Five questions to... Shashi Gossain
The ethnic beauty market in the United Kingdom is worth £65 million (Dh442m), according to Mintel but despite a rise of 24 per cent since 2002, it is less than two per cent of the entire £3.7 billion beauty market. Britain-based Shashi Gossain is one person aiming to boost the ethnic market with her PharmaClinix range for Arab and Asian men and women. Having launched in June 2006 in the UK – the company has an annual turnover of approximately £3m – the pharmacist has now introduced the range to the UAE. Gossain, who also distributes on Gulf Air, tells Emirates Business the secret of her success.
What is the inspiration behind PharmaClinix?
I'm a pharmacist and have been in the health and beauty industry for 27 years. Over the years I noticed that Arab and Asian skin was prone to hyperpigmentation and wrinkling. I found nothing was working and so the products were made with my own skin type in mind to give people something more specialised. PharmaClinix started as an in- house brand for pigmentation, then I added new products to it and it took off so I started selling it in pharmacies in the UK before branching out to the Middle East.
Why is your range different?
Because I'm Asian I know what our skin needs. When I used to look at certain products, I noticed most were not penetrating my type of skin because its much thicker than that of Caucasian people. Therefore I began to make creams that were richer and thicker and tested it on family and friends before going to clinical trials to make it more user friendly.
Is there a lack of products for this market?
There is a need for more products because the majority of what is already available is made by US or French companies and there is no Asian-led cosmetics brand in the premium market. I'm pioneering it, which is probably why it's taken off so well.
Are men becoming as interested in their skin as women?
There is certainly more awareness. Men have definitely started taking more care of themselves. It is the fastest-growing sector in the beauty business. We have five products for Asian and Arab men including a moisturiser with a SPF25 and an anti-wrinkle cream.
Women in the UAE spend a fortune on looking good – are they more conscious than people in the UK?
People in the UAE are exposed to a harsher skin-damaging environment and therefore have more pigmentation. It is also more inborn for Arabs to look after their face and skin. The Middle East skin care market is worth more than Europe and the United States, so it was the next logical step for me.