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Ep. 180: From Startup To Success: Melissa Butler's Journey As CEO Of The Lip Bar + Thread Beauty
Manage episode 376257936 series 2936826
On this episode of the Friends in Beauty podcast I welcome Melissa Butler to the Friends in Beauty guest chair! Increasing representation and empowering women one day at a time, Melissa Butler, is a Detroit native who has skillfully and strategically launched parent company The Lip Bar Inc, which houses the cruelty-free, disruptive, and innovative beauty brands The Lip Bar and Thread Beauty, into a nationwide phenomenon.
Her pivot from stocks and bonds to beauty is one that she describes as natural and necessary, as her frustrations with the beauty industry’s lack of diversity, inclusion, and non-toxic offerings. Melissa decided who better than herself to provide a solution.
When Melissa started The Lip Bar in 2011, there was little to no conversation about inclusion in
the beauty industry, and lines with large shade ranges were often laden with chemicals or
incredibly expensive. While Melissa did not think of herself as a makeup maven or as an
entrepreneur, she was a consumer who couldn’t find what she needed. As a result, she started
experimenting with cosmetic chemistry in her kitchen creating lipsticks, and eventually left her
job on Wall Street to expand The Lip Bar as the vegan, non-toxic, and inclusive beauty brand.
In the midst of celebrating the 10th year anniversary of The Lip Bar, Melissa launched Thread
Beauty in February 2022 as the first-of-its-kind, unapologetically inclusive and cruelty-free brand inspired by the authentic experiences of Gen Z people of color. The brand challenges the lack of representation for the gender fluid community while offering inclusive and multi-use products at an amazing price point, with all of the Thread products at $8.
Today The Lip Bar is sold in its flagship store located in Downtown Detroit, and sold on
TheLipBar.com, Target, Walmart, and recently launched in 3,000 CVS stores nationwide. Thread Beauty is available for purchase at threadbeauty.co, Target.com, and Target stores nationwide.
Enjoy this episode!!
Leave us a 5 star review and share this episode with a friend or 2 or 3.
info@friendsinbeauty.com
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS OF THE PODCAST
https://www.friendsinbeauty.com/advertise
ENROLL IN D.I.Y PODCASTER COURSE TODAY: bit.ly/DIYPodcasterCourse
JOIN PATREON TO SUPPORT THE FRIENDS IN BEAUTY PODCAST
https://www.patreon.com/friendsinbeauty
FRIENDS IN BEAUTY FACEBOOK COMMUNITY
www.facebook.com/groups/friendsinbeauty
FOLLOW FRIENDS IN BEAUTY ON IG
www.instagram.com/friendsinbeauty
SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE CHANNEL
SEND ME A TEXT! (202) 519-4652
Additional Resources:
-https://www.amazon.com/shop/akuarobinson
-Skillshare - Use this link for 2 months free of the premium plan: https://skl.sh/30t352q
-Shop Mented Cosmetics - https://www.mentedcosmetics.com/?rfsn=1290937.f2481
Use Code “AKUAROBINSON” for 10% of your purchase
Announcements:
We’re on Apple Podcasts - www.bit.ly/FIBPodItunes!
Join our Facebook community…
If you’re looking for a community of like minded, ambitious, and supportive #FriendsinBeauty all working to leave our mark on the beauty industry, join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsinbeauty
Join the Friends in Beauty Mailing List: www.bit.ly/FIBTribe
Social Media Info:
Melissa Butler (Instagram) - @melissarbutler
The Lip Bar (Instagram) - @thelipbar
Thread Beauty (Website) - @threadbeauty
Friends in Beauty (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) - @friendsinbeauty
Friends in Beauty (YouTube) - Friends in Beauty
Akua Robinson (Instagram,Twitter) - @akuarobinson
AkuaRobinson (Facebook) - Akua Robinson MUA
Akua Robinson (Website) - www.akuarobinson.com
223 episodes
Manage episode 376257936 series 2936826
On this episode of the Friends in Beauty podcast I welcome Melissa Butler to the Friends in Beauty guest chair! Increasing representation and empowering women one day at a time, Melissa Butler, is a Detroit native who has skillfully and strategically launched parent company The Lip Bar Inc, which houses the cruelty-free, disruptive, and innovative beauty brands The Lip Bar and Thread Beauty, into a nationwide phenomenon.
Her pivot from stocks and bonds to beauty is one that she describes as natural and necessary, as her frustrations with the beauty industry’s lack of diversity, inclusion, and non-toxic offerings. Melissa decided who better than herself to provide a solution.
When Melissa started The Lip Bar in 2011, there was little to no conversation about inclusion in
the beauty industry, and lines with large shade ranges were often laden with chemicals or
incredibly expensive. While Melissa did not think of herself as a makeup maven or as an
entrepreneur, she was a consumer who couldn’t find what she needed. As a result, she started
experimenting with cosmetic chemistry in her kitchen creating lipsticks, and eventually left her
job on Wall Street to expand The Lip Bar as the vegan, non-toxic, and inclusive beauty brand.
In the midst of celebrating the 10th year anniversary of The Lip Bar, Melissa launched Thread
Beauty in February 2022 as the first-of-its-kind, unapologetically inclusive and cruelty-free brand inspired by the authentic experiences of Gen Z people of color. The brand challenges the lack of representation for the gender fluid community while offering inclusive and multi-use products at an amazing price point, with all of the Thread products at $8.
Today The Lip Bar is sold in its flagship store located in Downtown Detroit, and sold on
TheLipBar.com, Target, Walmart, and recently launched in 3,000 CVS stores nationwide. Thread Beauty is available for purchase at threadbeauty.co, Target.com, and Target stores nationwide.
Enjoy this episode!!
Leave us a 5 star review and share this episode with a friend or 2 or 3.
info@friendsinbeauty.com
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS OF THE PODCAST
https://www.friendsinbeauty.com/advertise
ENROLL IN D.I.Y PODCASTER COURSE TODAY: bit.ly/DIYPodcasterCourse
JOIN PATREON TO SUPPORT THE FRIENDS IN BEAUTY PODCAST
https://www.patreon.com/friendsinbeauty
FRIENDS IN BEAUTY FACEBOOK COMMUNITY
www.facebook.com/groups/friendsinbeauty
FOLLOW FRIENDS IN BEAUTY ON IG
www.instagram.com/friendsinbeauty
SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE CHANNEL
SEND ME A TEXT! (202) 519-4652
Additional Resources:
-https://www.amazon.com/shop/akuarobinson
-Skillshare - Use this link for 2 months free of the premium plan: https://skl.sh/30t352q
-Shop Mented Cosmetics - https://www.mentedcosmetics.com/?rfsn=1290937.f2481
Use Code “AKUAROBINSON” for 10% of your purchase
Announcements:
We’re on Apple Podcasts - www.bit.ly/FIBPodItunes!
Join our Facebook community…
If you’re looking for a community of like minded, ambitious, and supportive #FriendsinBeauty all working to leave our mark on the beauty industry, join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsinbeauty
Join the Friends in Beauty Mailing List: www.bit.ly/FIBTribe
Social Media Info:
Melissa Butler (Instagram) - @melissarbutler
The Lip Bar (Instagram) - @thelipbar
Thread Beauty (Website) - @threadbeauty
Friends in Beauty (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) - @friendsinbeauty
Friends in Beauty (YouTube) - Friends in Beauty
Akua Robinson (Instagram,Twitter) - @akuarobinson
AkuaRobinson (Facebook) - Akua Robinson MUA
Akua Robinson (Website) - www.akuarobinson.com
223 episodes
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