Beauty Supply Sales Jobs

Cosmetologists who have a keen interest in beauty products and supplies and a business background may decide to work in, manage, or own a beauty supply store. Sally Beauty Company, Inc. is one example of a retail distributor of professional beauty supplies. The company operates a chain of over 2,000 retail stores that sell primarily to beauty salons and cosmetologists. Besides Sally Beauty Supply, there are numerous other chain beauty supply stores and many independent supply houses that employ salesclerks, warehouse personnel, educators, managers and delivery people. Some cosmetologists also work for online beauty supply houses such as Tiffany’s Beauty Supply, which offers discounted prices for professional beauty products.

Beauty supply stores also employ outside product sales representatives, who call on cosmetologists and salon owners in their places of business. These sales representatives take product and supply orders from cosmetologists, introduce new products and equipment, answer questions regarding products, and sometimes hold in-salon classes demonstrating new techniques and product lines. They are typically paid on a commission basis, and work within a defined sales territory. They also work at hair shows sponsored by the supply house they work for, often manning booths at trade shows and assisting platform artists. Sales representatives receive extensive and frequent training from the companies they represent, and as a result are always on the cutting edge of what’s happening in the cosmetology industry.

Some cosmetologists may choose to go to work enforcing state cosmetology laws and regulations as state cosmetology inspectors. This job involves a lot of travel, going from salon to salon on an annual basis, inspecting beauty shops and cosmetology schools for sanitary conditions, possession of valid licenses, and other conditions prescribed by state laws and regulations. State inspectors function something like the “sanitation police.” They count the number of brushes and combs stylists have for use in their stations, check to make sure all equipment and supplies are clean, measure the square footage in a salon to ensure that it is adequate for the number of stylists working there, and perform other compliance-related duties, including preparing inspection reports.