Empowering Beauty: Blushington's Journey to Franchising Success
- Empowering Beauty: Blushington's Journey to Franchising Success Devin Thorpe 22:09
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Devin: What is your superpower?
Natasha: I think maybe one thing I pride myself on is being a power listener.
Today’s episode of the Superpowers for Good show features Natasha Cornstein, CEO of Blushington, a company bringing high-quality beauty services to a broader audience while breaking traditional barriers in the industry. Blushington isn’t a startup just out of the gate—it’s a growing company with a decade of experience, built on making beauty accessible to everyone.
Natasha shared how Blushington pivoted during the pandemic, using that challenging period as an inflection point to redesign its business model. They emerged with a Franchise concept, allowing people to become business owners supported by Blushington’s proven expertise. This shift has positioned Blushington for ambitious Growth, aiming to open 60 franchise locations by the end of 2028.
One of the most compelling aspects of Blushington’s expansion is its commitment to inclusivity and empowerment. As Natasha said, “The Blushington experience is about luxury, but it’s about accessibility.” This mission resonates deeply with potential franchisees, especially those like Dr. Karen Diaz Maeike, Blushington’s first franchise owner, who embodies the spirit of making a difference in their community.
Blushington’s current capital raise on WeFunder aligns with its expansion plans, providing investors with an opportunity to be part of this exciting journey. Natasha’s passion for empowering others, whether through beauty services or entrepreneurship, shines through, making Blushington a company poised for impactful growth. It’s truly inspiring to see a business not just survive adversity but use it as a springboard for transformation and inclusivity.
tl;dr:
* Blushington, led by Natasha Cornstein, has pivoted and expanded its services, adding blowouts and wig styling to create a unique beauty experience that combines luxury and accessibility.
* The company transitioned from corporate ownership to a franchise model, using the pandemic as an opportunity to reorganize and improve profitability, aiming for significant growth in the coming years.
* Natasha emphasizes Blushington’s commitment to inclusivity, ensuring all customers, regardless of background, feel welcome and comfortable in their beauty journey.
* The new wig styling service originated from listening to customer needs, demonstrating Natasha’s “power listening” approach to innovation and business growth.
* Blushington launched its franchise sales in early 2024 and is focused on expanding across the Southeast, with the first franchise owned by a longtime customer, showcasing trust and validation of the brand.
How to Develop Power Listening As a Superpower
Natasha describes her superpower as being a “power listener.” She genuinely loves meeting new people and learning from their experiences. This ability to listen attentively, coupled with her passion for execution, allows her to identify innovative ideas and turn them into real business opportunities. Natasha emphasizes that listening isn’t just a passive activity—it’s the foundation for her leadership and Blushington’s growth.
One notable story that exemplifies Natasha’s superpower is the recent launch of wig styling services at Blushington. This idea originated from a casual conversation with a client and a suggestion from one of the artists on the salon floor. Natasha listened carefully, researched the idea, and ultimately implemented it, transforming it into a new offering that aligns with Blushington’s mission to provide uplifting experiences for all customers, including those facing health challenges like chemotherapy.
Tips for Developing the Superpower:
* Be Present in Conversations: Practice active listening in every interaction—whether it’s with team members, customers, or others. Engage fully to understand their perspectives.
* Be Curious: Treat every conversation as a learning opportunity. Approach new people and ideas with curiosity.
* Value Others’ Ideas: Give importance to suggestions and insights from people around you. Find ways to explore and evaluate their ideas.
* Execute on Feedback: Take action on the best ideas. Follow through with research, testing, and implementation to bring those ideas to life.
By following Natasha’s example and advice, you can make power listening a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
Natasha Cornstein (she/her):
CEO, Blushington
About Blushington: Blushington is revolutionizing the beauty industry by offering express luxury beauty services that cater to the diverse needs of all ages, skin tones, and hair textures. With a focus on inclusivity and accessibility, Blushington provides a unique blend of high-quality makeup, skincare, and blowout services- all under one roof. Through our newly introduced franchising model, we are scaling our brand to reach communities nationwide, empowering beauty professionals and making A-list beauty experiences available to everyone.Founded in 2011 by sisters Stephi Cohen and Nicki Maron on the belief that people of all ages and backgrounds deserve to feel confident and beautiful, Blushington has seen tremendous success over a decade. Now, the brand is disrupting the beauty industry with its franchise model, offering blowouts, makeup, and skincare services all under one roof. Committed to inclusivity, Blushington welcomes customers of all ages, backgrounds, and hair textures.Blushington’s franchise model offers multiple recurring revenue streams through in-store and on-demand services, designed for longevity. The brand is actively seeking franchisees who are motivated, detail-oriented, and passionate about the beauty industry. Target markets include Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and California. Blushington also offers discounts for veterans and multi-unit owners. The initial investment to open a lounge ranges from $435,500 to $630,100.Website: blushington.com
Facebook Page: fb.com/blushington
Instagram Handle: @blushington
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/blushington-holdings
Other URL: wefunder.com/blushington
Biographical Information: Natasha Cornstein is the CEO of Blushington, a pioneering beauty brand transforming the $646 billion beauty industry with its innovative express beauty concept. Under her leadership, Blushington has evolved from a beloved makeup lounge to a comprehensive beauty service provider, offering makeup, skincare, and blowouts. Formerly the Global Director at CIRCA, Natasha managed a $5M+ media budget, showcasing her expertise in driving growth and brand visibility. Natasha has been featured in major publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, and Vogue, and was named to the prestigious Glossy 50 list. She is also a co-founder of the Courts of Dreams Foundation and holds a BA from Washington University.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/natasha-cornstein-27317628/
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