Shocking news: Aromaleigh is closing!

My heart is broken!!!

Since I've been travelling a lot these days, I have less time online and reading updates from friends and make up artists I'm following on Twitter and Facebook.
Miss K of Aromaleigh has been very active in social networks, and somehow I cannot find her updated and her account in Twitter anymore.
I also searched Aromaleigh's fan page account but not able to find it. I was wondering where she's gone.
Then I decided to go to Aromaleigh's website and found the news (dated June 17, 2010)




Aromaleigh News, June 17th 2010

Today we have a general overall update. I'm sure that many of you are curious about the many changes going on here at Aromaleigh.

Some details...

1. We are not closing, but have discontinued all "social networking" sites other than Twitter. You can follow the announcement Twitter account at http://www.twitter.com/aromaleigh

2. The Aromaleigh Fan Forum has been closed. The forum will disappear at the end of it's billing cycle. All users have been suspended to prevent the receipt of forum subscription emails (which has been confusing for many users and we could not get the system to discontinue sending them, or to totally shut down the forum visually).

3. Aromaleigh Mineral Foundations have been discontinued and there are no immediate plans to offer a replacement product. The foundations were discontinued for many reasons, the main one being that Aromaleigh is going through a time of change, restructuring and regrouping. We are simplifying, changing, improving and streamlining many product lines.

4. Order processing turn-around-time (TAT) has increased and is now 3-7 business days. All orders will ship faster when possible, however, at this time, Aromaleigh is taking life at a somewhat slower pace...

5. Third party items, such as brushes, Gel liners, Creme shadows, Concealers, etc.. we are not going to be stocking these again until Fall, and at that time, we will be condensing the offerings to provide the key necessities as opposed to carrying every color available. These items are currently on sale and inventory is in flux as the items sell out and are removed from the site.

6. Coupons have been simplified to include the New Customer offer and the Free Shipping offer. 25% off bi-weekly sales remain unchanged. We will be offering more code coupons and surprise sale items.

7. Several new Limited Edition eye collections are on the horizon.



8. Our Yahoo merchant ratings page is now gone, as Yahoo and Pricegrabber merged. We need to form an account to retrieve the lost post-transaction, third party reviews. We are also looking into a 3rd party post-transaction rating service for you to rate your Aromaleigh experience, other than Yahoo ratings.

9. The rewards program points for product review feature has been discontinued. Aromaleigh will be moving to a new ecommerce platform within the next 3-4 months, and the new platform does not support points for reviews, so at this time we have decided to discontinue this portion.

10. Kristen (aka Miss K) will not be personally responding to correspondence any longer. If you send emails or messages through to her, she will receive them, but she is not able at this time to reply. She does truly appreciate your messages! She misses blogging, and being there are Aromaleigh's spokeswoman to personally connect with all of you.
This is an aspect of Aromaleigh that so many have enjoyed and loved. It was one of the things that made us more than "just another company". Regretfully, being in the forefront for over a decade has created many issues, and Kristen made the decision to withdraw direct involvement not only because she is going through a very painful/personal time, but also because "putting herself out there" has put her under a microscope. She is using this break to get back to the roots of why she started Aromaleigh in the first place... and to remind everyone that it's about the products... and that at this time is what she will be focusing on.

11. Lastly, many customers want to know why all the changes? At this time, Kristen/Aromaleigh are going through a difficult time due to her divorce. Most of these changes have been made due to this time of transition and intense change/reflection. Kristen and Aromaleigh thank you for your understanding and support, but she also understands if you no longer support Aromaleigh because of these changes.

12. "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." - Harriet Tubman

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I feel emphaty about her situation. Miss K is an active entrepreneur. Reaching out the customers with personal touch, but somehow I noticed a few people took the gesture in different way. It wasn't nice or positive at all!
I didn't know the details, though.

I finally found the new Aromaleigh's Twitter account and followed it.

Then..... I read the latest updates, dated June 28.

I was shocked! This is just one of impacts of having own business. Sometimes we need to put ourselves on top.
I feel you Miss K...... May God give you strength!

I will miss the nice lovely products.

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Aromaleigh News, June 28th, 2010... The End.

Aromaleigh bids you adieu...

We'd like to thank everyone for the last 12 years of support and repeat business... it's been an amazing ride, but it's time.

Some of the happiest times of the last decade+ have been receiving emails from ecstatic women whose lives and outlook had changed from something as simple as makeup...

Aromaleigh never started off being about making a quick buck. I started the company with a dream of independence and creating my unique, natural line of Aromatherapy products and fragrances. We grew slowly... one customer at a time, and soon customers were requesting natural cosmetics.

Our first cosmetic product was a tinted lipbalm called "Color Wash".... our Pure Powder, in 5 shades, followed soon after... and in the months that followed, frost and matte eyeshadows, and more...

I've given my heart and soul to this company, and the last 12 years of my life. But I am unable to continue, as I have to be honest... there's nothing left inside of me to give. And what I do have is reserved for the most important person in my life.

I can't and won't provide a detailed explanation for this decision... those who know me well know that this has been a decision that has torn me in two for several months. Nothing I say or don't say can matter at this point. All I will say is "You've won... I'm gone. You can stop now..."

It's makeup. It's supposed to be fun, and empowering and beautiful. But it's all become ugly. More ugly than I ever imagined.

I'll be offering the following "Goodbye" coupon for the next 2 weeks...

ADIEU35

35% off the entire store, not applicable to previously placed, shipped or received orders... Aromaleigh reserves the right to refuse any suspect or incomplete orders for any reason, Large international orders, as per our international terms, are subject to additional ship fees.

First come, first served for inventory... most inventory is not real-time, and sold out product will be updated daily. Being able to order a product does not guarantee stock. Please allow 7-10 business days (possibly more, depending on volume) for your order to be processed.

With a very heavy heart, I thank you all for this journey... and I also look forward to a future that is serene and blessed... for all of you, as well...

Sincerely and with a bunch of tears as I type this,

Kristen
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More links for your reading:

The Shades of You
Wintry Beauty
Robyn's Nest