The doctor behind Bioessence talks about her drive to spread the benefit of total wellness
Emma B. Guererro, President and CEO of Bioessence Philippines knew from the start that the business she chose to be in is where her heart truly is. In 1994, she opened her very first clinic in Davao offering basic skincare and slimming treatments. She relied on her own expertise and did most of the works in her small but very promising clinic. Clients were naturally satisfied as the lady doctor was also the one personally giving them the treatments .She did it with much ease and confidence afterall, she is armed with a degree in medicine. But things were never too easy for Dra Guererro because she also had to attend to the business operations, marketing and product development. As a doctor by profession, business management , according to her is not her core competence. She was however lucky to have been backed by efficient and highly capable therapists whose skills reflect those of the doctor’s standard for quality.
Satisfied clients grew in number and subsequently became regular guests of the clinic. As expected, the clients had to wait a little longer for their turn to be attended. To ease boredom, some would inquire about other services like hair and spa treatment and some wanted manicure or pedicure but such services were never part of the clinic’s line of offering . The subtle hints and suggestions from the clients in paved the way for Dra Guerero to design something bigger that benefits not only the “waiting “ clients from Davao but every one in the country with penchant for everything beautiful which the doctor aptly called “Total Wellness”
Bioessence is strong on people development both with its company employees and clients. It is something that the hardworking doctor strived to maintain. She opened her very first Metro Manila branch in Sta Lucia Mall and although, Bioessence was already a strong brand in Davao, its first branch in Metro Manila went through the hardships of penetrating a much wider market. But the doctor from Davao is probably gifted with good foresight and immediately, she brought her skillful therapists from Davao to Manila. This effort did not only result to consistency in terms of quality and service it also proved to be Bioessence’ key to success and popularity. Now with 48 branches nationwide, Dra Guererro is quite satisfied to where they are right now. “I do not aspire to have hundred of branches, it is enough for me that the brand is strong ”, she said. Keeping the brand strong is another challenge that Bioessence need to keep up with especially at this time where skincare clinics are everywhere in sight! Aside from competitions, the once minimally-staffed clinic in Davao now has an over 700 employees nationwide who are all subjected to rigid trainings and seminars prior to being official part of the company. “ Bioessence is a strong popular brand. We expand and opened Sucat and SM Taytay branches, SM San Pablo and Calamba. For branch expansion, we have renovated Shoppesville, Binondo , West Avenue and Davao branches. We are getting bigger and better”. She adds. BIGGER AND DEFINITELY BETTER To ensure that all market segments get the best of Bioessence, the company established Bioessence Gold, the middle market Bioessence, and the affordably-priced Facial Plus and Suay Thai. Though targeting different sectors in the society, Dr. Guererro proudly emphasized that all these are doing well. “ We cover all the markets as we offer all services-facial, slimming, spa and dermatological services”, she said.
Now that the road to being a market leader is already within reach, the success-driven doctor never stops learning. She regularly goes out of the country and keenly observes modern procedure so she herself can improve her craft. It is very enlightening to know that during the early years of Bioessence, she even went to the US simply to learn the professional methods of service as basic as facial. Product development is also a strength of Bioessence. Dr. Guererro formulates her own products using local and foreign technology. All products that Bioessence recommends to its clients are tried and tested, and undisputably safe to use as Guerero, a medical doctor by profession know exactly what good products are made of.
Bioessence, in its 16 years of business operation has been known in the beauty and healthcare industry as one of the top providers of skincare services yet Dra Guererro is quick to add that Bioessence goes far beyond that. With its beautifully designed interiors and dramatic lighting architectures, every client is treated to a serene luxury that takes away all the pressures and tensions caused by today’s fast-paced lifestyle. “Stress is the primary enemy of wellness” , Dra Guererro shared. It is through stress that people acquire diseases leading to heart attack, stroke and even cancer. There should always be balance “ , she added.
And balance according to the doctor is finding time for everything including a time solely dedicated to oneself. But what really sets Bioessence apart from other skincare clinics is better experienced than described . Regular guests swear that visiting the clinic is like a habit that is quite hard to break. “Not being able to share their problems with anyone else can also be stressful and we have a lot of clients who come to the clinic not only for the treatment but also for the moment of small talks with our therapists”, Dra Guererro said.
(Far from the picture of a multi-tasking doctor cum businessowner that she once was, Dr Guererro is a living example of what she advocates. Despite being the head of the now popular clinic and attending to various social and business engagements, she can now afford to sit comfortably in her desk while being interviewed. Her office depicts tranquility, with minimal light which is neither too bright nor too dim . Her office lounge has a fantastic view of some of the finest restaurants in Quezon City allowing guests to take advantage of its scenic view especially at night. )
And balance according to the doctor is finding time for everything including a time solely dedicated to oneself. But what really sets Bioessence apart from other skincare clinics is better experienced than described . Regular guests swear that visiting the clinic is like a habit that is quite hard to break. “Not being able to share their problems with anyone else can also be stressful and we have a lot of clients who come to the clinic not only for the treatment but also for the moment of small talks with our therapists”, Dra Guererro said. Bioessence is priced quite higher than other skincare clinics. A fact that even the lady CEO openly admits. At Bioessence, dermatological services and slimming services are well-defined giving every guests an assurance that they get the right solution for their problems .As part of what others call “after-sales service” ,most clients go through behavior modification consultation after treatment particularly on slimming where a good dose of discipline is much needed. “We serve as our client’s life coach. We tell them that in order to maintain the successful effect of the treatment, they should be doing their share too. They should not be doing what they are used to. If they used to eat a lot, they should be able to keep their food intakes to a minimum”. Clients seem to appreciate this effort and as a result ,their trust to the clinic and its people have been escalated to a higher level . “Even after the treatments, we are very happy to still see them coming back”, Dra Guererro happily shared.
Success seemed to come early to Bioessence and as their way of giving back the trust and confidence the clients have given them, Bioessence is very enthusiastic about community service programs. Recently, they held a free aerobics at Marquee Mall , Tarlac, where the public can join the fitness activity even if they are not enrolled in any of Bioessence’ program. The “Bioessence Beyond Beauty “event, held last September also delighted the guests as it was a whole day of spa and beauty treatments readily given to the attendees totally free of charge!
Dra Guererro actively plays her role. Despite the evident success of Bioessence, she is continuously learning and shares what she learns to her people. Her advocacy of educating people on total wellness never stops. She is still very much part of her people’s training and continues development, participates in community service programs and she does all this with only one purpose in mind and that is to be able to spread the beauty of wellness in its entirety.