U.G. Digital Magazine: Thank you so much for taking time out in your schedule. We’ve been working to connect, and I’m so excited for all you have going on. What really interests me is how many huge and positive things you’re doing in fashion and beauty. How has it been going with establishing yourself?
Grace Tartaglia: Building the brand has been interesting. I first began as a technical person, showing people how to color hair and get better results. It was important for me because initially, I couldn’t even get a job. People said you needed clientele, but I couldn’t have that if I couldn’t get a job. I’ve always had faith in myself. I went off an opened my own salon. Within two years, a lot of people were coming in saying how good I was in coloring. They would ask if I wanted to teach, but I felt like I was too busy. Eventually, I agreed that if they could guarantee more education as I went along, I would do it. I remember sitting with the general manager, and he asked for my resume. I said “I don’t have a resume, I’m here to see what you could do for me”. He liked that spunk, and could guarantee me $3000 - $5000 of education a year. Revlon made me ready. I was given the access to create shows and build interest in the products. I was a crazy sales person. I would sell out to the point where distributors were running out of product. I was known as that girl who took the basic or technical info the manufacturers gave you, and formulate it into something understandable for the everyday hair dresser. About 3 years into Revlon, I was giving an award and the producer came out asking about me. They came over and gave me an interview. It turned out they were from Cityline. Cityline is Canada’s longest running television show. It’s equivalent to Good Morning America. It’s a very big deal. I’ve been on the show now for more than 20 years, and have done over 10,000 shows. We just got back from Paris where we shot the Revlon Style Master’s competition, which is a worldwide competition. Every year it gets bigger and bigger.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I think it’s amazing how you have turned this into an empire for yourself.
Grace Tartaglia: I love what I do, and have sisters who are doctors and lawyers. I was expected to go in that direction. I wanted to do something that made me happy, and I’ve been making people beautiful. It’s been a passion of mine. I take a look at a woman and know what she needs, and I make sure to translate it into something that’s beautiful for her. That’s what made me popular.
U.G. Digital Magazine: Why was it so important that you center this around that concept of making people beautiful?
Grace Tartaglia: I think I like to help people to better themselves. My friends have always been that way with me. I want to see other people take good care of themselves. It determines how well you do in the world. People are very judgmental. If I can give people the opportunity to put their best foot forward, they will ultimately do better in their lives. At the end of the day, everyone wants to be more sexy, more handsome, and more beautiful. Nobody say “no I don’t want to look good” (laughing).
U.G. Digital Magazine: I love your humor (laughing). I do think it’s great though. You’ve done so much in that area of Canada. Do you see it expanding outside of Canada?
Grace Tartaglia: I would love to see it happen. If I were in the states doing this many shows, it would be crazy. Canada doesn’t have the same population.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I would be good thing to bring here. You’re doing great things for people.
Grace Tartaglia: I would love that. My concept of how people show look and feel is organic. If you look good, you feel good. The next phase is to take my business into laser. So many great things are happening with laser. That’s my next thing that I really want to do.
U.G. Digital Magazine: There’s not a lot of people doing this to your extent.