Today we’d like to introduce you to Viktoria Volosin.
Viktoria, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Bespoke Beaute Lab started from my lifelong love of makeup and a girls’ trip where I stumbled across a custom lipstick experience. I was immediately hooked. As someone who had bought more lip products that I’d like to admit and was always searching for the “perfect” shade, I loved the idea of creating something completely personalized. When I came home to Kansas city from that girls’ trip, I realized there wasn’t anything like it here, and that planted the seed for Bespoke.
When VoyageKC first shared our story in 2024, we were still very much figuring out what Bespoke could become. We were primarily a mobile business, popping up around Kansas City and bringing the experience into people’s homes for birthdays, bachelorette parties, girls’ nights and other celebrations. At the time I mentioned that opening a storefront was something I hoped we could eventually do, so it feels a little surreal to be answering this question again two years later as we prepare to open our first brick-and-mortar location in Downtown Overland Park.
Those two years in between have really shaped the business. We’ve created thousands of custom lip products, worked with incredible local businesses and organizations, been invited into so many celebrations, and learned a tremendous amount about what our customers love about the experience. What started as me testing an idea on evenings and weekends has grown into something that has genuinely found a place in the Kansas City community.
The storefront feels like the natural next chapter. We’ll finally have a permanent home where customers can come in and create their own customer lip gloss or lipstick while still continuing the private parties, corporate events, and pop-ups that helped build Bespoke in the first place.
I think one of the things I’m most proud of is that we didn’t have a perfectly mapped-out plan for how we would get here. We listened, experimented, changed things that weren’t working and kept building on what was. Opening the shop feels like a huge milestone, but I also know it’s probably the beginning of another chapter where we’ll keep learning as we go.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I definitely wouldn’t say it’s been completely smooth, but I also feel really fortunate so far that many of our challenges have simply come from doing something we’ve never done before.
From the beginning, one of the biggest learning curves has been introducing a concept that was new to Kansas City. Once someone experiences Bespoke and understands that they can actually create a lip color that is completely their own that they can take home that day, it’s an easy concept to fall in love with. The harder part has been getting out there, putting ourselves in front of new people and businesses, and explaining why the experience is so special. As a small business owner, you quickly learn that you have to be willing to advocate for your idea over and over again.
Opening our first storefront has brought an entirely new set of learning curves. There’s no handbook that tells you exactly what to do after you sign a lease. We’ve learned about architects, permits, contractors, construction and all of the little decisions that come with turning an empty space into a business. There have been moments where we’ve thought, “Oh, we were suppose to do that first?” But each step has taught us something.
Through all of it, the thing that keeps us going is seeing how people respond to the experience. Whether it’s someone finally creating the shade they’ve been searching for, a group of friends celebrating together, or someone simply leaving our chair feeling a little more confident, we’re constantly reminded why we started.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Bespoke Beaute Lab is a custom lip bar where guests can create a lip product completely personalized to them. Working one-on-one with a mixologist, guests customize their shade, finish, scent, and additives (think sunscreen, lip plumper, etc.) to create their perfect lip gloss or lipstick
We started as a mobile business offering pop-ups, private parties and corporate events throughout Kansas City, and we’re not opening our first storefront in Downtown Overland Park. The shop gives us a permanent home for appointments and celebrations while we continue bringing the Bespoke experience to events throughout the community.
What sets us apart is the personalization. You don’t have to know anything about makeup or come in knowing exactly what you want. Some guests have a very specific shade in mind, while others simply know what they don’t like. We help guide the process until we land on something that feels right for them.
I’m most proud that we’ve taken something as simple as buying a lip product and turned it into an experience. One that is creative and approachable.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are so many ways to support us. Book an appointment at our new location, visit us at a pop-up, host a private party or corporate event, shop or reorder online, or follow along on social media. But one of the biggest ways people can support us is simply by sharing the experience. Because custom lip color is still a newer concept in Kansas City, telling a friend about Bespoke, bringing someone along or sharing your experience helps us continue to grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bespokebeautelab.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bespoke_beautelab/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553775535350
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bespoke-beaute-lab
