professionalbeauty.ae
interview
27
The Cuccio effect
To mark the UAE launch of hit US nail brand Cuccio, Emma Baron speaks to owner Tony Cuccio about his plans to take the nail industry by storm
W
hen I met Tony Cuccio for the glam launch of his eponymous brand, at Ruth Chris’s Steak House in Dubai, it’s immediately clear why he’s the creative force behind the multi-million-dollar nail business. The brand has been a trendsetter on the global stage since its inception in 1999 and Cuccio’s bubbly and engaging persona lights up the room as he networks with the abundance of industry professionals and bloggers in attendance. And when we speak, his passion for his brand and love for what he does shines through and is infectious.
EB: Tell us more about Cuccio’s background. How did it all begin? TC: Along with my wife, Roberta Cuccio, we began building our empire out of a suitcase of cosmetics in 1981 on Venice Beach, California. We are now proudly recognised as one of the largest nail and beauty product manufacturers around the world. In 1999 we achieved ultimate recognition making INC. 500 and Entrepreneur of the Year. From this, we went on to found “Cuccio Naturale”, the first natural nail hand and foot care treatment product line, which was inspired by my Italian background and passion for the country. The products were developed to enhance the beauty of clients worldwide, only using the most natural ingredients.
EB: Why have you decided to officially launch in the UAE now? TC: It’s all about finding the right distributor who will move and drive our brand forward, and represent us in the best light. We have decided to partner with Monarqi for this reason – to help us build a solid business foundation, which will eventually help us expand
Professional Beauty GCC June 2017
027-029 PBGCCJUN17 Cuccio.indd 27
03/05/2017 11:18