25 May 2005
A businesswoman from East Lothian is today revelling in her decision to turn to the Internet to solve a national supply shortage of beauty products.
According to the Scotsman, Julie Will started the project two months ago and has rapidly seen it become an essential one-stop tool for mothers with small children who cannot otherwise purchase such items.
An estimated 1,600 people per day are logging on to the site to solve their beauty product deficiency, helping generate the annual equivalent of £200,000.
Ms Will has said that customers have described her novel Internet practice as an absolute lifesaver.
"The combination of having children and living so far from a department store means it's sometimes difficult to justify the expense and time involved in a 50-mile round trip just because I've run out of my Chanel No 5," she said.
The online service provides popular brands such as Clarins, Elizabeth Arden and Gucci at prices up to 70 per cent cheaper than as listed in high street shops.
"Each individual product offers a huge saving," added Ms Will. "When this is added up over a year, or even a lifetime, of buying beauty products, the savings are quite incredible.
"The business has grown much quicker than I expected. Access to the Internet is growing rapidly and consumers are becoming increasingly confident about shopping there.
"The majority of people are still buying their beauty products on the high street, so there is huge untapped potential."© DeHavilland Information Services plc
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