My Biz: Dollup Beauty launching new products, including its own line of cosmetics

CEDAR RAPIDS — Nikki Hynek has the kind of job that allows her to play with makeup all day. Not that she has time to sit around and do that.

As owner of Dollup Beauty, a company she founded last September, Hynek is a busy entrepreneur looking to inject some organization and modernization into the world of makeup.

'I've always loved makeup and when I first heard the term 'freelance makeup artist,' I realized I could do this for a living,' Hynek said.

After college, she started doing makeup for weddings before moving into production work (for commercials and movies for example.) Hynek has been working as a makeup artist for 15 years, after getting her start at the Clinque counter while still in college.

She said she knew to make a name for herself in the makeup industry, she would have to come up with an innovative product.

'I was always rummaging in my purse to find my makeup on the go,' she said.

It occurred to her one day that professional makeup artists use magnets to keep their makeup in order. Hynek realized this was a concept that could transfer over to a product.

Last September, Hynek debuted her Dollup Case — a streamlined carry all that is easy to toss into a purse or can be carried as a clutch.

Shortly after the launch, the Dollup Case started getting media attention, including mentions from Real Simple and Dr. Oz. It was picked up by boutiques around the country, and this past May was picked up by Von Maur stores.

But Hynek didn't want to stop there.

'We are always kicking around ideas for what comes next because you can't stay in the one product spotlight for long,' she said.

In mid-June, Hynek said she started talking about launching a Dollup Beauty makeup line.

'Makeup was our No. 1 product request from customers so it was a natural progression,' she said.

Hynek now has a full-time brand manager on her team as well as three part-time employees who help with shipping and quality control. They work out of a second-floor office space in an old farmhouse just outside Cedar Rapids.

Dollup Beauty next hopes to tackle makeup organization at home. The staff is working on acrylic trays and storage options.

'This keeps us interesting and growing,' Hynek said. 'I really want to be a pioneer of modernization and organization in the beauty industry. It's something that hasn't really happened since the Caboodle.'

AT A GLANCE

Name: Nikki Hynek

Title: Owner

Company: Dollup Beauty

Phone: (319) 721-3575

Website: http://dollupbeauty.com/

l Know a company in business for more than a year that would make an ideal My Biz? Contact Francie Williamson at francie.williamson@thegazette.com