Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Joseph.
Hi Natalie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Ever since I was a little girl, I loved makeup. I always played with my moms and learned how to do it from her. Lip gloss especially has been my thing for as long as I can remember. In high school and college, I took several business classes. From entrepreneurship to marketing. I knew then that I wanted to start a business about something I was passionate about. In college, I started my cosmetics business, The Natalie J Collection (TNJC). I started making my lip gloss because I noticed something was missing in the beauty industry. I found that many lip glosses were sticky, turned white, and/or had a thinner consistency. My formula has vitamin e oil in it to moisturize your lips. My lip gloss has a thicker consistency and it lasts on your lips while still providing high shine. I then branched out into selling mink eyelashes. In the future, I plan to expand my brand with more makeup products.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, I’ve had a few challenges thrown at me on my journey as a business owner. There were times when building clientele was hard and that was discouraging. I wanted to get my business out there, so I began investing more in social media promotion and brand photoshoots. I had time zone struggles with my vendor. When it’s daytime here, it’s nighttime there, and vice versa. I believe in myself 1000% and I sacrificed for my business. I would wake up, go to class, work, and attend meetings for my campus organizations. Then stay up all night talking to my vendor.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Natalie J Collection. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
TNJC currently has 6 lip gloss shades and 3 mink eyelash styles in inventory. The colors of my lip glosses range from clear, to pink, and brown. For eyelashes, I provide natural to dramatic styles ranging in lengths from 18-25mm. My eyelashes are reusable, and with proper care, you can re-wear them multiple times. A spoolie is included with every eyelash purchase so that you can brush them before each application and after you wash them to keep them looking fluffy. Every purchase with my brand comes with priority shipping. Those who know me, know I love a good shiny gloss. Like Lil Mama said “My lip gloss is poppin. My lip gloss is cool.” If you want to be that girl, and have moisturized lips like mine, shop TNJC. What sets me apart is the quality of my products. All 6 of my lip glosses contain Vitamin E oil. This provides hydration to help relieve cracked, chapped, or dry lips. They are also non-sticky and vegan. No matter what your preference is when it comes to lashes, I have 3 styles that appeal to everyone. For the people who love a more natural look, to those who like a dramatic one, all styles will be wispy and voluminous. I’m proud of the great reviews that I get. I’m happy to be able to create something that makes people feel good when they look at themselves in the mirror.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love how Atlanta is known as the black Hollywood. There is room for everybody to grow and thrive here. There are so many entrepreneurs, it’s very inspiring. I dislike the traffic. I live on the north side and coming to events and networking can be challenging.
Pricing:
- Lip glosses are $4 each
- Mink eyelashes are $10 each
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thenataliejcollection.com
- Instagram: thenataliejcollection
