It feels like lately I’ve been hearing the word “diversity” everywhere, particularly in the cosmetic company where I work. The inclusion of diverse perspectives, ideas and traditions seems to have exploded in the retail cosmetic industry as of late, with offering geared not only to different skin types, but also in the inclusion of a wide variety of shades. Add to that the growing need and popularity of Corporate Social Responsibility committees as well as new initiatives to bring more diversified marketing into play and we’ve opened up a whole new world. And lastly, the heart of a company – its employees – has also received some resuscitation as of late with recruiting geared towards including more people of color and women in their workforce.
There are many benefits for consumers and employees, who benefit directly, either by being recruited or by feeling satisfied by having (at last!) a representation of self in ads and other marketing campaigns. But an even bigger piece of this is how much the company itself benefits, especially in the long term.
There are a variety of ways where change can be seen and felt:
- Recently released reports show that consumers feel more connected to a diverse brand
- It’s been demonstrated that a diverse workplace fosters innovation by bring together people from different upbringings, cultures, job history, etc.
- A recent Gallop poll concluded that gender diverse teams had a higher revenue rate than those with little gender diversity
Feeling like your own workplace could use a diversity boost? There are things you can do to get the ball rolling.
- Get engaged in workplace diversity
- Get to know the women on your team and/or consider mentoring a female team member
- Make introductions to people in your network
With all of these initiatives going on and people willing to step outside of their comfort zone to support a more diverse workplace, it’s not just the companies that will succeed by global mindset about the world as a whole.
Citations:
Why Diversity Is Crucial For Success in Retail
https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/why-diversity-is-crucial-to-success-in-retail
Diversity At Work Is Essential, And It’s Everyone’s Responsibility
Jocelyn Mangan – https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2017/10/05/diversity-at-work-is-essential-and-its-everyones-responsibility/
Hi Amber,
Your post was very interesting to read. After thinking about it for a few minutes. The cosmetics industry is probably where I have noticed the most diversity, as it should be. All women/men want to feel like they have a make-up artist who can make them feel beautiful and that the product you carry will cater to every and any demographic. Your perspective is fantastic. I actually work in the retail industry, not make-up. However the same concept applies, and I feel that in order to encourage a culturally diverse client base, hiring of employees should be taken into careful consideration. The more diverse the employees, the higher the chances of diverse clients!
We all want to feel included, right? You mentioned a poll that concluded that revenue has increased due to diversity. Do you feel this revenue increase has reflected in your organization? Great post! Keep it up.
Good morning,
I loved your perspective of inclusion and diversity in the cosmetic industry. While reading your post one of the first questions I thought of is: do you feel that increased diversity in the cosmetic industry goes beyond just race to include gender as well? When I think of the cosmetic industry I have always felt it was a female-dominated retail area. An example would be the beauty boxes that Target and Walmart put out each month. They have recently started putting out a male “beauty box” as well that markets “niche” male beauty products just like female ones. Chanel is also set to launch its first beauty line geared just towards men. (Prance-Miles,2018) From your perspective do you feel cosmetic companies are trying to become more diverse and include the male gender which I feel was left out for many years?
Work Cited
Prance-Miles, L(2018, August).Global Cosmetic News. Chanel set to launch first men’s beauty line BOY DE CHANEL In South Korea. Retrieved from: https://globalcosmeticsnews.com/chanel-set-to-launch-first-mens-beauty-line-boy-de-chanel-in-south-korea/
I love your post. The way it is written is easy to read and very fun. I think it is great that diversity is a regular topic of conversation. The part of your post that spoke the most to me was the section regarding getting involved with diversity. It is not enough for companies to focus on this. There is a need for individuals to participate to make groups and companies successful. Your tips for boosting diversity are good ideas. I regularly mentor people within my workplace and will take extra initiative to focus on mentoring women. Thank you for your insight and ideas!