Fact 1: It All Began With A Beauty Blog
Glossier was not born as a beauty brand directly but sprung from the popular beauty blog 'Into The Gloss,' founded by Emily Weiss in 2010. The blog formed a community of beauty enthusiasts who shared their skincare routines and makeup tips. The idea for Glossier was inspired by the real beauty routines and product feedback shared by the women in this community.
Fact 2: Its CEO Was A Former Stylist
Emily Weiss, the CEO and founder of Glossier, used to be a fashion assistant at Vogue. She worked with top photographers and beauty experts in the fashion industry. This experience gave her a unique perspective on beauty which she integrated into the inception of Glossier.
Fact 3: Glossier's Iconic Pink Hue Has A Pantone Code
The soft pink hue that adorns Glossier’s packaging is not just any pink. It holds a specific Pantone code: RGB(255, 207, 211). This particular shade of pink has become a symbol of the brand and is now instantly recognizable by makeup-lovers worldwide.
Fact 4: The Name 'Glossier'
The name 'Glossier' is a play on two words – gloss, and dossier. Gloss stands for the glossy outlook of the brand and dossier, which stands for a collection of documents, representing the variety and diversity in its product range.
Fact 5: They Have a Specific Coming-Of-Age Movie Reference
Ever wondered why Glossier's products make you feel so nostalgic? Weiss, the founder, has cited the 1995 coming-of-age film 'Now and Then' as a significant source of inspiration for the brand's vibe.
Fact 6: Glossier Uses Real People For Product Tests
Unlike many other beauty brands who use laboratory tests for their products, Glossier uses its employees to test its products to gain firsthand user feedback. This ensures that the products are based on real people's needs.
Fact 7: They Reinvented The Bubblewrap
Glossier released a product called 'Bubblewrap' in April 2019. Contrary to what its name may suggest, Bubblewrap isn't packaging material but a dual-purpose eye and lip cream, which was conceived based on user responses who often used eye cream for their lips too!
Fact 8: Strong Support For The LGBTQ+ Community
Glossier shows extensive support for the LGBTQ+ community. For Pride Month in 2019, they collaborated with the LGBTQ+ organization The Center, with 100% of the proceeds from their special edition Balm Dotcom going to the organization to promote love and acceptance.
Fact 9: First Makeup Brand With A Tech Venture Capital Backing
Glossier is the first makeup brand backed by a tech VC, Index Ventures. They saw potential in the appeal and unique business model of Glossier and decided to invest.
Fact 10: Demography Of Its Instagram Followers
Glossier claims a whopping 70% of its Instagram followers are aged between 18 to 34, highlighting its successful capture of a young, engaged, beauty-loving audience.
Fact 11: Unconventional But Successful Marketing Strategy
Glossier does not rely on traditional forms of advertisement. Instead, it maximizes social media and word-of-mouth advertising, proving to be an effective strategy as the brand grew massively year-on-year.
Fact 12: Substantial Growth In A Short Span
Within just four years of its launch in 2014, Glossier expanded from 1 product to 22 products and 1 million customers. Their rapid growth is attributed to their clever use of social media and relatable branding.
Fact 13: Reliance On Customer Feedback
Glossier’s product development line heavily relies on customer feedback. They have even reformulated their products based on such feedback, like when they revamped their Generation G lipstick.
Fact 14: Most Popular Product
According to Glossier, their 'Boy Brow' eyebrow product is their consistent bestseller, loved for its ability to perfectly groom and fill eyebrows while providing a natural look.
Fact 15: Diverse Employees
To cater to everyone, Glossier ensures its staff is as diverse as its customer base. They have a team with diverse ethnic backgrounds, age groups, genders, and sexual orientations.
Fact 16: Limited-Edition Merchandise
Glossier isn’t only about skincare products. They’ve done some interesting collaborations and have released limited-edition merchandise, like sweatshirts and gym socks, that instantly got sold out.
Fact 17: The 'Glossier Play'
Glossier introduced their high-impact makeup sub-brand Glossier Play in 2019 which focuses more on vibrant color and glittery products, a departure from their natural-looking original line.
Fact 18: Environmental Resolutions
In the wake of criticism about its excess use of plastic, Glossier announced its commitment to sustainability and investments in sustainable packaging to reduce its environmental footprint.
Fact 19: It's Philosophy - 'Skin First, Makeup Second'
Glossier’s motto: “skin first, makeup second” emphasizes the importance of skincare over makeup and encourages consumers to embrace their natural beauty.
Fact 20: Popularity Among Celebrities
Glossier’s products have found favor among many celebrities including Beyonce, Chrissy Teigen, and Adele, who've even used Glossier on the Red Carpet. It’s a brand that appeals across the board, even to the A-listers!