We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Larry Zellers. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Larry below.

Alright, Larry thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

After 40 years of doing hair, makeup, wigs, and drag performances, it was time to do something about it. I listened to everyone’s makeup needs, challenges, and limitations. So, I developed Mica Shine Cosmetics. Mica Shine Cosmetics specializes in drag performers’ makeup needs, but it is available to anyone looking for something mild to wild in cosmetics.

Larry , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

After 40 years of hairdressing, working with medical hair loss, working with various circuses here and in Mexico, and being a part-time drag queen performer, I decided to change my career. So, I founded Mica Shine Cosmetics. For a few years, I searched for makeup that did not damage the skin, was hypoallergenic, all-natural, and as close to vegan as possible. I wanted to solve the problem of skin irritation and lousy makeup and help other drag performers look their best.

I am most proud of finding the right company based in Canada, as they have higher standards and limitations on what goes into beauty cosmetics. I did this to ensure that my skin would not be irritated and that the makeup would last even through two or three songs when I did a show.

I wanted my clients to purchase makeup and be comfortable with the quality of the products they put on their faces and bodies without breaking the bank. Being a drag queen performer is difficult, especially when it takes three to five hours to put on the makeup, the costume, the props, and everything else. I wanted to ensure the makeup stayed on as I transformed into a beautiful drag queen.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

I chose to sell my cosmetics on my platform because it allowed me to determine what products I wanted to sell, change their names, and control the costs of each item. I decided to use Shopify, which is very convenient and offers many options for how I want my site to look. With Shopify, I can customize the home and product pages.

My platform allows me to maintain a personal touch and ensure that the brand reflects my vision and values. I can introduce new products whenever possible and remove any that don’t meet my standards and expectations. This level of control is crucial for me because I want to ensure that every item sold under the Mica Shine brand is something I would personally use and recommend.

Furthermore, the platform’s ease of use focuses more on creating high-quality products and less on the technical aspects of running an online store. It supports various payment methods and shipping options, making my customers’ purchasing pcustomecustomers’ hassle-free. Overall, having my platform through Shopify empowers me to deliver the best possible experience to everyone who shops at Mica Shine Cosmetics.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Years ago, Andres Fragoso, Jr. approached me with an intriguing idea. It was 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning, shifting much of our communication online. Andres suggested making videos to help people look good on their video calls. We planned to cover topics like optimal lighting, makeup tips, and choosing the right background to look one’s best on camera.

However, our initial concept progressed slowly, so we decided to pivot. We started creating videos on how to apply and maintain drag makeup. This shift led to the creation of Mica Shine Cosmetics. Now, I produce videos on various aspects of makeup application, including shaving, putting on foundation, applying eyeshadow, lipstick, and more.

The journey has been slow, given that we both work full-time jobs while striving to make this business a success. Despite the challenges, we created our website and have worked diligently to enhance it. We aim to provide valuable content and high-quality products for our audience, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to look their best, whether on a video call or performing on stage.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://micashine.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micashinecosmetics/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/micashinecosmetics
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MicaShine

Image Credits

Wally Hawkins Photography at www.wallyhawkins.com