Interview With An Indie Polish Maker

I want to say Thank You so much to Victoria for doing this interview with me. I really appreciate her taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for me. Please take a few minutes to check out her Instagram page here and shop all of her gorgeous unique polishes here.

1-What is your name?

- Victoria Tataw

2-Are you married or have kids?

- Haha no and I’m not expecting either any time soon. I’m only 18 and my greatest commitment is to my business and school work right now.

3-What is your brand name?

-Nails By Tataw

4-When did you start making your own polish?

--March of 2014

5-What made you decide to start making nail polish?

- Late February 2014

6-Is it hard to get started?

- "I felt like too often I'd go to the store to buy nail polish and see the same colors from multiple brands. And I got to this point where I felt rather disappointed by the lack of variety. I was a senior in high school getting closer and closer to making my decision for where I will go to college and thought, I should start my own nail polish making business! From that moment I was determined to do it and so I made it happen using some money I had saved from my job. Starting my own company seemed like a good way to feed my passion while avoiding a "ramen noodle diet" in college haha. I didn't know I'd become so wholeheartedly passionate about it."

7-Is there a story behind the name of your brand?

- Besides that I incorporated my last name (Tataw) into my brand because I love how unique my last name is no.

8-Is this a hobby or a career?

- It is a hobby and a passion turned into a part-time career and learning experience.

9-How many different polishes and/or collections have you made so far?

- Collections 2 with the 3rd releasing throughout the upcoming fall season. Different polishes...on the record (website) 19 with 10 more on the way for fall. But I can not count how many colors I’ve created but not liked enough to sell.

10-Are your polishes 3 or 5 free?

- My polishes are 5-free, cruelty-free, and vegan.

11-When is your next collection coming out?

- The dates are dispersed throughout the fall but the first 2 of the 10 that’ll be released come out on Sep. 30th and the last 2 will come out November 25th. I might surprise people with a few holiday specials though so stay tuned!

12-What is the inspiration behind your polish colors and names?

- I always set out to create a unique color, something vibrant and edgy. I’ve gotten name inspiration from friends, movies, random whims of cleverness, and more recently for this upcoming collection my Instagram followers. My first collection had a hot pink nail polish called “Venom” and I actually named it that based of the movie “Holes” when the warden made her own pink nail polish using snake venom. Life can give you so much inspiration of your willing to appreciate it.

13-How long have you been painting your own nails?

- I actually started my freshman year of high school, so 4 years ago. A was never a girl girl so I didn’t do my nails but one day a friend of mine noticed how long my nails were and insisted upon painting my nails. I fell in love with it!

14-How big is your own polish stash?

- I haven’t done a bottle count in ages but from what I remember I was in the 60s. I had to always buy my nail polishes myself, and I had a job but didn’t want to spend all of my money on polishes. I tried to limit myself to color that I really really really wanted.

15-How do you deal with rude or negative comments?

- In terms of customer feedback I’ve never had any negative situations to deal with... and on my social networking platforms I receive positivity as well, especially Instagram. I didn’t know how big and kind the nail community was until I made the Nails By Tataw Instagram.


Thanks again Victoria for being patient with me. I can't wait to check out your new fall line!