# The Lip Bar (TLB): Melissa Butler (2020)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-07-03
- Length: 1h 11m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-03-the-lip-bar-tlb-melissa-butler-2020

## Summary

Melissa Butler, founder of The Lip Bar (now TLB), and her partner Rosco Spears explain how they launched a bold lipstick brand from a kitchen in New York, overcoming a disastrous Shark Tank appearance to secure a partnership with Target. Butler details the technical challenges of formulating vegan lipstick using wax, oil, and pigment, and sourcing heavy steel molds from a closing lab. The company scaled by moving operations to Detroit, launching a promotional shuttle bus, and eventually expanding into 500 Target stores while addressing the lack of funding for Black-owned beauty businesses.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-03-the-lip-bar-tlb-melissa-butler-2020#t=0) Introduction: Melissa Butler and The Lip Bar
- [5:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-03-the-lip-bar-tlb-melissa-butler-2020#t=318) Detroit Roots and Wall Street Career
- [17:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-03-the-lip-bar-tlb-melissa-butler-2020#t=1054) From Soap to Lipstick: The Pivot
- [25:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-03-the-lip-bar-tlb-melissa-butler-2020#t=1509) Formulating Vegan Lipstick and Sourcing Molds
- [38:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-03-the-lip-bar-tlb-melissa-butler-2020#t=2303) Launch, Funding, and Moving to Detroit
- [47:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-03-the-lip-bar-tlb-melissa-butler-2020#t=2853) The Lip Bar Truck and Shark Tank Appearance
- [56:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-03-the-lip-bar-tlb-melissa-butler-2020#t=3406) Securing the Target Partnership
- [1:01:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-03-the-lip-bar-tlb-melissa-butler-2020#t=3700) Funding Challenges and Retail Expansion

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- The Lip Bar (product)
- TLB (product)
- Target (company)
- Shark Tank (other)
- Kavala (other)
- L'Oreal (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Lush (company)
- Barclays (company)
- Teen Vogue (other)
- Urban Outfitters (company)
- Refinery 29 (other)
- Shinola (company)
- Walker and Company (company)
- Bevel (product)

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