By: Holly Freeland
Holly@louisville.com

I was always fascinated with products and cosmetic brands but never thought of starting my own until 1year and 9 months ago. I received an education degree from WKU and taught first grade for 4 years then left to make more money, until I realized money was not what I was after. I discovered that I was after something that was authentically me.   I really believe that failure as a corporate player really made me look in a more authentic place for where I wanted to go professionally.

What does the name mean?

Tallulah Bankhead is the name of an actress from the 1920s - 1930s. This feisty beauty was famous for her brazen behavior and independent lifestyle. She wore only one shade of red lipstick, Victory Red by Elizabeth Arden. I chose the name because her entire being embodied the strength, beauty and determination of women.

Tell us all about Tallulah:

TALLULAH has a line of mineral lip gloss called glossary. Glossary boasts seven shades, Berry Godmother, My Yacht or Yours, Love Me Ginger, Punk Rock Pink, Brazilla, Blonde Ambition, and Mouth of the South. All shades are packed with the minerals mica, titanium dioxide, and iron oxides to bind to and naturally plump your lips by holding in their own natural moisture and smoothing fine lines.

Where can Tallulah products be found?

Glossary can be purchased on line at www.tallulahcosmetics.com and locally at these boutiques, CLODHOPPERS, DOT FOX, WILLIAM DEAN SALON, LUNA BOUTIQUE, PURE IMAGE, FIORI,  BETHANY TIESMAN(etown),POLKA DOT PARLOR(bowling green) and in these states Louisiana, Massachusettes, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Iowa, and Arizona. We also have two Canadian locations. 

What obstacles did you overcome in starting Tallulah?

Learning the manufacturing process of cosmetics and the laboratory processes that go into creating products was a big obstacle.  My personality is one that wants to tell people what they want to hear and I have overcome that in my business life out of necessity, I simply can’t be successful without stating exactly what I want and how I want it done and it isn’t always what the other guy wants to hear. Obstacles are a part of the game and I continue to overcome them on a daily basis.

What does Tallulah have planned for the near future?

100% natural lip products and high /files/storyimages/skincare with function and convenience are coming!

Also, TALLULAH cosmetics is planning to be sold in all 50 US states within the next year and plans to roll out a high /files/storyimages/skincare line to be sold in a national cosmetic retail location within the next three years.

What is the best part about owning your own business?

The best parts are that I can run it with my own integrity and spirit. I can surround myself with the people and circumstances that I know drive me and make me a better business woman. I am complete in control of my own success here!

Describe a typical day for Amy Wheeler as business owner/ starter of a cosmetics line:

Correspondence with clients and advisors via email and phone starts my day then morning and afternoon....multiple trips to a cosmetic lab downtown. There, I consult with a chemist and do my own product formulation and research.  At some point each day I do some drafting of artwork for package design or display design that is currently in the works or that we want to use in the future. I try to have lunch with someone who inspires me everyday. That is often my husband, Lana Rayhill my fri/files/storyimages/and photographer of my products, or one of my many advisors.

What do you attribute the success of Tallulah to?

The success comes from a passion for what I am doing, a smart and dedicated partner who also happens to love me, and priceless advice from Louisville entrepreneurs who have made a successful business path before me.

For someone who is looking to follow a career path like you in something they're passionate about, what advice would you give them?

I’d say to remember that even the big guys started in their basement, ask successful business people the story of how they began and it will fuel your drive in a way you cannot imagine.

What are your thoughts about Louisville the city?  What things about Louisville do you think helps improve your business?

I love Louisville, was born here and lived here until I was six so I have a lot of family here. It is just a great city of culture and history with so many unturned stones to go looking for. I love the diversity in people, neighborhoods, and restaurants.  I’ve recently found that Louisville has a strong population of entrepreneurs who are eager to hear a new business idea and willing to help out in any way.  Two of my advisors who I could not grow my business without are local success stories who started out just like me. I consult with them on an almost daily basis!
 

What’s your favorite part of Louisville or what about it do you love the most?

Its diversity and history!  I have just recently re-discovered Germantown and really began to sp/files/storyimages/time roaming that area. I found such rich history that pulls me in and makes me feel closer and more loyal to the communities that make up Louisville.