We talk to Image Skincare CEO and Founder, Janna Ronert on her success, innovation and her plans for 2018.
From humble beginnings
From a small-town country girl from Nebraska, to the founder and CEO of one of the biggest skincare brands in the world, Janna Ronert is one remarkable woman.
Established only 15 years ago, today Image Skincare is one of the most highly-regarded professional skincare brands in the industry, sold in over 60 countries and with 20,000 salon professionals reaping the rewards that its innovative and superior quality products bring.
Whether it is managing her family dynamics at home with her twins, or leading the charge at the head of a global business, Jannaโs incredibly modest work ethic stems from her natural determination and tenacity, pushing through obstacles throughout her career to get Image where she knew it could go.
As one of the most successful female CEOโs in the industry, Jannaโs fearless dedication in seeking innovation where others wouldnโt dream about, has led her to be honoured with Ernst & Youngโs Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2012, and recognised among the top 200 CEOโs in the USA.
The team that keeps on growing
Despite Image Skincareโs growth, Jannaโs strategy remains as simple as it did when she had a single employee and no customers, working out of her apartment.
โThere are two things that are responsible for our success as a brand: Our passion for developing innovative products, and our amazing team of more than 200 employees that are inspired to be the very best in the industry,โ Janna explains when talking about her constant focus on her team at Image.
Janna and her business partner slash husband, plastic surgeon Dr. Marc Ronert, stand their business on the belief that employees should be treated like family, and their loyalty rewarded at every turn.
โNever underestimate the meaning of a team, those who strive to get to the finish line with you. I endeavor to remain grounded and focused on my employees, and my customers, keeping them highly engaged with the brand and empowered to meet their life goals.
We know that if our employees arenโt invested in the brand, our customers wonโt be either. Even our warehouse staff undergo training on our products and are given free skincare regimen starter kits and skincare education,โ says Janna.
When you stop innovating in the industry, your brand will die
Janna and Marc frequently travel the globe in search of the latest breakthroughs in technologies and ingredients, recently travelling to Korea to investigate the latest trends in K-beauty. โAs relentless innovation is the backbone of our brand, we continue to evolve our formulations to keep up with an ever-growing industry that will discard you at the drop of a hat if you stand still,โ says Janna.
โWeโre constantly working on evolving the brand with new innovations but we also continue to go back and reformulate best-sellers in the range.โ
Core to her business strategy is driving customers to skincare professionals to purchase, though Janna admits that the advent of digital continues to present a challenge to the industry.
โEven in the face of the digital revolution, as a former esthetician myself, I believe that a website will never replace a good facial. The biggest challenge for the coming years is meeting the needs of customers who want to buy authentic products online, while continuing to educate them about the importance and value of professionals in the skincare industry.
Every leader of our industry will need to find the right balance between digital and offering a personal, face to face diagnosis and treatment plan.โ