A new generation of Melbourne young guns is shooting up Australia’s rich list, identifying a problem or niche market and then making millions creating innovative products.
Greek Australian, Jess Hatzis, and her business partner, Bree Johnson, are two of these young guns.
According to The Herald Sun, the university friends are part of a five person team which launched the coffee-based skincare brand, Frank Body, in 2013 with a combined savings pool of $5,000.
Chinese private equity firm, EverYi Capita, recently took a minority stake in the in-demand beauty business and it’s now valued at $100 million.
Frank Body products are sold in 156 countries at retail majors such as Mecca in Australia, Ulta Beauty in the US, Sephora in Europe and Boots in the UK.
Ms Hatzis tells The Herald Sun the key to success for any entrepreneur is to get stuck into it.
“No one will do it for you,” she said. “If you really want this, be prepared to work harder than you ever have to make it a reality.”
Ms Hatzis lists opening Frank Body offices in New York and London as key business highlights.
“It was confirmation that the business really is going global and something we had been working towards since day dot,” she told The Herald Sun.
While sales have lifted during Covid as locked down customers focus on self care routines, Ms Hatzis said the pandemic had reinforced the need to not take anything for granted.
“Don’t get complacent,” she said.
“At the same time we need to be grateful for what we have. So many people lost their loved ones, savings and businesses through the pandemic and we were fortunate not to experience that.”
Ms Hatzis and Ms Johnson are no strangers to business having also founded the successful advertising agency Willow & Blake, known for its attention-catching communications for the like of Grill’d, Elle McPherson Body and Pana Chocolate.
Source: The Herald Sun.
