Reportage

From the left – Affi Assegaf, Novita Imelda, and Hanifa Ambadar

Women are as avid online shoppers compared to its male compatriots, but is it any different in Indonesia’s male-dominated tech industry? Hanifa Ambadar, Affi Assegaf, and Novita Imelda (pictured right), three women from Indonesian female community website Female Daily Network are here to help us understand women better, as they shared their insights about their female users.

They have identified that 30 percent of all internet users in Indonesia are female. But in e-commerce, Affi says that women spend more money, which helps make online shopping a very promising market to be in. Hanifa shared more data about the female audience:

52.3 percent of women we surveyed earned between IDR 5 to 20 million per month [$522 to $2,087], 64.6 percent of them own credit cards, and spend about 13.19 percent of their income for retail shopping.

What do women shop for online? It’s a range of things including various fashion items such as clothing, bags, and make-up, or products for their children. Women aren’t shy to spend some dough to buy these products as some of the imported branded bags that are priced as high as IDR 100 million ($10,400) are still selling like hot cakes on Female Daily.

Women’s Online Shopping Behavior

So how do women decide what to buy online? The survey found that as much as 70 percent of Indonesian women get their fashion inspiration by looking at what their friends’ are wearing, both offline and online. This is especially true for beauty products such as make-up, where women rely more on customer testimonials and recommendations. This is because beauty products are quite sensitive to the different skin types that women have. A lot of women at Female Daily often help others by taking the time to talk and sharing their product experiences at the site’s forum.

Interestingly, Hanifa said that the pre-order system is quite popular on its C2C marketplace, MarketPlaza. The system works like Kaskus’ pre-order scheme for gadgets not yet available in the country, whereas the items pre-ordered by the women there are beauty items such as the latest make-up products.

Women and Gadgets

I asked if women find talking about the latest gadgets an interesting topic, and Affi says yes, but from a very different point of view. Men’s main focus on gadgets are its specifications and features, while women focus on its physical looks and relevant features, such as the games for their children. Looking over the Samsung Galaxy Note thread on Female Daily forum, the users’ discussion was indeed focused on how cute the Galaxy Note’s design and pink color is.

Novita tells me that a lot of electronic manufacturers are looking to tap into this female audience, as they are looking to infuse a fashion sense onto their gadgets. They gave an example of how Acer held a runway fashion show where the runway models used the laptops as a fashion item during the recent Clozette Daily launch.

It is not often that I find women tech entrepreneurs in Indonesia. But male-dominated e-commerce startups might want to consider partnering with a few ladies to treat the female audience a little better, since they have the most spending power!

[Image sources: fabandfru.com and michleong.blogspot.com]

NEW YORK, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Siempre Mujer magazine, the leading Spanish-language beauty/fashion and lifestyle magazine for women, unveiled today the findings of its 2012 Hispanic Beauty Study, Born into Beauty, which examines Latinas consumer spending habits, product preferences, and the external cultural influences driving her beauty purchase decisions.

The study, which surveyed over 900 women including Latinas, non-Hispanic women, and Siempre Mujer readers and is the second beauty study released by Meredith Hispanic Ventures, reinforces that Latinas are savvy consumers who incorporate more products into their daily beauty regimen than general market women.

Born into Beauty, which also identifies key points of differentiation between Latinas and general market women, is released as Latinas’ consumer spending in beauty continues to skyrocket. Hispanics are expected to contribute $1.5 trillion in consumer purchase spending by 2015[i] and spending $9.1 billion in personal care category alone.[ii] Moreover, Latinas are also outspending general market women per retail visit; more than half (52%) of all Latinas spend $25 or more per visit, versus only 41 percent of general market women, according to the report.

LATINAS FOLLOW SOPHISTICATED BEAUTY REGIMENS: LAYERING MULTIPLE PRODUCTS
Latinas are going beyond just lip, nail and hair care and are embracing daily beauty regimens with anti-aging, sun protection and fragrance routines, according to the survey. In fact, more Latinas (61%) and 70 percent of Siempre Mujer readers, note a desire to try new products compared to only 55 percent of general market women.

MARKETERS NEED TO TARGET LATINAS DIFFERENTLY
“Marketers have a real opportunity to target Latinas across multiple subcategories of beauty. This study clearly identifies actions they can take to develop a deeper connection with the Latina beauty consumer, particularly at retail and at point of purchase,” says Enedina Vega, Vice President   Publisher; Meredith Hispanic Ventures.

The survey shows that Latinas (54%) are almost twice as likely to seek and trust counsel from brand representatives at department stores more than general market women (30%). Moreover, 50 percent of Latinas and 66 percent of Siempre Mujer readers feel that it is important to have the brand representatives speak their language behind the counter.  Also, a credible voice matters: 45 percent of Latinas say celebrity endorsements are an important part of their purchase decision.

“Latinas are not only early adopters who shop everywhere; they are beauty junkies who do their research and want to know all the product details. Beauty is a state of mind, a fabric of Hispanic culture,” says Maria Marrero, Editor in Chief, Siempre Mujer.  “Latinas care about the latest technology and want to make sure they are making the best beauty purchases possible.”

About Siempre Mujer
Launched in September 2005, Siempre Mujer is the first-ever Spanish-language lifestyle publication for Hispanic women living in the United States. Published by Meredith Corporation (NYSE:  MDP), Siempre Mujer reflects the lifestyles, aspirations and dreams of Hispanic women who keep their traditions alive and embrace new American values. Siempre Mujer helps the Hispanic woman navigate this new culture by covering the worlds of: fashion and beauty; food and entertaining; family and parenting; culture and entertainment; relationships and self-development; health and fitness; finance; and home decor. The bi-monthly national magazine has a rate base of 550,000 and an audience of more than 3.5 million. 

About Meredith Hispanic Ventures
Meredith Hispanic Ventures is the leading media, marketing and communications group reaching Hispanic women in the United States at every life stage.  Its collection of empowering brands includes Siempre Mujer, Ser Padres, Ser Padres Espera and Ser Padres Bebe.  These brands  focus on the core passions of Family, Home and Self at a time when consumers are focused on what matters most.  The Meredith Hispanic Ventures portfolio also includes custom publishing, content licensing, HOLA Profiles™ Research, database marketing, events, Word-of-Mouth Marketing, and Video Solutions.  Siempre Mujer and Ser Padres are also available on the Zinio platform. Meredith Hispanic Ventures is owned by Meredith Corporation, which reaches 75 million active and involved women, more than any other media company.

Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted by Hispanic Research Inc. and was commissioned by Siempre Mujer Magazines and Meredith Corporation. It was a nationwide telephone survey of U.S. women age 18-49, with 402 Hispanic women, 305 general market women and 202 Siempre Mujer subscribers.  The margin of error is 5%.

[i] Selig Center for Economic Growth’s The Multicultural Economy Report, 2012
[ii] Latinum Consumer Expenditure, 2010

SOURCE Siempre Mujer

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

A mother. A sister. A daughter. For every three women, one will develop
some type of cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer
Society. To combat this sobering statistic and to continue its steadfast
mission to support research of cancers affecting women, The Mary Kay
Foundation^SM awarded grants to 13 respected doctors and
medical scientists. Each grant provides crucial funding in the amount of
$100,000 for a total of $1.3 million.

From researching new cancer treatments to findings on hereditary breast
cancer, The Mary Kay Foundation has donated more than $18 million to the
cause since 1996. The grants awarded this year fuel new research across
the United States. At UT
Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, doctors will research breast
cancer metastasis. Researchers at the University
of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., plan to take a closer
look at the early detection of ovarian cancer. Meanwhile, at Yale
University in New Haven, Conn., medical scientists will explore
breast tumor treatments.

The grants are awarded annually to fund innovative research at medical
schools recommended by The Mary Kay Foundation research review
committee, which is composed of prominent doctors who volunteer their
time to help the foundation select the best recipients across the
nation. After reviewing these recommendations, the board of directors
carefully selects the grant recipients.

“We are committed to eliminating cancers affecting women by supporting
top medical scientists who are searching for a cure for breast, uterine,
cervical and ovarian cancers,” said Jennifer Cook, executive director of
the Mary Kay Museum and member of the board of directors for The Mary
Kay Foundation. “Providing options to women who are suffering from
cancer and saving their lives brings us one step closer to eliminating
cancer. The best part of my job is learning about the women we have
helped through cancer, like Independent Beauty Consultant Betty
Savoretti and her daughter, Alisa, who are both cancer survivors.”

Another startling statistic from the American Cancer Society: An
estimated 227,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to
occur among women in the United States in 2012. Thanks to studies funded
by the Mary Kay Foundation, researchers are one step closer to finding
new drugs to treat cancer and other diseases.

“It is important in science to push the boundaries and take risks,” said
Andrew Godwin, Ph.D., director of molecular oncology at the University
of Kansas Medical Center and one of the 13 grant recipients. “The
Mary Kay Foundation grant will allow us to explore and develop new
technologies that could lead to better ways of testing, treating and
ultimately curing ovarian cancer while in its early stage.”

Click here
for a full list of 2012 grant recipients and visit marykayfoundation.org
for additional information.

About The Mary Kay Foundation^SM

The Mary Kay Foundation^SM was created in 1996, and its
mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and to
help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue. By
the end of 2012, The Mary Kay Foundation^SM will have awarded
more than $31 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic
violence prevention and more than $18 million to cancer researchers and
related causes throughout the United States. To learn more about The
Mary Kay Foundation^SM, please visit marykayfoundation.org
or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).

SHELTON, Conn., Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Play On™  Now women can play the lead in all their life stories thanks to redesigned Playtex® Gentle Glide® 360°™ tampons.  This upgraded line of tampons is defined by the latest Playtex innovation, Triple Layer Protection, which is a three layer design to provide a powerful barrier against leaks. The new Gentle Glide® 360°™ tampons will also continue to feature its 360° Protection™  design that custom fits a woman’s unique body and adjusts to her flow.   

According to a recent survey conducted by the Playtex® Gentle Glide® brand, 66% of women have altered their plans because of their period and fear of leakage. “Our product was redesigned to better address this common concern,” explains Chit Itchon, Senior Brand Manager at Playtex.  “We want to give women confidence and peace of mind so that they won’t be held back by their periods.”

Beyond the new Triple Layer Protection, there’s also a new and improved fragrance for the scented line.

Availability/Price: The new line comes in multiple absorbencies to address all flow needs, including Light, Regular, Super, Super Plus, Ultra and multi-absorbency packs and is available at most retail* and online outlets nationwide.

MSRP: $4.99-$5.99 for 18-20ct; $7.99-$8.99 for 36-40ct.     

*Drug, Grocery, Mass Merchant, Club, Convenience Stores

About the Playtex® Feminine Care Brand
The Playtex® Feminine Care brand believes that nothing should hold women back, including their periods.  That is why Playtex® Sport® and Playtex® Gentle Glide® tampons are the only tampons that feature a 360° Protection® tampon design to fit the life women want to live.  Developed for women who lead busy and active lives, Playtex® tampons offer multiple levels of absorbencies to give women confidence and freedom in everything they do.

About Energizer Personal Care
A leading manufacturer of health and beauty products around the world, Energizer Personal Care is a division of Energizer Holdings Inc. (ENR), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Energizer Personal Care markets products in more than 100 countries worldwide under the Playtex®, Playtex Sport®, Playtex Gentle Glide® brands.  Playtex and all other trademarks are licensed or owned by Energizer or its affiliates.

Jesse Grant/Getty

Thanks for welcoming Scott Barnes to PEOPLE StyleWatch! The celebrity makeup artist has been hard at work lately, releasing his second book, Face to Face, and blogging for People.com. This week, he talks about beauty’s role in times of tragedy: 

This has been a really tough few weeks for me and, I’d guess, many of you. Watching the devastation caused by Sandy has been heartbreaking. For 20 years, I called New York my home, and many people very dear to my heart still live there. Having to watch from afar as they worried about what Sandy might bring — and then having to watch as they struggled to put the city back together again — put so many things into perspective.

But that brings up an important point since this is, after all, a blog about beauty: People often confuse beauty with frivolity or vanity. In the face of tragedy, it may seem silly, even cruel, to care about how we look. But is that really the best philosophy? I don’t know that it is. After all, if you’ve been reading this blog, or my books (hopefully both!), you know that I believe that makeup can be an empowering tool.

When you take the time to look your best, those are the days you feel strongest and most confident. You feel like you can go out and do anything. For that reason, I’d argue that remembering to take care of yourself in the face of tragedy — whether it’s a hurricane or any other personal loss — is extremely important. If you feel great, you automatically convey confidence to the world. It’s one small step toward picking up the pieces and getting back into life again. Taking care of yourself in even a few small ways is hugely uplifting.

Think about it for a moment. Think about when you’re really sick, and at home in your sweatpants and lying around in bed. If you never get up, you continue to feel that way — just blah. But if you get up, get in the shower and put on some real clothes and a little makeup, you start to feel like yourself again. And you deserve that much — we all do.

That said, it’s not difficult to give yourself a little boost. It doesn’t take much money or, even, running water. With just three very simple tools in your makeup bag or purse, you can give you spirits, and your appearance, a very real lift.

So I present Scott’s Emergency Essentials:

Courtesy Sephora

An eyelash curler. You should be curling your lashes every day (especially if you’re over 35). Curled lashes can make you look years younger, even if you don’t apply mascara on top. They also make you look more awake and alert — an easy, totally natural way to give yourself a noticeable beauty boost without using any actual makeup. My favorites: Lancôme Le Curler (left, $23); Shu Uemura eyelash curler ($20); DiorShow Heat CurlHeating Lash Curler ($25).

Courtesy Oribe

Dry shampoo. Most hairstylists I know say it’s in fact very good for your hair to avoid daily shampooing, especially if you color. With a good dry shampoo, you can go shampoo-free for up to three days. Most versions come in travel sizes, and so they’re easy to tuck into your purse for on-the-go aid. My favorites: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (left, $19.50 for small); Batiste Dry Shampoo ($7.99); Ojon Dry Cleansing Powder ($24).

Courtesy Bobbi Brown

Clear or slightly tinted lip gloss. A dab of shine or sheer color on your lips can make you feel worlds better, and brighten up your entire face with only a swipe. But paying mind to your lips is not just for appearances: A moisturizing gloss will help keep your lips healthy. (And dry lips will only depress you more.) My favorites: Nars lip gloss in Super Orgasm ($24); Bobbi Brown Crystal Lip Gloss (left, $18); Aquaphor ($4.29).

A few parting words: Give to the Red Cross, active in helping New York recover, if you can. Even a little bit helps. And don’t discount the power of taking care of yourself and each other — but don’t ever feel guilty about wanting to look your best, either. Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a huge difference.

Take care of yourselves.

–Scott Barnes 

SHOP THE 12 SKIN PRODUCTS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

TAAZ Inc., the brains behind the beauty™, announced today the
availability of its iPhone app that allows women to virtually try
on hairstyles on their own face/photo right from their phones.
Instead of tearing out pictures from magazines and taking them to a
stylist, women can now easily see a myriad of hairstyles on their own
faces right from their iPhone.

With the TAAZ iPhone app, women can safely experiment and stay up to
date with the latest hairstyles by simply uploading their photo and
trying hundreds of color and cut combinations to instantly see how they
will look. Using the iPhone app, women can find a new look and share it
with friends to get their opinions before making a change. When the
perfect new hairstyle is found, women can show their stylist to make it
happen. Women can now be more adventurous and bold in their style
changes because of the certainty they have in how they will look.

“We want to empower women to confidently make decisions about their
personal style,” said David Schafer, general manager at TAAZ. “What
better way to eliminate the fear and uncertainty that surrounds a new
cut or style than by allowing women to see how they will look with that
new bold color and cut.”

The iPhone app uses the core technology that powers TAAZ.com,
where users can apply hair and makeup changes to an uploaded photo,
creating a virtual
makeover. In addition to beauty products, TAAZ technology is used
for fashion accessories like sunglasses and jewelry, and by top beauty
brands, retailers and media companies, including InStyle, Real Simple,
Laura Mercier, Estée Lauder and Marks Spencer.

About TAAZ

For every woman who wants to explore the possibilities of their look and
style, TAAZ is the brains behind the beauty. TAAZ removes doubt and
creates confidence through visualization and validation. Unlike other
risky or costly options, TAAZ offers consumers an easy experience of
trying different looks and finding the perfect one for you. TAAZ has
been featured in Oprah Magazine, New York Times, The Wall Street
Journal, Fox, CBS, NBC, MTV and Women’s Wear Daily. The company is based
in San Diego, Calif., and can be found online at www.taaz.com.
The mobile try-on app can be found in the iTunes store at http://bit.ly/Z1tbkP.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20121113005567/en/

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50475422lang=en

‘‘I used to look like a factory worker,’’ said Ratphila, now 30, cringing at an old snapshot of her smiling former self. ‘‘Now, when I look in the mirror, I’m happy. With a better face, you have better chances in life.’’

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