Susie Ma

Last updated

Susie Ma
WEB144495-E0A7AE1F-9126-93B7-C8A7-4A0FA2812C29.jpg
Born (1988-11-22) 22 November 1988 (age 35)
Shanghai, China [1]
Nationality British-Australian
Education Croydon High School
(2002–07)
Alma mater University College London
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur
Philanthropist
Years active2012–present
Known for The Apprentice

Susie Ma is a British-Chinese skincare entrepreneur, philanthropist and Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree. [2] She is known for her appearances on the seventh series of the BBC television series The Apprentice in 2011, where despite coming in third place, she secured investment from Lord Alan Sugar. [3] Her company, Tropic Skincare, has been recognised as the fastest growing skincare brand in the UK, [4] selling 3.3 million products per year. [5]

Contents

Career

2010–11: The Apprentice

Susie Ma was one of the final four contestants on the seventh series of The Apprentice but lost to winner as inventor Tom Pellereau. [6]

Lord Sugar said: “After filming ends, I tell all the contestants to give me a call if they need me. At the You’re Hired show after The Apprentice final, I mentioned Susan as someone I’d be contacting in the future." [7] [ failed verification ]

Tropic Skincare remains the only business run by an Apprentice runner-up, to have gone on to secure investment from Lord Sugar. He invested £250,000 to become a 50/50 partner at the end of Ma's series of The Apprentice.[ citation needed ]

2012–present: Tropic Skincare

On 18 March 2012, Tropic Skincare was launched as part of a 50/50 partnership between Ma and Alan Sugar. [8]

In 2016, Tropic received the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track's ‘Emerging Brand’ award. From 2016 to 2018, Tropic has also been recognised as the fastest growing skincare brand in the UK on the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 league table. [9]

In 2018, Tropic reported a turnover of over £29.5 million, [10] and currently sells 3.3 million products per year. In the same year, they revamped 15 existing formulas, launched 12 new products and released 10 new collections. [11]

In 2018, Tropic was featured in The London Stock Exchange's book of 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain for 2019. [12]

The business located to a new 48,000 sq. ft. premises in June 2019 to accommodate their rapidly expanding manufacturing requirements and workforce, currently employing over 150 people. [13] Since 2018, Tropic's turnover has increased by 198%. [14] In 2023, Sugar sold his stake back to Ma for her to have full control of the company, reportedly in a multi-million-pound deal. [2]

Personal life

Susie Ma was born in Shanghai, China, and her family later relocated to Cairns, Australia in 1996. She settled in London, UK in 2002.

In 2004, at the age of 15, Ma began making a body scrub using a recipe she learnt from her grandmother and mother during her time in Australia. Using a blend of sea salts, macadamia oils and lemon myrtle essential oils packaged in jam jars, she created a body scrub in her own home and sold it at Greenwich Market in London to help her mother pay the bills. [15] [ failed verification ] Ma attended Croydon High School for Girls from 2002 to 2007. In the evenings, she took cosmetic formulation courses to extend her knowledge and Tropic's product range. She initially made the products in her kitchen at home, and sold them on weekends at markets around London. Later, in 2007, she attended University College London and graduated in 2010 with a 2:1 Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Economics, followed by an FX Sales and Trading internship at Citigroup. [16]

Philanthropy

Tropic Skincare takes part in many charity initiatives, driven by Susie Ma's personal philanthropic pursuits, and by the company's “Infinite Purpose”: [17] [ failed verification ] to help create a healthier, greener, more empowered world. Tropic regularly raises money for education and environmental causes at annual "Glambassador" events, including the Winnie Mabaso Foundation, [18] [ better source needed ] and United World Schools.

Ma has taken part in three Strive Challenges to date, alongside Sir Richard Branson. In these challenges, groups of entrepreneurs undertaking cycling and climbing challenges in different countries to raise money for Big Change, an education charity helping young people in the UK to "thrive in life". [19]

Tropic Skincare has funded 2,000,000 school days via their partnership with UWS and opened a school in the north of Cambodia in February 2020. [20]

Awards

Susie Ma won 3 Stevie Awards for Women in Business in 2016, [21] with a further 5 awards also won in 2017. [22] In January 2018, she secured a place on 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, in the Retail and E-commerce category for her work with Tropic Skincare, and acted as a judge for 2019's list of honourees. [23]

Later in 2018, Ma won an EY Entrepreneur Award for ‘Building a Better Working World’, and was selected as an Outstanding Entrepreneur at the Global Business Excellence Awards. [24] She was also chosen for the Startups.co.uk Young Guns Class of 2018. [25]

Ma was ‘Highly Commended’ for the Natural Health Awards 'Holistic Hero' for two years running (2018-2019), [26] and in 2019 was chosen as one of Management Today's 35 Women Under 35. [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Sugar</span> British businessman and media personality (born 1947)

Alan Michael Sugar, Baron Sugar is a British business magnate, media personality, author, politician and political adviser. In 1968, he started what would later become his largest business venture, consumer electronics company Amstrad. In 2007, he sold his remaining interest in the company in a deal to BSkyB for £125 million.

<i>The Apprentice</i> (British TV series) British reality television series

The Apprentice is a British business-styled reality game show created by Mark Burnett, distributed by Fremantle and broadcast by the BBC since 16 February 2005. Devised after the success of the American original and part of the international franchise of the same name, the programme focuses on a group of businesspeople competing in a series of business-related challenges set by British business magnate Alan Sugar, in order to prove themselves worthy of a prize offered by him. To observe candidates as they undertake these tasks, Sugar is aided by two close business associates who act as observers with little involvement in what is conducted – these roles are currently performed by Karren Brady and Tim Campbell.

Michelle Louise Faye Dewberry is a British businesswoman, presenter, and media personality.

Ruth Badger is a British businesswoman, best known as the 2006 runner-up in the second series of the UK version of reality TV show The Apprentice, in which contestants compete for a £100,000-a-year job working for British business magnate Sir Alan Sugar. She has also presented her own TV show, Badger or Bust, and done various other TV work.

<i>The Apprentice</i> (British series 6) Sixth season of UK television series

The sixth series of British reality television series The Apprentice was broadcast in the UK on BBC One, from 6 October to 19 December 2010; due to the 2010 General Election, which Alan Sugar had political ties with following his appointment as a Lord within the House of Lords, the BBC postponed the series' broadcast until Autumn of that year to avoid a potential conflict of interest from the broadcaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlotte Tilbury</span> British entrepreneur and make-up artist

Charlotte Tilbury is a British beauty entrepreneur and makeup artist. She is the founder, chairperson, and chief creative officer of the makeup and skincare brand Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Ltd. Tilbury is a contributing beauty editor for British Vogue, and global ambassador for Women International.

Young Apprentice is a British reality television programme and a spin off of The Apprentice, in which a group of young people compete against each other in a series of business related challenges to win a £25,000 investment from British business magnate Lord Sugar. In addition to Sugar, he was also joined by his adviser Nick Hewer, and new adviser Karren Brady, prior to her debut on the main show, upon Margaret Mountford's departure from the role in 2009.

<i>The Apprentice</i> (British series 7) Seventh season of UK television series

The seventh series of British reality television series The Apprentice (UK) was broadcast in the UK on BBC One, from 10 May to 17 July 2011; due to a qualifying match for the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League set to be aired live on 20 July, the final episode was given an earlier broadcast date to avoid clashing with this.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vend (software)</span> Financial services & Retail management company

Vend is cloud-based point-of-sale and retail management software company, based in Auckland, New Zealand. The company was founded in 2010 by Vaughan Rowsell. It was acquired by the Australian software company Kounta.

Amshold Group Limited is Alan Sugar's private holding company. The company is responsible for all of Alan Sugar's private companies and companies formed in partnership with Alan Sugar as a result of the UK TV show The Apprentice.

Luisa Christina Zissman is an English retail entrepreneur and reality television personality. She was the runner-up on the ninth series of The Apprentice and finished fourth on Celebrity Big Brother 13. She later became a presenter and regular panellist on Big Brother's Bit on the Side. Zissman is also one half of podcast LuAnna: The Podcast with Anna Williamson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leah Totton</span> Northern Irish practising physician, entrepreneur and former model

Leah Totton is a Northern Irish practising physician, entrepreneur and former model who won the 2013 series of BBC One's The Apprentice. Her business plan, a cosmetic clinic chain, named Dr Leah Clinics, co-owned with Alan Sugar, launched in 2014. Their business was a success; with their London clinic winning national awards. Dr Leah Clinics expanded to open further branches in London and Essex & the pair have also launched Dr Leah skincare products. Dr Leah received media attention for her glamorous appearance, her success on the show, the success of her resulting business and for advocacy of improved ethics and integrity in the cosmetic treatment industry. Despite the success of her business she remained committed to NHS and returned to work part-time as a GP in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Bell (Australian entrepreneur)</span> Australian businessman

Nick Bell is an Australian businessman. He has founded or co-founded several companies in Australia and internationally, including Appscore, Removify, Lisnic, Primal, and First Page Digital. In 2020, Bell’s net worth was estimated by Australian Financial Review 2020 Rich List to be $274 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropic Skincare</span> British skincare company

Tropic Skincare is a British online and multi-level marketing company which sells skincare and cosmetic products. The company is based in Croydon, South London, where it designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes its products. The business is owned by The Apprentice series 7 runner-up Susie Ma.

Trideca is an Australian-based digital agency specializing in mobile application development for iOS, Android and Windows platforms founded. Trideca has built over 600 apps for a number of companies such as Telstra, NAB, and ANZ.

Jessica Cunningham is a businesswoman, actress, model and television personality, best known for competing in the 2016 series of The Apprentice, coming fourth. She is also known for her appearance as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother 19. She is the owner of the online fashion company ProdigalFox and the operations director for a PR and marketing agency.

Sara Davies is a British businesswoman, entrepreneur, and television personality. She is the founder and owner of Crafter's Companion, a company she started while a student at the University of York. In April 2019 it was announced that she would join the panel of the BBC television programme Dragons' Den for its seventeenth series, replacing Jenny Campbell who decided to leave the programme in early 2019. In 2021 Davies was appointed the North East Ambassador for Smart Works Newcastle, a charity supporting unemployed women into work through clothing and coaching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Brooksworth</span>

Samuel Brooksworth is a British-Ghanaian businessman and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Remoteli. Brooksworth first came to public attention in 2016 when he became a contestant on BBC One's the Apprentice. After the show Brooksworth founded the Startup Accelerator Build and Master, educating and mentoring entrepreneurs to grow and scale their businesses. In 2020 Brooksworth then founded Remoteli. Remoteli is an on-demand staffing organisation supporting businesses globally in building remote workforces. Services include Business Assistance, Customer Service Support, Social Media Management, Business Development and Software Development. In 2022, Remoteli was named Global Startup of the Year at the Startup Awards National Series.

Carina Lepore is a British businesswoman and media personality. She is best known for being the 15th winner of The Apprentice. After winning the show, Lepore entered into a 50:50 partnership with Lord Sugar with bakery business Dough Artisan Bakehouse.

Sian Marie Gabbidon is a British businesswoman, fashion designer and media personality. In 2018, Gabbidon won Series 14 of The Apprentice.

References

  1. ↑ "Susan Ma: from poverty in Shanghai to Lord Sugar's boardroom". 10 April 2012.
  2. 1 2 Cuccinello, Hayley C. "30 Under 30 Europe: Meet The Millennials Changing How We Shop". Forbes. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  3. ↑ "Susie Ma: Tropic Skincare - Young Guns class of 2018". Young Guns by Startups.co.uk: Start up a successful business. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  4. ↑ TWK. "Fast Track". Fast Track. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  5. ↑ UK, FashionNetwork com. "Tropic Skincare moves to £4m HQ following record turnover". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  6. ↑ "BBC - The Apprentice 2011 - Candidates".
  7. ↑ "Atlas Olivie Health – OLIVIE HEALTH (Atlas Olive Oils USA Inc.)". oliviehealth.us. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Tropic Skincare (21 May 2012). "2012 - Tropic Skincare Launch with Lord Sugar" – via YouTube.
  9. ↑ "Fast Track Supplement" (PDF). Fast Track 100. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  10. ↑ "Lord Sugar launches Tropic's new Croydon HQ". Develop Croydon. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  11. ↑ "Tropic Skincare opens doors to new London headquarters amid expansion success". www.cosmeticsbusiness.com. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "Tropic Skincare". London Stock Exchange Group. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  13. ↑ "Lord Sugar confident in startups after Brexit as he opens HQ". Evening Standard. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  14. ↑ UK, FashionNetwork com. "Tropic Skincare moves to £4m HQ following record turnover". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  15. ↑ Skincare, Tropic. "tropicskincare". www.tropicskincare.com.
  16. ↑ "Susie Ma: Tropic Skincare - Young Guns class of 2018". Young Guns by Startups.co.uk: Start up a successful business. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  17. ↑ "tropic skincare". BOYFRIEND MAGAZINE. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  18. ↑ Thornhill, Helen (15 March 2017). "Tropic Skin Care". The Winnie Mabaso Foundation. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  19. ↑ "Virgin Money Giving". uk.virginmoneygiving.com. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  20. ↑ "Tropic Skin Care". FE News. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  21. ↑ "2016 Stevie Award Winners | Stevie Awards". stevieawards.com. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  22. ↑ "2017 Stevie Award Winners | Stevie Awards". stevieawards.com. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  23. ↑ McGregor, Kirsten Taggart,Jay, Susan Ma: How Homemade Skincare Became A Major Beauty Business , retrieved 19 February 2018{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ↑ "Previous Winners". Global Business Excellence Awards. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  25. ↑ "Susie Ma: Tropic Skincare - Young Guns class of 2018". Young Guns by Startups.co.uk: Start up a successful business. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  26. ↑ "Natural Health International Beauty Awards". www.naturalhealthmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  27. ↑ "35 Women Under 35 2019: The profiles". www.managementtoday.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.