Page 44 - Forbes - Asia (October 2019)
P. 44
SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
FRONTROW:
REINVENTING NETWORK MARKETING
A fast-growing
beauty and
wellness brand is
revolutionizing
the direct selling
business in the
Philippines.
FRONTROW founders,
Sam Verzosa (L) and RS Francisco (R)
After almost a decade of rising GDP growth, products, Manila-based FRONTROW is lever- Thanks to its large number of loyal mem-
the Philippine economy is poised for con- aging the interest of the emergent Filipino bers, which the company considers its
tinued expansion in the medium-term, mak- middle class in health and beauty to fuel business partners, FRONTROW has been
ing it one of the fastest-growing countries in the company’s rapid growth. Its founders, winning top awards from the network mar-
Southeast Asia. That is driving a steady rise in RS Francisco, a multi-award-winning film keting authority, Asian Networkers Conven-
demand for beauty and wellness products and theater actor and advertising director, tion and Exposition (ANCE), which hailed
as Filipinos, now enjoying higher disposable and Samuel Verzosa, a civil engineer and FRONTROW as the “Best Global Company”
incomes, spend on items beyond food and serial entrepreneur, were early users of glu- in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
other basic necessities. With the average tathione-based supplements to maintain a Frontrow is considered the fastest-
income reaching US$3,002 per person last clearer skin complexion and boost their growing multi-level marketing company in
year, up from a little over US$2,100 in 2010, immunity. Southeast Asia, with more than a million
spending for health and beauty is projected According to Francisco, FRONTROW is one distributors and over 200 branches span-
to rise by 4.7% a year in the five years to 2021, of the leading direct selling and network ning the globe. But the company's journey
when it will reach US$10.1 billion, according marketing companies in Southeast Asia. It towards success and recognition has not
to market research firm GlobalData. relies on its vast membership base to market been easy. When Francisco and Verzosa
Founded in 2009 as a multi-level or net- its products, namely, LUXXE Health & Beauty founded the company in 2009, network or
work marketing company that developed Supplements, FRONTROW whitening and multi-level marketing didn’t enjoy a sterling
a high-quality but affordable line of food exfoliating soap bars, and the LUXXE White reputation. Ponzi schemes and pyramid
supplements, cosmetics and skin care Reveal Korean skin care line. scams masqueraded as network marketing
