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68 November 2015 | beautystorebusiness.com News NEW, FREE APP CONNECTS USERS WITH CERTIFIED SKINCARE COACH Skin Authority and the My Skin Authority App are game changers in how people shop for and experience beauty, as well as how retailers sell skin care. My Skin Authority is marketed as the first free, interactive mobile app that connects people with a certified skincare coach to give them personalized recommendations and guidance at the point of sale, at home or while on the go. "My Skin Authority redefines the beauty shopping experience by putting a skincare expert when and where people shop to help them select the best product for their unique needs without adding overhead or staffing costs to the retailer," says Skin Authority CEO Celeste Hilling. "As today's consumer yearns for personalization, Skin Authority's coaches are trained to listen to not only the needs but the emotional connection of the shopper in a way that a database can't effectively personalize the experience." How the app benefits beauty retailers: Consumers could be in a Look Boutique or a Pharmaca brick and mortar—Skin Authority has launched in both—standing in front of the products and have a Skin Coach work with them via the app to select the products that work best for them. (The app also allows the consumer to Skype or FaceTime if they want the coach to see their skin.) If beauty advisers have a tough question they cannot answer, they can tap a Skin Authority coach to help them answer the question on the spot. If the retailer is out of the product recommended, the coach can order and drop-ship the same day without added inventory cost to the retailer. "My Skin Authority allows the retailer to have extra hands during rush hours or when they are short staffed if they need it, but most importantly the app allows the consumer to ask questions or have sup- port when they get home to ensure a great customer-service experience," adds Hilling. My Skin Authority gives retailers the benefits of a team of virtual employees without the costs and training: • My SkinAuthority acts as an ongoing training support tool for the beauty adviser to gain confidence and have answers at their fingertips. • The shopping experience is personalized; so returns are reduced, while satisfaction and loyalty are increased. • Because the coaches can drop-ship, the retailer can carry less inventory and not miss a sale from being out of a particular SKU. • It enables revenue sharing from purchases made elsewhere. Shoppers are tagged with the store as part of their permanent record in Skin Authority's database. Accessible 24/7 and from anywhere, My Skin Authority gives users access to skincare expertise via phone, live chat, video chat, email or a scheduled callback. Hilling explains, "Users can work with the coaches in two ways: If they don't have time to talk, they can quickly build a skincare routine based on an online profile they complete; or the coaches can chat live via phone, FaceTime, etc." My Skin Author- ity also features the "Beauty Workout Zone" educational blog and several videos from Hilling covering important skincare concerns, such as "Practicing Safe Sun" and "Balancing Oily Skin." Hilling is uniquely qualified to bring the app to market. Prior to her career in beauty, Hilling was one of the first female executives in Fortune 25 high tech. During her high-tech years, Hilling was the president of Compaq's consumer software business unit and the vice president of Compaq's consumer division, designing portable technology products for markets globally. Images courtesy of Skin Authority QOSMEDIX MOVES HEADQUARTERS The corporate headquarters and warehouse of Qosmedix have moved about 14 miles east from Edgewood, New York, to Ronkonkoma, New York. The supplier's telephone and fax numbers have remained the same. The new 95,000-square-foot climate-controlled facility is equipped with an ISO Class 8 Clean Room, and will combine the company's two divisions— Qosmedix and Qosina—under one roof. The new building layout also offers enhanced operational efficiencies that will support continued growth of the company. The new address is 2002-Q Orville Drive North, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779. Image courtesy of Qosmedix IS THE NEXT BIG BEAUTY TREND IN THE HALAL MARKET? Euromonitor International, which provides global business intelli- gence and strategic market analysis, has released "Doing Business in the Halal Market: Products, Trends and Growth Opportunities." The white paper assesses the potential for businesses con- sidering tapping into halal and Muslim consumer markets, helping organizations understand halal certification and the demand for standardization across the food industry—particularly in Southeast Asia, China, Western Europe and Australasia. It also addresses opportunities for a variety of products—from beauty and per- sonal care, apparel and beverages, to tourism applicable for key halal markets across the globe. "For Muslim consumers, choices for both goods and ser- vices such as halal products are largely influenced by faith, the need for basic prayers five times a day and fasting during the month of Ramadan," says Emil Fazira, food and nutrition research analyst at Euromonitor International. "Therefore, an environment catering to their religious needs as well as busi- nesses certified in complying with Islamic requirements boosts the attractiveness of a product or service." To download a free copy, visit http://go.euromonitor.com/ white-paper-business-halal-market-products-trends-growth- opportunities.html.