Pink Lipps hits Target, putting KC cosmetics line in 41 retail markets where Black shoppers bring green

By Tommy Felts | March 2, 2022

There’s no glossing over it, Kenyata Gant said. Black-owned businesses are thriving in the Midwest — and big box retailers are taking notice.  “I couldn’t believe it,” recalled Gant, owner of Pink Lipps Cosmetics, announcing the Kansas City-based cosmetics startup’s acceptance into 41 nationwide Target stores.  “I would always say how I would love to…

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Health scare forced KC’s colorful wax guru to get serious: ‘This is Crumble growing up with me’

By Tommy Felts | February 26, 2019

Brandon Love is keeping his iconic, brightly-colored hair, but melting away distractions that could be holding back his already wildly successful, but evolving lifestyle brand, Crumble Co., he said. The first to go: Some of the eye-catching candle and wax product names that first caught customers’ attention because of their tongue-in-cheek innuendos and four-letter words,…

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Target deals new verse to KC-born Mixtape card game; players could pick founder’s next tune

By Tommy Felts | January 2, 2019

Mixtape allows players of the KC-made card game to “hide behind the song,” connecting without fear of vulnerability, said creator Joel Johnson. That appeal recently helped push the cross-generational, multi-genre product onto Target shelves across the country. Players draw cards with such scenario questions as, “What song or band changed the way you think about…

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