Calling the Shots
"As an Asian, I hated going into a departmental store to get my beauty products. I had always found it quite difficult to get a foundation colour to match my skin tone. Not only was it difficult but you can never get the right advice from the sales assistants. They will choose something for you and say that is the right colour, you buy it as that might look the nearest tone with all the
lighting around, bring it back home and you are not happy with it. When you have it on natural light I was never happy with what I bought and ended up having hundreds of bottles unused in my drawers. I then decided I was not going to wear any daily foundation but only on special occasions. Even then I was never comfortable as I never looked natural - my face was either too dark or too light," Anu Doraisamy can remember those years with much fondness now.Desiring to find the perfect make up, Anu found a chance to be independent, earn good money and still have time to be a real mum to her three children.
Anu Doraisamy, 33, is a part-time university administrator at the University of East London. Anu is also a full-time consultant for Mary Kay cosmetics.
"I was born in Penang, Malaysia and left home in 1988 to come (to the UK) and do my nursing," she relates. She qualified as a registered general nurse in 1991 and worked as a staff nurse for a few months.
She couldn't pinpoint it but she felt deep down that she needed a change. So Anu took off her nursing uniform and headed back to school, and graduated a few years later with a Business Administration degree.
"My first job (after graduation) was in a clergy hospital. I was there for a year before I landed this wonderful job as an Administrative Officer for an Examining Board."
While working for the Examining Board for five years, her motherly instincts jumped into high gear and her babies began arriving. In a way, having children spurred her to take a long, hard look at her job. The hows and whys she became involved in Mary Kay cosmetics was partly, Anu says, because she thought it highly unfeasible to nurture three little ones (especially all under five years) and at the same time "pinned to a full time job."
More impetus was added when she knew she was, by hook or by crook, going to mother her children alone, aided only by her husband. No relatives or family members were living anywhere remotely near her. Her turning point came almost serendipitously when she was combing the stores for makeup that suited her Asian complexion.
"In 1998, my friend was telling me about Mary Kay cosmetics and we decided to ring the head office and get more information as I had enough of scouring through stores for the wrong stuff," she says.
Imagine her surprise when the Mary Kay sales director for her area phoned her up within two days and explained how Mary Kay consultants work.
"I was quite taken back to find that a consultant was coming to give me a private consultation in the comfort of my own home free of charge - yet I could not argue with such an offer, could I?"
Skepticism blanketed her. Anu says, "Being me, I was still very dubious about this arrangement so I invited a couple of my friends to this class. All of us had three different skin tones."
They were given explanations on Mary Kay skin care and the consultant addressed their needs individually.
After trying several different colours, Anu finally settled on a shade of foundation which satisfied her thoroughly - quite a feat actually considering she was ready to throw in the towel.
"All three of us decided to buy our skin care that day and nearly four years down the line, we are still satisfied customers," Anu laughs. After the first consultation session, the three excited women made another appointment to taste the glamour again and they were not disappointed - in fact, they were taught how to apply make up correctly as well as coordinate flattering colours.
Anu then bravely took the leap from being a happy customer to bringing in happy customers. Anu, who was then juggling her children and career, decided to join as a Mary Kay consultant.
A usual day for Anu revolves around speaking to people to schedule appointments. "The bottom line is, you teach skin care and make up techniques. We do not sell and do not look for a quick sell," Anu reiterates.
"We have to remember women like to buy, but not be sold to. The products speak for themselves and customers buy them after a class. You keep in touch with your customers all the time with promotions and new products."
With Mary Kay, one can be either a full time or a part time consultant.
"You need to be consistent with this job - if you work just six hours a week, then you will have to head at least two classes a week. I must admit I have not been doing much at all lately - just a couple of classes a week," Anu smiles.
She adds that Mary Kay Ash, the founder of the cosmetic organisation, always said that faith came first, then family and then, career. She agrees that the founder's philosophy has worked wonders for many women.
"With Mary Kay, you choose the hours that suit you," Anu says.
"Mary Kay clients can look forward to personalised service in the comfort of their own home, and it's 100% satisfaction guaranteed," she adds. Anu claims that Mary Kay's quality is comparable to other brands in the market yet sold at a quarter of the existing market prices. Mary Kay has been the best skin care and colour cosmetics in the UK for the past seven years, she enthuses.
On her personal growth, Anu is truly grateful with the confidence she has gained since joining Mary Kay.
"Not many organisations give you motivation but with Mary Kay there is always someone next to you encouraging and motivating you to do better. It's not a company where you have to do your best to take over somebody else's position. Anyone can be a director and earn diamonds and cars if they are consistent with their classes. Your Unit Director will be with you all the way - you are never alone."
Says Anu, fee-wise, one pays �75 to get a showcase of products worth �350 to start off with. This showcase includes all shades of foundation for three skin types, skin care sets for the three basic skin types, mirrors, lipsticks, eye and cheek colours, brochures and other essential materials.
She also adds that "you put in the hours you want to work - anything from three hours a week to 40 hours." At the moment Anu only works five hours a week but once November is over, she plans to triple that as it will then be Christmas time.
Anu is very much in praise of Mary Kay. She quips, "Mary Kay has kept me financially better off. It has paid for all the holidays we have had for the last two years."
Anu mentions, "I have been working on a very part time basis in the last two years but with the income I received from Mary Kay since August 1998 - I have come home to Malaysia thrice, my parents have come down (to the UK) twice plus my family and mum went to India a few months back for a three-week holiday. I have had gifts from Mary Kay and personal best were the gems I have received, as well as the beautiful friendships cultivated with other fellow consultants."
"If anyone outside the UK wants to be a consultant, please do get in touch with your head office for further information and if it is inconvenient, do get in touch with me and I will try and sort something out. For those in the UK, please email me with your details and I will get back to you will all the relevant information and necessary paperwork," offers Anu.
Parting words? "If you have the motivation, commitment to the company, want to earn money, meet new people, make friends, willing to undergo training and attend Unit meetings and want a new lifestyle, then Mary Kay is for you."
By Krista
10th October 2001
Mary Kay's products range from cosmetics for teens to the more mature skin types. Take a look at the various products at http://www.marykay.co.uk
Anu Doraisamy can be contacted at anu.kam@tesco.net
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