Truck parts importer ventures into beauty, wellness services

CEBU, Philippines - As the market for beauty and wellness services and products continue to balloon attracting clients from across ages, gender, and social status, an importer of heavy equipment truck parts turned into a beautician to capture a sizeable share of the market.

Ava Duramdes-Echevarre invested around P2 million to open a personalized beauty and spa lounge called "Beauty Hall" at Parkmall to seize the big opportunity for beauty and wellness market in Cebu.

Echevarre, whose family owns an importation business, said she noted the growing interest of the market on beauty and wellness services in fact she added that some salons and beauty bars are charging higher than what is reasonable.

"People now pay in the name of beauty and wellness. I saw this happening as I am among those in this growing market," said Echevarre adding that investing into this kind of service will not only give her "fulfilment" but it will also give the market good option in this kind of service.

Unlike in the past wherein those who avail of beauty and wellness services are considered as those belonging only to the “can afford” segment, today, she said the market has changed, and going out for "pampering" has become one of the top priorities, not only for women, but across gender preferences and ages.

Truly, she said immediately after she opened her "personalized" Beauty Hall, she noticed varied client profiles, from students, young professionals, retirees, and even tourists.

"What I’m offering is something that is also offered in high-end, branded salons. I used the products they are using, my stylists and attendants are experienced. But, what I am driving for is to provide a reasonably priced service, with quality service and products," she said with confidence that she can easily get her ROI (return-of-investment) in two years.

Echevarre is taking risks in entering this highly competitive service sector, from managing a business that is totally different from beauty and wellness. However, she said she is seeing good business prospects in this business and diversifying to something she calls "her passion" would add to viability and profitability.

According to studies, beauty and wellness has become one of the fast growing sectors in the world.

Investing into these services that enhance well-being is not anymore regarded as "mere vanity" but has become an important part of one's ritual.

A growing middle class and consumers' evolving attitudes toward health and travel have fueled a global spa and wellness industry worth an estimated $3.4 trillion in 2013, according to a report.

Nutrition and weight loss, preventative and personalized health, complementary and alternative medicine, and beauty and anti-aging treatments were the biggest growing sectors, the report compiled by the non-profit research center SRI International showed.

Spa treatments and products, alternative and complementary treatments and weight-loss programs once considered beyond the means of many people, she added, are becoming more mainstream with a growing middle class.

To compile the report researchers looked at wellness sectors ranging from mind and body fitness to beauty and anti-aging, spas and workplace wellness.

Echevarre confirmed this report, saying that locally, the expanding middle-class and growing purchasing power of Cebuanos are few of the important factors that provides healthy business for vanity industry, not to mention the big contribution of tourists availing this kind of services.

 (FREEMAN)