From Accounting To Amazing Lash Studio: Experienced Businesswoman To Bring Luxurious Eyelash Extension Services to the Springs

Emilie Topp knows business. An accountant for 15 years, she decided to pursue her new passion for the eyelash extension industry after getting her lashes done for the first time.

After she realized Colorado Springs is an underserved market for eyelash extensions, she met her match with Amazing Lash Studio, a 260-plus-unit franchise with a mission of empowering women to look and feel beautiful.

1851 Franchise: Tell me your story – what did you do before franchising?

Emilie Topp: I grew up all over the place! My college degree was in accounting and I was a corporate accountant for about 15 years, mostly in the Boston area. My sister moved to Denver, and I was working for a national accounting firm at the time, and I asked if I could transfer to Denver so I transferred with my job about 15 years ago from Boston to Denver. I actually met my husband online on eharmony! He lived in Colorado Springs, and we made the hour commute work for a while, but I ended up moving to Colorado Springs to be with him. I didn’t like the corporate culture because it wasn’t personable and way too strict for me. I left accounting and became a realtor part-time for about five years. Then I had kids and stayed at home with them while still doing part-time real estate. I started getting my lashes done in the spring, and I realized there’s not a lot of people doing lashes in Colorado Springs. Certainly no companies like Amazing Lash, more so individuals who start their own thing or do lashes in a hair or nail salon. I realized that there is a huge lack of the service here and a big market to be tapped into. At the same time, my friend was separately looking into the franchising industry, and I had no idea that a lash franchise even existed. After researching a lash franchise myself and after coming out of corporate, I really wanted to create a positive environment where people feel valued and fulfilled with a supportive team. A lot of why I’m doing this is to create something good and not make it just be a business that makes money. That sense of doing something for the greater good of my community is what I was missing from the corporate world.

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising and what was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchise owner?

Topp: My friend I worked with in accounting always wanted to get into franchises, so he was the one who got me thinking about it. Of course, I was aware of franchising and things like that but didn’t know the inner working of how it all worked. Once he told me about what he learned and after my first initial conversations with the Amazing Lash team showing me how the model works, and after being introduced to other Amazing Lash franchisees, that gave me the push to sign with them. They enjoy what they’re doing, and they’re making money.

1851: How did you decide you wanted to be a franchisee?

Topp: I knew about franchising, but I never thought I would open a franchise. What I like about the franchising business model is you’ve got the help and it’s a proven system. Yeah, you’re paying them royalties, but you can see their financials and see that this company knows what it’s doing. I thought that this is perfect for me because I can have a little freedom and creativity and create my own culture within my studio but at the same time have the support and backup from the franchise so I know I can succeed. It’s like the best of both worlds. I certainly want to open one or two more in the Springs after this first opening is successful.

1851: How did you perform your research?

Topp: I started researching a few different lash franchises and realized that by far Amazing Lash was the best in the industry. They are truly the leader, and the franchise has great people that help with everything. Coming from accounting, I appreciated the fact that Amazing Lash has set processes along with all the numbers proving that their model is successful. I knew then that I should go with them over the others I had researched. That was in June, and I decided to sign the franchise agreement after a discussion with my husband who’s an electrical engineer. He does NOT know about lashing at all, so he was initially hesitant about the idea. Luckily, I was able to convince him that I was passionate and that it was a good opportunity, and thankfully he took up to me with that. It was during COVID, so I knew that it would be a risk, but I also had the feeling and passion to go for it.

1851: Why did you pick Amazing Lash? What excited you most about the potential?

Topp: I love that it’s in the beauty industry, which I don’t have experience in, but to me it’s fun. I love the fact that I’ll be working mostly with women and creating confidence within women. I did like the appeal of a lash franchise in general; I liked that they had all their procedures and processes nailed down because they’ve been in the industry a long time. Also, Amazing Lash stands for everything that I stand for like female empowerment, women helping women and just cultivating a positive environment for people to work and create a great customer experience. If I’m going to go with a franchise, why not go with number one?

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Topp: I’m really hoping that this one will be successful! I think it will be, because there’s such a need for this service. All the ladies we’re recruiting are talking about how bad this business is needed in Colorado Springs. I constantly have people asking for recommendations to get their lashes done, and there’s just nowhere to tell them to go. My dream is for this one to be successful and hopefully open one or two more here in Colorado Springs. Even go beyond that. The first one location and opening will be the hardest, but once I’ve done it once or twice, it should be easy to duplicate. I’m a big dreamer, and I could totally see myself opening more in different areas. Maybe one day after opening a few studios would be flying around the country and going to different studios and making sure everything is being run properly and everyone’s happy. One of the other owners I’ve been in contact with has 11 studios, and I have it in my head that I can have ten, but in the near future, I can see expanding to one or two.

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Topp: Definitely research the franchise and go with one that really supports you and knows what they’re doing, and choose one that has been in the business for a while. Then go for it. If you find the right franchise that you’re interested in and it has the right support system, it’s a great way to start your own business.

1851: What do you do in your personal time (hobbies, family, sports, etc.)?

Topp: Most of my outside of work time is spent with my family since my children are young. I have a six-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son. I love to travel, and I’ve been all over the world. Another dream of mine is to someday own a house on the beach. I absolutely LOVE the beach. Other than family time, I’m pretty low-key. I like reading and yoga, being with friends, but my favorite thing to do is travel. I also have a passion for interior decorating. I also have three investment properties. I’m a landlady; I do property management myself and have tenants in each one so real estate is another one of my passions and hobbies.