Making the right choice
MANILA, Philippines - “I have always been a big fan of Bioessence,” said Stephan Schielmann of San Pablo City. The 23-year-old businessman claimed that among the skincare clinics that he tried, it is with Bioessence that he felt so special and he attributed this to the clinic’s top quality service. The skincare clinic is now open for franchise after 15 years of successful business operation. It is no surprise that when Schielmann decided to try his hand on business, he immediately considered Bioessence.
“Customer service is my priority and every time I enter the clinic, I always knew that one day, I would be part of it,” he said. Schielmann, who opened his franchise in San Pablo City three months ago, said the franchising program of the skincare clinic matched his ideals. “Every time we do something for promotion, I always consult the people in the head office and they are always willing to help and lend me the much needed support,” he said matter-of-factly.
Like Schielmann who embarked on a business at a very young age, Dr. Emma Guererro, CEO of Bioessence Philippines, started the business with hopes and aspirations of being one of the key players in the industry of skincare and wellness someday. Fifteen years have passed and today, the clinic is enjoying a steady list of satisfied clients who are initially considered “walk-ins” and subsequently become regular clients. In a recent interview, Dr. Guererro mentioned that the service that most clients enjoy at Bioessence is still the same service that they had from the time they started. “We put high emphasis on consistency and training. No therapist is allowed to treat patients unless I am completely assured that the superior standard that I tried so hard to maintain is in place,” she shared. 
Bioessence is fastly gaining popularity in community service programs as well. Not a month goes by without the clinic’s presence in various outreach programs held in different barangays both in the province and Metro Manila. “Sharing is part of our corporate objective,” Guerrero said. This objective could probably be one of the reasons why the franchising program has been launched as a way of “sharing” one’s expertise to people who share the same interest, passion and competence. Like clients who come to the clinic with great expectations, franchisees of Bioessence are growing in number, too. When the skincare company claimed to make complete wellness as the core in its business, it had probably included its business partners and franchisees to be deserving recipients. “They are everything that I hoped them to be and I know I made the right choice,” Schielmann happily shared.
Marizel Courbet opened two franchises on Bacobo Street in Malate and in SM City-Calamba. The branches officially opened in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Like Schielmann, Courbet was a regular client of Bioessence. Aside from the professional service that she gets from the clinic’s therapist, “I was also very satisfied with the results of the treatments,” she said. Courbet added that she shares a good business relationship with her franchisor. “The support of the head office did not end after the branches were set up. The head office is a continuing presence, especially in the area of staff training, which is very important since in this industry, we have to be always up-to-date when it comes to treatments and wellness products.”
Courbet added, “Dr. Guerrero has very high standards of how her clinics should operate and the same service level is expected of franchisees. To ensure this, she sees to it that her team extends all necessary support to franchisees.”
Freelance interior designer Aiza Toni Magno recalled that her first visit at Bioessence was during her high school days when she went to its branch in SM Southmall. Now 25, Magno added that the popularity of the brand was one of the factors why she chose Bioessence. “Aside from the popularity of Bioessence, my family and I are also very fond of massage and spa treatments and we believe opening a branch is a good idea.” Magno and her family opened their first branch last Feb. 6 at the second floor of SM Muntinlupa.
As more and more people are dreaming of having a business of their own, Courbet shared a piece of advice before signing up a franchise agreement: “If it’s service, try the service first, experience it several times and only if you are highly satisfied should you consider the franchise. Getting a franchise is more than just paying for the use of a name. The support from the franchisor should be constant.”
