S4. Ep. 278 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