High schoolers launch lip gloss company

Ramona Robinson with Santasia Farrow, Nia Farrow and Logan Wallace on 19 Action News.

Photo submitted by Shannon Powell

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Parents of teenagers often wonder if their kids ever listen to their advice. Well, the parents of Logan Wallace and Nia Farrow, freshmen at Heights High, and Santasia Farrow, a junior at Brush High School, need wonder no longer. After a particularly expensive trip to the mall last spring, the girls’ parents joked that because they spend so much money on cosmetics, they should just launch their own lip-gloss company. 

And that is what they did.

After months of research and planning, including a trip to New York City to visit a makeup manufacturing warehouse where they selected and purchased their colors and finishes, the three girls launched Glitty Cosmetics, makeup “for girls, by girls.”

The company, which is registered in the state of Ohio and is seeking federal licensure, currently offers only lip gloss, but the teens hope to expand into a full-scale cosmetics, skincare and fragrance brand. The lip gloss is manufactured in New York and shipped to the girls for branding and marketing.

“Lip gloss is a girl’s first love,” said Wallace. “But we want to keep up with the trends and continue to offer new products. We want the company to grow up with us.”

Available online, most of their sales so far have come from family and friends, especially other students. But they’ve also had tables at several vendor events, including Success Her Way, a nonprofit that seeks to elevate female business owners, and at youth pageants. The public is invited to a launch party on Saturday, Dec. 8, at Marcus Thomas, an advertising firm in Beachwood.

Wallace is currently taking the entrepreneurship elective at Heights High. Sarah Parker, her teacher, hopes that both she and Farrow will enroll in the two-year marketing and management class in their junior year. She also plans to connect the girls with potential investment opportunities that are available exclusively to student entrepreneurs. 

Parker will encourage them to join the DECA program in which they can compete with other emerging student-run businesses at the local, state and national level. “It’s great that they’re so young,” said Parker, who usually sees businesses launched by juniors and seniors. “We have so many opportunities to mold and guide them in this process.”

Wallace has already taken much of what she’s learned in class and applied it to her new business. In addition to the importance of a strong business plan and a meaningful mission statement, the definition of what makes a profit has really hit home. “We were kind of surprised,” admitted Farrow. “Everything we make goes right back into the company instead of into our pockets.”

“I also learned about the pros and cons of running a family business,” said Wallace, with a hint of sarcasm. “Sometimes our parents think they know best,” added Farrow.

Their parents just want them to succeed. Everyone was thrilled with the trio’s recent interview with Ramona Robinson, of Channel 19 Action News, which aired on Nov. 1. “I didn't expect to be on TV so soon,” said Wallace. “Everything is moving so fast.”

If you move fast, you too can “get lit” and purchase some holiday lip gloss “for girls, by girls” while supporting this unique local business. 

Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/glitty-cosmetics-official-launch-party-the-glituation-tickets-51797151675?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete to register for the free Glitty GLITuation Launch Party.