This category, sponsored by FASA, honours the innovative entrepreneurship of newcomers to FASA who may have that next-new-concept that is going to take the world by storm!  Although this category has, in the 19 years that the FASA Awards have been held, been well-represented, this year there was only one entry. The finalist and winner in this category was:

WINNER PLACECOL IS A LEADER IN THE  FRANCHISE  BEAUTY SECTOR

Placécol is unique in South Africa in that it offers potential franchisees a beauty centre franchise in the very lucrative health and beauty market segment.  Its 63 stores provide a full range of body care treatments, skin care,beauty and nail services as well as retail products. 

Placécol Skin Care Clinic has been supplying exclusive skin care products since the 1980’s. When the company first started supplying the South African skin care market this was done through selected pharmacies where Placécol’s beauty therapy services were offered by trained, mobile therapists in mini-salons situated within these pharmacies. News of the effectiveness of the treatments soon created excitement in the market which attracted the attention of Edgars. This resulted in Placécol being invited to be a supplier to the Edgars Group, and by December 2005, the Placécol Skin Care Concept was available in 85 outlets in the Edgars Group.

According to Corne Nel, General Manager of Placécol, the next step was to look at opening its own Beauty Centres specializing in the Soft Laser Treatment and the retailing of its products. “By February 2008 the company had set up 52 Placécol Beauty Centre salons and besides the product availability in Edgars and Foschini, the company continues to offer the products and services through 250 selected pharmacies.”
The growth of multiple ownership is testament to a successful franchise formula and Placécol also has an empowerment program that assists Beauty Centre Managers of Corporate stores to own their own stores through a joint venture initiative