When we decided to offer a comprehensive mentoring program for (future) cosmetics manufacturers on the market last fall – the mission was clear. To offer a mentoring program that would empower regional manufacturers to lead by the hand on the journey from scratch to the finished cosmetic product. From the anatomy of the skin, through formulations and finance, marketing and legal regulations, to being in the lab and production.
Such a program aims to help and strongly support the creation of brands that will not only stand out for their quality, but will also come to the market prepared for all the challenges it brings – how to comply with the law, how to monitor prices and finances, how to respond to the modern demands of digital marketing. Brands educated in a comprehensive and thorough manner come to the market more prepared, more resistant to change, more aware of the quality of what they offer. They come with knowledge, and knowledge is power.
12 participants enrolled in the first group of the mentoring program and set off on a journey into the unknown. Three months of intensive preparation, learning and studying gave birth to one a new energy that will definitely shake up the giant vertical beauty scene of the entire region.
As the crowning glory of the trip, the participants displayed and presented their (future) products in full glory and beauty at a festive event, and today we will present them to you one by one:
Roman Papic
For Roman, making natural cosmetics was a fun hobby until the Mentor Program appeared. And then the idea was born to make it something more serious. In the program, as he points out, he resolved doubts about formulating and marketing products, and came up with a truly special idea. “I created Pro-age, a rich nourishing cream in which I managed to combine very high-quality local chestnut honey with other components that make up a very high-quality cosmetic product,” says Roman, and we will all soon enjoy a cream with real character, with the strength and tenderness of chestnut honey.
Sladjana Bundalo
Sladjana Bubalo She emphasized that within the program, in addition to production, she successfully educated herself on the complex aspects of creating a financially sustainable product and effectively presenting it to customers. And her product has a unique goal: “I want every lady to feel beautiful and know that at the end of the day she has done something valuable for herself and her health.” The product is, namely, a cream for night facial care, which aims to regenerate the skin and remove traces of fatigue from the face. This first-class cream will be a welcome guest in the purse of every woman of the 21st century.
Iva Kolar Mumlek
“Mirela is an excellent mentor with an exceptional gift for teaching and leadership, and I personally received answers to all my questions with concrete steps to achieve my goal.” – emphasizes participant Iva Kolar Mumlek, who in the program created a cream for everyday care of dry, sensitive, reactive skin, as well as skin prone to atopy. The cream is intended for the most sensitive and delicate group, namely babies, pregnant women and nursing mothers, and it will work wonderfully on all other groups as well. During the entire program, Iva’s mission was to create and support those who do not have much choice in the current market. With her products, that will surely change.
Marta Fabris
Attendance Marta Fabris She joined the mentoring program to expand her skills and accelerate her professional progress. “Mirela’s experience and advice broadened my perspective on the industry, including skin anatomy, finance, marketing, and the legal aspects of cosmetic creation.” – adds Marta, who has developed through the program A body spray that will work on problematic skin on the back and buttocks. “The product reduces irritation, controls sebum secretion, has antimicrobial effects, and thanks to probiotics, strengthens the skin’s microbiome. In other words, this product not only soothes and improves visible signs such as redness or acne, but also works integrally, supporting the skin’s overall health.” – points out Marta, and body spray of this type definitely goes in the direction of true innovation on the market.
Sara Mijoc
Sara Mijoč, on the other hand, says that participating in the mentoring program was a real wind at her back and that through the program she became aware of her own capabilities. “ Expectations became higher than the initial ones because I became aware of my capabilities, as well as the needs in the market that I can satisfy through my brand.” – she says. During the program, she worked on developing a cream for eye area that removes dark circles and puffy eyes. It also stimulates circulation and drainage of the eye area. When creating the formulation, the ingredients were adjusted so that the cream can also be used by a group of women with specific needs – pregnant and breastfeeding women who often cannot find such a cream on the market due to its composition.
Nina Šala
“When Mirela decided to launch her Mentoring Program, I knew it was the train I was choosing to jump on because it was time for a personal level up.” – says Nina, who has attended Mirela’s workshops since a long time ago. 2014. year. Through the mentoring program, she received answers to key questions such as law and finances, and through the program, she dedicated herself to developing a light, moisturizing face cream in a clean beauty concept, which helps alleviate the side effects of adolescence, such as pimples and acne, as well as restore a balanced complexion.
Matea Kalac
Matea Kalac, as she says, dreamed of entering the beauty world since her college days, and before enrolling in the mentorship program, she attended almost all Mireille workshops. “ As I am an absolute DIY when it comes to cosmetics, it was difficult for me to decide which direction to go. When we came up with this idea during an individual conversation, I felt relieved and supported.” – she points out. And the idea she decided on is extremely interesting. Matea will focus on a line for the care of children’s hair that is prone to tangling. “The line will be cheerful, colorful, fragrant, and the first in line is the Hair Detangling Spray, with a pastel color and fruity scent that both moms and children will love,” she adds, and we are impatiently waiting for the market to discover the beauty of the product.
Mateja Vretenar
“Mentoring under this professional guidance is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, as well as for anyone who wants to grow from a small producer into a beauty brand with as few mistakes and doubts as possible, while being educated in all segments.” – emphasizes Mateja from OPG Vretenar, who decided to follow her dream of immortelle, her first love, during the mentoring.
“My product, Golden Face Cream with Immortelle, Collagen and Akmela, is a combination of Immortelle, a traditional anti-aging ingredient that we proudly grow on our family farm, with trendy ingredients that will give you the perfect soft, firm and smooth skin that every woman desires.” – tells us Mateja, who will be launching on the market with a unique blend of traditional and modern in the world of cosmetics. Such a combination is rare on the market, and the beauty potential of tradition and modern ingredients provides tremendous room for growth.
Renata Mrkša
Renata Mrkša approached creating cosmetics as an escape from everyday life, but her love for creation grew. “I’ve been “brewing” the desire for a deodorant for people with hormonal imbalances for a long time, and the lack of them on the market gave me the chance to try creating my own.” – says Renata, and as part of the program she made her dream come true. A deodorant that will shake up conventions in a particularly weak market segment is ready. “My dream finally saw the light of day last Saturday, and it’s an understatement to say how incredibly happy I am with the end result. Having said all that, I can only conclude that the Program met all my expectations and more.” ” – the participant concluded.
Petra Pekica Kuzmanovic
Petra Pekica Kuzmanović, within the mentoring program, focused on a particularly sensitive target group – women in menopause. “I want to offer a quality enriched facial product that would significantly ease and prevent the consequences for women in perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause.” – Petra points out. As part of the mentoring program, she created a professional line of poppy seeds. The line consists of face cream, serum and cream for the eye area, with beautiful raw materials and a high percentage of various active ingredients that will allow women to receive quality care from the comfort of their own home as if they were in a beauty salon.
Lucija Šćur
“I started at the urging of my friends,” admits Lucija Šćur, a participant who wanted to create a make-up product as part of the mentoring program. Given that the game of creation has no limits, Lucija decided to work on a product that would not only give women an apparent glow but also true care. “It’s a lip oil that gives the effect of fuller lips, smoothes out imperfections, has a non-sticky texture, and shine is never out of place.” Lucija emphasizes, adding that the mentoring program definitely exceeded her expectations.
Lidija Petrovic
“My love for cosmetics was born very early because I struggled with my own skin, so I gradually started making cosmetics for myself and my friends.” – says participant Lidija Petrović, who had attended numerous educational workshops before joining the Mentoring Program. “The mentoring program came as a complete structure, thanks to Mirela and all the lecturers, all the pieces fell into place and the knowledge was complemented. Mirela and the other participants are a wonderful inspiration, full of positivity and the environment is very supportive.” – points out the creator who decided to create within the program A moisturizing cream for men, with a light texture and active ingredients that nourish and hydrate. In the future, he hopes to create a complete line for men’s facial and beard care.
The stories of the mentorship program participants are just beginning, but their ideas, enthusiasm, will and desire to learn and grow have made the entire Mireille team proud of each and every one of them. We look forward to all the years and events in which we will celebrate new launches, new successes and cosmetic dreams built on a solid foundation of support, knowledge and quality.
