A former contestant on the BBC’s Apprentice programme is to visit the Isle of Man to promote her range of skin care products.
Susan Ma was a runner up in the series which aired in 2011 and sees budding entrepreneurs compete in a variety of business challenges to win a highly paid job working for Amstrad entrepreneur Alan Sugar.
Though she was pipped to the winning post by another contestant, Miss Ma’s business caught the attention of Lord Sugar who has given it his backing.
‘I started my Tropic Skin Care range back in 2007 - so it was four years before going on the Apprentice,’ she said.
‘But I’ve been experimenting and making these types of products since I was 15.’
Each product goes through a lengthy development process which involves collaboration with cosmetic chemists as well as a great deal of reading and researching ingredients.
‘It takes at least 200 attempts to get the final result so there is a lot of hard work involved in the process,’ she said.
‘It’s a bit like complex cooking but very sophisticated and requiring knowledge of chemistry.
‘It is a matter of months and countless hours to develop a product but I don’t see it as a job because I enjoy it. I’m always researching it because it’s something I’m passionate about,’ she said.
Born in Australia, Miss Ma moved to Croydon with her parents when she was 13. Her products which use a range of natural plant oils and other ingredients are produced in Surrey and are sold via a team of ambassadors who organise parties, so-called pamper evenings and other social get-togethers.
Nationally in the UK there are around 850 ambassadors including a small team who Miss Ma will meet up with in the Isle of Man. The hunt is also on to add to the team of ambassadors so she is inviting any would-be entrepreneurs along to a presentation where they can try the products and find out more about the business opportunity.
‘Women of all backgrounds can do this and build a business to earn some extra income. It’s flexible so there is potential to earn anything from a couple of hundred pounds to 10s of thousands,’ she said.
The free presentation is at the Mount Murray golf club from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on Sunday (August 18). To book, call 695330.
Successful candidates can be product ambassadors,