Cara Macken

Experience

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  Boots Ireland

  Aug 2006 - Aug 2008

  Sales self selection cosmetics

  I overlooked the self selection cosmetic stands making sure they were stocked up and presentable for customers.I helped with shade selection and started booking clients in for make up too!

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  MAC Cosmetics

  Jan 2008 - Jan 2012

  Senior Make Up Artist

  Aug 2008 – Jan 2012 : Esteé Lauder Companies, MAC cosmetics.Started as a retail artist. I delivered impeccable customer service advising customers on the appropriate products and providing the highest standard of make up artistry. I gained a lot of experience on counter interacting with customers and developing my confidence dealing with the public. I also accomplished valuable knowledge on ensuring targets are met.Within my first year in the company I was chosen to be product specialist. • This role involved knowledge of all products on counter, key ingredients and add-on sales.• Liaising with trainers about my product launches, travelling back and forth to the UK to attend update training, while then enforcing the new techniques back on counter. • Organise product launch days which involved creating activity on counter to drive sales and reach targets, lead by example on all aspects on counter, eg. appearance, product knowledge, reaching targets etc. • Be a support to my team when it came to reaching targets and goals and helping other artists reach theirs. • Organise classroom training days to inform fellow artists on upcoming launch days and new trends which helped gain valuable public speaking skills.I then was granted a place on the events team. Being chosen for this exclusive team allowed me to gain new skills on how to manage planning events and new product launches in stores. We gained the skills to communicate with larger groups and hold successful product launch days. • It also allowed me to travel and gain even more artistry experience on different counters and learned a lot about different clientele and selling techniques for different countries. • It also gave me the opportunity to attend and work at exclusive artistry events. Show less

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  InglotCosmetics

  Jan 2012 - Aug 2012

  Regional Trainer

  Jan 2012 – Aug 2012 : Company Trainer at Inglot CosmeticsI was the hired as regional trainer for Inglot Ireland. • Being a brand new company to Ireland,It was was my responsibility to put a structure in place for training and progressing artists in their skills and selling techniques. • There were 6 counters country-wide. I visited each counter regularly and educated on both selling techniques and artistry skills. • I held product launch days and in store events.• I created selling strategies to keep each counter new and fresh. • I held classroom style workshops for the artists, to progress both their skills in make up and to encourage them to be proactive on counter. Show less

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  Brown Sugar

  Aug 2012 - now

  Senior Make Up Artist

  Aug 2012 – Present: Brown Sugar, William St. South & Blackrock Co. Dublin.Senior Make-up Artist and Educator Brown sugar is one of Ireland's elite go to hair and beauty salons, who deliver hair and make-up of the highest standard. They are high fashion and a very trend driven 5 star salon in the heart of Dublins city centre. • In house make-up artist and eyebrow technician in a 5 star salon. • On location for shoots and events. I have worked with some of Ireland's leading photographers and models such as Lily Forberg,Kip Carol, Evan Doherty• I cater for regular clientele attending weddings and other events.Brown sugar is also involved in some of Ireland's most exclusive shoots and fashion shows which allows me to be more create and avant-garde with my make-up looks. This has allowed me to gain extensive credentials in numerous popular magazines such as U mag, social and personal,Tatler,The gloss,life,rte guide. • I organise in salon events to generate new clientele as well as managing out events and fashion shows that brown sugar take part in all over Ireland.• I set daily targets for our make-up artists and excel in reaching my target every week by selling out in house make up brand Kohl make up. • I have gained valuable experience in public speaking whilst doing live makeup demos on Ireland AM, a live TV show broadcast on national television in Ireland.• I have also generated new business from self-marketing and networking.• I have won awards for make-up application in my time with the company, such as the L’Oréal Colour Trophy and recently I have been nominated for Image beauty of business make-up artist of the year 2016. • The salon also offers a brow bar service which caters for clients’ needs in 3dbrowz, waxing, tinting and threading. Eyebrows are extremely popular and bring in a lot of capital. I have a loyal eyebrow clientele and it's still growing. Show less