How a Washington, D.C. economist became a skin-care success on eBay
"I'm not a girly-girl," says Deming Colbert. "I'm just a practical woman who wants quality line." It's this philosophy that drove Deming to create her own skin-care products. |
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| While crunching numbers as an economist at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Deming began working on-and eventually perfecting-her own formulas for skin-care products using high concentrations of active ingredients. "Most of what you find out there is primarily water and other fillers that just don't do anything," says Deming. "My products actually work." Her friends agreed. Deming started selling a few bottles of this and that to a few pals. And then a few more. And then a few more!
But then Deming and her husband had an opportunity to move back to Oklahoma, where they had ties to their strong Creek and Chickasaw roots. For a while she kept her D.C. job, telecommuting each day. But it became such a hassle that she began to think of other things she could do. "I had never considered a career change before, but I was ready to try something different," says Deming as she packs up orders. "So I found a manufacturer to produce my line of skin-care products and started PureDeming. Our products are all filler-free and made with certified organic ingredients whenever possible."
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"We needed the exposure and advertising that eBay can provide with minimal expense
Deming Colbert |
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PureDeming opens the doors to success on eBay
Deming opened PureDeming on eBay in 2004. "We needed the exposure and advertising that eBay can provide with minimal expense," she says. "In fact, a friend offered to build a Web site for us so we could sell products through a site instead of eBay. But we declined. How would anybody hear about us if we only had a Web site?"
Her sales have grown an average of 17% annually since she opened her eBay Store. "Maybe that's because while we're sleeping, buyers around the world are browsing," she laughs. Not only has Deming watched her company grow, she's building a loyal customer base. In fact, 70% of her customers are repeat buyers!
PureDeming launches an international empire with eBay Stores
Because eBay has over 222 million registered users around the world, Deming's products have found fans in Japan, Europe, and Australasia as well as the East and West coasts of the U.S. "There's no better, more economical way to reach an international audience than eBay. The minute an Auction goes up, I reach a global audience-I could never afford that kind of exposure on my own. More >> |
