The Ups and the Downs of Four+ Decades in Beauty with Laura Geller, Founder of Laura Geller Beauty

Success isn’t always smooth, and Laura Geller knows that firsthand. She built a beauty empire, but the road to get there was filled with financial setbacks, employee betrayals, and the constant pressure of running a business. Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Laura, the founder of Laura Geller Beauty, to talk about the moments that defined her journey. How did a New York City makeup artist with no business background end up creating a brand that changed the beauty industry? What hard lessons did she learn along the way? Laura shares the highs and lows of opening her first store in Manhattan, struggling to keep up with a rapidly growing business, and learning the realities of managing people and money. In 1997, everything shifted when QVC entered the picture. The opportunity to sell her products on a national platform gave Laura the resources to create her own formulations and connect with customers on a larger scale. She reflects on the power of storytelling, the trust she built with her audience, and why authenticity matters more than ever. Laura also opens up about selling a majority stake in her company, the unexpected challenges of private equity, and the decisions she would make differently today. Her insights on mentorship, resilience, and trusting your instincts are lessons every entrepreneur can learn from. Join Lindsay and Laura for an honest conversation filled with hard-earned wisdom and advice that can help founders avoid common pitfalls. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 05:20 Laura Geller’s Early Career 10:05 Opening the Makeup Studio 12:13 The Impact of QVC 17:01 Learning Through Mistakes 20:08 Challenges with Employees 24:25 Selling a Majority Stake 32:19 Navigating the Sale Process 36:11 The Happy Ending 40:14 Gratitude to Her Parents Connect with Laura Geller: http://www.instagram.com/lauragellerbeauty http://www.instagram.com/laurajgeller   Get on the Marketing Made Simple Waitlist: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/waitlist Don't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.