Beautycounter is now Counter. And on June 25th you can purchase from their selection of 19 products. New formulas, new packaging, and very different business. I’ve been thinking a lot about whether I want to partner again with them. If so, in what capacity. And if not, how to talk about it (or not). Last October, I wrote the (Beauty)counter Open Letter (1). This is my update – or, addendum to that. The phrase that keeps coming to my mind is, “when people show you who they are, believe them.”
What I realized, is that this decision isn’t about me. If it were, I’d be making the financial decision without other considerations. After all, I was the top salesperson and a top leader at Beautycounter. It would be a no brainer and much easier to say yes if I was only thinking with my wallet.
But I’ve always voted with my wallet. So, do I want to vote for – commit to – partnering with this entirely new brand?
Setting aside my feelings, because trust me, I have plenty to say there! But I know that is all rooted in my own anger, grief, and heartache about this whole thing.
In reality, this is a decision to make about who I want to be, what I want to represent, and how I want to show up each day. And who that is, is someone who aligned and fully committed to the values that are important to me: stability, kindness, compassion, family, balance, and inclusion as much as it is about safe, effective, and proven products. It’s about being the example I want for my children. And about aligning with a brand that values and treats others with the same respect which I’d like to be treated.
This is about you.
I want to give you the best, and I don’t have confidence in the customer service at Counter, especially after seeing how it was handled during the “in between”. I won’t be able to deliver you the type of service I like to deliver. The new systems won’t allow me to fully see your orders, follow-up for suggestions and thank you, nor would I be able to offer gifts.
Counter could have given you your BoB credits, they acquired those records; many of you lost upwards of $100 in product credit. Because this is about finding you the best products that are safe, clinically proven, affordable and giving you excellent service, you deserve better.
This is about the team I worked with.
The best part of this work is empowering others and helping them succeed. I am not able to do that with Counter.
For someone like myself who has historically had high sales, that could be very lucrative. But very few people would fall into this category, most would earn much less income than before. So, not only can I not work in a team environment, but the Counter CEO told us her intention is to have more people earning less money vs. building a model where more people can earn more money.
While I hear women empowerment, I see the opposite.
And for those who choose to sell, Counter is choosing to compete with them. They could have shared ambassador client data from the CRM system. Counter could have linked clients to ambassadors. They could commit to honoring client intentions of who they want to shop with. I’ve seen all too often the sales not attributed properly because of HQ’s marketing, emails, and ads in Google or Meta. The team of hard working women I love working with deserves better.
This is about community.
Counter could have created a model that allowed those of us who wanted to work together to continue to do so. Being able to have a voice for change in the clean beauty space, advocating and lobbying in the local communities, and building relationships locally and virtually was a huge part of what made the work meaningful.
The Counter CEO told us she saw the prior relationships as “transactional.” Our approach to service and each other clearly is not in alignment. We deserve better.
This is about integrity.
The Counter CEO told us that those of you who shopped Beauty(counter) are “her” clients. Yet, during the Beautycounter in between sale they created, without my consent, a sales link using my name. I had to ask them to take down and remove the personal website link they created for the “in between sale” down.
This is about standing up for the employees who were laid off, with no severance or no COBRA. Beautycounter chose to foreclose, with the Counter CEO as their CEO and on their Board.
This is about believing people when they show you who they are.
We all can do and deserve better.
This is about inclusivity.
This is about reminding myself where I am welcome and respected, or not. In all of my years as a top leader and top sales representative, I never once was asked to speak on a public stage.
One of my biggest concerns with Beautycounter when I partnered with them, was the lack of diversity.
If you could feel what it is like to be part of the Shaklee community and how inclusive and warm it is, I know you’d love it. A space filled with kind and caring hearts of all backgrounds, ages, body sizes, races, and languages. I am genuinely blown away. And I want YOU to feel this, too.
I advocate for non-toxic inside and out.
That is as much emotional as it is physical. And while Counter’s products may be non-toxic, my experience of the culture hasn’t been. I feel healthier and happier than I have in years.
I’ve thought a lot about this, because it’s a big revenue loss for me, for my family. But, at the end of the day, everyone I’ve worked with – clients and ambassadors – that has tried Shaklee, has been blown away. It’s made the decision to go ALL IN that much easier.
The Counter CEO told us we were broken up and it was her job to create a compelling business for us to return. This isn’t it, I – you – we deserve better.
If you’re feeling like it’s just not sitting right – listen to that voice. I’d love to help you find products or a place that feels like home.
Read More:
- Open Letter About Beautycounter’s Return
- Are MLMs Bad, Illegal, Pyramid Schemes?
- Beautycounter Skincare Swaps
- Beautycounter Makeup Swaps
This is my own personal opinion based on personal experiences, published articles and facts shared by both Beautycounter and Counter.
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