecisive. I am pretty sure it took me over an hour to decide the exact shade of pink and amount of sparkles I wanted in my lip gloss and then I found out that I could add in a scent so that probably took another hour. While I was making my decisions, another make up artist at the counter put make up on my aunt while she was waiting for me, and since then, my aunt was hooked on the brand. She claims that she had never looked better, and my lip gloss costed her a lot more money than it should have since she bought every product that they put on her. Now over ten years later, my aunt, my mom, and I used this brand, and we all swear by it. On Cyber Monday, my aunt’s coupon was not working and when she called Giella answered the phone. She told Giella the whole story that I just shared about coming when I was eight and asked if Giella had any internships. Giella said that she did not usually hire interns but for me to send her my resume and to call her. Over winter break, I did those things, and we had a phone interview. A couple weeks later, I received an email with a contract and I could not have been more excited. My biggest advice for getting internships is to not be afraid to go out of your comfort zone to contact people. Most of the time people want to talk about what they do, and the worst thing that can happen is if they say that they are too busy to talk to you or never call you back. You really have nothing to lose!
My expectations for the rest of summer include primarily learning even more about owning and successfully maintaining your own business, learning how to make more customized products (Right now, I can only make a lipstick!), and building stronger relationships with the rest of the artists.
I will keep y’all updated in a couple of weeks! If you get a chance please follow @giellacustomblendcosmetics on Instagram and like GIELLA Custom Blend Cosmetics on Facebook!
Above is a picture of the heater we use when we make lipsticks and lip glosses!