From ‘Shark Tank’ Reject to Viral Sensation: The Lip Bar Took The Spotlight at the DNC

Campaign season has proven to be a golden opportunity for brand visibility, and Detroit-based cosmetics company The Lip Bar is experiencing this firsthand. The brand’s vibrant fuchsia lipstick, rebranded as “Big Gretch” in honor of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, has become a viral hit following her wearing the color at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. MELISSA BUTLER BAWSE & CEO, THE LIP BAR, Image via The Lip Bar On August 23, Whitmer delivered a compelling speech with a striking bright pink lipstick from The Lip Bar. Originally named “Playmate,” the shade was renamed in 2023 to reflect Whitmer’s signature bold style. The incident led to a major online buzz. The Vision Melissa Butler, the founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, launched the company after a two-year stint on Wall Street, driven by a desire to challenge conventional beauty standards. Butler, who felt marginalized by the lack of diversity in finance, shifted her focus to beauty, creating a brand that champions inclusivity with bold, unconventional lip colors. “I started the Lip Bar to change the way people thought about beauty, so that they can get up and look in the mirror every single day and be like, ‘I look good,'”...