Live shopping in the beauty industry has great potential. The intimate nature of engagement and product immersion, the channels customers and brands are used to using are changing rapidly and there are high value customers at stake. All of these factors point to an opportunity for forward thinking brands to get a step ahead of the competition as footfall is compromised and personal contact is discouraged in the current climate.
This article examines in the context of live video shopping:
Medium to high consideration
On the whole, making a purchase in beauty requires a good amount of consideration. Different products work for different types of people, and expertise is required to make a decision. That decision is likely to be highly personal, so the consideration factor is very much there.
Having said that – average order values are lower than some industries, as such purchase behaviour can have a good deal of spontaneity in there as it wont break the bank (in many, if not all cases). Once loyalty is established, customers can be highly loyal.
Video Shopping is an obvious choice in this sector as the Beauty industry is so consultative and as consumers we have typically relied (to date) on specialists to help us navigate the multitude of products available to us. Face to face consultations can’t be 100% replaced with video, but the nature of the industry and the developments in this space – make it a prime candidate for growth.
Considered purchases are boosted by reassurance prior to the purchase
Face to face matters
How much does a shopper need (or are used to) talking to someone about the product prior to purchase?
Additionally, what direct relationship to a brand does someone need to have in Beauty to be effective?
High
One to one engagement between a beauty expert and a consumer is the mainstay of every major department store globally. A face to face consultation, where an expert in skincare, makeup and personal grooming can help a consumer decide what is right for them, makes all the difference in helping make the purchase decision.
Early stage
For decades, the route to market for the largest brands in Beauty has continued to be via large department stores, with notable exceptions. Alongside the decline in retail, strong, direct transactional relationships are experiencing growth. Video commerce is the perfect way to maintain face to face relationships with customers.
With the decline of the department store as a route to market in the beauty industry, live shopping can facilitate face to face engagement at scale. Moreover, it can be a conduit for a direct relationship with a brand.
How does engagement work in live video shopping?
How much does a consumer need to touch and feel a product in Beauty?
Highly important
Skin types, skin tones, allergies, odour, touch are all highly important in the decision to make a beauty purchase. To experience a product in beauty is the doorway to purchasing it. The investment alone in sampling, fixtures and fittings, as well as the highly trained practitioners in this space means product experience matters.
Yes, and progressing well
Because it’s highly important to experience a product in beauty, the stakes have been high for digital. There have been some hugely positive leaps forward in this space. Augmented reality tools can now scan skin tone, matching colours and consumers can try products remotely too.
Its currently impossible to 100% replicate the physical product experience in beauty, but immersion can be used to drive outcomes
Learn about how immersion makes the difference
Where do we typically see customers converting in Beauty – is it online or in retail? Importantly, where does the first purchase happen?
High
It’s fair to say there is a high reliance on retail. Buying makeup and the highly personal experience involved in consulting, trialing and gaining instant feedback lends itself to face to face. This is particularly the case when making the first purchase of a beauty product.
Low to Medium
Traditionally, retail does the heavy lifting in Beauty, pulling shoppers away from online for the first purchase. Sampling comes first and its instant in a retail environment. However, for repeat makeup purchases, customers are happy to move online for the convenience factor.
Where there is a heavy reliance on retail to convert a sale relative to online, video commerce performs well. Live one to one video shopping in the beauty industry has the potential to engage with a customer, addressing needs, and to a limited degree immerse the customer in a product experience. Transactions can be closed in session driving direct return.
Learn about how video commerce supercharges conversion
How does the behavioural economics of acquiring a beauty customer work? At what point do you “win” a customer and what implications does this have for video commerce?
Medium to low
At the top end, Beauty products attract a very high basket value, so this statement is not always true, but the average order value on the whole is medium to low, relative to other sectors, dragging the average down
High
When considering repeat purchases, beauty is a highly valuable space. Once customer loyalty is established repeat rates continue for years
A face to face video interaction with a customer can make all the difference in predicting lifetime value as well as drive up average order value by strategic upsell and addons.
Learn about the outcomes of live video shopping
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