Catherine Estrada-Pangan is no stranger to questions about her age. Most of the time, people are surprised that she’s already in her late 30s.
Petite, with fair, smooth skin, round eyes and crescent lips, Estrada-Pangan is often tagged more than 10 years younger than her age.
Now 37, she is a mother of two and a wife to Jay, who is also her partner in setting up a skin clinic that specializes in making people look younger.
“We started as a supplier of beauty products, until we decided to set up our own clinic on Visayas Avenue in Quezon City,” Estrada-Pangan shared. “Currently, we have a lone clinic that offers skin services.”
Her journey in the beauty world started when she had a skin problem. Wanting to experience the touch of a famous dermatologist, the electronics and communications engineer applied in a clinic as an aesthetician.
There, she worked on removing the blemishes of artists, politicians and famous individuals, and was also tasked to research and develop products that would later turn the skin clinic to a beauty source.
She was able to discover various products and solutions while in that company, and realized that she wanted to open up her own clinic.
There, she founded DermAsia Skin Care Center, whose mission is to be an instrument of change in people’s lives through appropriate education about skin care. Estrada-Pangan is the president of DermAsia.
DermAsia offers a whole range of services, from basic facial treatment, micro-dermabrasion, tripollar radio frequency and IPL laser hair removal. The company also shares knowledge to customers by educating clients on how they can take good care of their skin.
What is unique about Derm-Asia is that it incorporates facial massage to all of its treatments, which, according to Estrada-Pangan, is one of the secrets to having a younger-looking face.
“We want our customers to experience more than just a facial treatment, wherein there would be pricking, mask application and all that. We want our clients to experience what we call a relaxing facial through a facial massage,” she enthused.
Estrada-Pangan hopes to expand her business through franchising, so she sought the help of Francorp Philippines—the country’s leading franchise developer on how she can grow her business. Today, her company is one of the rising stars of the franchising sector, and Estrada-Pangan hopes to close eight to 10 deals before the year ends.
With a total investment of P3.9 million, including the P300,000 franchise fee, a partner gets all the necessary equipment and machines, oils and creams, and training. This also includes the advances for a 60- square-meter to a hundred square meter unit inside a mall.
A client may expect to hit breakeven in 28 months.
DermAsia was one of the “15 New Franchise Stars” presented to the media during Francorp Philippines’s “Meet and Greet with the New Franchise Stars” and launch of Francorp’s Franchise Quality Seal” at the Franchise Asia Philippines 2016 International Expo, which ran from July 20 to 24 at the SMX Convention Center, the grandest franchise show ever. Interested franchisees can send their inquiries to nicepangan@gmail.com.