logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2020
1h 25m

Lush Cosmetics: Mark Constantine

Guy Raz | Wondery
About this episode
Working at a high-end beauty salon in the south of England in the early 1970's, Mark Constantine concocted natural shampoos and conditioners in a tiny room above his kitchen, and soon met another young entrepreneur who was eager to buy his products: Anita Roddick of The Body Shop. Their partnership flourished for a while, then soured; so Mark went on to start a mail-order cosmetics business with his wife and several others. After that business went bust and Mark was nearly broke, he decided to take one more leap to launch Lush, a cosmetics shop whose distinctive soaps and bath bombs developed a passionate following. Today, Lush has about 900 stores around the world and is adapting to pressures of a pandemic economy.

Order the How I Built This book at:
https://smarturl.it/HowIBuiltThis

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Aug 11
Crumbl: Jason McGowan
Crumbl may be a cookie business – but Jason McGowan turned it into a fast-growing restaurant chain by building it like a tech startup. He and co-founder Sawyer Hemsley meticulously A/B tested the recipe, launched a delivery app early on, and went viral with weekly drops of wild n ... Show More
1h 4m
Aug 7
Advice Line with Mei Xu of Chesapeake Bay Candle and Blueme
Chesapeake Bay Candle and Blueme founder Mei Xu joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Mei shares the importance of businesses meeting people everywhere they shop.First, Sasha, who started a gourmet pot pie company in Brooklyn, New ... Show More
41m 48s
Aug 4
Simon Cowell: Music Mogul
Long before he became famous as the sharp-tongued TV personality who launched the careers of pop stars, Simon Cowell was a rebellious teenager who dropped out of school and started his career in the mailroom at EMI. After a failed business left him nearly bankrupt, he found succe ... Show More
1h 8m
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2021
Estée Lauder vs L'Oréal | Do or Dye | 2
It's 1904, and ambitious French chemist Eugène Schueller quits his job as a researcher to focus on formulating the first synthetic hair dye. Teaming up with Parisian hairdressers to spread the word about his product, he soon expands into hair care and sunscreen, relying on his kn ... Show More
23m 55s
Feb 2021
Estée Lauder vs L'Oréal | Telephone, Telegraph, Tell-A-Woman | 1
It’s 1946, and after years of building a cult following thanks to free samples and loyal customers, Estée Lauder finally has an opportunity to join the big leagues. She can now sell her high-quality makeup products in department stores in New York City. Unphased by competitors wi ... Show More
27m 27s
Aug 2021
Sasha Plavsic: Ilia Beauty Founder and Chief Creative Officer
In founding clean skin-centric beauty line Ilia ten years ago, Sasha Plavsic was way ahead of the industry in what would become known as “clean beauty.” The brand began with a lip balm that was safe, effective, and natural and has since expanded into a full range of complexion fo ... Show More
57m 19s
Nov 2023
Gara Post: The Now Massage Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer
Back in 2015, Gara and her team at Post Investment Group recognized the lack of affordable yet elevated massage experiences—and The Now was born. With chic design and exceptional massages at the forefront of their business, they opened the first boutique as a calming oasis within ... Show More
53m 6s
Feb 2024
Dianna Cohen: Crown Affair Founder and CEO
Crown Affair is a haircare brand that empowers people to create ritual out of their hair routine. Launched in 2020 with four products (a towel, a brush, an oil, and a comb), Crown Affair has since grown to include a range of hair products and tools; has become one of the buzziest ... Show More
57m 22s
Jan 2023
Estee Lauder vs L'Oreal | Teléfono, Telégrafo, Cuéntaselo a una mujer | 1
Estamos en 1946 y, tras años de construir una legión de seguidoras gracias a muestras gratuitas y clientes fieles, Estée Lauder tiene por fin la oportunidad de dar un gran salto. Ahora puede vender sus productos de maquillaje de alta gama en los grandes almacenes de Nueva York. S ... Show More
28m 28s
Feb 2021
Estée Lauder vs L'Oréal | Buying Spree | 5
It’s 1991, and after the financial crash of 1987, Estée Lauder is looking for a new way to continue expanding without sinking millions of dollars and several years into developing a new brand. The answer lies in acquisitions, and they set their sights on two young, hip, buzzworth ... Show More
25m 18s
Feb 2021
Estée Lauder vs L'Oréal | Face to Face | 4
It’s 1979 and Estée Lauder is on top of the world after launching another in-house brand, Prescriptives. But after decades of being primarily known for hair products, L'Oréal is ready to invade the American high-end makeup market. And their secret weapon is Lancôme, a luxurious F ... Show More
26m 2s
Jun 2024
Gucci Westman and David Neville on Creating a Luxury Beauty Brand That Lasts
Husband and wife duo Gucci Westman and David Neville’s luxury beauty label Westman Atelier has become an industry favourite, winning fans for its curated collection of cosmetics, holistic approach to beauty and strong focus on ingredients. “Our customer knows that she's getting s ... Show More
18m 51s