Our Product
MakeBox is a curated makeup box that users receive every 3 months. We provide high quality, full sized products in each box. Every 3 months, we provide our subscribers with 8-10 products custom-picked for them, which they then choose 5 to put into our box. We guarantee the best quality products for your skin and makeup needs. MakeBox takes away the hassle of finding makeup that works for you in the thousands of brands on the market by letting us do it for you.
Competition
SUBSCRIPTION MODELS
Products such as BirchBox and Ipsy are sampling services, meaning they do not supply full sized products like we do. As well as this, Ipsy has a full sized model but reviews are not positive, saying the products are bad quality and the boxes do not come on time. We plan on capitalizing on this problem by making sure our boxes are the best quality possible and always come on time. By entering into this market while it is still growing, we can guarantee ourselves a spot in the market and sell well.
TRADITIONAL ONLINE RETAILERS
Retailers such as Amazon and Sephora are services that allow online retailing. However, they provide no useful recommendations, which we can guarantee to provide based on our initial survey. As well as this, MakeBox will provide honest reviews of our products, while Sephora and Amazon can choose the reviews that are shown. The makeup industry is a fast growing and huge business, so entering at this time is ideal.
PAST MVPS
Original product: A website that used AR Technology to pick makeup for the users. We wanted to be a hub for different makeup brands, large and small to provide people with different options.
Original product: A website that used AR Technology to pick makeup for the users. We wanted to be a hub for different makeup brands, large and small to provide people with different options.
Original product: A website that used AR Technology to pick makeup for the users. We wanted to be a hub for different makeup brands, large and small to provide people with different options.
Original product: A website that used AR Technology to pick makeup for the users. We wanted to be a hub for different makeup brands, large and small to provide people with different options.
Original product: A website that used AR Technology to pick makeup for the users. We wanted to be a hub for different makeup brands, large and small to provide people with different options.
Original product: A website that used AR Technology to pick makeup for the users. We wanted to be a hub for different makeup brands, large and small to provide people with different options.
Makeup AR
Original product: A website that used AR Technology to pick makeup for the users. We wanted to be a hub for different makeup brands, large and small to provide people with different options.
Pivot
Test: After a survey, we realized our users did not care as much about the AR and instead wanted more of a curated experience and more help choosing makeup rather than choosing products for themselves
MakeBox #1
We decided to pivot to a subscription box, where users fill out a survey are then sent 4-5 products that we chose for them, priced at $35.00 per month. We also had a YouTuber box, which was products recommended by makeup YouTubers.
Pivot
We interviewed 25 people to discover if our price point was accurate, as well as whether me YouTuber or Concierge box would do better. We discovered that the price was too high, as well as the YouTuber and Concierge box being tied. We also got feedback that people wanted products from both boxes
MakeBox #2
From these conclusions, we pivoted to our current iteration of MakeBox. We are a quarterly makeup box that provides users with 8-10 curated makeup choices every 3 months that they then choose to put into their box. We decided on a price point of $49.99 based on further testing as well as research on the makeup market.
Pricing
​We want to provide users with a $49.99 box. We are targeting makeup users that spend $50-$199 every 3 months on makeup, so with this price at the bottom of their price range we estimate many of them will join. As well as this, we plan to sell our overstock products online with a discount to subscribers. We will prove a 15% off discount for the first box, as well as a 5% off for a referral and a 10% student discount to allow for students that want to try new makeup to do so.
Cost
​Our main cost will be the makeup buy-in price. We estimate that because of interviews with the wholesale industry, we can have a good quality box for under $35. We also estimate a $3 shipping cost, a $2 box and packing cost, as well as advertising and maintenance fees and paying employees.
I had a lot of trouble finding makeup that worked for my skin type, as I have really oily skin. I didn't want to put in the time to find makeup that worked for my skin, so I just wore the makeup that I didn't like. However,after subscribing to MakeBox, I found so many more brands I could use that looked good on me, as well as skin care products that helped to reduce the amount of oil on my skin. Thanks to MakeBox, I have a full face of makeup that I enjoy putting on each morning and that works for my skin!
Carrie, 20, Brandeis University
Meet The Team
Rachel Lese
Sophomore
Majoring in Computer Science and Neuroscience, Minor in Math
Favorite Makeup Product: Lipstick
Jingyuan Zhao
First Year Grad Student
Computer Science Major
Favorite Makeup Product: Kiehl's Toner
Xuanpu Zhang
Junior
Majoring in Computer Science
Favorite Makeup Product: Setting Powder
George Bousvaros
Senior
Majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics
Favorite Makeup Product: Concealer
