2.1 Start-up Summary
After searching for property to purchase to sell beauty products, we decided to start an online business.
2.2 Company Locations and Facilities
Customers will be able to purchase products from the website on the World Wide Web at . The website will include the following interactive functions: site search, database lookup features, forums, product ordering, order status, order tracking, post-a-question, online help (live/database), and will be able to post comments.
3.0 Services
Natural Beauty Products will offer a wide range of products that are intended for hair and skin purposes for both women and men. Products that will be provided for hair includes the following: shampoo, conditioner, shine, gel, and treatments. Products that will be provided for skin includes the following: moisturizers, face masks, toners, cleansers, massage oil, and scrubs.
3.1 Competitive Comparison
Natural Beauty Products wants to set itself apart from other beauty products that may offer only one or two types of services. Through surveys, we have found that people want products that will keep not only their hair and skin healthy, but them as well. Most people became frustrated because they could never find products that were made by the same company but were intended for both the hair and skin. Natural Beauty Products offer the consumer the convenience of purchasing both products for hair and skin in one place. There are many hair and skin products that exist, but most are harmful to the consumer and the environment. Our products offer the consumer the products that are affordable, while keeping their hair and skin looking like a million dollars. Our online business is available to the consumer everyday and has 24 hour access.
4.0 Marketing Strategy
Natural Beauty will focus on three market segments: beauty salons, females ages 13-45, and males ages 20-40. Our largest segment is the females, but the highest growth rates are for the beauty salons.
The marketing strategy is a simple one: satisfied clients are the best marketing tool. When a client purchases a new product from our online business, he or she is broadcasting our name and quality to the public. Most of our potential buyers will be referrals from existing buyers.
Even though research has shown that word of mouth is the best advertising for this type of business, advertisements will appear on major web sites such as Yahoo, Amazon, E-Bay. Advertisements for Natural Beauty Products will be submitted to search engines, promoted on other web sites as well as its homepage. The customers will be encouraged to refer others and will be rewarded with discounted or free products depending on the number of people they refer. Discounts will also be offered to the new purchasers who have been referred.
5.0 Management Summary
Natural Beauty Products will conduct business with buyers in a professional manner. To help ensure customer satisfaction, we will try to encourage involvement with feedback forms and posting a comment in the Comments section.
5.1 Management Team
Lisa Henry-Williams is the co-owner. Lisa has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Nicholls State University. Lisa has also had the experience of working in a salon setting by attending Molars Beauty College for two years. After she developed the skills that she acquired, she then decided to start her own business. By her having the skills that was needed to start an online business, it is no doubt that the business will be a success.
Corey Williams is the co-owner. Corey has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Nicholls State University. He also has the experience of beauty products, by being a barber for 5 years. He has the marketing skills to sell the products and the knowledge of the products.
5.2 Personnel Plan
The personnel plan calls for a webmaster, which will be the co-owner Lisa Henry-Williams. It also calls for a customer service staff, which will be the owners Lisa and Corey Williams. By Natural Beauty Products being a self-start online business, there is no need for any other employees.
6.0 Financial Plan
Since we were given $5,000 as a startup budget we plan to be a very successful online business in five months of its starting. The business should not have long to wait since we are affiliated with numerous salons that will sell and promote our products.
6.1 Break-even Analysis
Table: Break-even Analysis
Break-even Analysis:
Monthly Units Break-even 155
Monthly Revenue Break-even $1,709
Assumptions:
Average Per-Unit Revenue $11.00
Average Per-Unit Variable Cost $1.35
Estimated Monthly Fixed Cost $1,500
6.2 Projected Profit and Loss
We expect income to be $123,000 at the end of the first year of business. It should increase to more than $136,500 by the third year, as the public become more familiar with the products.
6.3 Projected Cash Flow
We expect to manage cash flow over the next three years simply by the growth of the cash flow of the business. The business will generate more than enough cash flow to cover all of its expenses.
7.0 Legal Disclaimer
Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability as to Products Sold
Except as expressly stated herein, Natural Beauty Products makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, of any kind with respect to products sold on this web site. Except as expressly stated herein, Natural Beauty Products expressly disclaims all warranties, express or implied, of any kind with respect to products sold on this site, including but not limited to, merchant ability and fitness for a particular purpose. You agree that the sold and exclusive maximum liability Natural Beauty Products arising from any product sold on shall be the price of the product ordered. In no event shall Natural Beauty Products or its representatives be liable for special, indirect, consequential, or punitive damages related to product sold.
Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability as to Natural Beauty Products Web Site
Natural Beauty Products web site and the materials therein are provided as is. Natural Beauty Products makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, of any kind with respect to Natural Beauty Products web site, its operation, contents, information, or materials. You agree that Natural Beauty Products and its representatives shall not be liable for damages arising form the operation, content or use of products sold on . You agree that this limitation of liability is comprehensive and applies to all damages of any kind, including without limitation direct, indirect, compensatory, special, incidental, punitive, and consequential damages.
Informational Purpose Only
All material and information presented by is intended to be used for educational or informational purposes only. The statements and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease. Please consult with your own physician or health care practitioner regarding the suggestions and recommendations made at .
Payment Methods
Natural Beauty Products accepts all major credit cards including, Visa, MasterCard and American Express. There is no surcharge for using your credit card to make purchases with Natural Beauty Products. Please be sure to provide your exact billing address and telephone number. The address and phone number your credit card bank has on file for you must match. Incorrect information may cause a delay in processing your order. Your credit card will be billed upon checkout of your order. Natural Beauty Products does not accept cash, cashiers checks, personal checks, and company checks of any kind.
Return Policy
Products may be returned to Natural Beauty Products for replacement or refund in the following manner: Returns to Natural Beauty Products must be made within 30 days of the invoice date. Before returning any item, you must contact our Customer Service Department for a Return Merchandise Authorization number (RMA). No returns, of any type, will be accepted without an RMA number. The RMA number is good for only one (1) item and must match the product authorized for return. RMA numbers are valid for 10 business days and all returns must be received within 10 days of obtaining the RMA number. If you are returning a non-defective product that has been opened, you will be charged a 15% restocking fee. Please allow 2-4 weeks for refunds to be processed and credited to your account. If you are seeking replacement of a defective product, you must place a new order for the identical product. All items must be in "as-new" condition, in original packaging and with all warranty cards, manuals and accessories. The original packing slip must be included and the RMA number visible on the package. Any discrepancies could result in a delay or partial forfeiture of your refund. There will be a $35.00 re-boxing fee for products not returned in the original manufacturers packaging. If part of a product becomes defective, the full product must be returned for credit or replacement. All returns must be sent via UPS, Federal Express, or any other courier that issues a tracking number.
8.0 Privacy and Security
Privacy Policy
When you place an order with Natural Beauty Products, we ask for your name, your billing address, the address for shipment of the order, your credit card number, expiration date and your email address. We consider this information private. The information is kept on a secure server to protect it from outside parties. We use the information only for the limited purposes of processing your orders and to notify you of products or special offers that may be of interest to you.
SSL Overview
Natural Beauty Products is committed to protecting your online security. Your confidential information is transmitted in a secure, private conversation that only your computer and www.naturalbeautyproducts.com can understand. SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. It encapsulates credit card information securely as it is sent over the internet to its destination.
In more detail, SSL, Secure Sockets Layer, is the leading security protocol on the Internet. When an SSL session is started, the browser sends its public key to the server so that the server can securely send a secret key to the browser. The browser and server exchange data via secret key encryption during that session.
