Thursday
SUPER BRAND TWO: M.A.C
Super Brand Two is an incredible story on the Power of Partnership, of friendship and a shared vision. This is the story of two Franks, partners in life and business: Frank Toskan, a fashion
photographer/makeup artist and Frank Angelo, a successful hairdresser. Toskan
was the makeup guru and Angelo the entrepreneur; together they created the most amazing makeup brand in history.
Ladies and gentlemen,i hereby present to you:
Makeup Art Cosmetics ...the power of partnership!
Makeup Art Cosmetics Inc., more commonly known as MAC Cosmetics, is a
popular high-end makeup brand that markets to women and beauty professionals.
In fact, it is so popular and prestigious in the celebrity world that it has
been mentioned in pop songs and has almost a cult following among top female
celebs. The MAC brand is exclusively sold in department stores and via their
Website. You will not find it at discount outlets or drug stores; Yes it’s a
very exclusive brand… and rightly so too if i may add.
In The Beginning
Two Canadians, a hair salon chain owner Frank Angelo and a Makeup Artist, Frank Toskan, started MAC in Toronto in 1984. They wanted to create cosmetic products that could better withstand the rigorous work environment of Movie Productions and Photo Shoots, especially as a result of the heat from the bright lightings. Toskan was the idea man in the company. Before he partnered with Angelo, he spent hours experimenting with formulas with the help of chemist Victor Casale, who was also his brother-in-law. He formed a business relationship with Angelo since the latter was a skilled entrepreneur.
Hitting the Streets
MAC cosmetics were originally marketed to people in the high fashion
industry. Since the owners already had connections in the field, they quickly
spread the idea of MAC through their networks. The quality and durability of this
color cosmetic soon gave the company the clout it needed on the American
celebrity scene. This led to endorsements from the likes of Debbie Harry,
Pamela Anderson, Boy George and other big '80s stars. This publicity of course
led to rapid growth, both in sales and profit turn-over.
MAC Stores
Six short years
later, in 1991, MAC opened its first stateside store in New York City, in the
trendy Greenwich Village neighborhood. Another Five years down the line, it
opened its first European store in Paris. Of course, the MAC brand is present
in several more European countries as well as in China. In addition to MAC
stores, the company signed distribution deals with several department stores in
the U.S. and Canada, including Nordstrom's and Macy's.
Buyout
In 1994, the two
Franks sold controlling interest of MAC to Estee Lauder, another prominent
cosmetics company. Estee Lauder later took over the company completely in 1998 after Frank Angelo passed away the previous year and the other partner Frank Toskan resigned from MAC to
devote his time to an AIDS charity. Estee Lauder kept the MAC name and
continued some of the original owners' philanthropic work, such as the MAC AIDS
Fund, which gets its money from the sale of MAC's Viva Glam line. MAC is also
dedicated to cruelty free products and recycling.
MAC PRO
Although MAC is
now available to the average consumer, the company maintains its focus on
professional makeup artists. Through its MAC PRO program it offers
professionals a 40 percent discount deal on products. Other professionals in
the industry, such as models and costume designers get 30 percent off. Heavy
users of the makeup can also get extra perks.
Further Expansion
The MAC brand continues to grow, and the line now
consists of literally hundreds of products. New MAC stores continue to be
opened worldwide and the brand's reputation of quality remains intact, every
time. Report reaching us at Beauty by Nature indicates that
MAC’s flagship store will launch in Lagos Nigeria very soon, making Nigeria
their first official stop in the African market… now, that is good news indeed!
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