Following on from the skinny on SupernailIreland.com last week, we have the gorgeous Blanaid, the brains (and surrious beauty) behind one of my personal favourite Beauty Sites, Cloud 10 Beauty. That could be because they take Laser, they have lightening fast delivery speeds, kick ass samples with every purchase or just because Blanaid is ridiculously lovely and one of the most helpful businesswomen I've had the pleasure of dealing with. Read on and decide for yourself.
1. What inspired you to set up your site?
I was working within the beauty industry when I came up with the concept for Cloud 10 Beauty. While working with various brands in department stores and smaller retail outlets I noticed that there was a significant gap between the shopping experience available online and in-store for beauty products. I seen this as an opportunity to use technology to help bridge this gap and offer a better online shopping experience.
In store you can try products before you buy but rarely can you get that kind of experience online. Cloud 10 Beauty offers free testers of products like foundation which are notoriously difficult to choose so you can try the colour in the comfort of your own home before you buy.
When shopping in-store you also rarely shop alone so we wanted to create a website where shoppers can freely interact with each other and with us to get the help and assistance they need. On every product page the customer can read product reviews and also ask questions about the product. Clicking on the link from a product review brings you to the reviewers profile page where you can ask the reviewer any further questions you might have. You can also create your own profile page where you can promote your facebook or twitter page and also share your favourite brands, products and videos. In Share on Cloud 10 customers can also ask general beauty related questions in Chat, watch great tutorials in Watch or read the latest news on our Blog.
We wanted to create an enjoyable experience that is beyond a mere transaction. With our great Beauty Points scheme you can earn points not just by buying fabulous beauty products but also by reviewing products, signing up to receive our newsletter and by inviting your friends to join. Or even just by simply sharing the products you love with your friends on Facebook.
From the moment you arrive on Cloud 10, until your products are delivered to your door with your chosen samples, we aim to create a simple and fun online shopping experience for beauty that cannot be found elsewhere.
2. How long have you been beautifying the country?
Cloud 10 Beauty officially launched in October 2011 so we are a relatively young and new beauty website. We have been overwhelmed and delighted by the positive response since we launched and are really looking forward to celebrating our first birthday.
3. What’s your favourite part of the job?
Honestly, my favourite part of the job is choosing the new brands for our site! I love when a new brand arrives to our offices. Before deciding on any new brand for Cloud 10, we test the key products in the range but there is always still great excitement when the complete shipment arrives. I also love when we receive feedback from customers. We have received so many fabulous emails and facebook/twitter comments from customers and they really do put a smile on my face. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.
4. What’s the one thing about your job that people might not know?
I share an office with Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn! Well with their pictures :)
5. If you could choose just one product to recommend to a friend – what would that be?
Of the established cult products on our site the Sigma F80 is hard to beat. However my personal favourite product at the moment is Nuxe Dry Body Oil. It is so moisturizing and leaves a lovely sheen on your skin. At this time of year, the scent always reminds me of summer.
Again we have 5 of the most in-depth questions Paxman would be proud of and also a looksee at the Lady herself (is it just me suffering from serious hair envy?)... Take it away, Blanaid!
1. What inspired you to set up your site?
I was working within the beauty industry when I came up with the concept for Cloud 10 Beauty. While working with various brands in department stores and smaller retail outlets I noticed that there was a significant gap between the shopping experience available online and in-store for beauty products. I seen this as an opportunity to use technology to help bridge this gap and offer a better online shopping experience.
In store you can try products before you buy but rarely can you get that kind of experience online. Cloud 10 Beauty offers free testers of products like foundation which are notoriously difficult to choose so you can try the colour in the comfort of your own home before you buy.
When shopping in-store you also rarely shop alone so we wanted to create a website where shoppers can freely interact with each other and with us to get the help and assistance they need. On every product page the customer can read product reviews and also ask questions about the product. Clicking on the link from a product review brings you to the reviewers profile page where you can ask the reviewer any further questions you might have. You can also create your own profile page where you can promote your facebook or twitter page and also share your favourite brands, products and videos. In Share on Cloud 10 customers can also ask general beauty related questions in Chat, watch great tutorials in Watch or read the latest news on our Blog.
We wanted to create an enjoyable experience that is beyond a mere transaction. With our great Beauty Points scheme you can earn points not just by buying fabulous beauty products but also by reviewing products, signing up to receive our newsletter and by inviting your friends to join. Or even just by simply sharing the products you love with your friends on Facebook.
From the moment you arrive on Cloud 10, until your products are delivered to your door with your chosen samples, we aim to create a simple and fun online shopping experience for beauty that cannot be found elsewhere.
2. How long have you been beautifying the country?
Cloud 10 Beauty officially launched in October 2011 so we are a relatively young and new beauty website. We have been overwhelmed and delighted by the positive response since we launched and are really looking forward to celebrating our first birthday.
3. What’s your favourite part of the job?
Honestly, my favourite part of the job is choosing the new brands for our site! I love when a new brand arrives to our offices. Before deciding on any new brand for Cloud 10, we test the key products in the range but there is always still great excitement when the complete shipment arrives. I also love when we receive feedback from customers. We have received so many fabulous emails and facebook/twitter comments from customers and they really do put a smile on my face. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.
4. What’s the one thing about your job that people might not know?
I share an office with Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn! Well with their pictures :)
5. If you could choose just one product to recommend to a friend – what would that be?
Of the established cult products on our site the Sigma F80 is hard to beat. However my personal favourite product at the moment is Nuxe Dry Body Oil. It is so moisturizing and leaves a lovely sheen on your skin. At this time of year, the scent always reminds me of summer.
Really interesting, right? Thanks so much for sharing, B!
If you're still not in love with this girl or her work (seriously?), head on over to Cloud10, there's a special deal on REN at the moment with free gift flying about the place or check out their Facebook page, where there's a Sigma Premium Travel Kit going abeg.
Next week we have the web hostess with the mostess, Steph from BeautyEmporium.ie, giving us a little peek behind the revamped scenes of greatness! Don't miss that whate'er you do.
4 comments:
This is a fab series Sue! Its always nice to know who the person is who is behind a fab company/brand. And Blanaid is one of the nicest girls!
Great post Sue and Blanaid! Love Cloud 10 Beauty and it's great to support Irish business women :)
Great post sue and lovely to see Blanaids beautiful face ;) her job sounds so exciting .. Gotta love Cloud 10
Than thanks for the insightful article Sue. It's great to see a bright and skilled business woman storming the net. Cloud 10 is a fab site
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