Whether economic recession, war or an uncertain future, studies show that the cosmetics industry has prevailed throughout history. Though students face all three, companies such as Mary Kay and Pure Romance thrive on campus.
Lauren Keeney is a double major student, works at Village bookstore TIS, juggles Greek life, academic organizations and is preparing for life after graduation. Along with that, she manages ten Mary Kay team members, throws two to three parties per week and facials 30-50 people per month. Her trademark red Mary Kay jacket might as well be a cape.
"It can get busy, but the great thing about Mary Kay is that it's flexible," said the senior business administration and human resource management major. "I find times in my schedule when I'm free and work with it."
Keeney has been a Mary Kay consultant for a year and a half. She works 10-20 hours per week, which equals out to an extra $200 to $400 in her wallet. Keeney said that at TIS it would take working 20-30 hours for two weeks to amount to a $200 paycheck. On each Mary Kay product, she makes a 50 percent profit that she can pocket. She chooses the "40/60 Rule."
"Basically I put 60 percent back into business and stock up on my products," Keeney said. "The other 40 percent I save up for my future, right now I'm looking for a house."
Pamper Parties are one to two hour long sessions where a consultant comes to a residence and lets the group try the products and essentially get makeovers. Though Mary Kay offers several products ranging from make-up, skin-care, fragrances and nail polish, Keeney doesn't consider herself to be in sales. The products sell themselves.
"I think it comes down to the fact that it's a highly consumable product," Keeney said. "Despite the recession people always want mascara or skin-care products and then they use it everyday and it runs out."
Junior elementary education major Katie Driver just began her Mary Kay career. She chose Mary Kay because she saw opportunity to excel.
"Mary Kay is the best job ever because you create your own schedule, you are your own boss and because you can promote yourself at any time," Rench said. "There are no limits in Mary Kay and there are no unrealistic expectations."
Junior elementary education major Lyndsey Kellett is considering Mary Kay to provide more stability for her career.
"It's attractive to me, because you set your own hours and won't be fired just for economic reasons. I think it might be a good supplement to teaching," Kellett said.
Keeney said that most college students who join are business, teaching or nursing majors. Many graduates also consider Mary Kay.
"Generation Y (those born 1972-1992) is the fastest growing age group for consultants. Also, the economy is not providing jobs for college graduates." Keeney said.
According to Mary Kay Corporate, Gen Y is perfect for independent jobs such as Mary Kay. Reasons include that they're trend-oriented, independent and they think like entrepreneurs.
Keeney said that while mostly college students host the parties, being on campus can provide unique situations. Some of which include cramming into a dorm room.
"Everyone was crowded on the floor and I was a giant sitting in front of them. There wasn't any room to put anything, and when we did private consultations I just took them in the dorm hall," Keeney said.
Students can also be cautious consumers.
"As students they pay rent and have student loans, so sales can be a little harder to make," Keeney said. "Most girls go to places like WalMart to get their products and while Mary Kay is a little more expensive, you're paying for quality."
While Pure Romance sells some beauty goods, their main focus is in intimate products. Junior accounting major Cheyenne Rench became involved last summer because she needed cash for a new car. Her friend told her that she had made her payments by being a Pure Romance consultant. Since then she has grown close with the company.
"I stay with Pure Romance because of all the women who have told me I saved their marriage, or I helped them feel sexy again, or I changed their way of thinking," Rench said. "I am a consultant now to help educate and empower women in and out of the bedroom!"
Rench works with Pure Romance 10 hours per week and does an average of three parties, in which half are Ball State girls.
"At parties, I go through a lot of our products and the ladies get to touch and smell and taste all kinds of fun stuff," Rench said. "We play games and it is just a great environment. My goal at parties is to make every woman feel comfortable talking about their sexuality and health. Then we do ordering, and it is all confidential."
While she has a full-time job at T & H Sweeper, she said that being a consultant is flexible and worthwhile. Pure Romance offers leadership programs, training and rewards such as cruises and luxurious vacations.
Mary Kay's incentives include anything from jewelry to cars. Indianapolis Mary Kay Director Mary Cho has earned two cars so far since she became a consultant in 2010.
"They always say there are more Mary Kay cars on the road than Fed Ex trucks," Cho said, "I felt like I was literally stealing a car off the lot, I didn't have to sign anything, they just gave me the keys."
She earned her first car after she had been a Mary Kay consultant for a year. To earn the 2012 Chevy Malibu, she had five active team members and had a production of at least $5,000 between herself and her team in four months. Cho looks forward to earning the coveted pink Cadillac this June once she hits $96,000 with her 71 team members.
"The Cadillac is a trophy on wheels," Cho said. "I'm 25 and will never make a car payment for the rest of my life."
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