[I wore a pretty standard look, LOVE for Aromaleigh 'Pique', though!]
We then made our way to a training room, where we were introduced to the staff - regional manager, counter manager and whom I can only refer to as 'the big cheese'. We then all introduced ourselves - strangely, out of the eight of us there, only two of us had a background in make-up. The big cheese commented on how we all had a sales background...Oh no. There it is. That sinking feeling. It really would be all about sales, wouldn't it? Ho hum.
The big cheese and regional manager did a few role plays on traffic stopping which we then copied...You see, Benefit don't advertise - have you ever realised that? I hadn't! So traffic stopping, word of mouth and bloggers/ youtubers are the only people spreading the word.
'Have you heard about Benefit Cosmetics?' '.....No.' 'Ohhh gosh, really?! You must come and see our products!' Rinse and repeat.....to everyone you stop. Everyone. And if they have heard of Benefit Cosmetics? 'Ah, you must already love us! Come and sit down!' But what if they have no time? 'Oh, there's always time to look gorgeous!' Rinse. Repeat....
After our little role plays, the big cheese did a make-up demo on the counter manager. She then unleashed us on each other with their best selling products to do a little makeover on each other - Dr. Feelgood, You Rebel, BeneTint and High Beam. You know how High Beam is 'the super model in a bottle?' this is called a 'unique sales tag'. Any time you use a different product, youmust say the tag. Who could deny a defiantly different tinted moisturiser? Or the sexiest flush in a bottle? Apparently, a lot of consumers can't - but hey, I can't say anything, if it's pretty, I'm buying it!
[BeneTint stained my cheeks through primer, foundation, Dr Feelgood AND You Rebel!]
Soon, we were split up to go on two different counters. Four girls to each counter. My counter also had the regional manager to keep a beedy, perfectly applied eye on us. Do you know how hard traffic stopping is? To actually get somebody to the counter? Very, very hard! Even when I said it was free and there was no obligation to buy...'No thanks, no time.' I didn't even try the 'There's always time to look gorgeous!' line - faaar too naff and sales personesque! However, I did find a Benefit junkie in there, a medical student who could probably have been a better Benefit sales person than me!
After moping about the store, desperately trying to reel people into my kitsch pink lair and feeling more and more useless with every, 'No thank you!', I figured it was smart to call it quits. Especially after the regional manager told me I'd have to do that EVERY DAY and that you don't get used to traffic stopping (in her words, 'This is as good as it gets.') One hour in and I felt so useless, bored and fake (fake smiles EVERYWHERE, super joyful happy times, unique sales tags, minor harassment...) I called it quits.
But you know what? I don't mind at all! Being 90% salesperson, 10% MUA just isn't me. Give me anything and I could sell it easily. I've sold six odd shoes for £30 before! But I'd rather work for a brand like Illamasqua or MAC - the products sell themselves and I can be 100% about customer service and making people feel comfortable, happy and fabulous!
[Got home, had some much needed Rekorderlig, my sister had bought a good luck lolly for me and I chatted to my mum while she cut sweat peas - a nice end to the day!]
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