Humber Cosmetic Management students ended the term with a boutique sale to give them practical experience and their customers great deals on beauty products.
The annual Frost & Found on Nov. 27 had a winter wonderland theme. Students sold products and gift bundles at a 20 per cent discount.
Organizer Isabela Jaimungal, in her final year of the two-year program, explained her inspiration for the event.
“It's good when people meet people, especially in the building,” she said. “You have people coming in for the makeup (and) the spa (products). Modelling, photography, anybody who would need cosmetics, or maybe they're just interested.
“It’s a good way to just get holiday shopping started," Jaimungal said. "Everybody’s shopping right now. The younger generations are into it.”
She said the holiday care packages students sold were popular.
“The bundles themselves, we just put together care packages like people would get at Sephora, body washes and things like loofas, just anything that people can use or give away as gifts," Jaimungal said.
Frost & Found made holiday shopping easy for customers. On top of the discount, many care packages came with extra goodies that could make presents, Jaimungal said.
The hair care products were also popular, she said.
“Our hair care section, we have an Olaplex with bundles and Amika bundles. We also have some body care products. We have a FITGLOW Cloud Ceramide body wash. This smells super good,” Jaimungal said.
Special deals included scrubs, lotions and creams, and everyone who spent a certain amount received a loofa, she said.
Antonietta Perretta, coordinator of the cosmetic management diploma program, said the money from the sale was not for fundraising.
"This is part of our class project," she said. "We get some budget so we can purchase the products to host our sale. And so, you'll notice, when you’re in our store today, that many of the prices are deeply discounted,’’ Perretta said. “We're not like a traditional store which must make a certain profit margin because for us, it’s more about the learning experience.”
Emma Crockett, a second-year student in the program, said she has had a passion for makeup since she was a tween. She said students working in the beauty shop are not getting paid.
“This is our final exam for this course, so it’s our big project,’’ said Crockett, adding they’re hosting this event. "In the first half, we learn the theory behind it and how to know what it takes to hold an event, and then we actually put it into action.”
Vladimira Steffek, a full-time professor in Humber’s Cosmetic Management, Fashion Arts and Business programs, said she has had many experiences in the fashion industry. She is pleased that these students work as a team to hold the Frost & Found event, stressing the importance of teamwork.
“That nothing happens without the help of someone else and in order to be able to create a successful event, you have to be a team player because without being part of a group, you are not going to succeed,” Steffek said.
“Theoretical knowledge never surpasses the practical experience,’’ she said. “So, capsule projects like this will always expose students to new things. You have to work hard to be seen as a professional, to succeed in this industry," Steffek said. "Without collaboration, you will never reach your full potential.”
Jaimungal offered a list of her favourite products.
“I’m a glitter person,’’ she said. ‘’I like anything with glitter."
Crockett was more interested in the hair care products that are her favourite, recommending a few brands.
“We (had) some good, high-quality hair care stuff. The Olaplex is one of my favourite hair care brands, and we have a little gift bundle with it, which is really good,” Crockett said. “There’s that additional 20 per cent off, too.”
Sydney Sohan, another cosmetic management student working at Frost & Found, described some of the products that interested her: the Lalicious body butter and body scrubs.
