In this episode, Alex Quin sits down with Alicia Grande, founder and CEO of Grande Cosmetics—a beauty powerhouse known for its iconic GrandeLASH-MD serum. Alicia shares how she turned a single product into a $100 million+ brand without outside investors. From grassroots trade shows to landing shelf space at retailers like Sephora, Ulta, and beyond, she breaks down the branding, grit, and customer obsession that fueled her success. Alicia also opens up about the challenges of scaling while staying authentic in a competitive industry.

Episode Outline

[00:00:03] Introduction and welcome by Alex Quin

[00:01:45] Alicia's media background and shift to beauty

[00:04:12] The creation of GrandeLASH-MD

[00:07:00] Leveraging trade shows for grassroots marketing

[00:09:30] The power of before-and-after images

[00:12:20] Early business struggles and breakthroughs

[00:15:05] Building credibility in the beauty industry

[00:17:40] Scaling with Sephora and e-commerce growth

[00:21:10] Staying innovative and customer-focused

[00:24:30] Key challenges and advice for entrepreneurs

[00:27:45] Alex Quin's final thoughts and wrap-up

Wisdom Nuggets

Start Where You Are: Alicia leveraged her radio background to connect authentically with potential customers at trade shows. Your current skills can translate into unexpected successes.

Proof Sells Products: Real customer results, showcased through authentic before-and-after photos, helped build trust and credibility. Visual evidence trumps flashy ads.

Bootstrapping Builds Grit: Without outside investment, Alicia learned to be scrappy and disciplined. She emphasizes the strength that comes from doing more with less.

Evolve With Feedback: Customer feedback directly informed product development at Grande Cosmetics. Listening isn't just polite—it's profitable.

Growth Requires Risk: Alicia took major steps by expanding into Sephora and doubling down on e-commerce. Calculated risks are often the bridge to the next level.

Power Quotes:

“I started with one product and a passion for helping women feel beautiful.” - Alicia Grande

“Don’t rush into partnerships. Vet them like your brand depends on it—because it does.” - Alicia Grande

Connect With Alicia :

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/ceoaliciagrande)

Grande Cosmetics Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/grandecosmetics/)

Website (https://grandecosmetics.com/)

Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)

Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)

LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)

Website: (https://alexquin.com)

TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)

Our Community

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