Foundation and history of the 1st compounding pharmacy in Brazil

Foundation and history of the 1st compounding pharmacy in Brazil

Dermage is a national dermocosmetics brand, a pioneer and reference in the manipulation market focused on dermatology.

Firstly, if you are the type who is always up to date with the best cosmetic products on the market, you have certainly heard of or even used Dermage products. We are talking about a pioneering brand in the segment of compounding pharmacies focused on dermatology. In fact, it was the first pharmacy of its kind in Brazil.

Dermage is a national company, which, like many others, started as a small business, but soon evolved to become a reference when it comes to dermocosmetics. It all started with the dream of businesswoman Lisabeth Braun, who after selling a green Beetle invested in her own business. This would later become a brand of national recognition.

Therefore, today Dermage reflects the dreams of Lisabeth and her daughter, a Brazilian brand made by women for women. In addition, it has its own stores and franchises spread across the country, distribution in pharmacies and other points of sale.

Therefore, let’s learn a little more about the origin of Dermage, this important and significant brand in the Brazilian dermocosmetic market.

Founder of Dermage

Before talking about the origin of the brand, we need to know a little more about its founder. Lisabeth Braun is a descendant of immigrants who came to Brazil during the Second World War and settled in the country, setting up her own business. From this, it is now possible to see where Lisabeth’s entrepreneurial streak comes from.

But before having her own business, Lisabeth, who has a degree in biochemistry, worked at a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro. It was a good job, with reduced hours in a modern environment for the area. However, this didn’t seem to be enough for her, as she felt unmotivated seeing people with many years of experience doing the same things.

So, she took a trip to Argentina, and in Buenos Aires she visited a compounding pharmacy. In the 1970s, this was something unheard of in Brazil, and on this trip she saw an opportunity to undertake. When she returned to Brazil, she and her husband, Walter Braun, had the idea of ​​setting up a compounding pharmacy in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

And then, at the age of 30, she decided it was time to change and take bigger flights, and so she did. Lisabeth resigned from her job, sold the green Beetle she had and rented a small commercial space with a partner and opened her first business. It was the beginning of what would become the current dermocosmetics brand Dermage.

First company

In her first company, an almost experimental business, Lisabeth worked in all areas of her business. Therefore, in addition to working on handling products, she also served customers, dealt with doctors, worked on the business plan and finances. In other words, she did a little of everything.

Soon the business grew, and the small room could no longer accommodate all the production, and it was necessary to move to a larger space. It didn’t take long for the social duo to open three other stores. And the business went very well, but a few years later Lisabeth and her partner decided it was time to separate so they could each pursue their own plans individually.

Born in Dermage

And then, in 1990, Lisa, as she is known, took another turn in her life. It was time to innovate again, and she came up with a new business and a new idea, Dermage. With this new company, the idea was to industrialize the formulas and create a dermocosmetic brand. In fact, this was what set the new company apart, and it soon won over the medical profession, a big step towards the success of the new venture.

For this new business, given the experience gained, she decided to hire professionals from the administrative and financial areas to be able to dedicate herself to the development of her products. But as not everything is rosy, until it got to where it is, the new company went through many challenges. However, none of this was able to shake the management of the business, which continued to grow.

So, despite all the difficulties, Lisa continued to invest and dedicate herself to Dermage. With the great growth, her husband, an engineer, soon left his job to take over management of his wife’s company, and together they consolidated Dermage as a reference company in the dermocosmetics market.

Family business

In addition to Lisabeth and her husband, the couple’s daughter, Ilana Braun, is also part of the team. After a period working at Dermage, Ilana became interested in the business, and also quit her job to join her parents in the family business.

Therefore, with training and extensive experience in the field of finance, the couple’s daughter brought new perspectives of growth and development to the company. It wasn’t long before she took on the role of CEO of Dermage and led the company founded by her mother.

So, with this more than special support in managing the business, Lisabeth can dedicate herself exclusively to product development. In this way, the brand managed to exponentially increase its portfolio. Today Dermage has more than 300 different products, which include items for hair, face, body, makeup, spa, nutricosmetics, among others.

In addition, it also increased its distribution channels, more than 60 own and franchised stores, pharmacies and other points of sale throughout Brazil, including Sephora. An important milestone in the brand’s great success is the credibility it maintains among the medical profession, accumulating awards at international congresses and, of course, consumer approval.

Focus on women

Dermage’s target audience is women, but in addition, they also make up the majority of the team of employees. Therefore, around 90% of the company’s workers are women. According to its founder, Lisabeth, this is because women understand other women, and as consumers they also know what others are looking for in a cosmetic product.

But beyond that, this company policy is also a way of valuing female skills in all areas.

Anyway, did you already know the Dermage brand? In fact, take the opportunity to learn about the history of the Sephora brand.

Sources: Endeavor Institutional Dermage Revista Saúde

Featured image: ASCOFERJ

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