Julep September 2013 (Spoilers)

[Jac13]

So has anyone ordered the mystery box?

 

[autopilot]

Originally Posted by Jac13 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
So has anyone ordered the mystery box?

(maybe)

 

[LinaMingo]

I did and mostly because I've only been subbing since April and the chance of dupes may be slim and I had the extra moola. I got the bigger box.

 

[Jac13]

I did and mostly because I've only been subbing since April and the chance of dupes may be slim and I had the extra moola. I got the bigger box.

I got the big mystery box as well. I am hoping for a mixture of beauty products and nail polish. I would love to win the gift card for $1k.

 

[LinaMingo]

Would

I got the big mystery box as well. I am hoping for a mixture of beauty products and nail polish. I would love to win the gift card for $1k.[/qWouldn't we all lol /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[angismith]

Originally Posted by jessicalriley /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Have y'all seen this? It's on Julep's FB.

Jessica, I saw it and voted, but was frustrated by the limitations of the voting. At the time I looked at it, the drops were way ahead and I don't see the need for drops. And everyone who got the Golden Mystery Box got the Oxygen treatment. I just don't feel like Julep at this point is listening to what we really want and are just following a business growth formula. Sorry to be such a downer. Anybody noticed the home page redesign and all the categories for products in the menu? Makes you wonder if they are going to develop the makeup and hair products even more?

 

[angismith]

Originally Posted by LinaMingo /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I did and mostly because I've only been subbing since April and the chance of dupes may be slim and I had the extra moola. I got the bigger box.

You are the customer that the Mystery Boxes seemed to be marketed for, LinaMingo. Hope you enjoy your mystery box and I hope it is a GREAT mystery box that makes me rethink my current attitude about them .... plus I do love Evie ... even though Julep's colors look good, sometimes even great onscreen ... nothing prepares me for how much MORE beautiful they are in person! And I feel like Evie is going to be one of those GREAT colors!

 

[jessicalriley]

Jessica, I saw it and voted, but was frustrated by the limitations of the voting. At the time I looked at it, the drops were way ahead and I don't see the need for drops. And everyone who got the Golden Mystery Box got the Oxygen treatment. I just don't feel like Julep at this point is listening to what we really want and are just following a business growth formula. Sorry to be such a downer. Anybody noticed the home page redesign and all the categories for products in the menu? Makes you wonder if they are going to develop the makeup and hair products even more?

I didn't see which products were in the lead bc I was on my phone. I think we have a right to be downers at this point! If they don't want to add new products, then I would be interested in being able to choose which established product you'd like in your box. It would be an affordable way to restock on favorites. For example, you get to pick one product in addition to 2 polishes, pick 2 for the makeup only box, or none if you want only polish. (Sorry I just woke up & I can't think of all the box names! Coffee time.) IMO the box price is worth two products or one plus 2 polishes! Esp if it is something we already use & love- I'd be adding the hand creme, freedom topcoat, & cuticle serum all of the time! New products should be the special extra gift- deluxe sample size or even foil packets would be fine. You're right. They aren't listening. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Lulubelle107]

Originally Posted by angismith /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Jessica, I saw it and voted, but was frustrated by the limitations of the voting. At the time I looked at it, the drops were way ahead and I don't see the need for drops. And everyone who got the Golden Mystery Box got the Oxygen treatment. I just don't feel like Julep at this point is listening to what we really want and are just following a business growth formula. Sorry to be such a downer. Anybody noticed the home page redesign and all the categories for products in the menu? Makes you wonder if they are going to develop the makeup and hair products even more?

Yes, Julep got $10m in funding a while back to expand into other products, so it's part of their business plan. 

http://www.julep.com/funding-announcement

 

[LinaMingo]

You are the customer that the Mystery Boxes seemed to be marketed for, LinaMingo. Hope you enjoy your mystery box and I hope it is a GREAT mystery box that makes me rethink my current attitude about them .... plus I do love Evie ... even though Julep's colors look good, sometimes even great onscreen ... nothing prepares me for how much MORE beautiful they are in person! And I feel like Evie is going to be one of those GREAT colors!

This will be my 3rd mystery box. The cupid box was great because I was new so I guess I've been with them since February not April now that I think about it. The one last month was nice but I could help but feel a tad jealous of those that received 17 polishes in theirs but paid the same I did. But it was also a lesson on mystery boxes and the gap in low Val to high Val worth if the box.

 

[angismith]

Originally Posted by Lulubelle107 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Yes, Julep got $10m in funding a while back to expand into other products, so it's part of their business plan. 

http://www.julep.com/funding-announcement

So, Lulubelle, are we here at MuT not part of their use of social media to market products? We have to respond using Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube for our voices to be heard? That is what I got from the article.

 

[Lulubelle107]

Originally Posted by angismith /img/forum/go_quote.gif

So, Lulubelle, are we here at MuT not part of their use of social media to market products? We have to respond using Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube for our voices to be heard? That is what I got from the article.

I'm sure MuT posters is a small (but vocal) fraction of their user base.  I would guess that they do take the opinions shared here into account, but they also have a larger clientele as well as their own strategic plans to take into account. 

Say what you will about Julep, but their business model has been successful thus far.  They are still a young company and it remains to be seen has they will navigate going forward - I'm sure there will be ups and downs.  People complain a lot, but on the other hand, I don't know of any other nail polish brand that gives so many different options during a one month period to purchase a variety of items.  There were two separate mystery box offerings this month, not to mention various other sales, plus the regular Maven collection.  Each month people seem to expect more and more, and at some point, more will not be offered.

 

[angismith]

Originally Posted by Lulubelle107 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I'm sure MuT posters is a small (but vocal) fraction of their user base.  I would guess that they do take the opinions shared here into account, but they also have a larger clientele as well as their own strategic plans to take into account. 

Say what you will about Julep, but their business model has been successful thus far.  They are still a young company and it remains to be seen has they will navigate going forward - I'm sure there will be ups and downs.  People complain a lot, but on the other hand, I don't know of any other nail polish brand that gives so many different options during a one month period to purchase a variety of items.  There were two separate mystery box offerings this month, not to mention various other sales, plus the regular Maven collection.  Each month people seem to expect more and more, and at some point, more will not be offered.

Lulubelle, the main thing I want is more polish! Even if they recycled colors from this time 2 years ago, or 1 year ago, as long as it is appropriate for whatever season is approaching. I am an It Girl, both with Julep and in life. I joined the Maven program for nail polish. And like I have said before, when Julep gets it right, they REALLY get it right! But I also see through some of their marketing strategies and I don't like that aspect. They have some really beautiful colors in their inventory that would still sell well to new Mavens and instead they just leave them out of stock. They could have made an extra $20 off me if they had just restocked their Suede Collection this month. Older Mavens may have said, "Meh." but as a newer Maven, I really wanted to buy them. And a lot of people on here have a lot of good ideas that Julep could tap into, but I don't see them doing it. Maybe they are and we just don't know it. They have done well so far and I only wish for more future success for them. 

 

[Lulubelle107]

Originally Posted by angismith /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Lulubelle, the main thing I want is more polish! Even if they recycled colors from this time 2 years ago, or 1 year ago, as long as it is appropriate for whatever season is approaching. I am an It Girl, both with Julep and in life. I joined the Maven program for nail polish. And like I have said before, when Julep gets it right, they REALLY get it right! But I also see through some of their marketing strategies and I don't like that aspect. They have some really beautiful colors in their inventory that would still sell well to new Mavens and instead they just leave them out of stock. They could have made an extra $20 off me if they had just restocked their Suede Collection this month. Older Mavens may have said, "Meh." but as a newer Maven, I really wanted to buy them. And a lot of people on here have a lot of good ideas that Julep could tap into, but I don't see them doing it. Maybe they are and we just don't know it. They have done well so far and I only wish for more future success for them. 

Just because an opinion is shared here on Wednesday and Julep hasn't responded to it by Friday (I'm exaggerating, but hopefully you get the point) doesn't mean they aren't taking things into account.  Besides, people hiss and moan on one day and then decide the next that no, they really do like it after all.  Production lines don't change on a dime, at least from my understanding.  I'm guessing collections are planned well in advance.  I can also see where certain polishes may not be brought back, such as special finish polishes, because they are more trendy and tend to go out of popularity more quickly (crackles, anyone?)

It is quite possible that Julep has factored into their strategic plan that they will only keep a Maven subscriber for a period of time (let's say a year) before that person cancels, and that they may skip 4 out of those 12 months.  And they may be okay with that as long as the base keeps growing and/or they expand into other products and/or a maven buys a mystery box even if they skipped the regular box and/or they respond to one of the 3 sales going on that month.  So, from Julep's perspective, your expressed lack of satisfaction probably doesn't factor in because you bought the Maven box, bought the mystery box, and indulged in a sale, all in a month's time.  What other nail polish brand is getting those results?  I speak from experience, as in the 10 months I've been a Maven, I've acquired 52 of their polishes, so roughly 5 a month.  In comparison, I've got 70 OPI polishes, which I've been buying for the last 10 years.  At this pace, Julep will far surpass all my other brands (308 polishes in total). 

I may have drunk too much coffee today, I'm going to shut up now

 

[angismith]

Originally Posted by Lulubelle107 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Just because an opinion is shared here on Wednesday and Julep hasn't responded to it by Friday (I'm exaggerating, but hopefully you get the point) doesn't mean they aren't taking things into account.  Besides, people hiss and moan on one day and then decide the next that no, they really do like it after all.  Production lines don't change on a dime, at least from my understanding.  I'm guessing collections are planned well in advance.  I can also see where certain polishes may not be brought back, such as special finish polishes, because they are more trendy and tend to go out of popularity more quickly (crackles, anyone?)

It is quite possible that Julep has factored into their strategic plan that they will only keep a Maven subscriber for a period of time (let's say a year) before that person cancels, and that they may skip 4 out of those 12 months.  And they may be okay with that as long as the base keeps growing and/or they expand into other products and/or a maven buys a mystery box even if they skipped the regular box and/or they respond to one of the 3 sales going on that month.  So, from Julep's perspective, your expressed lack of satisfaction probably doesn't factor in because you bought the Maven box, bought the mystery box, and indulged in a sale, all in a month's time.  What other nail polish brand is getting those results?  I speak from experience, as in the 10 months I've been a Maven, I've acquired 52 of their polishes, so roughly 5 a month.  In comparison, I've got 70 OPI polishes, which I've been buying for the last 10 years.  At this pace, Julep will far surpass all my other brands (308 polishes in total). 

I may have drunk too much coffee today, I'm going to shut up now

Lulubelle, no such thing as too much coffee! I enjoyed the conversation and the different viewpoint! You pointed out a couple of things I may not have considered already.

 

[Lulubelle107]

Originally Posted by angismith /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Lulubelle, no such thing as too much coffee! I enjoyed the conversation and the different viewpoint! You pointed out a couple of things I may not have considered already.

Thank you, I fear coming across as too strident sometimes - tone can be hard to get right online

.

 

[angismith]

Originally Posted by Lulubelle107 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Thank you, I fear coming across as too strident sometimes - tone can be hard to get right online

.

Yes, it can ... I usually try to keep it light, but I was just so frustrated with August's colors...but September window will be open in 9 more days, so the hope is alive that it's going to be GREAT! 

 

[angismith]

I think I posted this in August's thread and didn't get a response. In the Cotton Candy Mani from August's Secret Store, there is a bottle of Nail Therapy. It says it can be used alone or with polish. Has anyone tried it and what where your results? I swiped it on a nail and it is very shiny. Just wondering about using it as a base?

 

[Jac13]

I agree with you Lulubelle. I think Julep has a winning marketing strategy. I joined 2 months ago. Because of the sales, mystery boxes and sub box, I have accumulated 29 polishes. Zoya comes in 2nd with 19. I think Zoya colors and textures are prettier but I have to check their Facebook page for sale updates. The sales are not as frequent and there isn't a sub box. If they had one, I would have more polishes. At some point, sooner than later, I will get tired of polish and move to something else. I think it's a good idea that Julep is expanding their business to provide more options.

 

[kittiecat]

Originally Posted by angismith /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Yes, it can ... I usually try to keep it light, but I was just so frustrated with August's colors...but September window will be open in 9 more days, so the hope is alive that it's going to be GREAT! 

I wasn't a fan of the August either.  I wanted to be I really did but I just could talk myself into it.