Interview mit Michael Q. Pugliese Unternehmer, Innovator, Pädagoge, Autor, Ästhetiker
Michael Q. Pugliese is the owner of Circadia by Dr. Pugliese, Inc. (Leesport / Pennsylvania / USA), a leading provider of professional skin care products. He also operates a company-owned educational institution, 'Circadia University' for education and training for professional estheticians and cosmetologists. His lectures combine scientific principles, new research on aging mechanisms and advanced product knowledge. Founded by his grandfather, Peter T. Pugliese, M.D., Circadia is dedicated to improving the expertise of skin care professionals worldwide. Pugliese frequently publishes on the use of high-performance raw materials and shares innovations in new treatments and home care.
I am the owner of Circadia by Dr. Pugliese, Inc. and a licensed esthetician in the state of Pennsylvania. When I took over the operation of Circadia, I was responsible for managing sales, customer service, vendor relations and continuing education on the practice of aesthetics and the responsibilities of a provider of professional skin care products. I came with the notoriety of Dr. Pugliese as a top educator, so I had an intense learning curve to gain competency in understanding skin science. Once I understood the structure and function of the skin and the impact of a topical product, it became clear what my company could contribute to the industry and the customer on a much larger scale. Over the years, I learned so much from my grandfather and his colleagues, such as Dr. Kligman and Dr. Fulton. There was no way to gauge that. I have an inherent desire for information and I have worked to understand the industry and how skin works. Getting things right is important to me. Knowing how ingredients work and how a formula is created fascinates me. Estheticians make mistakes when they don't fully understand and offer treatments and products without knowing the product function well. When you apply something to a living tissue, you need to know what the effects can be. In a successful aesthetic institute, a well-trained staff is key. This means they are able to evaluate the client and understand the products well enough to talk about them. Not only the estheticians, but the receptionist and other staff need to understand what the institute offers and what products are used. I would advise someone who wants to start a career in this field to learn as much as they can before spending a dime on a product. I give the same advice to customers: never stop learning. I learn something new every day. Our industry is evolving faster than anyone can predict. Understand as much as you can as the dynamics change. I'm constantly looking for the lesson in the experience, good or bad.
What do you think are upcoming trends in the industry?
Many companies follow the trend of selling directly from their website to consumers. It is difficult to control online retailers who have not had competent training and just sell everything to everyone. There is more that is in favor of protecting beauty institutes and the 'point of sale' there, and this is what manufacturers should come to understand professional skin care products. Without our professional sales model, well-trained estheticians, soon there will be no industry."
Many companies follow the trend of selling directly from their website to consumers. It is difficult to control online retailers who have not had competent training and just sell everything to everyone. There is more that is in favor of protecting beauty institutes and the 'point of sale' there, and this is what manufacturers should come to understand professional skin care products. Without our professional sales model, well-trained estheticians, soon there will be no industry."
DERMASCOPE:
How long have you been in the aesthetics business?
How long have you been in the aesthetics business?
Michael:
I have been in the aesthetics industry for 10 years. Before I took over Circadia, I worked in various jobs in our variousfamily businesses. From contract manufacturing to including production line, warehouse and shipping, customer service and sales. I studied business administration and marketing in college because I come from a family of entrepreneurs, although most of them never had any formal training in business. It was my grandfather, Peter T. Pugliese, M.D., the founder of Circadia. He had suggested I look into it and thought it might be the right path for me. I didn't even realize at the beginning that he was consistently preparing me for the position I have today.
I have been in the aesthetics industry for 10 years. Before I took over Circadia, I worked in various jobs in our variousfamily businesses. From contract manufacturing to including production line, warehouse and shipping, customer service and sales. I studied business administration and marketing in college because I come from a family of entrepreneurs, although most of them never had any formal training in business. It was my grandfather, Peter T. Pugliese, M.D., the founder of Circadia. He had suggested I look into it and thought it might be the right path for me. I didn't even realize at the beginning that he was consistently preparing me for the position I have today.
DERMASCOPE:
What different roles and positions have you held in this industry.
What different roles and positions have you held in this industry.
Michael:
When I took over Circadia's operations, I was responsible for the administration of sales, customer service, vendor relations and the continuing education programs on practice in aesthetics. Dr. Pugliese, as a top educator, provided me with an intensive course of learning and skills in understanding the epidermis and the impact of a topical product.After some time, it became clear what Circadia could and should be teaching the industry and the customer. We committed to exhibiting at relevant trade shows and designed new ads. I led new product development while cramming cosmetic chemistry, which led me to the 'Society of Cosmetic Chemists' and into the world of functional raw materials. My interest in the subject focused my energies on developing new forms and effective modes of action, much in the traditions to my grandfather's philosophy. I began to teach estheticians and cosmetologists a higher level of product knowledge. We present ourselves and often sponsor whole trade fairs, give lectures at institutes, at congresses or the training rooms at manufacturers. We continue to contribute scientific articles that reveal the secrets of skin, refer to ongoing research within our industry and speak to our strong network about it.
When I took over Circadia's operations, I was responsible for the administration of sales, customer service, vendor relations and the continuing education programs on practice in aesthetics. Dr. Pugliese, as a top educator, provided me with an intensive course of learning and skills in understanding the epidermis and the impact of a topical product.After some time, it became clear what Circadia could and should be teaching the industry and the customer. We committed to exhibiting at relevant trade shows and designed new ads. I led new product development while cramming cosmetic chemistry, which led me to the 'Society of Cosmetic Chemists' and into the world of functional raw materials. My interest in the subject focused my energies on developing new forms and effective modes of action, much in the traditions to my grandfather's philosophy. I began to teach estheticians and cosmetologists a higher level of product knowledge. We present ourselves and often sponsor whole trade fairs, give lectures at institutes, at congresses or the training rooms at manufacturers. We continue to contribute scientific articles that reveal the secrets of skin, refer to ongoing research within our industry and speak to our strong network about it.
DERMASCOPE:
Which of these roles had the biggest impact on you and how?
Which of these roles had the biggest impact on you and how?
Michael:
The role that brought me the most was sales. It gets you interacting with people, finding the market, learning customer needs and peeves, and talking to beauty professionals. I've learned a lot by listening to them and continuing to benefit from their experiences. We present Circadia at most major events relevant to the industry, and my many trips and conversations provide me with access to the people in the booth.
The role that brought me the most was sales. It gets you interacting with people, finding the market, learning customer needs and peeves, and talking to beauty professionals. I've learned a lot by listening to them and continuing to benefit from their experiences. We present Circadia at most major events relevant to the industry, and my many trips and conversations provide me with access to the people in the booth.
DERMASCOPE:
Has there been a constant theme that has taken you from one point to the next during your training and career (e.g., asking questions, reading specific material, etc.)?
Has there been a constant theme that has taken you from one point to the next during your training and career (e.g., asking questions, reading specific material, etc.)?
Michael:
A constant theme in my career has been to trust my instincts.
A constant theme in my career has been to trust my instincts.
DERMASCOPE:
Do you have any regrets or is there one thing you can point to and think, "I wish I had done that differently." Or "If only I had known what I know now." That you can share with readers? Please elaborate.
Do you have any regrets or is there one thing you can point to and think, "I wish I had done that differently." Or "If only I had known what I know now." That you can share with readers? Please elaborate.
Michael:
I wish I had focused more on the sciences in college - biology, biochemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology - along with my business curriculum. It would have saved me a lot of time, after joining Circadian, if I already had that basic knowledge firmly in my head. Especially because I had parallel information, at the university level, being taught to me by my grandfather and having to process it.
I wish I had focused more on the sciences in college - biology, biochemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology - along with my business curriculum. It would have saved me a lot of time, after joining Circadian, if I already had that basic knowledge firmly in my head. Especially because I had parallel information, at the university level, being taught to me by my grandfather and having to process it.
DERMASCOPE:
What adjustments have you made over the years to stay relevant in the industry?
What adjustments have you made over the years to stay relevant in the industry?
Michael:
A few years into my career, I understood that our anchor products, all developed by Dr. Pugliese, needed to be supplemented with additional elements - masks, mists, preventative care and body. At the 'Society of Cosmetic Chemists' vendor functions, I learned about ingredient technologies, product performance and fresh ideas that I shared during my lectures. I experienced that the professional estheticians and cosmeticians were excited to learn such content and maximize their perfomance in ingredient issues. I devote a lot of time and energy to understanding cosmetic chemistry and developing new products.
A few years into my career, I understood that our anchor products, all developed by Dr. Pugliese, needed to be supplemented with additional elements - masks, mists, preventative care and body. At the 'Society of Cosmetic Chemists' vendor functions, I learned about ingredient technologies, product performance and fresh ideas that I shared during my lectures. I experienced that the professional estheticians and cosmeticians were excited to learn such content and maximize their perfomance in ingredient issues. I devote a lot of time and energy to understanding cosmetic chemistry and developing new products.