As a makeup artist with 28 years of experience, two Emmy Awards, and experience working with celebrities like Kobe Bryant and Cicely Tyson, Eva Jane Bunkley knows a thing or two about her craft. After becoming repeatedly frustrated at having to look around for her blending sponge after setting it down, she had an idea: If the sponge could fit over a finger, then you’d never have to set it down. From that singular idea, The Makeup Bullet sponge was born.

Eva chose Alibaba.com as her preferred platform to source raw materials after discovering “it is more than just a platform for trading.” She loves the customized feeds that show what is currently trending, suggesting new innovative products that you might not be aware of. “The beauty industry is heavily influenced by the speed of innovation and new beauty trends. So, it often requires a very high level of personalization,” she says.

Ordering product samples and small order quantities are also very important for Eva. “Many of my clients are celebrities, and each has unique needs… so it is crucial for me to find the right supplier with the right quantity and quantity.” The fact that a wide variety of suppliers offer low MOQ on Alibaba.com really helps Eva provide a high level of customization for her high-level clientele.

After Eva was selected as one of the 50 recipients of the Alibaba.com Grants Program, she immediately looked forward to what it could do for her business. Therefore, Eva will put the grant money right back into expanding her beauty line to keep up with the fast-paced beauty market. When it comes to sourcing on Alibaba.com, she says, “I am able to find contract manufacturers, source professionals, and meet people that can help me with their expertise; it’s a win-win.”

Watch Eva’s story to see how she uses Alibaba.com to source excellent, customized products.