BBR9 Thought Leader Q&A: “How to Launch & Pitch a Beauty Brand” by Maria Rush of Beauty Collection

“You only have ONE 1st impression with a Buyer – Make it Count!”

This riveting roundtable topic speaks volumes about Maria Rush, the main curator of Purchasing and Brand Development for beauty retailer, Beauty Collection.

Maria Rush of Beauty Collection at BBR9

Maria Rush launched her career in beauty 20+ years ago. What she thought was a part-time summer job turned into a lifetime passion for all things beauty. Today her primary role is curating the brand assortment available at Beauty Collection, comprising over 300 brands. Of course after 14 years with the company she has worn various hats and sometimes several at a time! What she enjoys most is the constant interaction with new people, experiencing new brands, the ever changing market of products available and fostering life-long relationships. To this day, she still works with people who taught her the nuts & bolts of the beauty business during her early career.

We sat down with Maria after her Beauty Biz Roundtable BBR9 discussion on “You only have ONE 1st impression with a Buyer – Make it Count” to learn about her beauty industry career path, current beauty trends, and what makes her tick.

Please share 3 key points from your Roundtable presentation/discussion.

1.  Do your homework first

2.  Make the contact

3.   Follow up appropriately

BBR9 Thought Leader, Maria Rush (Purchasing & Brand Development for Beauty Collection) leading her roundtable discussion on “You only have ONE 1st impression with a Buyer – Make it Count!”

Please tell us about your career path/progression. The road to… where you are now? How did you get started?

 I started in the industry over 20 years ago in what I thought was a part time Summer job. What teenage girl doesn’t love to work around beauty products and get to spend her hard money every payday! I continued to learn from my peers and vendors developing my sales skills and level of product knowledge. Over the years I had the pleasure to work for people that truly had a passion for beauty and encouraged my personal and career growth. It’s taken me a lot of hard work, education, tons of reading and of course making mistakes along the way to get me where I am now. For me I know I’m in the right place and lucky enough to have been surrounded with great entrepreneurs and business people.

Why did you choose this career? Why the [beauty] industry?

I choose to continue my path in the beauty industry because I value and enjoy the people I have worked with along the way. It’s a growing industry with no boundaries for growth and vast opportunity to work in different capacities. For me the trade shows, events and networking opportunities is like getting together with family and friends.

Who/what are your biggest career influences?

My biggest career influence is my family, my husband and my children. They have been my biggest supporters through the years and I would not have been able to achieve my career goals without them. Plus, it’s pretty cool to hear them telling their friends what a cool job their Mom has and how lucky they are!

 Who is today’s [beauty] consumer? How are they changing?

Today’s beauty consumer is still the same man/woman looking for solutions. The difference today is of course the information at their fingertips, the wide variety of products and the technology now available.

What do you see as the latest trends in your industry?

There are some fantastic trends in our industry right now aimed at lifting your spirits and pure enjoyment. Body art & nail art are fun and easy to use at home. DIY skincare tools and gadgets aimed at creating a more youthful appearance is in abundance as well.

What attributes make a great leader? Tell me about your leadership style.

A great leader must always be honest, hard-working and provide quality feedback. Personality styles can vary as well as the method of delivery. However, if you have all 3 of these qualities you can’t fail those that count on you.

 What kinds of qualities do you look for in an employee/when hiring a candidate/someone to join your team?

 Most important to me in an employee or team member is the willingness to learn. If you are willing to learn and have key traits such as honesty, integrity and hard working the work will be more than just a job.

Read about other BBR9 Thought Leaders like Dan Obegi (CEO of DermStore Beauty Group), Jennifer Goldfarb (President of ipsy), Cesar Arellanes (Center for International Trade Development),  Scott-Vincent Borba (Founder of Scott-Vincent Borba, Co-Founder of e.l.f cosmetics), Amy Liu (VP of Marketing for Josie Maran Cosmetics), Eleanor Keare (President of Circle of Friends), and Fabrice Croise (Global Business Development Director for SelectNY)

Click here for more details about BBR9

Click here to view photos from BBR9

About BBR
Hosted by Mazur Group in Los Angeles, the Beauty Biz Roundtable (BBR) series brings together 100 Mid to Senior Level Beauty Executives in a roundtable format that fosters networking and idea sharing.  Attendees are given the opportunity to sit down in small group settings with industry peers. Past BBR attendees and Thought Leaders have come from every major beauty company here in the West Coast. For more details, visit: https://mazurgroupla.com/wp/bbr-events/