This story was just published in BESTEVER YOU.COM and thought I would publishe it on my blog! Please read it and contact me!
http://www.besteveryou.com/features/feature2.htm
As I just had my birthday on August 24, I am reflecting on the 32 years I have been in America and the various paths my life has taken! I was born in South Africa and have now been an American far longer than I was a South African. I was a singer and actress in South Africa, and when I arrived in New York, I performed all over the city with various comedy groups - singing, acting and dancing. Eventually I applied for and received my SAG and AFTRA cards and became a nightclub singer and performed jingles, voice-overs and commercials. Having an 'English' accent was (and still is) great - it got me noticed and people seem to have loved my unique accent - its not quite English and not totally South African – its somewhere in between....I still call the elevator a 'LIFT'; and when I get a MY-GRAIN (migraine) I take 'vitamins'- not VY-TAMINS!
My career took a different path after I got my green-card! I was hired by Elizabeth Arden and because of my ability to perform in front of people, I became the National Training Manager and traveled around America setting up Training Schools and motivating the beauty advisors behind the counters of major department and specialty stores to sell the Chloe and Lagerfeld fragrances. (I had to spend 3 months behind the counter at Macy’s for my orientation, and that was soooooo interesting! People whom you thought could not afford to buy a perfume scraped up the money and made a purchase!) Eventually I became the National Spokeswoman for the company setting up Image Updates and conducting Special Events and Guest speaking engagements for the company.
Traveling all over the country was a great learning experience for me as I began to learn the regional differences and recognized that New York was not America! I have been in all the major cities as well as some smaller cities and towns and realize the vastness of this amazing country. I was with Arden for 6 years and then was hired to become the Marketing Director for Lancôme, responsible for the marketing and development of Women's Fragrances and Men's Treatment products. I loved the creative process of bringing a product to market and after 4 years I was hired to become the Vice President of Marketing for Tiffany & Company – to develop the new TIFFANY Fragrance. I was fortunate enough to have developed and launched the Tiffany perfume worldwide for their 150th anniversary, as well as initiating the development for the Men's Fragrance, TIFFANY FOR MEN.
I eventually left Tiffany as I had my own product launch - my little girl Romy (!) and established my own consulting, strategic branding and marketing company, Scenterprises Ltd. So for the past 20 years (yes, she is 20 now) I have been responsible for the creation, development, execution of some of the world's top brands and perfumes, and it has been an amazing experience. I have worked with some of the best names in the industry and developed very successful initiatives - fragrances for Burberrys, Trish McEvoy, Oilily, Chanel, Bath & Body Works, to name a few, and been the project leader on many different businesses for AVON e.g. Air Freshener, Avon Candles, Home Fragrances, a brand for Diane Von Furstenberg, and Avon Wellness - Health and Wellness Business.
For the past few years I have been very involved in making the world smell great! Environmental Scent-branding has become a big trend and I have collaborated with many of the top Hotels, Resorts, Spas and Casinos to scent-brand their properties environmentally. In addition in the past year I have been fortunate to work with a UK company to distribute a wonderful Custom Perfume business.
We offer an amazing ‘experience!’ Our presentations and seminars take guest-attendees on a fragrance 'journey' to discover and evaluate 18 exquisite different perfume blends. Once they select their preferred blends, they choose three or four and that becomes their 'formula'. We decant their selection into lovely designer-color purse sprays and they leave with their very own Custom Creation or "Bespoke Perfume". This is a great opportunity for Bridal Events and Showers, Ladies Nights Out, Corporate events for Team-building, Spouse Programs and also for the Spa and Salon industries.
Along the way I was hired as Adjunct Professor of Cosmetic and Fragrance Marketing at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) and remember imparting to my students that whatever they did in life they should let their passion lead them. I am sure that in any industry it is similar, but in the Cosmetics and Fragrance industry, passion is a key ingredient for success. I have been so blessed to have been in an industry which I had no knowledge about 32 years ago. If somebody had told me then that I would have been living in New York, and developing some of the worlds most renowned fragrances and been consulting for some of the top companies, I would have never believed it.
As I reflect on how different America is now versus when I first came here in 1977, it saddens me to see how the current economic situation has challenged many individuals, and to see how many people are suffering as a result of the economic climate. One of the difficulties at this time is to try and reinvent oneself and maintain a positive outlook despite the hardships. An encouraging aspect of my business is that we are able to offer people an opportunity to have their own business and to generate Custom Perfume events in their areas. We offer an extensive training program and would love to hire as many Fragrance Ambassadors as possible so that they can offer a unique, creative, interactive FUN Fragrance Experience and generate a feeling of joy and well-being.
Most people have never explored their second strongest sense – the Sense of Smell. I would be delighted to have people contact me and if they are interested in learning more about becoming a Fragrance Ambassador, we could develop a team of like-minded people around the country who are passionate about fragrance, love people, and want to offer a wonderful, fun, interactive Custom Perfume experiences, and… become self-supporting. That is my goal and my dream. Come dream with me and celebrate my birthday by learning more about our fabulous fragrance fiestas!!
Scentfully,
Sue
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