From Inc. — How I Did It: Leslie Blodgett of Bare Escentuals
Last Updated on Monday, 12 July 2010 08:21 Written by spence Monday, 12 July 2010 08:21
Color Coordinated -- Leslie Blodgett at home in Tiburon, California. She uses similar shades and materials for the interiors of her boutiques. Photo by Jen Siska.
A cosmetics queen and her loyal fans.
As Told to Liz Welch
When Leslie Blodgett became CEO of Bare Escentuals in 1994 — the company was then a tiny maker of bath and body products — she saw a huge opportunity selling healthy mineral-based makeup. But she didn’t quite realize how many women she could reach until she made a pitch on late-night TV. The company’s rapid growth led to a 2006 IPO, followed by the sale of the company this year for $1.7 billion to Shiseido, the Japanese beauty giant. Today, Bare Escentuals, based in San Francisco, has 130 boutiques in the U.S. and one in the U.K., and employs 2,200.
