Nikki Tang: From Hardware to Soft Skin

Text by MAAN D’ASIS PAMARAN

Photography by DAN YUSAY HARVEY |

‘Beautypreneur’ Nikki Tang talks about carving a business plan from childhood lessons learned in her parents’ hardware business.

When Nikki Tang took up her Manufacturing and Engineering course at the De La Salle University, she already knew that she was going to set up her own business someday. “I did not want to work in government or for somebody else. The good thing about my course is that it develops the mind to see things on a bigger scale, and be able to find solutions to problems and address them.”

Her parents are very entrepreneurial, and at 10 years old, she was already conscripted to help her father at their hardware store. She recalls, “I went to school at St. Jude Catholic School in Manila, and we were off on Thursdays. On those days, I would go to work.”

Her college internship at a global beauty company exposed her to the manufacturing side of the business. “Within that one year, I was able to move around different departments, from quality control to production, to systems. I was able to experience and understand that aside from marketing, you have to start with production and make sure that everything is in order until it comes out to the market.”

This, and her exposure to the fashion industry via her mother’s accessories business, helped inspire her venture into the beauty industry at the age of 27. She is currently CEO of DMark Corp. and DermAsia Corp. DMark is the country’s leading and respected distributor of globally renowned dermocosmetic skincare brands such as Heliocare, Sebamed, Neostrata, Bioderma and Teosyal for minimally invasive facial volumizing and skin rejuvenation. DermAsia is one of the leading distributors of premium and cutting-edge medical aesthetic devices to prominent dermatologists, aesthetic and laser centers.

Nikki calls herself a “beautypreneur.”

“It’s a combination of beauty and entrepreneur,” she explains. Aside from introducing the latest beauty breakthroughs, she says, “my job is also about inspiring people to value the importance of taking care of oneself by providing innovations in anti-aging solutions for skin, hair and body.”

Beauty ‘mark’

Her companies are trusted names in the industry, and she credits her growth to being able to offer the right products at the right time. The first product she brought in with DMark around 15 years ago was a first in its field in the country. “When we brought Neostrata here, it was an exciting and challenging time for us. In those years, dermatologists were still making their own formulations for their clients,” she recalls.

When asked how she discovers the products she brings in, she says, “sometimes by chance, sometimes research is required. That is why it is important to know what the market needs, knowing the trends and being updated by reading. Having a good network helps. If you are connected with the right people, be they on the business side or medical side, you will know what to look for.”

Sometimes, too, there are good products abroad but they are not suited to the Philippines, she quips, adding that whitening and anti-aging are still the top concerns of this market. The latest trend is in hair care, and the fact that there are now also men who are discovering the importance of skin care treatments through their wives and girlfriends.

Child’s play

She underscores the Chinese values and acumen imbibed during her years spent at the hardware store with her father, as keys to her business success. “Having to wake up early to work at the store instead of bumming around taught me discipline. It made me understand and experience how it is not easy to run a business and the hard work that goes into earning money. It was a humbling experience.”

She remembers being tasked with making sure that daily sales were accounted for. “The business model was simpler, it was about stocks and inventory. This is very important because you’re talking cash. You have to make sure that stocks are (sold and) depleted in time.”

She continues, “As for my current business, I had to feel the pulse of the market beforehand. When a customer is already in front of you, but you don’t have stock, that is a lost opportunity. You have to have more stocks to complete the offering, and you should also know which ones are fast-moving. At the end of it all, as a person who is responsible for running a business, you have to balance operational expenses with knowing where to invest next.

“Coming from a Chinese family, I learned that hard work is very important and it goes hand in hand with discipline. Business is all about discipline. Hindi puwede na if you are successful already, hahayaan mo na lang (Even if you are already successful, you should not be lax). You need to take care of the opportunity for your success to continue,” she explains. Speaking of opportunity, she adds that you should not wait for it to come to you. “Sometimes, it is about doing right and wrong things. Eventually, you will find better opportunities to make a difference.”

As the eldest child in her family, she considered it her responsibility to create opportunities for her siblings. Two of her brothers are helping her out now, and she says that she is still always on the lookout for more prospects to grow the family businesses.

Prayers also play a role in success, she says. “No matter how hard you work — of course good luck comes with it — you should have that grateful attitude. Our family believes that everything comes from the grace of God. Prayer should come not only when you need help but also when good things are happening.”

Perhaps owing to her heritage, she gives a simile for success using one of the Chinese symbols for prosperity. “I always tell my siblings and staff, I think it is not about whether you are a big fish or a small fish. It is about being the fastest fish to swim. Being a small fish in the ocean or a big fish in a small pond doesn’t really matter. I think the fastest fish to swim is the one who gets to the goal that he wants.”

Her fountain of youth

Those who think that beauty is only skin deep have another thing coming: another factor for her success is how well she looks. Nikki’s skin was absolutely radiant and glowing even before the PeopleAsia makeup artist began wielding her brushes. This, of course, helps to advertise how well her products work.

She talks about the beauty regimen that has helped her achieve her flawless look. “I go to a lot of social functions and I travel a lot, and this can take a toll on my skin. I make sure to cleanse my face thoroughly, and alternate between Bioderma makeup remover and Neostrata whitening cleanser. I believe in preserving my eye area, so I always make sure that day and night, I use a good eye cream from Neostrata — it is an eye intensive serum, with very comprehensive anti aging ingredients.”

The neck area is also given special care. “I apply a neck cream, and I use both oral photo protection and sunblock, which I apply even when I am indoors where there are still UV rays that can create age spots.”

She adds that she uses RF technology to tighten skin on her face and body, along with i-Lipo painless treatments, and OxyGeneo facials that are three-in-one, which she says, “really help to cleanse the skin.”

Her passions also add to her zest for life. First and foremost is family.

Nikki is a single mom to two boys, and she advises, “Make sure you have quality time with the people who matter most, whether by blood or even friends. They are the ones who will directly or indirectly give you strength.”

Music and fragrances relax her, and travel is on her list of favorite things to do. “I am really so driven to take photos of the places I go to. I have been in most countries and most cities, usually for business, but I take a few days off just to explore. Anywhere I go, I enjoy discovering local, unique, authentic dishes.”

She relies on the power of positive thinking to help her look younger, too. “There will be days that are more challenging and will test your character, but thinking positive will help you change the way you see things and everything will feel lighter.”

The beautypreneur adds that having a caring heart is an important part of the package. “As an entrepreneur, I make it a point to participate in charitable efforts and other cause-driven events because I want to let people know — especially the ones involved in the beauty industry — that beauty inside-out means to have a heart for others.”

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