Lamik beauty makes its ‘Big Easy’ debut

21st June 2012   ·   0 Comments

By Kelly Parker
Contributing Writer

Every girl loves a makeover; and the steady lines of those waiting to take a seat in the chair of Lamik makeup artists served as proof, June 9 .

Those in attendance were amongst the first to try Kim Roxie’s innovative makeup and skin care line, Lamik (pronounced la-meek) which debuted at Macy’s Lakeside.

Roxie is the youngest African-American female to launch a cosmetics line at the retailing giant; thanks to the “The Workshop at Macy’s.”

The 29-year-old is a member of the inaugural class of the stores’ innovative business of fashion program, which reinforces their long-standing commitment to vendor diversity, along with mentoring and fostering growth with up-and-coming minority- and women-owned businesses.

“The opportunity changed my perspective and gave my business the retail insider information it needed to succeed even my own limits,” Roxie says. This partnership with Macy’s has just been incredible. The relationships I was able to build within a week will span a lifetime; cheers to the Magic of Macy’s.”

Established in 2011, The Workshop at Macy’s involves a four and a half-day intensive training course developed by a consortium of experts from Macy’s Learning & Development, Macy’s Multicultural Merchandising and Vendor Development, Babson College, the nation’s leading business school for entrepreneurship; along with select Macy’s merchants and vendors.

The specially designed business development curriculum is aimed at minority- and women-owned retail businesses that are poised to succeed on a larger scale, but need real-world business practice information and perspective on large-scale vendor relationships, to move to the next level and sustain growth. The goal of this annual program is to help create a pipeline of viable enterprises that will grow to become successful partners within Macy’s own vendor community. First held the inaugural Workshop included over 20 businesses that ranged from makeup/skincare companies to confectionaries, home textiles and ready-to-wear designers.

Along with Lamik Beauty, new workshop vendors include baby accessories from Bella Tunno, unique color cosmetics from Big Girl Cosmetics, body and fit conscious dresses from Cenia, and fun fashionable doggy accessories from Kane & Couture.

“The incredible success of our first Workshop is evidenced by this amazing group of enterprises that have now graduated to vendor status within Macy’s community of suppliers. Our goal with the Workshop has been to create a viable pipeline of businesses that will ultimately bring unique products to our stores and online storefront,” said Macy’s group vice-president of Multicultural Deve­lop­ment, Fashion Forecasting/Op­er­ations and Leased Businesses, Shawn Outler. “We are extremely pleased to see this goal come to fruition so soon in the life of this long-term initiative. It speaks volumes about the impact of the coursework and the insight that was shared with these participants. They took the information they learned to heart, put it into practice and are now seeing their efforts come full circle with their first order of goods from Macy’s.”

Despite her age, Roxie has several years of experience in the field.

“We’ve been in business for eight years,” I launched the line at 21, and I had a store in Houston, as well as Atlanta,” she told The Louisiana Weekly, during a quick break from conducting makeovers. “We had a temporary site here in New Orleans; so I looked forward to coming back and launching the line at Macy’s in New Orleans. We love it here.”

The products are now available at Macy’s Pearland (Houston), Macy’s Southlake and Greenbriar (Georgia).

Lamik; which stands for “Love and Makeup in Kind”, features a wide range of products (which includes facial care) to fit the needs of every woman.

The Houston native; who has contributed to Essence magazine on the subject of makeup and skincare saw an untapped market in the area of cosmetics.

“I just saw a need for an eco-chic make up line,” Roxie says. “..from the packaging, to the function of the actual products. The majority of Lamik products can be used at least two or more ways, so you don’t have 20 different products at home on your vanity or in your make up bag. Very simple, but still glamorous.”

Lamik products are also paraben-free. The class of chemicals widely used as preservatives by cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries has been somewhat increasingly controversial; it was recently stated that parabens have also displayed the ability to slightly mimic estrogen (the hormone which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancer) though no effective direct links between parabens and cancer have been established. Another concern is that the estrogen-mimic aspect of parabens may be a factor in the increasing prevalence of early puberty in girls.

Roxie’s line of cosmetics and beauty essentials is one that is not only environmentally smart, but serves a deeper purpose for those who wear it.

“I apply makeup to your life style; and that’s what makeup should do. “Roxie told The Louisiana Weekly. “Whatever you do, makeup should reveal your beauty and make you more powerful. Beauty is revealed, not applied.”

Wanda Cordova of New Orleans was so pleased with her makeover; she didn’t hesitate purchasing the products used.

“What I like most about it is that it looks so natural,” she said, admiring her new look. “I really like what she did (with the makeup) to my eyes. I don’t wear a lot of makeup, and this makes me look as if I don’t have any on.”

Cordova was not only impressed with the line, but the lady behind the vision. “You can tell she’s a real go-getter. That’s good to see in a female so young.”

“The Workshop at Macy’s” just recently wrapped its second program which featured 17 new businesses and will continue to follow current and past participants as they progress through the opportunities outlined during the program for potential graduation to Macy’s vendor status.

Roxie encourages budding business woman to take advantage of the opportunity and resources Macy’s is offering through this program.

“It’s a great time to get connected and get engaged with department stores like Macy’s,” she says. “This workshop is fantastic.”

Entrepreneurs who are ready to take their ideas to the next level can learn more about the “Workshop at Macy’s” by going to www.macysinc.com/workshop. To learn more about Kim Roxie and Lamik beauty, visit www.lamik-beauty.com, or stop in at Macy’s Lakeside.

This article originally published in the June 18, 2012 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.