You and Yours

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Consumer

BBC Radio 4 LW

You and Yours: Gap Finders - Marcia Kilgore

19/05/2022

Gap Finders - Marcia Kilgore

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, Gap Finders - Marcia Kilgore

How serial entrepreneur Marcia Kilgore found a gap in the beauty market.

How Marcia Kilgore, the founder of Beauty Pie, found a gap in the market to sell premium skincare products and makeup in a new way.

Today's guest is Marcia Kilgore, the founder of Beauty Pie. 

The daughter of a Polish immigrant family, she was born in Canada. Her father died when she was just 11. His death meant she grew up quickly, taking on part-time jobs to earn money. She moved to New York at the age of 18 after being accepted as a student at Columbia University. She wasn't able to take her up her university place because she couldn't afford the tuition fees, and it was too late for her, as a Canadian, to apply for a foreign student loan. With just $300 in her pocket, she became a personal trainer. After saving up enough funds, she started giving facials from home and began her first business Let's Face It.

From there, she launched Bliss Spas which sold later for millions of dollars. She then started Soap & Glory, a line of affordable bath, body and cosmetic products, which was bought by Boots in 2014. In 2007, she founded FitFlop footwear, a brand of biomechanically engineered shoes.  In October 2016, she launched Soaper Duper, a range of naturally-derived, vegan and cruelty-free bath and body products, with recycled and recyclable plastic packaging. Then just two months later in December 2016, she started Beauty Pie, a skincare and makeup subscription service.  For £59 a year, Marcia says Beauty Pie members can buy premium beauty products for a fraction of the price they'd normally pay for similar cosmetics from other brands.

In this episode of Gap Finders, we explore the ways in which Marcia wanted to disrupt the beauty industry by helping women to avoid big mark ups on the products they love.


Presenter: Winifred Robinson
Producer: Tara Holmes

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

You and Yours

Gap Finders - Marcia Kilgore

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4