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Heights Freshmen Launch Cosmetics Line
Girls at vendor table
Oct. 31, 2018 -- Parents of teenagers often wonder if their kids are ever listening to their advice. Well, the parents of Heights High freshmen Logan Wallace, Nia Farrow and Brush High School junior Santasia Farrow need wonder no longer. After a particularly expensive trip to the mall last spring, the girls’ parents joked that since they spend so much money on cosmetics, they should just launch their own lip gloss company. 

So they did.

After months of research and planning meetings, including a trip to New York City to visit a make-up manufacturing warehouse where they selected and purchased their colors and finishes, the three girls launched Glitty Cosmetics, make-up “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 Logan. “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 fellow students. But they’ve also had tables at several vendor events, including Success Her Way, a non-profit that seeks to elevate female business owners, and at youth pageants. The public is invited to a launch party at Marcus Thomas, an advertising firm in Beachwood where Nia and Santasia’s grandmother works, on Saturday, December 8. 

Logan is currently taking the Entrepreneurship elective at Heights and her teacher Sarah Parker hopes that both she and Nia 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.

Ms. Parker would also like them to join the DECA program, so 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 Ms. Parker, who usually sees businesses launched by juniors and seniors. “We have so many opportunities to mold them and guide them in this process.”

Logan 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 Nia. “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 Logan with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. “Sometimes our parents think they know best,” added Nia.

But their parents obviously just want them to succeed. Everyone was thrilled with trio’s recent interview with Ramona Robinson of Channel 19 Action News, which will air on Thursday, November 1. “I didn't expect to be on TV so soon,” said Logan. “Everything is moving so fast.”

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

Register here for the Glitty Glituation Launch Party. 
 
Lip gloss
 
Lip gloss