9:10pm Wednesday 3rd February 2010
THE Emerald Isle will soon smell even better thanks to the attentions of a 22-year-old Southend entrepreneur.
Amanda Sutton set up CheapMakeup.ie three months ago after being shocked by the high price of cosmetics in Ireland.
“When I looked at the prices being charged, I realised that there was an obvious gap in the market,”she says.
Despite her young age, Amanda already has substantial experience in cosmetics sales. She has been running DiscountCosemtics-4U for four years. She set up the operation after leaving school. Since then she has seen the business grow, year on year without interruption.
Amanda spotted the opportunity in Ireland when she was visiting friends in Dublin. She said: “When my friends told me how much they pay for everyday cosmetics. I just couldn’t believe it.
“In the UK we are used to good value cosmetics at a low price thanks to the big stores competing against each other, driving prices down.
“That’s not the case in Ireland. With the euro so strong against the pound right now, it seemed a very smart business decision. This was such an obvious opportunity as everyone wins – people in Ireland get to buy high quality cosmetics at a low price, and I get to make a little money.”
The new website business is dedicated to Ireland, and many of the items are posted free of charge to the Irish Republic.
Amanda says her methods place a relentless focus on giving the customer exactly what they want at the lowest prices. Makeup is sourced from a range of suppliers at a negotiated price, and is purchased in bulk.
At any one time Amanda's business holds just under £100,000 of cosmetics stock, and she now has two people helping her.
Now Amanda is looking in the opposite direction. Next stop, the European mainland.
She said: “I’m now looking closely at the price of cosmetics in other EU countries to see if there are similar opportunities.”
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