Lemme tell you about this “Love Colour” event that Space NK have going on at the end of the month, then listen up… cos I’m thinking of making that 30 mile trek to the seaside (and local store) and attending. I wanna know if you go to these kind of events.
Can you read that phone number and the small print? *squints*
020 8740 2085 is the number and there’s a £10 booking fee which is redeemable against purchases.
.
OK, so now I wanna chat about these kind of events…
Do you ever attend them? I’ve never been to one… I’m kinda shy, not hugely… but enough that the thought makes me feel a teeny bit uncomfortable. But let’s face it… counter staff in general make me feel quite uncomfortable.
I never know what to say or how much I should buy before I reach the level of “acceptability” once they’ve started to lavish their attentions on me. I mean, don’t get me wrong… I don’t spend beyond my means just ‘cos I feel uncomfortable (although I have in the past), it’s just… there’s etiquette isn’t there?
And what about when the events include other ‘strangers’ and you have to be all like… “oh, that blush really suits you, you look 10 years younger!”
I’m not a very good ‘pack’ shopper. Or liar.
I’m scared, someone come hold my hand and do the talking for me. Just don’t get in my way or make me come look at your wrist swatches when I’ve got my “shopping face” on.
Not that I could go, but I would be avoiding an event like this at all costs. I am mortified of beauty counters and this is also why I hardly own any ‘posh’ products. I feel like I’m being judged by my appearance (face, clothes and general appearance) the minute I come close to a counter. So then, I put pressure on myself to put makeup on before going to mac to buy a ‘refill’ of studio fx. But then I feel even more self conscious cos I haven’t got a clue about wearable/daytime makeup, and I feel like a clown with my poor attempts of applying blusher on my cheeks. In my mind, I am thinking that they are thinking ‘look at the state of that one, it’s not this product she should be enquiring about, it’s a blooming pore unblocker or something for her black heads’.
After I’ve reached a year’s experience/faffing about with daytime looks, then I might consider going to an event like this. In the meantime, I shall continue scruffing around at superdrug, and tj hughes looking for W7 false lashes, ‘where I belong’ lol x
Well i’m boycotting Space Nk as they’ve been really unhelpful to me recently, but even if it was another shop i wouldn’t go. I’m incredibly shy and it just sounds stressful. They’ll be lots of people going presumably so i doubt you’d get much time with the MUAs anyway and it just sounds like they’ll be even more pressure than usual to buy things :/
I’ve beento these typesof events, and as a MUA I’ve also run them. Yes, generally there is a “goal” amount that each client is expected to buy- charging a booking fee not only ensures that something is purchased, but helps to illustrate to the client that this is not meant to be a freebie. Having said that, try not to feel obligated to buy things you don’t need!
In my experience, these types of events are really not the best venues to get customized suggestions- typically they use the same products on everyone; they’re booked so tight, there’s leas room for customization.
If you go, take it for what it is- a chance to be pampered and try new things (maybe…) Do expect a healthy sales pitch at the end though- we were actually taught to pull EVERYTHING used on the client (hundreds of dollars!) We then sat down at the table and went over the items, making the client pare it down. For some events, the client spent more time here than they did on actual makeup application! Just know that this is everyone’s least favorite part- the shop girls are doing it because it’s part of their job, but most really hate the idea of bullying clients into purchasing. They expect you to turn down most of the items, so
don’t feel bad!
Of course, this is just my experience w/ store events in the US- Space NK could well operate differently. Can’t wait to hear all about it!
And sorry about the typos & errors above- I’m typing on
my iPhone! 🙂
It’s much more relaxed to get a consultation outside of these events IMO. The only brand I make an exception for is Suqqu, but that’s because they never have more than 2 people at once (one person getting Gankin facial, one getting colour makeover) and they are really polite and non-pushy.
I went a MAC event like that 😀 (it was a Spring Color Forecast promo event). The makeup artist asked me prior to the session what kind of look I was comfortable with (focus on eyes, focus on lips, nude look etc) and if I had any color preferences or dislikes (I also went to the event without any makeup on to avoid the fuss of getting it off)
I did like the end result, appreciated the chance to see another person’s take on my makeup, wasn’t particularily bothered by the “well, will you buy anything?” question (I got one eyeshadow and a blush). But before making an appointment (it was for free unlike this one) I decided on a back-up plan – one specific product I could buy in case the makeup session turned out to be a complete disaster…I’m not sure if I’d felt comfortable otherwise.