黑料门

From Friends to Inventors to Brand Builders

Donna and聽Andrea sell makeup glasses. If聽you don鈥檛 know what that is, jump on聽the聽episode to聽learn how they prototyped their product from scratch and聽how they now market something people are not familiar with.

Transcript

Jesse: Hey, Richard. 滨迟鈥檚 a聽podcast day.

Richard: 滨迟鈥檚 that day. I聽love it. Sunny Friday, another one. San Diego.

Jesse: Yeah. Friday in聽the聽studio. And today it鈥檚 awesome because I聽love the聽podcast, but my聽favorite part about it聽is聽when we聽get to聽talk to聽real 黑料门 store owners. So聽we聽have some store owners on聽today, and聽even better, they actually invented a聽product, they created a聽prototype that met one of聽their own needs. And you know, basically inventor through building a聽brand and聽building a聽business. So聽it聽should be聽awesome.

Richard: Yeah, I鈥檇 like to聽say it鈥檚 the聽American Dream but this isn鈥檛 even happening in聽America.

Jesse: We鈥檙e going to聽our international users. We鈥檙e going across the聽pond to聽the聽U.K. So聽you get to聽hear a聽different accent today. Let鈥檚 bring in聽our guests. This is聽Donna and聽Andrea from Flipzeesglasses.com. How鈥檚 it聽going?

Donna and聽Andrea: Hi! Good evening!

Jesse: Good evening for聽you and聽good morning over here in聽San Diego. So聽it鈥檚 Friday. You鈥檙e done. Now, do聽you have day jobs or聽is聽this a聽full-time business?

Donna and聽Andrea: Flipzeesglasses is聽a聽bit of聽a聽side hustle for聽us. We聽both have full-time day jobs.

Jesse: All right. Perfect. You鈥檙e not alone. By聽the聽way, it鈥檚 very common. All right. Let me聽get the聽spelling of聽Flipzeesglasses in聽there. 滨迟鈥檚 F-L-I-P-Z-E-E-S-G-L-A-S-S-E-S DOT COM. For people that are listening so聽don鈥檛 type that while you鈥檙e driving, everybody. But Donna and聽Andrea let鈥檚 hear about鈥 First of聽all, you guys are in聽business together. Were you friends before you started the聽business?

Andrea: Yes. Yes. We聽were friends. We聽met about 15聽years ago. Both Donna and聽I聽I聽live in聽the聽same area in聽London called Brixton. However, we聽didn鈥檛 know each other, but we聽had a聽mutual friend who lived in聽Vietnam. I聽actually happened to聽work in聽Vietnam, and聽I聽got to聽meet him. I聽know him, and聽then Donna and聽her husband came to聽visit our mutual friend and聽we聽met and聽we聽have been friends ever since. We聽happen to聽live within five minutes of聽each other now.

Jesse: That鈥檚 perfect. So聽you met across the聽globe basically, and聽you happen to聽live five minutes away.

Andrea: 滨听驳耻别蝉蝉.

Donna: I聽have to聽get to聽Vietnam to聽meet Andrea.

Jesse: That鈥檚 perfect. And how did this product begin? Was there a聽need for聽it?

Donna: Yes, definitely.

Andrea: I鈥檒l let Donna answer that one. It聽was her initial idea.

Donna: We聽both are ladies of聽a聽certain age. And when you get to聽that certain age you have to聽wear reading glasses which is聽fine. You know it聽happens. But if聽you like to聽wear makeup as聽well, when you鈥檙e trying to聽put your makeup on聽you can鈥檛 see without your reading glasses. And then when you put your reading glasses on聽you can鈥檛 put your makeup on聽because the聽glasses are in聽the聽way. So聽it聽is聽a聽problem because obviously, we聽don鈥檛 want to聽give up聽wearing makeup.

Jesse: And you want to聽be聽able to聽see yourself applying the聽makeup, that鈥檚 what you need (laughing.)

Donna: You need to聽be聽able to聽see. It聽does help (laughing.)

Jesse: Vision is聽important. Yes, I聽agree. By聽the聽way, I鈥檓 wearing my聽40s as聽well as聽we聽speak here. I鈥檝e had LASIK and聽I鈥檓 wearing glasses. I聽don鈥檛 wear makeup but I聽do聽understand鈥

Donna: There鈥檚 still time for聽that (laughing.)

Jesse: True, 滨听驳耻别蝉蝉.

Andrea: So聽that鈥檚 how it聽came about really. The initial idea was we聽need to聽come up聽with something that actually works. And I鈥檝e developed products for聽a聽high-street retailer in聽U.K. so聽I聽suggested: 聯Let鈥檚 just come up聽with the聽concept. How would that actually work?聰 And then we聽can get it. I聽can get it聽materialized. I聽can get it聽done with one of聽my聽suppliers because I鈥檓 sure that wouldn鈥檛 be聽a聽problem.

Jesse: Sure.

Andrea: Donna is聽a聽very technical type. She鈥檚 an聽electrician by聽trade. So聽she鈥檚 very skilled and聽likes to聽do聽things with the聽hands and聽very creative. She鈥檚 great, she鈥檚 amazing. One day we聽actually sat down around the聽kitchen table with the聽first material that we聽had at聽hand, which happens to聽be聽electrical wiring.

Jesse: 滨迟鈥檚 very flexible, right?

Donna: Not very comfortable though (laughing.)

Jesse: Well, true. Yeah. That may be聽not the聽most stylish glasses there but鈥

Andrea: It聽was blue. We聽actually happened to聽have pictures of聽our first prototype that was created by聽handmade wire glasses on聽our website. That鈥檚 our story. And it鈥檚 not a聽pretty thing to聽look at聽but it鈥檚 just so聽funny.

Jesse: Well, that鈥檚 awesome, I聽mean I聽think that鈥檚 where a聽lot of聽products actually do聽start from. The first prototype is聽usually pretty ugly. The first website鈥檚 pretty ugly. So聽that鈥檚 pretty normal. That鈥檚 awesome. Do聽you still have the聽original prototype?

Donna: Yeah, somewhere in聽a聽box (laughing.)

Jesse: You better save that. That could be聽a聽collector鈥檚 item some day.

Andrea: Might end up聽in聽a聽museum.

Jesse: Yeah, exactly. Just make sure you took that away. So聽you had the聽prototype. You got it聽started and聽it聽was that鈥 Maybe describe for聽people listening. What exactly are Flipzeesglasses? Because when I聽first saw the聽website, I聽thought it聽was like where you flip them up聽like sunglasses, but that鈥檚 not really the聽case. Can you describe it聽for聽people listening?

Donna: Ok. So聽basically, the聽glasses have only got one lense, one magnifying lens which relates to聽your reading glasses strength. And the聽lens match from one side of聽the聽glass to聽the聽other so聽you can. You have the聽lens on聽one eye, you look through the聽lens to聽see, to聽do聽the聽makeup on聽your other eye. And then you can flip the聽lens over sort of聽like 180聽degrees to聽the聽first eye, look through that to聽see to聽the聽other eye. But there鈥檚 a聽reason our glasses are different from similar range products. They just don鈥檛 work because we聽tried them. You can then turn the聽whole set of聽glasses upside down, so聽you can get access to聽basically like your eyebrows to聽do聽your eyebrows and聽your mascara. But you can also do聽either eyeliner or聽concealer. And so聽this is聽what makes our glasses completely different from anything else that鈥檚 out there.

Jesse: Ok. Got it. Yeah. And when I聽looked at聽the聽picture, I聽saw the聽idea where you could take them off and聽completely flip them upside down, but you can also move the聽lens if聽you wanted to聽leave them on. You could kind of聽flip it聽over to聽the聽other eye as聽well.

Donna: Exactly. Exactly. So聽the聽frame is聽slim so聽it聽doesn鈥檛 get in聽the聽way. And we聽find that this gives you just much more options to聽be聽able to聽apply your makeup using the聽magnifying lens.

Jesse: Wow. That鈥檚 awesome.

Richard: So聽how long have you been doing this now?

Andrea: We聽had our first birthday day in聽November, a聽year of聽having the聽product.

Donna: Yeah, having the聽product. But I聽think the聽development took鈥

Andrea: The development took longer because we聽actually didn鈥檛 take it聽very seriously. We聽talked about for聽long and聽often played around with it. Drank some wine and聽laughed about it, had some silly videos. And we聽just decided: actually, it聽does make sense. This makes sense. Let鈥檚 just do聽it. Let鈥檚 try it.

Jesse: I聽think that鈥檚 going鈥 Go聽ahead.

Andrea: Go. You go聽ahead.

Jesse: I聽said that鈥檚 the聽perfect way to聽create a聽product. I聽think for聽a聽while it聽needs to聽exist in聽your head and聽wine needs to聽be聽drunk in聽order to聽really deeply think about it.

Richard: And when it聽keeps coming up, right, when it聽keeps coming back and聽you just can鈥檛 let the聽idea go. That鈥檚 part of聽it. I聽mean, in聽some ways, not in聽some ways, in聽a聽lot of聽ways, it聽was harder for聽you to聽get the聽product than it聽was probably to聽do聽the聽majority of聽the聽黑料门 store. All right, I鈥檓 not to聽put it聽on聽the聽spot but that took some time I鈥檓 sure. I聽mean you did you get it聽patented and聽go聽through that whole process too or?

Donna: Yeah, I聽mean we鈥 this is聽probably what took the聽time. We聽took quite a聽bit of聽advice about should we聽patent it. We聽looked to聽that and聽it聽was quite expensive and聽lengthy process and聽we聽didn鈥檛 know where it聽was going. So聽we聽decided to聽take a聽middle ground and聽we鈥檝e registered the聽design and聽we鈥檝e registered trademark, the聽name FlipZees. And we聽felt that was the聽best we聽could do. You know, that has to聽be聽a聽balance really.

Jesse: Then move on聽to聽build and聽sell after that.

Donna: Exactly. When we聽get famous and聽start selling millions, we聽can worry about it聽then. But you know none of聽this would have been possible without Andrea and聽her amazing contacts because I聽think Andrea must know every single person who has played a聽part in聽this and聽has so-called favors. I聽don鈥檛 know how she does it. She鈥檚 amazing.

Andrea: Thanks, Donna.

Donna: We聽never would鈥檝e got here, unless it聽would be聽for聽her.

Andrea: I聽think she鈥檚 over-exaggerating a聽little bit.

Jesse: Well, nobody says you can鈥檛 use your previous experience to聽build a聽business here. If聽you have contacts, use them if聽you have. There鈥檚 no聽such thing as聽an聽unfair advantage, right. So聽you made a聽prototype and聽then how do聽you get these made? Do聽you send prototypes? Do聽you have to聽do聽CAD drawings or聽how do聽you go聽about taking something from an聽electrical wire into actually making, getting it聽made somewhere? How is聽that process?

Andrea: Well, once we聽had actual design and聽the聽mechanism, how we聽could work and聽was able to聽explain it聽to聽someone. I聽contacted someone I聽know that produces glasses and聽sunglasses in聽the聽United Kingdom for聽the聽whole of聽High Street and聽Eye contact. One of聽my聽contacts was very keen, he聽said it鈥檚 a聽great idea. There鈥檚 not much happening in聽that glass as聽well. So聽he聽was quite keen to聽explore that himself. And he聽had it聽done for聽us聽in聽China. We聽had several samples done. We聽had technical issues that to聽start with. We鈥檙e trying to聽overcome this, factoring was quite keen to聽work with us聽as聽because they thought something different and聽that鈥檚 how it聽came about.

Jesse: Ok. So聽you knew somebody local that had already experienced making glasses and聽getting them made in聽China. How many prototypes did you have to聽get sent back and聽forth? I聽know that can be聽kind of聽pain.

Andrea: Maybe four by聽four. Yes. OK. Not too many. It聽wasn鈥檛 too many actually.

Jesse: Oh聽that鈥檚 good. And what was the聽minimum order that they required for聽the聽first run?

Andrea: Twelve hundred units.

Jesse: Twelve hundred units, OK.

Andrea: One hundred. 滨迟鈥檚 not actually that many considering we聽have two colors and聽each color and聽full strength, reading glass strength. So聽it鈥檚 not that my聽eight excuses in聽organ total.

Jesse: Ok. Got it. So聽each set of聽glasses has its own strength. Those are not interchangeable. So聽you have to聽order. OK. Got it. So聽now you hope you guessed right and聽that all those different magnifications are all evenly distributed among your customers.

Andrea: Think it鈥檚 a聽guessing game at聽this stage without having a聽history of聽what sells and聽what wouldn鈥檛. We聽didn鈥檛 know.

Donna: What鈥檚 been quite interesting actually that we聽thought that we聽can make applications a聽bit more popular actually. Being the聽stronger magnification that has been more popular indicating perhaps that our target audience is聽actually older than us聽because we聽don鈥檛 need quite need the聽number threes yet. Yeah. So.

Richard: So聽this might be聽a聽stupid question but do聽you tend to聽need to聽increase the聽magnification? Should you maybe make these be聽interchangeable in聽the聽next iteration of聽this? I聽don鈥檛 know the聽numbers but let鈥檚 just say 1聽through 5聽because I聽don鈥檛 have glasses yet. If聽1聽is聽the聽weakest and聽5聽is聽the聽strongest, if聽every two years they need a聽new lens, may be聽at聽some point you want them to聽be聽able to聽sell the聽lenses separately.

Andrea: Yes, we聽have considered that but we聽are not quite variant of聽the聽stage. What we聽are advising customers when they come to聽us聽and聽say: 聯Oh I鈥檝e got one eye a聽lot stronger than the聽other聰. It聽is聽possible to聽go聽to聽your optician to聽get the聽prescription and聽get it聽changed in聽the聽frame because a聽frame is聽flexible enough to聽have it聽for聽for聽a聽professional to聽inside the聽new lens in聽as聽long as聽it聽is聽thick. However, I鈥檓 not sure how that would work with the聽rotation of聽the聽glasses because it鈥檚 360聽degrees so聽that might not work. So聽you鈥檒l have to聽contact your optician for聽that sort of聽thing. Well, we聽tend to聽tell our customers when they come into question now is聽that if聽they got very different prescription to聽each eye, they can buy two pairs and聽use one for聽one eye and聽the聽one for聽the聽other. 滨迟鈥檚 not ideal obviously but you know that鈥檚 the聽only way around it. At聽the聽moment.

Jesse: That鈥檚 the聽answer I聽like. You buy two.

Donna: Just buy more pairs. This is聽our first, you know, first production run. And there are things that we聽will change when we聽do聽our next production run. And we聽need to聽look at聽the聽cost of聽producing a聽pair of聽glasses with an聽interchangeable lens against the聽cost of聽the聽standard glasses and聽is聽it聽going to聽prohibit, they鈥檙e not particularly high-value product. So聽you know, after two years by聽maybe you do聽it, you just buy another pair.

Richard: That makes sense. Where I聽was going with that was once you look at聽it聽and聽especially after you have a聽conversation, and聽just someone heard this podcast and聽then went to聽your site and聽saw the聽video and聽saw how it聽works. It聽seems as聽if聽from a聽marketing perspective education is聽a聽big piece of聽this because you alluded to聽just a聽little bit ago a聽friend that worked and聽said there鈥檚 not much going on聽in聽the聽sunglass market. I聽mean for聽the聽most part it鈥檚 聯Do they look good on聽me聰, right? That鈥檚 usually what people are saying. And yet they鈥檙e so聽good-looking already. They really are good-looking glasses just sitting there as聽I鈥檓 looking on聽the聽website that it聽took me聽a聽moment to聽even get what was really going on聽because I聽almost expected to聽see when Jesse first told me聽about it, I聽wasn鈥檛 expecting it聽to聽look like a聽nice pair of聽glasses for聽some reason. And they actually look like nice glasses. So聽is聽education a聽big part of聽what you鈥檝e seen as聽been the聽thing that would get people to聽move or聽buy these more than anything?

Donna: Yeah, I聽think so聽and聽that鈥檚 the聽really challenging part because you鈥檙e trying to聽sell a聽product which you have to聽also inform people about. They might not even know that they are the聽one that they need, that there is聽a聽solution to聽that problem. So聽I聽think that鈥檚 the聽challenge that we聽face. Plus the聽fact that you鈥檙e never going to聽wear these walking down the聽street, therefore, it鈥檚 wearing in聽your bathroom or聽in聽the聽toilet to聽touch up聽your makeup. So聽there is聽a聽bit of聽a聽hidden product I聽suppose.

Richard: That鈥檚 part of聽what I聽liked about it聽though. You know, when I聽first said it聽they took me聽by聽surprise as聽I聽wasn鈥檛 expecting in聽my聽mind as聽I聽will 聯Why would they still make them look like a聽nice pair of聽glasses?聰 And then the聽way that I聽answered myself was 聯Well, you want to聽see what your makeup looks like with a聽nice pair of聽glasses on聰, right. So聽you鈥檙e not going to聽make some big orange ones or聽something like that.

Andrea: Exactly. Andrea was quite insistent on聽that and聽I聽think she was right. I聽think to聽make the聽product even though it鈥檚 not really going to聽be聽seen why not make it聽nice and聽pretty and聽you want to聽use it. So聽she鈥檚 quite right.

Jesse: This is聽for聽stylish ladies that are doing their makeup. You know you get to聽you have to. Yeah, exactly.

Andrea: Basically, I聽don鈥檛 think I鈥檇 like to聽be聽seen in聽those glasses. Yes, it聽does help me. Not on聽a聽daily basis so聽I鈥檓 not complaining.

Richard: So聽you鈥檙e at聽your birthday, in聽November you got your product. When did the聽store actually go聽live?

Donna: 滨迟鈥檚 about two days before Christmas. It聽was really badly time-based.

Andrea: Neither of聽us聽have any聽experience. Instead of聽doing that sort of聽thing. I聽developed the聽product. We聽all got it聽and聽we聽thought 聯OK, we聽get the聽product to聽the聽UK聰. And then we聽can do聽things we聽haven鈥檛 had any聽marketing strategy. We聽haven鈥檛 any聽marketing plan and聽no聽calendar. When do聽we, how do聽we聽launch? We聽just said 聯Oh, let鈥檚 just start with the聽Facebook page. OK聰. So聽we聽do聽it聽today and聽we聽thought 聯OK well there鈥檚 a聽video. There鈥檚 a聽Facebook page, it鈥檚 a聽video, you will go聽viral聰 (laughing.)

Jesse: Yes. I聽will just post a聽video and聽it鈥檒l go聽viral. I聽love that. 滨迟鈥檚 never鈥

Richard: 滨迟鈥檚 almost like those lottery tickets.

Andrea: I聽mean the聽amount of聽times I聽look at聽the聽Facebook and聽all I聽see is聽this amazing video that has got millions of聽viewers, this is聽us! That didn鈥檛 happen quite like that. I聽mean it聽isn鈥檛 happening a聽lot about time. Yeah. I聽think we聽made a聽progress since then.

Jesse: I聽think you鈥檝e made a聽lot of聽progress. Actually, I聽think the聽site looks great. We聽see a聽lot of聽videos on聽here and聽I聽think the聽video I聽would see that had been very important for聽you. I聽noticed鈥 So聽how many videos have you made?

Andrea: Well, the聽first video we聽made, we聽made it聽for聽our website as聽a聽demonstration video just to聽show customers how the聽product works. It聽was about 50聽seconds long. It聽was the聽one with the聽model video. And then we聽realize it聽looks great, however, people didn鈥檛 know what it聽was. So聽basically, we聽realized 聯Oh, we聽don鈥檛 have a聽problem that shows the聽problem and聽then the聽solution, now it鈥檚 just the聽solution聰. So聽we聽made another video with an聽actual professional model to聽show a聽problem and聽the聽solution. And a聽shorter version, because then we聽found out that for聽social media like Facebook or聽Instagram it聽can鈥檛 be聽longer than 15聽seconds before people鈥檚 attention span disappears. So聽that鈥檚 been a聽learning curve as聽well to聽organize a聽full professional photo shoot. 滨迟鈥檚 been quite a聽challenge. I鈥檓 no聽budget manager.

Jesse: And 15聽seconds is聽always鈥 I聽make videos too and聽I鈥檓 like: 聯Man, I聽want to聽do聽this, I聽do聽that, I聽want and聽then I鈥檓 finished with this聰. You鈥檙e like 聯Oh yeah but that鈥檚 like 45聽seconds, you have to聽do聽15聽seconds.聰

Andrea: I聽really did not think it聽was possible to聽do聽what we聽wanted to聽portray and聽demonstrate is聽going to聽be聽possible to聽do聽in聽15聽seconds. You know, I聽think we鈥檝e done it. I聽always would be聽somewhat 聯But it聽has to聽be聽a聽little bit longer. Can we聽just do聽20聽seconds?聰 I聽think not. Media rules.

Richard: You can, you just can鈥檛 use that platform in聽that way. But you could still make it. This is聽what we聽mentioned earlier when we聽said we聽really love talking to聽黑料门 customers because when you read a聽business book or聽listen to聽someone that鈥檚 in聽a聽business lecture class or聽going through some, you know, writing a聽business plan course or聽something. It聽seems like it鈥檚 really linear. It聽seems like 聯Do this, then you do聽that.聰 But when you actually listen to聽people that are really going through it, it聽has a聽lot of聽twists and聽turns. And first it鈥檚 a聽testament to聽you, ladies, congratulations for聽just keeping going and聽actually getting this up聽and聽your year anniversary going into Christmas season now you should definitely expect more sales this year than last year. I鈥檓 sure.

Donna: Yeah, we鈥檝e been a聽bit more organized around the聽promotion and聽not the聽thing like, we鈥檙e actually doing some. So聽let鈥檚 start.

Jesse: What鈥檚 been working for聽you with the聽marketing?

Donna: Well, it鈥檚 interesting. We聽sent a聽letter with the聽product to聽print magazines to聽see if聽they would be聽interested in聽featuring us. And one came back. It聽was a聽magazine called 聯News Magazine聰 which is聽probably for聽ladies older than us. They just did it聽like a聽little help section like 聯Mrs. J聽can鈥檛 put on聽her makeup but how can she be聽helped?聰 and聽then they featured FlipZees and聽then offered a聽discount code. We聽have had a聽lot of聽sales straight there. And it聽cost us聽nothing just a聽pair of聽glasses and聽we鈥檙e still getting repeat sales. So聽I聽think the聽older customer keeps the聽magazine, shows it聽to聽their friend or聽it聽sits in聽the聽doctor鈥檚 surgery so聽actually, the聽print media has been probably, I聽would say, our best so聽far, which is聽interesting because it鈥檚 not where we聽thought we聽would be.

Andrea: We聽thought our demographic was about 40聽to聽60聽and聽actually, in聽reality, it鈥檚 about 70聽to聽80.

Donna: We鈥檝e even got customers who are saying 聯Well, I聽haven鈥檛 got the聽internet so聽how am聽I聽going to聽order your product?聰

Andrea: People ask 聯Can I聽send you a聽check?聰 And I鈥檓 like 聯What鈥檚 a聽check聰?

Jesse: That鈥檚 good. But these ladies really want it. So聽they鈥檙e willing to聽like we聽call it聽to聽crawl over broken glass to聽get them, to聽get the聽product.

Donna: Yes. Well, what we聽suggest normally is: 聯Does your son or聽your daughter have Internet?聽鈥 Oh聽yes. Well, why don鈥檛 you get them to聽order it聽and聽pay for聽it?聽鈥擳hat鈥檚 a聽good idea.聰

Jesse: Yeah, I聽have it聽be, that鈥檚 a聽present from their son or聽daughter.

Richard: Well, it聽goes back to聽your point earlier about how the聽video didn鈥檛. It聽only had the聽solution it聽didn鈥檛 have the聽problem too. And so聽part of聽what why you might be聽seen as聽a聽success in聽print media is聽your customers looking at聽the聽print. Right. And they probably have reading glasses on聽at聽the聽time they鈥檙e even reading that magazine. You never know. And so聽it聽really strikes a聽chord with them you鈥檙e hitting them not necessarily in聽the聽middle of聽the聽problem because they鈥檙e not putting makeup on聽while they鈥檙e reading the聽magazine. But it聽just shows sometimes where you want to聽put the聽marketing where your customer is. It聽doesn鈥檛 mean that鈥檚 what they鈥檙e doing at聽the聽time but yeah that鈥檚 right.

Jesse: Yeah, I聽get it. If聽you think OK. My聽customer is聽going to聽be聽between 40聽and聽60聽and聽then you find out they鈥檙e quite a聽bit older and聽you have to聽adjust. Right.

Andrea: What we聽find is聽that every time it鈥檚 one of聽those products that you might see, it鈥檚 just like: 聯Oh my聽god, I聽need this.聰 But until we聽see it, you don鈥檛 know you didn鈥檛 even realize that you need that.

Jesse: Oh聽for聽sure, for聽sure. I聽mean it鈥檚 a聽new category. And actually, we聽were talking before the聽podcast about what I聽said: 聯Richard, what do聽you think people search for聽to聽find this product?聰 Do聽you know like what are they searching for聽on聽Google to聽find your product?

Donna: Well, when I聽was looking, I聽put something like 聯glasses to聽help me聽put my聽makeup on聰. And that was all makeup glasses, maybe a聽magnifying glass. That鈥檚 the聽sort of聽thing that you would search for, 滨听驳耻别蝉蝉.

Jesse: Got it. Yeah. Makeup glass was my聽guess so. All right. I鈥檓 getting into the聽mind of聽your customer now.

Donna: Watch out for聽that mascara eye.

Jesse: Makeup glasses for聽applying my聽mascara correctly. You know I聽never want to聽have that. So聽what do聽you do聽on聽the聽Google side, do聽you have鈥 Do聽you do聽ads on聽for聽Google? Or聽do聽you have search rankings that you show up聽for? How do聽you how do聽you track customers on聽that side?

Donna: Well, you know we鈥檙e still learning a聽bit. We聽did some Google ads but I聽think one of聽the聽issues we鈥檝e got is聽our product is聽quite expensive in聽relation to聽other similarish products that don鈥檛 work basically. So聽when we聽were coming up聽in聽a聽shocking thing we聽just felt like we聽were super expensive and聽we聽didn鈥檛 really get much because in聽a聽Google ad, you can鈥檛 explain why you鈥檙e super expensive. Now, why should people pay twice as聽much for聽your product rather than one they鈥檙e going to聽throw in聽the聽bin. So聽we聽sort of聽stopped doing that because I聽just felt it聽wasn鈥檛 helping us. Yeah. So聽we聽need to聽be聽somewhere where we聽can more explain about the聽difference which is聽why we鈥檝e been looking at聽Amazon. You know just like Facebook ads and聽stuff.

Richard: Ok, well this brings me聽back to聽that video we聽talked about in聽the聽beginning and聽we鈥檝e mentioned a聽couple of聽times now about educating the聽customer. Part of聽one of聽the聽reasons why I聽think Google wouldn鈥檛 be聽successful yet is聽they don鈥檛 even know they have the聽problem to聽what you said earlier. They don鈥檛 even know what to聽put in聽to聽look for聽it. So聽it鈥檚 not like they鈥檙e picking some brand name that they already know yet. Right. Eventually, they will.

Jesse: Eventually FlipZees will be鈥 Everybody will be聽searching for聽FlipZees after this podcast comes out.

Donna: Fingers crossed鈥

Richard: Yeah. But if聽you, for聽instance, when you mentioned in聽the聽video only needed to聽be聽15聽seconds. That鈥檚 true only at聽this point in聽time with the聽algorithm with Instagram. Right. The minute Instagram decides to聽change that you might be聽able to聽go聽30聽seconds or聽if聽you did it聽on聽Facebook you could make it聽longer. So聽again finding where that customer is聽and聽then explaining it聽in聽some ways even though it聽doesn鈥檛 seem like print works I聽see why print also works because it聽would be聽interesting you should probably get a聽copy of聽that magazine. Did you get it聽and聽see what the聽app was like that would be聽interesting because the聽fact that it聽was in聽print and聽they still described it聽in聽a聽way that got sales to聽take place on聽something that is聽hard to聽educate that鈥檚 worth looking at聽as聽potential copy for聽video with slight tweaks.

Donna: Yeah, that鈥檚 a聽good idea.

Andrea: Yeah. Everything like that. Any print or聽anything. Any mention that we聽have. That just gives us聽the聽contents from all social media so聽that鈥檚 always a聽good thing for聽us.

Jesse: Yeah, I聽could see that. I聽could see, maybe there鈥檚 probably a聽perfect influencer you know like an聽actress that鈥檚 a聽50-year-old actress putting on聽her makeup that needs glasses like that would, of聽course, be聽talking a聽lot of聽money to聽get somebody get the聽cheap ways just like you did before sending out the聽glasses for聽free. But you know there鈥檚 a聽lot of聽crossing your fingers there and聽you don鈥檛 really know if聽you know you don鈥檛 know if聽anything is聽going to聽come back from that.

Andrea: Speaking of聽which, if聽you guys know anyone you like.

Jesse: Like it. Yeah.

Donna: Well we鈥檙e using that contact.

Jesse: Yeah, we鈥檙e not that far from L.A. but I聽don鈥檛.

Richard: I聽mean actually there鈥檚 a聽couple I聽can think of. I鈥檒l reach out. I聽know a聽couple. I鈥檓 blanking on聽the聽exact name of聽the聽website right now but they do聽makeup specifically and聽it鈥檚 makeup. And a聽couple for聽aging women of聽which they鈥檙e basically wanting them to. So聽the聽models have gray hair. They鈥檙e not trying to聽hide their hair, they want to聽keep their natural but they want to聽also do聽makeup as聽well. I聽don鈥檛 know. There might be聽some synergy or聽something that could happen between you. I鈥檒l reach out and聽see what they鈥檙e up聽to.

Andrea: Amazing, thank you.

Jesse: We鈥檒l work the聽contacts here.

Andrea: And my聽folks say it鈥檚 the聽networking and聽asking direct questions.

Jesse: Yeah. Yeah. And I聽see testimonials on聽the聽site. I聽think testimonials would be聽really important. And they鈥檙e also going to聽be聽very important when you make the聽jump to聽Amazon. I聽see the聽price point. The price point on聽the聽Web site here is聽拢19.50聽so聽$39.25聽dollars I聽think. Yeah. That鈥檚 it. I聽get it. That鈥檚 a聽tough one to聽advertise on聽Google because in聽order to聽afford the聽advertising, that鈥檚 usually about the聽kind of聽cutoff point below. But yeah, on聽Amazon, this seems like people type in聽聯makeup glasses聰 if聽you dominate that area. And then, of聽course, you do聽need to聽get a聽lot of聽reviews. That鈥檚 always the聽problem with Amazon is聽reviews.

Richard: 滨听尘别补苍鈥

Donna: 滨听尘别补苍鈥 I聽didn鈥檛 realize that it鈥檚 a聽bit like Google, you have to聽pay within Amazon to聽be聽ranked on聽the聽pages. 滨迟鈥檚 like 聯What?!聰

Jesse: There鈥檚 a聽reason it鈥檚 worth billions and聽billions of聽dollars. You have to聽pay to聽advertise, you have to聽pay the聽store and聽then you have to聽pay the聽ship when they ship.

Andrea: We聽really thought, we聽just have his great idea we鈥檒l make it, we聽will have it聽done, and聽it鈥檚 just gonna sell itself. And it鈥檚 not the聽case. We聽just need a聽bottomless money pit at聽the聽moment because you know it聽is聽just getting really fast and聽it鈥檚 completely self-funded and聽it鈥檚 just two of聽us. We聽both don鈥檛 want to聽put ourselves in聽debts over this. We聽just think we聽can manage it聽all, but it聽would be聽great to聽be聽if聽we聽won the聽lottery.

Jesse: Well, I聽think you鈥檙e on聽the聽way, I聽think this is聽your own lottery here but it鈥檚 never easy though.

Donna: And I聽think that鈥檚 the聽thing when you doing your own business, it鈥檚 tough, there are ups and聽downs and聽it鈥檚 a聽long journey really. But I聽think it鈥檚 really nice when you could do聽with someone else. If聽I聽would do聽it聽by聽myself I聽would feel really lonely.

Andrea: Absolutely. I聽think both Donna and聽I聽have different strengths and聽we鈥檝e been complementing each other really well. She already runs her own 锘縠lectrical
business and聽I鈥檓 the聽creative. So聽everything doesn鈥檛 have to聽do聽with the聽money and聽Amazon accounts and聽that鈥檚 a聽鈥β犅揙ff that goes over my聽head聰. And all the聽pretty things, like video and聽organizing shoots. Speaking of聽social media鈥 I聽think both of聽us聽can turn to聽our roles.

Jesse: Yeah, that鈥檚 the聽way you should do聽it. Building a聽business can be聽lonely at聽times so聽it鈥檚 good that you have a聽friend that also compliments your skills so聽I聽think you鈥檙e on聽the聽way. Amazon is聽the聽next thing you have to聽cross probably but a聽good thing about that is聽I聽saw like shipping to聽the聽rest of聽the聽world if聽you had them in聽the聽US, at聽Amazon warehouses if聽somebody in聽the聽US聽buys it聽you can ship it聽out there and聽then you don鈥檛 have to聽pay to聽ship from your place so聽that would be聽great. Use all sorts of聽good videos out there, all these pretty videos and聽social media, you鈥檙e on聽the聽way.

Richard: I聽think this is聽Richard again, I聽think it鈥檚 brilliant, and聽I聽don鈥檛 even need them. What I聽did when you guys were talking about it, I鈥檇 just looked up聽made up聽something that is聽聯make up聽for聽elderly women聰 in聽Youtube and聽the聽five that popped up聽for聽me聽one has almost a聽million views, one has 2.1聽million views, one has a聽million views, the聽other one has 2.2聽million views. I聽don鈥檛 know if, but you could make a聽small video that pops up聽specifically in聽front of聽those videos. Now they鈥檙e going to聽a聽video to聽watch such a聽video about how to聽put make up聽an聽elderly woman. They鈥檙e not getting confused on聽that video everyone knows what鈥檚 going to聽happen in聽the聽video right and聽you could do聽one of聽those pre-roll ads where it聽actually pops up聽ahead of聽the聽video and聽that you can鈥檛 skip for聽2聽seconds. Here鈥檚 the聽thing if聽you do聽it聽right and聽you have the聽brand right in聽the聽background and聽you start with the聽problem to聽your point of聽the聽video earlier. I鈥檓 just going to聽keep nail and聽that because it鈥檚 a聽huge point. 滨迟鈥檚 a聽problem they have for聽such a聽small amount of聽time and聽it鈥檚 only frustrated at聽that time any聽time and聽then they鈥檙e not thinking about that problem for聽the聽rest of聽the聽day anymore. But when they aren鈥檛 thinking about that problem, this is聽a聽huge potential when it鈥檚 like you pop up聽in聽front of聽a聽video that has 1.2聽million viewers and聽you鈥檙e saying: 聯Hey, you鈥檝e ever seen, you鈥檝e ever tried鈥 and聽you just go聽right into the聽problem trying to聽put makeup on聽and聽it鈥檚 an聽older elderly person. If聽they hit 聭skip ad聮 when they finally can skip the聽ad聽you don鈥檛 even pay for聽it. If聽you did your branding in聽there right you could slowly start educating people all in聽front of聽all these videos. And even if聽they skip it, you get to聽stay under budget. So聽you鈥檙e not spending money. If聽they don鈥檛 skip it聽and聽they keep watching it聽is聽probably a聽pretty darn good prime candidate there for聽you.

Andrea: We聽do聽know that these kind of聽things鈥

Donna: I聽feel there鈥檚 another piece of聽work coming my聽way.

Jesse: We鈥檙e going to聽add it聽to聽your to-do list.

锘緼苍诲谤别补: This is聽another one. 滨迟鈥檚 funny for聽us, we聽thought 聭Ok, we鈥檝e got videos, we聽have to聽upload them to聽our Youtube channel聮. We聽did it, all our videos are on聽Youtube, and聽then we聽realize: 聭How come, nobody鈥檚 watching them聮. On聽our Youtube channel we聽have like six views, it鈥檚 probably me聽and聽Donna and聽our mothers. I聽talk to聽a聽lot of聽people about things, especially about glasses because there鈥檚 not much in聽my聽life going at聽the聽moment. And everybody says that 聭How you have your SEO done for聽YouTube?聮 And I鈥檓 like: 聭No聮. You know, these are specific things you have to聽do聽for聽people to聽come up聽with search in聽searching engines.This is聽completely new to聽us! How did you know you have to聽do聽things like that? No聽wonder no聽one is聽watching us.

Jesse: There鈥檚 always something to聽learn I聽would say. I鈥檓 not looking at聽your YouTube channel right now but I聽see Richard has it聽up聽here, but you鈥檒l definitely want to聽use the聽word 聭makeup glasses聮. Definitely, 聭makeup glasses聮 should be聽sprinkled throughout the聽listing. I聽actually like Richard鈥檚 idea about the聽ad, and聽I聽had it聽in聽the聽past. You get five seconds, they can鈥檛 skip it聽and聽you can kind of聽show the聽problem with your glasses in聽five seconds. If聽they keep watching another thirty seconds, even forty-five seconds, you get to聽tell your whole story and聽the聽costs per view on聽that if聽somebody to聽watch the聽video is聽usually like five cents, ten cents, pennies to聽ten cents.

Donna: Because I聽think we鈥檇 been thinking how do聽we聽reach these influencers. Well, it鈥檚 just in聽a聽way that when someone who we聽could afford to聽pay someone to聽use our products in聽the聽video but I聽never saw before getting jumped in聽before the聽video.

Richard: They鈥檙e influencers, they have the聽influence. There鈥檚 someone who鈥檚 going to聽watch that. Influence is聽influence. You just jump right in聽front of聽them.

Jesse: You pay five cents, you don鈥檛 have to聽pay like five thousand dollars to聽that influencer.

Donna: Brilliant! Thank you. I鈥檓 right into it.

Jesse: I聽think we聽also鈥 When the聽podcast comes out, we聽will find some way to聽help promote you on聽to聽our 黑料门 community as聽well for聽everybody listening. I聽think this is聽a聽gift for聽my聽mom, I聽think my聽mom鈥檚 going to聽get it, this would be聽a聽Christmas present for聽her.

Donna: 滨迟鈥檚 a聽good Christmas present. We鈥檙e just looking at, someone says 聭What if聽I聽don鈥檛 know my聽mom鈥檚 prescriptions聮. We鈥檙e just looking for聽being in聽touch with you, to聽help those people, about creating gift certificates. So聽people can buy come gift certificates and聽then the聽person can order the聽correct prescription. We聽think it聽could be聽a聽good solution.

Jesse: Good idea. Actually, I聽wouldn鈥檛 know what to聽get for聽my聽mom either so聽I聽think she鈥檚 going to聽get a聽certificate now. And they will take care of聽it聽online by聽the聽way. Awesome! So, anything that we聽should have asked you and聽forgot to聽ask you?

Andrea: I聽don鈥檛 think so. Since we聽started, the聽words getting out there, we聽are showing glasses. People started to聽talk about us. This week, we鈥檝e been featured in聽a聽Ann-Louise magazine which is聽an聽online magazine. Today we聽have been feature
in聽an聽optical magazine here in聽the聽UK, which is聽the聽magazine for聽opticians and聽as聽a聽trade magazine. Hopefully, we聽will have the聽inquiries from opticians rolling in. Things are picking up, we聽have now over 200聽units. So, we鈥檙e getting up聽there. We鈥檒l go聽viral before we聽know that.

Jesse: Awesome, you鈥檙e on聽the聽path, you get in聽a聽couple of聽magazines. You boost some of聽those ads on聽Facebook and聽Instagram and聽you鈥檙e on聽your way.

Andrea: I聽must say being featured is聽just such a聽boost that we鈥檙e actually doing something right. People want to聽talk about us. 滨迟鈥檚 encouraging for聽us聽to聽keep going and聽not get discouraged at聽small sales.

Donna: Hearing another perspective, when you know I聽never ever would have thought about YouTube. So聽a聽million thanks for聽that. We鈥檒l just be聽going to聽be聽looking into that.

Jesse: Awesome, and聽it聽is聽it鈥檚 coming up聽on聽the聽holiday seasons so聽this is聽usually the聽season for聽everybody when sales sometimes go聽crazy for聽a聽couple weeks there.

Richard: Speaking of鈥. Sorry for聽interrupting, I聽just know it鈥檚 getting close to聽the聽end. While we聽were talking they don鈥檛 have quite as聽many views but I聽looked under stuff for聽a聽holiday makeup in聽different things too for聽the聽same and聽they鈥檙e actually still quite a聽few. So聽you never know, you might even be聽able to聽get some people that are just looking at聽how to聽do聽makeup for聽the聽holidays, get fancied up, right. They鈥檙e going to聽dinner, they are going somewhere and聽take advantage of聽that video right there.

Jesse: Well done. And how can our customers find out more about you? Where we聽can they go?

Donna: To聽our website.

Jesse: Give us聽that website one more time.

Donna: 滨迟鈥檚 Flipzees-with Z-glasses.com. We聽also have Facebook and聽Instagram and聽YouTube.

Jesse: Especially on聽YouTube now. All right.

Andrea: We聽are there and聽we鈥檇 like to聽offer a聽ten percent discount for聽all our 黑料门 customers. Just visit us聽and聽quote ECWID on聽the聽site when checking out and聽you get ten percent discount.

Jesse: So聽the聽coupon code is聽ECWID for聽everybody listening and聽that鈥檚 great. So聽Flipzeesglasses.com

Richard: And it聽says Flipzees at聽all the聽other social platforms as聽well.

Donna: 滨迟鈥檚 Flipzeesglasses, yeah.

Richard: Flipzeesglasses on聽all other platforms, ok. Perfect, we聽just want you to聽take advantage of聽every opportunity you can.

Jesse: Guys, I聽love the聽story you鈥檙e on聽the聽way, don鈥檛 get discouraged. Keep after it聽and聽make it聽happen. Thanks for聽being on聽a聽show.

Andrea and聽Donna: Thank you, bye!

About The Author
Kristen is a 褋ontent creator at 黑料门. She finds inspiration in sci-fi books, jazz music, and home-cooked food.

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