FOREWORD :
1. How did you first get into making polish?
I became allergic to acrylics years ago and more recently to gel polish, my fingernails lift off the beds, I get red itchy skin and blisters and was looking for a solution for polish that I could wear that was still very pretty but would be less likely to cause allergies, and I stumbled into Indie Polish and never looked back.
2. What was the inspiration for the name "TOP SHELF LACQUER"? Is there a story behind the name?
I was trying to find a name for a themed brand that I would never run out of polish names and my cousin and I were chatting one day and she suggested Top Shelf Lacquer with fun cocktail and drink themes.
3. What inspires your collections (or where do you look for inspiration)? What inspired your latest collection? Any hints/ideas about upcoming collections?
I just go to my workshop (aka downstairs) and start playing around to see how the colors and pigments interact and when i find a polish that I like - I keep it as a prototype. When I find out that I like -I usually try to create it in a couple of colors so that my collection is uniform - although the newest collection for Valentine's day which releases on the 15th - is the first non-uniform collection. It's a set of 9 polishes that are pink, purple, red and white and have creme, holo, microglitter, shimmer and crelly finishes. It was really a fun set. Sometimes customers suggest a polish they'd like to see and I'll go from there and try to create something similar. Occasionally, I have created custom colors for people (I do not currently offer this in the store), and when it was one that I really liked and thought would do well, I've gained alignment with that customer to allow it to be sold in the store. Tinsel Bellini was the first like that - there are two in the Valentine's Day collection that are the same or very similar to a custom created for a customer - The French Kiss and Pink Cadillac Margarita.
4. Do you have a favorite indie maker(s)? Favorite mainstream brand?
I like Color Club and I like a lot of of different Indie Brands although I don't wear many any more b/c I tend to only wear the ones I create now.
5. What are your go-to products for nail/cuticle care?
I don't do a lot of cuticle care (hence why you rarely see swatch pics from me) but I do use a lot of hand lotion as my skin and cuticles get quite dry and rough.
6. What are your favorite colors? In general? For summer? For fall?
I'm a pink and purple girl and I love blues too - I have an entire collection devoted to pink, purple and blues - the Margarita Time Collection which I released in the fall. I tend to wear mostly bright and vibrant colors. I did create a line of neon pastels that were very popular in my initial release but personally I tend to wear the dark pinks and I love microglitter polishes and holo polishes.
7. This may be hard--but which are your 3 favorite creations so far?
I really liked Sugar Plum Spritzer that I made to go in a Holiday Collection that was a joint effort with MidWest Lacquer and I love Love Potion Punch which is coming out in the Valentine's Day Collection. I also love Mistletoe Mojito - it's a fun an unique microglitter, and Gingerbread Martini- also a unique microglitter - both from the Holiday Nightcaps Collection which was released around Thanksgiving this year.
8. Do you have any other hobbies? Are you involved with any other clubs, associations, or recreational activities?
I have a full time position as a clinical trial manager and a 2 year old, so while I'd love to have another hobby - right now, I don't have the time for it. Most of my spare time is spent with my daughter or making polish.
9. What is your most favorite thing about being an indie maker? What are some of the challenges? What advice would you give to people considering starting their own brand?
Overall, are you happy with your decision to get into the indie polish world? Having a creative outlet and seeing the polish I made being worn by so many people is my favorite part of being a maker along with the friends that I've made online. I have a few close friends now that I'd never have met if it had not been for Indie Polish. The challenges are the lack of time and trying to narrow collections down. I have so many colors that I have made as prototypes that I really struggle to narrow it all down when it's time to send to bloggers. Another challenge I have (that a few maker friends can attest to) is buying way too much glitter! I just love it - and tend to buy wayyyyyy too much!
10. Fun facts :
Astrological sign : Sagittarius
Favorite comfort food : Ice Cream, Coke
Favorite beauty item besides polish : Face Powder
Favorite fragrance : I don't wear a lot of perfume but when I do - it's a classic. Calvin Klein Obsession
Favorite vacation destination : Anywhere warm and beachy or the desert - like Arizona - I love that area.
Favorite candy : Chocolate - dark chocolate in particular
Favorite celebrity : Tom Cruise
Favorite family member or friend (you can pick one of each) : Can you really pick a favorite? If I have to pick, I'd have to say my daughter is my favorite family member and favorite friend to my husband
Most recent read : I read a book called Predictably Irrational. Very interesting read on human behavior
Most recent movie you loved : I can't remember the last movie I saw in a theater - I have a 2 year old! ha ha! I do watch Frozen all the time though, since that's Emma's current favorite - does that count?
Favorite TV show and character : The Walking Dead - It's addictive.
If you won a million dollars, first thing you would buy is : I'd probably pay off my house and any other loans we have and then start planning. I am not sure what big item we would buy.
So there you have it, my darlings! A little glimpse into the world of Amy of Top Shelf Lacquer!
I was trying to find a name for a themed brand that I would never run out of polish names and my cousin and I were chatting one day and she suggested Top Shelf Lacquer with fun cocktail and drink themes.
3. What inspires your collections (or where do you look for inspiration)? What inspired your latest collection? Any hints/ideas about upcoming collections?
I just go to my workshop (aka downstairs) and start playing around to see how the colors and pigments interact and when i find a polish that I like - I keep it as a prototype. When I find out that I like -I usually try to create it in a couple of colors so that my collection is uniform - although the newest collection for Valentine's day which releases on the 15th - is the first non-uniform collection. It's a set of 9 polishes that are pink, purple, red and white and have creme, holo, microglitter, shimmer and crelly finishes. It was really a fun set. Sometimes customers suggest a polish they'd like to see and I'll go from there and try to create something similar. Occasionally, I have created custom colors for people (I do not currently offer this in the store), and when it was one that I really liked and thought would do well, I've gained alignment with that customer to allow it to be sold in the store. Tinsel Bellini was the first like that - there are two in the Valentine's Day collection that are the same or very similar to a custom created for a customer - The French Kiss and Pink Cadillac Margarita.
4. Do you have a favorite indie maker(s)? Favorite mainstream brand?
I like Color Club and I like a lot of of different Indie Brands although I don't wear many any more b/c I tend to only wear the ones I create now.
5. What are your go-to products for nail/cuticle care?
I don't do a lot of cuticle care (hence why you rarely see swatch pics from me) but I do use a lot of hand lotion as my skin and cuticles get quite dry and rough.
6. What are your favorite colors? In general? For summer? For fall?
I'm a pink and purple girl and I love blues too - I have an entire collection devoted to pink, purple and blues - the Margarita Time Collection which I released in the fall. I tend to wear mostly bright and vibrant colors. I did create a line of neon pastels that were very popular in my initial release but personally I tend to wear the dark pinks and I love microglitter polishes and holo polishes.
7. This may be hard--but which are your 3 favorite creations so far?
I really liked Sugar Plum Spritzer that I made to go in a Holiday Collection that was a joint effort with MidWest Lacquer and I love Love Potion Punch which is coming out in the Valentine's Day Collection. I also love Mistletoe Mojito - it's a fun an unique microglitter, and Gingerbread Martini- also a unique microglitter - both from the Holiday Nightcaps Collection which was released around Thanksgiving this year.
8. Do you have any other hobbies? Are you involved with any other clubs, associations, or recreational activities?
I have a full time position as a clinical trial manager and a 2 year old, so while I'd love to have another hobby - right now, I don't have the time for it. Most of my spare time is spent with my daughter or making polish.
9. What is your most favorite thing about being an indie maker? What are some of the challenges? What advice would you give to people considering starting their own brand?
Overall, are you happy with your decision to get into the indie polish world? Having a creative outlet and seeing the polish I made being worn by so many people is my favorite part of being a maker along with the friends that I've made online. I have a few close friends now that I'd never have met if it had not been for Indie Polish. The challenges are the lack of time and trying to narrow collections down. I have so many colors that I have made as prototypes that I really struggle to narrow it all down when it's time to send to bloggers. Another challenge I have (that a few maker friends can attest to) is buying way too much glitter! I just love it - and tend to buy wayyyyyy too much!
10. Fun facts :
Astrological sign : Sagittarius
Favorite comfort food : Ice Cream, Coke
Favorite beauty item besides polish : Face Powder
Favorite fragrance : I don't wear a lot of perfume but when I do - it's a classic. Calvin Klein Obsession
Favorite vacation destination : Anywhere warm and beachy or the desert - like Arizona - I love that area.
Favorite candy : Chocolate - dark chocolate in particular
Favorite celebrity : Tom Cruise
Favorite family member or friend (you can pick one of each) : Can you really pick a favorite? If I have to pick, I'd have to say my daughter is my favorite family member and favorite friend to my husband
Most recent read : I read a book called Predictably Irrational. Very interesting read on human behavior
Most recent movie you loved : I can't remember the last movie I saw in a theater - I have a 2 year old! ha ha! I do watch Frozen all the time though, since that's Emma's current favorite - does that count?
Favorite TV show and character : The Walking Dead - It's addictive.
If you won a million dollars, first thing you would buy is : I'd probably pay off my house and any other loans we have and then start planning. I am not sure what big item we would buy.
So there you have it, my darlings! A little glimpse into the world of Amy of Top Shelf Lacquer!
I will have a review of a couple of her polishes very soon but in the meantime, don't forget to enter our giveaway HERE!
Heads Up! Top Shelf Lacquer's Valentine's collection releases TONIGHT at 8:00 pm EST--pick your faves HERE.
As always, I'm thrilled to hear from you, so don't hesitate to leave me your thoughts in the comments section below!
Until next time,
<3
B
Thanks for the great interview! It is so fun to meet the people behind the brands.
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