The Double Act

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With a passion for beauty and entrepreneurial backgrounds, businesswoman Maria Enna-Cocciolone the CEO and founder of INSKINCOSMEDICS and Nicola Quinn, owner of PRO BEAUTY New Zealand – teamed up to launch Ginger&ME – a brand based on the science of Neuro-Cosmetics. Here they chat with Professional Beauty about friendship and finding a sisterhood in business together.

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Checking out Cosmoprof one year you sat over dinner and dreamt up the concept of Ginger & Me. Tell us about that. 

M: “We first met at the Sydney Beauty Expo when Nicola visited the O Cosmedics stand and was keen to distribute O in New Zealand. The first part of our relationship was that of distributor and supplier. The next phase happened while at Cosmoprof Hong Kong. Wearing our distributor hats, Nicola set
off each morning in search of a complimenting brand to O with a body focus; by day two she was full of disappointment and said, “ I am never going to find what I want”, to which I replied: “don’t stress, we can always create a new brand together, I have done it before and I can do it again (famous last words right there) … and the rest is history!”

How did you come up with the name?
M: “Finding a name appeared to be impossible, everything we came up with was taken. One day I was shopping in Sass & Bide and thought, ‘how can we use our names as a brand name, pretty strong chance they won’t be taken or challenged”? She called Nicola who suggested “why don’t we use our nicknames? ”and that’s what we did. Nicola grew up known as Ginger thanks to her gorgeous hair colour and I used my initials ME (maiden name) and that’s how GINGER & ME was born.”

You both have extensive beauty backgrounds – what did you each bring to the table in the development of the product?
N: “My hands-on beauty experience is still current and having an operating spa gave us the opportunity to live test our products and concepts from a germ of an idea through to completion.”

M: “I had developed O Cosmedics by this time and was experienced in the brand-formulation-packaging creation, so it’s fair to say between us we had all areas well and truly covered.”

What was the goal behind launching the brand?
N: “Initially it was to have a decadent body range and a face range that was cosmedical but not as active as O and with a more luxurious (French) feel; for those skins that were not already using actives, needing to be eased into professional skincare. The concept of the brand evolved as our personal lives took some rollercoaster turns. My mum was diagnosed with cancer and Maria’s dad with dementia. As professional women who already had a fulltime job, mums and wives, our roles of daughters heightened to care for our ailing parents and support the other parent. We gave each other strength, through words of encouragement and in the exchanging of tears we realised our crazy lives represented those of many women, juggling many balls and wearing many hats. Through our challenges, the BE BRAVE, BE GRATEFUL, BE HAPPY body emotions were created and soon after the mindfulness professional facial treatments with a core focus of “the power to choose your tude”
came to life.”

What is the power to choose your tude?
M: “In our DNA we both have a positive attitude and are driven, understanding that every day is not going to be awesome but that you can always find awesomeness if you look hard enough in every day. Hence a core message in our brand’s mindfulness treatments is we each have the power to choose
your “tude”.

Your attiTUDE, the way you do life.
Your altiTUDE, what you get out of life.
Your gratiTUDE, how you acknowledge the blessings of life
And your beautyTUDE the way you show up to life.

The concept is that it is based on the science of Neuro-Cosmetics – tell us what this is?
M: “Neuro-Cosmetics is a cutting edge, anti-aging technology that works on neurological stimulation, to elicit feel-good actives that prolong cell life and balance inflammatory responses. Essentially, we are working on Neuro-Ageing; preserving critical cell-to-cell communication of the cells and more specifically fibroblasts to support collagen synthesis. Neuro-Cosmedics with a D is next level,
a range with the right percentage of actives to fight ageing and preserve skin youth.”

Describe your client base?
N: “When it comes to age, GINGER&ME believes age is an attitude and so we hesitate to put a number on a demographic. The brand has been created to support skin health and skin youth, you are never too young or too old to want both.”

What has the feedback been like?
N: “Incredible. Whilst it’s only a small line it has been created to fill a gap and certain objectives including innovative, multi-functional, less chance of a response, affordable and luxurious. Our partners see how well it compliments O Cosmedics and those without O appreciate the brand as leading-edge science, effective and better than any cosmetic in the marketplace."

Nicola, do you stock this brand in your spa?
N: “Absolutely! The Spa was a critical reference point when creating the range and since its introduction, our homecare has doubled given, we now have something for everyone.”

How difficult is it Maria juggling two skincare brands?
M: “For me who has created both ranges it’s not difficult at all, but I see that it can sometimes be for my team and some partners too. It seems to be harder for them to keep each range independent, with its own unique image, personality and offer.”

What do you do for downtime?
N: “I love to go for walks around Hagley Park in Christchurch with my dog and husband. Outside of that, ’d have to say I’m currently working on the “downtime” aspect and improving the quality of this
time shortly.”

M: “Friends and family. When I am not at work, I am with them enjoying life, different foods, great wine, weekends away, holidays, movies and reading.

What are the plans for the brand?
N: “We plan to add some amazing retail products for home care and extend the professional treatment offer.”

Biggest lesson you learnt?
N: “Take the time to get it right.”

M: “As an owner and creator of two brands stay true to each brand’s essence and purpose – don’t let anyone roll them into one and the same.”