Beauty is her business

By Karen Tina Harrison | Special to amNewYork

December 10, 2007

Makeup maven Marissa Shipman with her business advisers. (Lani Lindstrom / December 16, 2007)

Who Pulled It Off: Marissa Shipman, 34

What She Does: Shipman, a Manhattan native, founded and runs The Balm, a growing makeup company. (www.thebalm.com)

What She Used To Do: Shipman was a TV news producer.

Why She Switched: "My job was exciting. But all the editing that news involves got very demanding and time-consuming. I needed something more creative. I'd always loved makeup and was inspired by a lady I met at a party in Florida. She was in the cosmetics field and so passionate about it. I thought, I can do this, too."

How She Did It: "I got some makeup recipe manuals and started making lip balms in my kitchen. I'd amassed a nest egg from trading stock options and used it to start The Balm in '03. My original product was that lip balm. Today, I have 60 products sold in 200 stores including Sephora."

What A Makeup Maven Does: "I'm CEO, with 13 employees including my dad Bob, a former garment exec who helps me strategize. My sister Jordana is my sales genius. We do a lot of brainstorming and playing with concepts, products, packaging and names."

Who Does This Job Best? "To make a dent in the cosmetics industry, you can't be a follower. You must be creative and crazy about makeup. You have to know your customer and have great instincts about trends and marketing."

How's The Dough? "Startups are tough. But if you make distinctive and effective products that you believe in, you will find your market."

What About Perks? "I hang with my pugs and play with makeup all day. I work really hard, but I still can't believe I get paid to do this."

What Else You Should Know: "Life is too short not to love what you do. Discover what makes you happy and then figure out a way to make a living at it."

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