Demonstration of Retail-Size Products

When demonstrating Mary Kay® products using retail-size products, it's imperative that a few simple guidelines be followed at all times to protect both you and your customers.

Pick the right package:

• Products in tubes, with pumps, in pressurized containers, or bottles with a small opening can all provide a safe way to demonstrate products. Tubes, like lotions, can be squeezed onto the back of your customer's hand or onto a disposable tray so she can sample the product. Or a pressurized container, like Mary Kay® Moisturizing Shave Cream, also can be used in the same way.
   
• Products with alcohol, like fragrances, or products with other solvents, like nail color, can be applied directly by the customer, since the presence of alcohol or other solvents in the products themselves can help reduce the level of harmful germs.

Products that present challenges:

• There are packaging options where the risk of contamination exists. Products in wide-mouth jars, like Mary Kay® Intense Moisturizing Cream and Mary Kay® Oil-Free Hydrating Gel, can easily become contaminated. To demonstrate correctly from a product like this, you'll want to use a disposable spatula. You should never allow yourself or a customer to dip fingers into the jar and then apply the product directly to her skin, which is how contamination can occur.
   
• Other products that require a little more attention to detail to demonstrate safely include creamy or liquid eye-area products and those products applied around the mouth. Mascara and eyeliners should be demonstrated by using disposable applicators or the product samplers purchased from Section 2 of the Consultant order form. To avoid contamination, never dip a used applicator back into the retail tube. You'll also want to use single-use samplers when demonstrating products used around the mouth.

When demonstrating from retail-size products, you must set aside one that you use only for sampling from. Only unused, clean product should be sold to your customer. Many states and provinces have both general and specific rules governing this type of activity.