MELBOURNE BRANDS THAT LEARNT HOW TO GO INTERNATIONAL
LOCAL GOES GLOBAL
That’s exactly how Anthony McDonough felt 20 years ago. But now, after ditching corporate life, coming out to his ex-wife and daughter and meeting the new love of his life, the 50-year-old can finally say, well, “I’ve done it.” Together with his new partner in life and business, ex-finance broker Chris Gletbasas, 38, McDonough founded Liquid Skin Care (Lqd), a Melbourne-made skincare brand that has been notching up significant successes in the multibillion-dollar global men’s grooming market. Launched online at the Sydney Mardi Gras in 2012, Lqd now boasts big-name stockists, including Harrods and Harvey Nichols in the UK, Bloomingdale’s in the US and, recently, enjoyed a stint as the official skincare sponsor of London Men’s Fashion Week. “Only a year ago, just before we launched into the US, we only had five people working in the business. We now have 55 working either full- or part-time,” says McDonough. There is much more to the story of their success, of course. The tale includes a near-death experience (Gletbasas battled meningitis septicaemia while in London), coming out to an extended Greek family on Christmas Day (Gletbasas again) and weeks of toiling in the laboratory perfecting recipes for lotions and potions designed to be non-irritating and restorative for skin (that’s McDonough, who trained in organic chemistry at university). But Lqd is not the only Melbourne brand enjoying overseas success. Take clothing giant, the Cotton On Group. (OK, they were founded in Geelong, but then again, we’re told pavlovas were invented in New Zealand.) At last count Cotton On had more than 1400 clothing stores across 18 countries. Melbourne designer Lucy Folk has kept overseas sales for her distinctive jewellery turning over with sightings on celebrities including Snoop Dogg, Beyonce and Elle
6
T H E W E E K LY R E V I E W
Fanning, not to mention receiving “standout” praise in The New York Times. And, in hospitality, Melbourne coffee roaster Nolan Hirte has successfully exported his Collingwood cafe Proud Mary to Portland, Oregon, last year with plans under way to open a second in Austin, Texas, soon. And then there’s competitive swimmer-turnedswimwear mogul Duncan McLean. He built his chlorine-resistant men’s label, Funky Trunks, from a Prahran son-and-mother operation in 2002 to one that employs 20, with 35 sales agents spread across the globe. Today about half of total sales are to Europe. Since 2008 when the company (known as Way Funky, which also comprises women’s label Funkita) turned over an annual $1 million, it has been growing at between 20 and 35 per cent per year, he says. “We’re sending six containers of swimwear to Europe every year now [compared to 2008 when] it would have been down to Australia Post sending a couple of boxes.”
NOLAN HIRTE
GREG BRIGGS
I
t’s summer. You’re mooching around the pool, taking your annual break from working for The Man. Suddenly, an idea for starting your own business shimmers into focus. It’s exciting. A high-quality skincare range for men with sensitive skin. You imagine yourself shaking off the corporate shackles. Now you call the shots. But almost as quickly as the vision appears, it’s gone again. Everyday life takes over and you’re back at dreary old work-schmerk.
C H R I S G L E T BA SA S & ANTHONY McDONOUGH