Breaking by way of in magnificence – BusinessWorld On-line

The Entrepreneur Of The Yr Philippines 2022 has concluded its seek for the nation’s most undaunted and unstoppable entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur Of The Yr Philippines is a program of the SGV Basis, Inc., with the participation of co-presenters the Asian Institute of Administration, the Division of Commerce and Trade, the Philippine Enterprise for Social Progress, and the Philippine Inventory Change. BusinessWorld will function every finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Yr Philippines 2022 within the subsequent few weeks.

Jacqueline “Jacqe” Gutierrez
Co-founder and Chief Government Officer
Magnificence Refinery, Inc.

JACQUELINE “JACQE” GUTIERREZ thought she was destined to be a company worker. Now, she sees that company expertise gave her invaluable insights that helped her because the co-founder and chief government officer of BLK Cosmetics.

Ms. Gutierrez first labored as a administration trainee in a worldwide client items firm earlier than transferring to a everlasting place in advertising. She finally grew to become the top of the corporate’s skincare division, dealing with a number of internationally famend manufacturers.

With an entrepreneur mom and company businessman father, she at all times imagined her life to be like her father’s — till she received married in 2012. She was based mostly in Singapore whereas her husband was assigned to Myanmar, which meant the newlyweds would solely see one another for every week out of each month.

The difficult work schedules led to her resolution to start out her personal enterprise, along with her husband’s assist. Her pal and eventual enterprise accomplice, Erickson Farillas, who owned Plains and Prints and Ramen Nagi, additionally supported her, resulting in her first full-time enterprise: Completely happy Pores and skin.

Ms. Gutierrez initially conceptualized Completely happy Pores and skin as a premium Philippine beauty model whose merchandise additionally had skincare advantages. After 4 years, nevertheless, she realized that Completely happy Pores and skin’s worth level made it inaccessible to many Filipinos.

It was throughout this time that she met actress Anne Curtis. Ms. Curtis needed to launch her personal model, and Ms. Gutierrez shared her aim of making a wide-reaching and extra accessible make-up model. Collectively, they created BLK Cosmetics underneath Magnificence Refinery, Inc. in 2017.

Ms. Gutierrez knew BLK should be out there in Watsons to faucet a broader market. She made positive that after Ms. Curtis formally introduced BLK, the merchandise had been already out there in 20 Watsons branches nationwide.

“Growth was the secret. Subsequent to having the suitable product on the proper worth. Distribution was key,” she mentioned.

Her business data, Ms. Curtis’ high-level superstar standing, and the corporate’s operational energy paid off. In lower than a 12 months, BLK was awarded the Most Promising Model in Watsons, amongst many others.

The corporate confronted challenges, corresponding to constructing a model from scratch and convincing Filipinos to patronize a neighborhood beauty model over worldwide names.

BLK did this by purposefully speaking its high quality and flexibility by way of pioneering multi-use merchandise corresponding to tints that can be utilized for the eyes, cheeks, and lips; giving clients extra worth for cash; and alternatives to use make-up extra creatively.

Then the coronavirus illness 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic hit. Regardless of having zero gross sales, Ms. Gutierrez insisted on launching new merchandise as innovation is critical to keep up client curiosity. She acknowledged the chance concerned in launching new merchandise amid the pandemic and needed to make contingency plans.

BLK was the primary model to launch a brand new assortment in April 2020, with an emotional marketing campaign concerning the significance of feeling good whereas trying good. Avoiding discuss concerning the pandemic, BLK targeted as a substitute on the significance of self-care and self-love.

The corporate’s assortment was primary in gross sales in a web-based procuring platform throughout that month. BLK continued introducing merchandise and remained a high vendor within the two greatest on-line promoting platforms at the same time as shops reopened. Whereas rising its on-line enterprise, Ms. Gutierrez resumed planning with Watsons in anticipation of post-pandemic restoration.

Ms. Gutierrez famous many shoppers and pals instructed her how utilizing BLK cosmetics helped elevate their temper throughout the pandemic. Individuals nonetheless wanted and needed to really feel lovely even when they had been simply at residence. She takes immense delight in how BLK merchandise supplied clients these moments of pleasure.

BLK partnered with nonprofit group 1% for the Planet, significantly to assist Waves for Water, which gives clear water by way of filter installations in underserved communities. BLK merchandise are additionally recyclable, and presents lipstick refills to cut back waste.

Additionally, the corporate firmly believes in range and inclusivity, launching a unisex cosmetics line known as BLK Common. “Half of our customers are males,” Ms. Gutierrez mentioned.

As we speak, BLK is current in 13 boutiques and over 80 Watsons shops nationwide. BLK is persistently within the high 5 for cosmetics manufacturers on the 2 greatest on-line platforms, and is ranked the 7^th greatest model within the cosmetics division for Watsons Magnificence.

For her entrepreneurial imaginative and prescient, Ms. Gutierrez acquired the PCCI Injap Sia Younger Entrepreneur Award in 2020, the Asia CEO Excellence Awards Circle of Excellence Younger Chief of the Yr in 2018, and the 12^th Mansmith Younger Market Masters Award for Entrepreneurial Advertising in 2017.

When requested concerning the future, Ms. Gutierrez mentioned she desires to proceed creating the make-up business and increasing globally.

“BLK is already current in China,” she mentioned. “We even have resellers everywhere in the world — UK, Australia, and the US. Now that the pandemic is extra underneath management, we’re already transferring ahead with plans to enter the net retail area in varied Asian international locations.”

Ms. Gutierrez is assured within the potential of the native cosmetics market. A homegrown model like BLK that’s competing efficiently towards worldwide names creates worth within the business and proves the standard, ingenuity, and enchantment of Filipino merchandise, she added.

“The extra individuals who enter the area with their very own manufacturers, the extra clients all of us attain,” she mentioned. “If it’s a neighborhood model, the extra the merrier.”

Given BLK’s persevering with development regardless of market challenges, it’s clear that there’s nowhere to go however up for Filipino make-up.

The media sponsors of the Entrepreneur of the Yr Philippines 2022 are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN Information Channel. Gold Sponsors are SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp., Uratex, and Navegar. Silver Sponsors are Intellicare, OneWorld Alliance Logistics Corp., and Regan Industrial Gross sales, Inc. Banquet Sponsors are Uratex and MerryMart Shopper Corp.

The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Yr Philippines 2022 can be introduced on Nov. 21 in an awards banquet on the Grand Hyatt Manila. The Entrepreneur Of The Yr Philippines will symbolize the nation within the World Entrepreneur Of The Yr 2023 in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2023. The Entrepreneur Of The Yr program is produced globally by Ernst & Younger (EY).