Melissa Butler Inspires Creatives at GTCO Fashion Weekend with Lessons on Beauty, Business, and Confidence
…..Shares Her Journey from Vision to Global Brand | Blissful Affairs Online
At the opening of the 8th edition of the GTCO Fashion Weekend 2025, held at The GTCentre, Oniru, Lagos, Melissa Butler, Founder & CEO of The Lip Bar, delivered a compelling and inspiring keynote masterclass titled “Building a Business from Zero to a Multi-Million Dollar Empire.”
Melissa began by recounting how The Lip Bar started as a kitchen experiment, with a vision to challenge conventional beauty standards and ensure that every woman felt confident in her own skin.
She spoke about her signature red lipstick, “Boss-Lady,” “I started The Lip Bar because I wanted Black women to feel confident in our own skin. I knew the power of a red lip could give women confidence to own the room, but getting the right shade was tricky. We spent months perfecting a formula that genuinely works on every single complexion.”
“We initially priced our products at $20, which was too high for our target audience. After adjusting to $12 … it opened doors for retail partnerships … and increased overall sales.”
On customer‐centric growth and mindset,
“It’s easy to feel jealous of someone else’s success, but envy kills. Focus on your brand, talk to your customers, and understand your market. Even if you only have two customers, ask them what they need. That’s how you grow.”
Melissa stressed that The Lip Bar is more than a cosmetics brand, it is a mission: “Our goal is simple. We want every woman to know they’re enough. Confidence is the ultimate beauty.”
GTCO Fashion Weekend 2025, under the theme “Fashion Is Freedom,” is a landmark event in Nigeria’s creative calendar, blending fashion, entrepreneurship and business empowerment.
Melissa Butler’s presence and session brought an essential dimension: a global entrepreneur sharing tangible lessons for African creatives and business-owners. Her story resonated with the audience of aspiring designers, founders, and creatives looking to scale.
Her keynote served to highlight that success in fashion and beauty isn’t just about design and aesthetics, it’s also rooted in business acumen, market alignment, resilience, and purpose.
Butler emphasised the importance of products that serve all skin tones and types, a business differentiator.
She demonstrated how pricing strategy can open doors for growth and partnerships.
Even in early stages, listening to your customers and adapting is key.
Confidence, purpose, and authenticity form the foundation of a brand’s identity and appeal.
Melissa Butler is the founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, a pioneering and award-winning beauty brand dedicated to inclusive beauty that celebrates all skin tones. From humble beginnings, the brand has grown into one of the most recognized Black-owned beauty companies in the U.S. and globally.
About GTCO Fashion Weekend organised by Guaranty Trust Holding Company PLC (GTCO), the Fashion Weekend is an annual gathering that champions Nigeria’s fashion ecosystem. It provides a platform for established designers, emerging talents, and industry stakeholders to converge, showcase, learn, and network. The 2025 edition took place at Lagos’s GTCentre, featuring masterclasses, runway shows, and a curated marketplace.
