How do you keep product costs down without sacrificing quality?

[Mary Luis]

Hello!

Quick business question. Inflation has been hitting hard lately, and my regular overhead costs are creeping up. I’m trying to review my supply budget for Q3, but I really don't want to raise my service prices again after doing so earlier this year.

At the same time, I refuse to downgrade to ultra-cheap, unbranded supplies that compromise my retention or client safety. How are you managing your lash inventory? Do you buy in bulk, wait for sales, or have you found a mid-range supplier that gives premium results without the luxury markup?

[Lond Maker]

I hear you! Raising prices too often risks alienating loyal clients. My strategy has been streamlining my stock. I used to order from 4 different vendors just to get specific curls or primers, and shipping fees alone were eating up my margins.
Now I try to consolidate my orders with one reliable wholesale/direct-to-tech vendor. Buying lash trays in bundles and getting large-size primers/foams saves me around 15–20% monthly. Also, watch out for shelf-life on adhesives—buying huge bottles of glue is a waste if half gets thrown out because it goes bad before you finish it!

[Mary Luis]

 That's a great point about shipping fees and glue waste. I definitely fall into the trap of ordering from three different places just because I like a specific primer from one and lash trays from another.

Consolidating sounds like the way to go. Which supplier do you use for your all-in-one restocks? I’m looking for a store that carries everything from prep/primer to different glue types and quality synthetic trays at fair prices.

[Dmitri Starikovski]

 Their prices are super reasonable compared to high-end salon brands, but the quality and retention hold up just as well. They also run multipack deals on lash trays, which helped me cut down cost-per-service without having to raise prices for my clients.

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