Entrepreneurs
Stephanie Mason and Stephanie Nash
company Information
Rumble Cosmetics
14022 W. 107th St.
Lenexa, KS 66215
1-888-5RUMBLE
www.rumblecosmetics.com
Type of Business
College athletics-themed cosmetics
Year Founded 2012Stephanie Nash and Stephanie Mason operate their small business out of a nondescript warehouse in Lenexa. But that’s the only ordinary thing about Rumble Cosmetics, the duo’s innovative makeup line that comes in vibrant colors licensed from universities.
The two former professional makeup artists—who call themselves “The Stephs”—have become niche cosmetics visionaries who want women to be “pretty and proud” while rooting for their favorite college sports teams.
“Every school is so identified by its colors,” Nash said. “And cosmetics have a big call to women. So, with our brand, female fans just
feel happy when they use it.”
And not only on game day.
“They’re quality cosmetics that you can wear every day,” Mason said.
Rumble Cosmetics offers three products sold by more than 80 retailers in 10 states: lip gloss ($15), nail polish duos ($20) and a makeup palette ($40) that has eye shadow, blush, bronzer and eyeliner.
The idea for the line occurred to Nash in January 2012, when she was putting on makeup before heading to a friend’s home to watch her beloved Kansas State University Wildcats in a bowl game. While applying K-State purple to her eyelids, Nash had an eye-opening thought: Why not sell makeup in the teams’ official colors?
Obtaining licensing permission from colleges was the first and most important step, which involved researching and strictly adhering to each school’s individual approval process, including submitting product samples. It took nine months to get approval from the first five regional schools on the Stephs’ list: the University of Kansas, the University of Missouri, Kansas State University, Baylor University and Iowa State University.
Rumble Cosmetics is currently available in nearly 30 officially licensed college team colors with accompanying team logos, with more on the way, Nash said. Participating colleges like it because they get 10 to 13 percent of the sales.
The Stephs are looking forward to March, when the Nordstrom department store chain
will begin carrying Rumble Cosmetics at three
locations: Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, the Galleria in Dallas and another site in either Michigan or Indiana. The Stephs are also in
conversations with Dillard’s department stores.
Wherever it’s found, the Rumble Cosmetics line appeals to women because “it gives them a reason to wear fun colors that they normally wouldn’t,” Mason said.
“It’s the happiest product they’ll ever use,” Nash said. “Like, I pull out my power cat purple, and I’m happy every time I see it. It’s cute as heck.”
