Celebrity hairstylist Mark Anthony Rosales has opened a new branch of Marqed Salon in Alabang.
Following the success of Marqed's first branch in Greenhills, Mark and his business partner Monique Morales decided to open Marqed South, much to the delight of his fans and loyal clients who live in the area.
"Well, actually the first few months very excited kasi yung mga tao, kasi most of our clients naman from here sa Greenhills are from South din," Mark explained in an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) via Zoom.
"Actually, it all started talaga, the idea of having Marqed South, because of them. Kasi yung iba, dumadayo pa talaga from Alabang, from Cavite, so ayun."
Mark and Monique teamed up with businesswoman and Kumu live streamer Lucky Weidmann for the new branch of their salon. Lucky is also the owner of Weidmann's Plaza, where the salon is housed.
"Actually, it’s not even a hard pitch dun sa investor namin, dun sa partner there.
"They have a plaza kasi in the… yung place ng Marqed South so they have a gym, the food hall, the carwash, and the coffee shop.
"So they said that they wanted to put up a salon nga daw. So parang instead of them competing with us, so why not join the family na lang daw. So yun, dun siya nag-start talaga."
Marqed South is conveniently located in a building that allows customers to get other errands done in one outing.
Mark said of the location, "It’s a one-stop-shop siya talaga. So, pag nandun ka, pagpasok mo sa plaza you can do the car wash.
"'Tapos punta ka sa salon, punta ka sa gym 'tapos there’s a coffee shop din, there’s a food hall... so it’s a one-stop-shop talaga."
PANDEMIC CHALLENGES
Like other businesses, Mark encountered a number of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The biggest challenge was, of course, to keep the business afloat.
But at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, Mark and his team did not realize the gravity of the situation.
He recalled, "Alam mo nung first quarter ng pandemic, kasi parang di ba we all thought naman na it’s just 15 days? So we all expect na parang 15 days lang siya.
"So parang at the start, chill lang kami, parang ayun na, lockdown na pala."
It was during these first few months of the nationwide lockdown that their team decided to release a series of self-help tutorials on Facebook and YouTube.
Not only did this help their clients, it also helped their business maintain its social-media presence.
Mark said, "We started lang i-launch yung #GetMarqedAtHome. So we have that initiative, yung mga parang DIY hair care.
"We did some of the videos parang helping lang our clients, just to make sure na we are still there for the clients. So we launched the #GetMarqedAtHome [video series]."
Aside from caring for their clients, it was important to care for the employees, too. Mark said he and Monique tried their best not to lay off their employees during these trying times.
He said, "Siguro... alam mo yun talaga yung pinaka… as much as possible, e, prinotect namin talaga not to let go of people.
"So what we did lang talaga is start skeletal, ganyan. If I have gig sa labas, sila na lang yung ginagawa kong assistant, so ganun. So far naman buo pa rin yung team."
As for their new branch, the hardest part was actually finding the right, skilled people.
"Actually the challenges talaga is first to find the best people. I guess yun talaga yung pinakamahirap, e, no.
"But ako napaka…I’m just very fortunate here sa Greenhills because, yung team dito are very understandable, very understanding sila.
"Especially when the time na nagkaroon ng pandemic, we have to practice skeletal scheduling, yung mga ganyan.
"So, at start, we have to get the best people kasi nga all clients are all sanay here sa Greenhills na, e.
"And we cannot transfer everyone sa South. So ayun, ayun yung pinakamahirap to train people."
Mark also developed and released a line of hair care products called Grape Shake during the pandemic.
"And, at the same time, nung medyo tumatagal na yung pandemic, nagiging one month na siya, naging three months na siya, that’s the time na we started to put up our own product line which is yung Grape Shake nga.
"It’s a purple shampoo at saka yung treatment. Kasi that time we’re not allowed to operate. So for us to be there for our clients, what we did is [we launched] a product they can use at the comfort of their home."
Mark currently offers Grape Shake to his salon's clients, but he and his business partners are planning to reach more people for their hair care line.
"We are planning to have like a complete line na talaga. Actually we have it na, but we are not yet promoting it pa lang talaga, so it’s all in-house products lang.
"So for our regular clients, ganyan. But we are, I’m eyeing to have it with a sari-sari store, like a sachet pack of Grape Shake."
LEARNING FROM PAST EXPERIENCE
Mark said he was also able to utilize all the lessons he learned from his previous business venture called Thesis Salon in Bonifacio Global City.
One thing he learned then was the importance of building rapport with his employees.
He said of his time in Thesis Salon, "The difference lang siguro that time is the approach. My approach kasi that time, it’s very corporate.
"Kasi that’s what… kasi yung system niya, very systematic ng corporate talaga. But guess that’s [not] effective in a salon industry.
"So kasi, like, for example sa mga tao, medyo sensitive sila when you say that they are incompetent. Di ba in corporate world naman, you know, it’s just a feedback. But for them, iba yung dating sa kanila."
Mark has since adjusted his approach when it comes to dealing with his employees in Marqed Salon, describing it as "more personal, parang kaibigan mo lang sila."
The celebrity hairstylist also reiterated having a vision for his business. For Marqed Salon, it's all about total hair care.
Clients are first assessed using a scanner, then the course of treatment is decided based on the results of these hair and scalp check-ups.
Mark explained, "Itong approach na ito, it was adopted from Japanese salons. Kasi, sa Japan... di ba sa Philippines kasi, like for example, when you do bleach, kailangan you have to do bleach in a day lang.
"So in Japan kasi they’re very conscious with that. They are making sure na hindi mada-damage yung hair mo.
"So they have this science nga na... They deal with science in terms of hair consultation, so yun yung hair scanner."
Learning about this technology from Japan made Mark realize that there was nothing like it in the local industry.
He continued, "So I’ve noticed here in the Philippines, walang ganun. We do consultations, but it’s more on yung consultation yung nakikita lang natin on our naked eye.
"So that’s the time na, 'Okay. I guess this will be my vision: To provide a total hair care' na parang we have to start with a scalp.'
"For us to have beautiful hair, we need to have a healthy scalp. So yun, it all started there lang talaga."
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FOREVER GRATEFUL
Mark acknowledged that having a long list of celebrity clientele has largely contributed to his salon's success.
Over the years, he has become one of the go-to hairstylists of some of the country's top stars, like Lovi Poe, Maris Racal, Sanya Lopez, Klea Pineda, Julie Anne San Jose, and Andrea Torres, among many others.
GMA-7 actress Gabbi Garcia has also been his long-time muse, and Mark is grateful that the Kapuso actress stayed by his side through all the challenges he encountered, may it be in his personal life or in business.
Mark said, "Kasi we started the same time ni Gabbi, we started the same year. Kailan ba kami nag-start? I guess 2014 yata. We started fresh lang talaga.
"So yung naging journey namin, we celebrate the same milestone.
"So parang nakatulong talaga si Gab, especially nung 2020, maraming nangyari.
"But still, isa si Gabbi yung parang, 'We believe in you,' 'We stand for you,' ganyan.
"Up until the moment na yung trust ng ibang artist din, hindi nawala. I guess it’s because of her kasi she’s always there for me."
For now, Mark just feels blessed to have opened Marqed South. The celebrity hairstylist already has plans to open another branch of their salon.
"It’s really a blessing in disguise talaga. I don’t know why it’s all happening in the midst of pandemic, but recently I have a… we’re cooking up something na parang, another branch in BGC.
"I hope it will, you know, mangyari siya. But, blessing lang siya.
"Actually sometimes nga hindi rin ako makapaniwala na it’s all happening at the same time.
"Which is at the same time nakakatuwa rin kasi, di ba parang ang dami pa ring investors ang nagtitiwala kahit ang gulu-gulo ng Pilipinas with pandemic."