Skip to content
21 May 2021

“The opposite of a good idea is often a great idea”

Marcia Kilgore

Most of us would be content to have one big hit in our lifetimes, and to milk it for all its worth. But Marcia Kilgore has had four resounding successes with four separate businesses — Bliss, a range of New York beauty spas, of which she sold a majority stake to LVMH for a reported $30million in 2004; Soap & Glory, a toiletries brand thar Boots bought acquired in 2014 and has hundreds of millions in annual revenues; FitFlop, the ingenious ergonomic footwear brand; and now Beauty Pie, a subscription cosmetics service which may well turn the beauty industry on its head. In a fascinating and highly enjoyable episode, we discussed the unique atmosphere of New York in the late 1980s; why bullshit is the enemy of success; and how the opposite of a good idea is almost always a great idea.

This episode has been recorded at Mark's Club,read by Joseph Bullmore and produced by Martin Lumsden.

You might also like

21 July 2026

"Stay on the right side of wrong" — Behind the success of People's, New York's most beloved new spot

Margot Hauer-King & Emmet McDermott

Listen now
17 June 2026

Martin Kuczmarski, Restaurateur

Martin Kuczmarski

Listen now
22 April 2026

Gentleman's Journal - Talking Watches

Justin Hast

Listen now
16 April 2026

Gentleman's Journal - Talking Cars

Rory FH Smith

Listen now
2 March 2026

"I always move on. I never look back"

Jeremy King

Listen now
12 February 2026

Kindness is always the answer

Cosimo Gherardini

Listen now
1 February 2026

Building British Style with Peter Williams

Peter Williams

Listen now
19 November 2025

Topjaw turns 10: An interview with Jesse Burgess and Will Warr

Jesse Burgess and Will Warr

Listen now
13 November 2025

Turning Internet Fame into a $65m Venture Business

Caspar Lee

Listen now

A free newsletter worth opening

To receive the latest in style, watches, cars and luxury news, plus receive great offers from the world’s greatest brands every Friday.

A free newsletter worth opening