Lulu - Successful Businesswoman!
It’s amazing that she has any time to spare, but Lulu took the time out to inspire us here at The Raphael Project and share this latest chapter of her amazing career …..
Sometimes I find it hard to believe that at the age of 62, I can now add successful businesswoman to my resume! After years in the entertainment business, I am delighted to be learning new skills and meeting new challenges, thanks to my award winning skin and hair care collection, Time Bomb. It’s funny to think it all came about through a casual conversation with a friend, when we both suddenly had a ‘eureka’ moment! I was complaining (as usual!) about the fact that for many years I had found that whenever I was interviewed about a new music release or concert, the conversation would inevitably turn to the fact that I was perceived as looking good for my age . . . which was, naturally, hugely flattering . . . but I wanted to talk about my music!! I was letting off steam to this friend, saying ‘everyone wants to know my secret!’ when we both looked at each other and said, almost in unison . . . well, let’s tell them!
....and so Timebomb was born!
For years, I had been designing my own products for my skin and experimenting with ingredients. I would add creams to oils, mix and match my favourites and seek out the new ‘wonder’ ingredient. I was also incredibly fortunate in that I had access to some of the cleverest chemists in the world – and was able to not only ask them endless questions (lucky them!) but they would be kind enough to make skincare samples up to my specific brief (‘I like this but it’s too oily and heavy, so maybe if you could keep the moisturising qualities but make it lighter?’ . . . or ‘I’d love a cleanser with a gentle exfoliating affect, but not a scrub . . .’), until I had actually created the skincare line I had always dreamt of, for myself. . . So we took the plunge and took this collection of my ideas and dream products, streamlined it, packaged it properly – and it became Time Bomb!
Creating my hair care line was another dream come true – anyone who knows me knows I am obsessed with hair . . . so I certainly had one or two opinions on what this collection should do. My hair is rather fine so I wanted volume, volume, volume – and boy, did I get it!! I absolutely swear by my Operation Glam collection.
Looking after yourself is a serious business to me – ever since I first appeared on television and stage, I knew I had to keep healthy and look my best in order to do what I love to do . . . sing. Even at a young age I sought out the best experts in their fields – the best facialists, therapists, masseuses, skin care experts . . . and I learned from them. I learned how to take care of my skin and how to treat the breakouts to which I was prone. I learned that you have to work at it and not to take anything for granted. I learned how key cleansing is. I wanted to look the best I could . . . can you imagine standing beside Patty Boyd or Jean Shrimpton? Not great for the ego!! Today, I have the same attitude. I want to go on singing and performing for as long as I can, and I want to be able to hold my own on stage beside such gorgeous talents as Anastacia and Heather Small and Kylie. I see this ‘maintenance’ as part of my ‘other’ business – singing.
The success of Time Bomb has been very rewarding – I love to meet my customers when I am out and about and chat to them about the line. I love to hear their stories and listen to what they need from a skincare collection, and how we can make Time Bomb better. I find every aspect of the business so exciting – developing new products and ideas, sourcing ingredients, looking at packaging design. I study the sales figures and read all customer feedback.
The full range.....
So the moral of the story? It is never too late for new challenges, listen to your instincts – you may be sitting on a new business idea too!
Lulu’s Time Bomb is available on QVC and at www.lulusplace.co.uk
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