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For small and medium-sized indie beauty (SMB) brands, one of the biggest challenges is finding a way for potential customers to try their new and innovative looks. This article explores the best option to enhance the customer experience and help SMB brands stand out in today’s digital marketplace.
Overview of the Current Market for Small and Medium Businesses
E-commerce has become a standard way for people of all ages and backgrounds to shop — and it’s only growing in popularity. Since 2016, an additional 20 million people in the United States alone have gone online to buy something, according to Statista.
That adds up to 230.5 million people in 2021, with likely even more today. An activity that once may have seemed risky — purchasing something that hasn’t been seen or touched — is now commonplace.
But beauty brands, especially small to medium business owners, still struggle with online sales. Many customers connect the concept of “perceived ownership” with touch, according to 2022 research from the Universities of Wisconsin and Iowa. Whether it’s makeup, glasses, or any other beauty product, people want to see how it looks on them. Beauty brands that sell products online need a solution.
Thankfully, new technology offered by Perfect Corp. can help. Known as a makeup try-on online service, it combines artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) technology with an easy-to-use digital interface that adds fun to the experience of buying makeup, glasses, and other beauty products online. For small and medium-sized enterprises with an e-commerce presence, this method lets future customers enjoy the same experience of going into a store — but from the comfort of their homes.
Benefits of Makeup Try-On Solutions for SMB Brands
Imagine if SMB brands could get their products on their target audience's faces with just a click of a button. It would provide a way for people who are hesitant to buy beauty products online to see if they would be happy with their purchases. They would know what the product looked like on their face, which is a different experience from simply seeing it on a model or other person featured on a website. Everyone’s skin, complexion, and style differ, and this innovative digital solution honors that reality.
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That’s why the virtual try-on solution is so beneficial, especially to small and medium-sized brands that don’t yet have partnerships with brick-and-mortar stores that provide the in-person buying experience. Consider these three benefits of integrating a virtual try-on widget for any beauty-based website:
1. Better Customer Engagement
One metric many SMB brands use to determine the success of their web pages is the average time a customer spends on the page. The typical answer for businesses that track it is "not very long." When companies determine how to keep visitors on the page for longer than a minute, they are much more likely to complete a sale.
More to read: TLB The Lip Bar Finds Consumers Add 88% More Product to their Cart
When beauty brands provide opportunities for customers to try on a product virtually, they create an experience that ensures the prospective customer will spend more time on the page actively shopping. In a way, virtually trying on products becomes a game that keeps customers engaged longer.
2. Increased Conversion Rates
When customers stay on the web page longer and can see what products look like on their faces, they’re more likely to discover more products and make a purchase. That means virtual try-on technology improves conversion rates for small and medium businesses.
More to read: NARS Cosmetics Sees 300% Boost in Conversion Rate
3. Reduced Product Returns
When customers know how a product will look on them, they're less likely to return it. That improves the bottom line for SMB brands, which won’t have to restock inventory just because a customer isn’t satisfied. Every beauty product works better on some faces than others; when customers know in advance how it will look on them, they’ll be more confident in their purchases and less likely to send them back.
Of course, these benefits of virtual try-on won’t be seen if the technology isn’t mastered. Perfect Corp.’s virtual makeup try-on platform is seamless. Customers will enjoy being able to see how something looks with their coloring and facial shape. Some companies that integrate Perfect Corp.’s online services have seen 2.5 times greater conversion rates, a 40% larger basket size, and an 8% decrease in returns.
Factors To Consider When Choosing a Makeup Try-On Solution as an SMB Brand
When selecting a makeup try-on solution for a small or medium beauty brand, it's essential to consider the following factors:
- User experience and interface: Make sure it's easy and fun to use and accurately represents the product.
- Customization and integration options: This technology should look good within the web page's design and meet the specs of all SMB brands that want to use it.
- Compatibility with different devices: Ensure the virtual makeup try-on system works on laptops, smart devices, and any place customers may want to shop online.
- Data security: Many customers worry about sharing personal information. The virtual try-on should be secure for both the company and customers.
Perfect Corp.’s unique solution addresses all of these factors: The try-on technology is true to life, easy to integrate into any e-commerce store, and makes it simple to increase sales immediately. And there is minimum coding necessary, making it fast and straightforward for busy entrepreneurs.
Implementing the Right Makeup Try-On Solution for Your Brand
Knowing how to best implement the right makeup try-on solution for a small or medium beauty brand can be challenging. To ensure success in this initiative, follow these key steps:
- Define your goals and objectives.
- Evaluate the features and capabilities.
- Consider budget and scalability.
- Gather feedback.
Once company executives know what they wish to accomplish by integrating new technology, they can consider each product's features. Budgeting early in the process makes it easier to scale appropriately and pivot when necessary (after gathering critical customer feedback).
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The Best Virtual Makeup Try-On Widget for Small and Medium Beauty E-Commerce
Perfect Corp.’s digital solution is simple for customers to use: All they need is a functioning camera on their laptop or smartphone device. They’ll be asked if the website can access their camera, and then a small widget will appear on the screen.
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Customers can then choose to try on seven kinds of makeup products, including:
- Eyeshadow
- Foundation
- Mascara
- Lip color
- Blush
- Eyelashes
- Eyeliner
With this true-to-life AR try-on technology, companies partnering with Perfect Corp. have seen increased add-to-cart items, customer satisfaction, and conversion rates. All that’s needed is to create an SKU of each product, test the try-on experience, and then enjoy enhanced customer engagement.
It integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, and Wix.
Now, Perfect Corp. is introducing an exciting program for small and indie beauty brands. Through this program, women and minority owned beauty brands can apply to receive up to six months of free access to Perfect Corp.’s special online solution. The primary objective of Perfect Corp.'s small business initiative is to promote inclusivity and broaden the availability of cutting-edge AI, AR, and digital technologies within the retail sector.
By doing so, Perfect Corp. aims to empower women and minority-owned beauty brands with the necessary resources to significantly elevate their customers' shopping experiences. Through the seamless integration of these advanced yet affordable tools, smaller brands can enhance personalization, increase engagement, and boost sales.
The eligibility criteria for the free makeup virtual try-on program is as follows:
- Applications accepted until September 30th, 2023
- Brands must have 50 or fewer employees
- Brands must have $10 Million or less in annual revenue
- Brands must be woman or minority-owned
- Brands must have a D2C channel
- Brands must sell color cosmetics (one or more of these categories: foundation, mascara, blush, lip color, eyelashes, eyeliner, eyeshadow)
- Brands will be notified of acceptance between 5-7 business days after submitting an application
Representatives of the women or minority-owned small and indie beauty brands can fill out an online form to learn more.
Partner With Perfect Corp. for Online E-Commerce Beauty Solutions
Small and medium-sized beauty brands with e-commerce business models now have access to a more level playing field, as virtual try-on technology helps to overcome a significant hurdle to reach new customers. Perfect Corp.’s online services are easy to integrate into any website, enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction while increasing conversion rates. To learn more, visit the Perfect Corp. website to start the online service demo today.
Get expert advice from Perfect Corp. and be part of the beauty tech trend. Contact us for details on beauty tech solutions trusted by 500+ brands globally.
