RUNNING THEIR OWN RACE
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used in them. Something must have been very right, as these formulations and treatments remain famous today.”
Harmsworth then launched ESPA in 1993.“ I took on a huge risk launching ESPA when I was 47 or 48,” she says.“ Yes, it’ s a great success today, but took much longer and cost much more to get off the ground than my business plan had anticipated.”
It’ s not that the costs should deter anyone from taking a risk, Harmsworth just recommends always giving yourself a cushion for when life happens.“ As an entrepreneur, take your business as far as you can with your own financing. Be conservative in your planning and projections and keep that financial cushion in there so you don’ t end up losing control( or worse).”
She considers building ESPA into a successful global spa brand as her biggest success as an entrepreneur. However, through all her success in the spa industry, Harmsworth
“ First, it’ s necessary to develop a good business model which includes all realistic opportunities. Second, be willing to adapt to unforeseen circumstances.”
— SAMMY GHARIENI, CEO and Founder, Gharieni Group
strives to prioritize her family, her team and the big picture.“ My Toronto day spa made its first million in 1974. ESPA, which launched in 1993, achieved this in 1994. Of course, both were exciting moments, though I really didn’ t think about it too much at the time. These milestones were part of a much bigger picture: building a great team, winning awards, receiving the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire( MBE) honour from the Queen and being blessed with grandchildren were all far greater rewards.”
Constant Innovation Sammy Gharieni, CEO and founder of Gharieni Group, a German manufacturer of high-end spa tables and medical equipment, realized he had the mindset of an entrepreneur at a very young age.“ At the age of seven, I took some of my toys and sold them secretly at school to my friends for German‘ Groschen’( the equivalent of pennies),” says Gharieni.“ So you can say that my hobbies and spirit for entrepreneurship have fused into a passion since my earliest youth.”
After he finished his electronic and mechanical engineering degree 25 years ago, Gharieni began working for a large Japanese corporation. He enjoyed his work, but realized quickly that he wasn’ t the kind of person who could work within a rigid corporate structure.“ My boss took all of my ideas and presented them proudly as his own,” Gharieni remembers.“ That made me furious!”
He began looking down other avenues and met a school friend who worked with a company based in Clearwater, Florida that was importing facial lifting and toning machines to Canada.“ I became interested as an engineer and helped to improve the technology. I then started the distribution to Germany and other countries in Europe,” he says.“ That was my entrance into this world of spa.”
Clients began asking about treatment beds, which got Gharieni’ s mind racing.“ I started to think about how to create a completely new model; one that was all-electric, that could be heated and more comfortable for the customer, something with lumbar support. So 20 years ago, the SL was born, the first beauty bed of the Gharieni Company, which became a best-seller,” he says.“ The business hit its million-dollar mark in 1996 with the SL beauty bed.”
His innovative thinking and ingenuity got his business off the ground, but it didn’ t come without its challenges. Starting out, funds were tight and the budget didn’ t stretch far.“ The beginning was the most challenging time for the business,” says Gharieni.“ I had excellent products but nobody knew us and our advertising budget was low. To emerge, we had only the opportunity to place small ads and to offer incentives on pricing.”
For Gharieni, things have since come full circle.“ I started in Florida 25 years ago. Now, I’ m back. Gharieni USA Inc. has recently opened its doors in Aventura, Florida. The prestigious Turnberry Isle is now home to the Gharieni USA headquarters.” n
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30 PULSE ■ January / February 2017