In this special column called the “TLC x Fempreneurs Series”, we will be featuring inspiring Female Entrepreneurs (Fempreneurs) in short. You will be able to have a sneak peek at their mindsets and their daily habits.
Believe in the power of community. On some days when you feel big goals are impossible, or when you feel like giving up, you need to lean on your like-minded community. You can even “borrow” motivation, and in turn “return” with your own inspiring stories to pay it forward.
Meet Manon Allano (EstheClinic Singapore)
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hello! I’m Manon Allano, Managing Director of EstheClinic Singapore, a group of beauty clinics at the forefront of technology. Our mission since EstheClinic’s creation remains to empower women to achieve strong self-confidence in everyday life by providing extremely effective, painless, and non-invasive aesthetic treatments. Our treatment plans are customizable to treat all skin and body concerns for today’s women, providing them immediate and lasting results, just the way they wanted it.
What got you started on your business?
I was raised in a medical aesthetics environment, my father has founded EstheClinic in France over 20 years ago. He shared with me his vision of EstheClinic and aim to offer a non-invasive alternative to surgery to his patients. This is how I developed an increasingly undeniable passion for the beauty industry.
After completing a business school in France, I worked for EstheClinic for 5 years in Paris. Then I decided to fly with my own wings and export EstheClinic to Singapore with my husband. We have opened our first branch in April 2015 in the lovely Tanjong Pagar area and immediately understood that there was a huge attraction for EstheClinic concept and innovative treatments in Singapore.
Opened a second branch a year later in 2016, and the third one in 2017. Afterwhich, we had a break in the openings while having two adorable daughters. In 2019, we thought it was time to continue expanding but have been stopped by the COVID-19 crisis. A few months after Circuit breaker, we were back on track and have worked on our 4th clinic, which has opened in March 2021.
While I am currently based in France, we are also working on expanding EstheClinic in France and should be opening a new branch in Paris by the end of 2021!
Before you started on your business, what did you do on a full time basis?
EstheClinic is the story of my life! After my business school, I immediately started working with my father for EstheClinic, and 5 years later, I moved to Singapore to expand the family business in Asia.
What were some difficulties you faced in your life and how did you overcome them?
The most difficult part of my job and also the most interesting has been to expand the family European business into Asia, as we had to get used to a new culture, market, and also a new type of clientele. Hopefully, I have been well surrounded to understand better the Asian culture and the concerns and needs of this clientele.
Who inspires you?
To grow my business, I take my inspiration in passionate people around me, and they can come from any industry, not only the beauty industry! My clients also inspire me, all the positive feedback is amazing, and based on their feedback it helps me develop the business more. And last but not least, my incredible team inspires me. I know how lucky I am to have a team as passionate about the work they deliver as I am myself.
What excites you most about your industry?
Running a company EstheClinic is so exciting!
I love to be constantly researching the market and testing treatments and technologies to make sure we are always at the forefront of technologies and to help the business evolve and react to new developments and changing market requirements as they happen. On the other hand, the human part of my role is crucial.
I do try my best to foster a positive work environment for my team. If we show respect, trust, patience, and encouragement, we are more likely to receive them in return. I always try my best to have good communication with my staff, motivate them, spread happiness, and especially celebrate wins!
What is your vision / personal motto?
Supporting self-esteem and wellbeing by providing innovative treatments. Beauty for many women all around the world means confidence, empowerment, and freedom to express themselves. There’s a reason why it’s called beauty ‘therapy’ because it makes you feel good.
When we take the time to carry out a little self-care it makes us feel amazing. By carrying out self-care, you allow yourself to feel worthy, to feel loved, and cared for. Our perception of self-worth plays a huge role in our everyday lives, from the decisions we make to our general thoughts and feelings about ourselves. Our self-worth is directly connected to our confidence. When we feel confident we feel able to take on the world.
Do you have any word of advice for other ladies who are starting their business/ starting to pursue their dream?
Yes, I do! To make sure you’re on a good way to establish your business, you should make a clear and detailed plan to set out all the steps you have to take in order to achieve your goals.
Things will not always go according to your plan, but doing so helps you anticipate and manage potential problems that may come up. You should also think bigger! Don’t underestimate your capabilities. Making a decision to go bigger will lead you to greater success! Think bigger by viewing obstacles as opportunities.
Successful entrepreneurs and business people don’t let challenges get in the way of achieving their goals, they let them inspire them to think critically. They view it as an opportunity to overcome and learn from. Solving problems is a good way to think bigger and cultivate innovation in your business.
How do you think you can help ladies to feel confident and empowered?
Women tend to feel like a new person after a haircut or a full-on makeover. Pampering ourselves with a spa session, hair treatment, mani-pedi, or any kind of beauty service is a way for us to relax and have fun. Many men and women feel more confident when they are in control.
At EstheClinic, we do believe that helping someone to soothe its concerns will help her to achieve sustainable self-love and a body-positive mindset. When someone is dissatisfied about something in their physical appearance, beauticians and cosmetologists may alter or remodel a client’s unwanted feature. When that dissatisfaction turns into an asset, one’s confidence and self-esteem may build up.
What have you learnt recently that you hope the other ladies can take back?
I have learnt a lot from Covid-19 crisis. First, I’m that kind of positive person that always sees the glass half full, but I have to admit that this crisis has put me down at some time. First, the lockdown with 2 young children has seriously challenged me in my daily life.
Then, the closing of my 3 beauty clinics in Singapore while based in Europe. I was really stressed about how I will be able to maintain the financial earnings of my team while trying to not penalize my company so much. But as usual, I was trying to figure out the good from that situation.
But what really impressed me out of my own situation, is the solidarity of people during that social distancing. Social solidarity is the cementing force that helps in reducing the social distance that is increasing between people during this pandemic. And I don’t think I have seen that level of solidarity before that terrible pandemic.
What is one thing you are grateful for?
I’m grateful to all the people surrounding me in EstheClinic adventure. I’ll start with my husband who is great support, always encouraging me to go further in my ideas and projects, bringing great positive energy to our company. I’m also extremely thankful to my staff who is so involved and enthusiastic in managing the daily operations of our clinics and bringing always a higher level of service quality to our lovely clients. I would not be able to be where I am today without them. Some of them are with us since the beginning of the adventure and this makes me very proud and grateful.
What do you do in your free time as self-care? How do you unwind?
When you have your own business, it’s quite difficult to get a lot of free time, but when I do have some, so when I’m not working, I love to spend time with my daughters and watch them growing up. I have 2 adorable daughters, 2 and 4 years old. Children are so inspiring. When you witness your child making discoveries about themselves and the world, when you literally watch them growing up, your heart all but bursts with joy and gratitude.
I also enjoy exercising, I do need to have this time for me where I can let off steam and leave behind me any difficulties I could have faced. It helps me to recharge effectively.
Let us know more about what you do!
Over 20 years ago, passion for beauty pushed EstheClinic founders to develop technological aesthetic treatments as an alternative to surgery. Using French patented cutting-edge technologies, all EstheClinic treatments are safe, painless, and non-invasive with immediate and lasting results. From IPL Hair Removal, innovative medi-facials to advanced body shaping treatments, we are proud to be Singapore’s #1 aesthetic clinics.
You may find us featured on Expat living, Simply Her, The Finder , Sassy Mama, The Chill Mom and StartUp Terminal.
Connect with EstheClinic!
Website: www.estheclinic.com.sg
Instagram: www.instagram.com/estheclinic
Facebook: www.facebook.com/estheclinicsingapore
Giveaway Alert
Two winners can stand a chance to win a AquaClear session (AquaPure + LED treatments combined in a single session), valued at $400! Head over to The Ladies Cue Instagram to participate!
Are you a Fempreneur too?
Connect with us – we’d love to feature you! Say hi to us at [email protected] or reach out to us via our social media.
Read TLC x Fempreneur Series:
- Margaret Wu, For Beloved One
- Hong Choy Yin, Tots Society
- Pearline Foo, Spring Breeze Marketing
- Evangeline Leong, Kobe
- Maddy Barber, Madly Gems
- Ezza Yusof, 2morrow Official (Malaysia)
- Julie Yim, Lilin+Co (Malaysia)
- Nadia, HelloBello (Malaysia)
- Zairin Azman, UMMA (Malaysia)
The rest of the Fempreneur interviews can be found here.