What was once a tiny and mighty beauty blog called Into The Gloss has become a bona fide NYC startup: Glossier, with a ragtag team of 35+ jogging up and down the stairwell of our Soho office building, spread out across three floors. Why are we here? We're creating a new kind of beauty company from the ground up—one that acknowledges the hopes, dreams, and desires of women today, and gives them the tools (both digitally and physically) to take ownership over their beauty routines. Who are we? Well, a lot of us began like you: as readers. And we'd like for you to get to know us a little better—what we each do, where we come from, and what we're excited about. Meet Nina Blass and Kelly Dill:
You've both been at a number of different companies early in your careers—how is working at Glossier different from your previous experiences?
Nina Blass, Email Marketing:'Having a physical product is totally different than what I’m used to doing. I've worked with brands, but most often, I was working on fundraising or advocacy for non-profits. And in that case you’re selling something that’s much more ephemeral. Now, having a physical product—one that’s essentially engineered in the building—means that I can watch the whole process of production play out in real time. That's very different in terms of the involvement that I have in what’s being produced and how I understand it. So our approach is very story-based, particularly on ITG. Everything we do here has a narrative.”
Kelly Dill, Strategic Finance:'There are definitely stories you tell when you work in finance, which is where my background is, but in that kind of business, the narrative is always about the bottom line. So you can tell whatever story you want to tell, but like, for the most part, it’s about price. That process is a lot easier in a lot of ways at Glossier, but mostly because we're still building the company. The brand is so young that it feels like we're shaping the story as opposed to telling it. And that's exciting to me.”
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Nina Blass
Where are you from?
Arlington, MA. Everyone from any part of Massachusetts says they're from “right outside Boston.” but, uh, it's right outside Boston.
What do you do at Glossier?
I manage email for Glossier and Into The Gloss: strategy, tactics, testing, etc. Sandra and Nadine and I work together on everything in those emails—the copy and creative for photos, buttons, subject lines—and then I put it through the Internet tubes that send it to your inbox. The idea is to make you open, click, and maybe even laugh at our jokes.
Which five products can you not live without?
Kevin Murphy Easy Rider Cream (the packaging looks like a Bauhaus Polly Pocket), Glossier Priming Moisturizer, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita (really nice “not too much, not too little' feeling), and Cholula (maybe the only thing on this list whose absence would really compromise survival).
Recent splurge?
Plane tickets to New Orleans. I learned how to shuck oysters though, so...worth it.
What’s on your desk?
Emily Ferber's spillover.
Usual Seamless order?
I order from Calexico in Red Hook at least once a week, but they're not on Seamless so their number is saved in my phone.
Podcast of choice?
Mystery Show is #1, Reply All is a close second.
What’s your ideal Sunday?
Day two of a three-day weekend.
Any dealbreakers?
”dreceipts.
Kelly Dill
Where are you from?
Roanoke, VA
What do you do at Glossier?
Strategic finance. In not too many words, this encompasses strategic planning, forecasting, fundraising, investor relations, and just working overall to maximize value and return in the long term.
Which five products can you not live without?
Glossier Priming Moisturizer, Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen, Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, and this blend of oils my mom has given me my entire life to cure...everything (according to her).
Recent splurge?
Plane ticket home to see my family!
What’s on your desk?
Chinese lucky cat, hand cream, cards from my parents, and Balm Dotcom.
Usual Seamless order?
Thai, maybe Rhong Tiam's version of Drunken Noodles, but really, any type of noodle. Yum.
Podcast of choice?
Freakonomics Radio. AND, although not technically a podcast, my dad occasionally announces for a high school basketball game on Fox Radio Roanoke and I very much love listening to those.
What’s your ideal Sunday?
Mid-morning stroll through Winter Village at Bryant Park, followed by Shorty's hot wings, masking and football, closing with an evening Knicks game at MSG. I just had this Sunday. It rocked.
Dealbreakers?
Sneezing without covering your mouth. Does it make me closed-minded to say it's a dealbreaker to be closed-minded?
—as told to ITG
Kelly Dill and Nina Blass photographed by Tom Newton.
Say hello to Glossier's Customer Experience Coordinator Emily Mullaney—and get acquainted with the rest of the team over here.
