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Executive Director Marketing Gabi Medeiros Humbles, Executive Sales Director Antoine Bona, Executive Director Administration & Finance Laetitia Bona Piedra, President Jean-Jacques Bona, Vice President Patricia Bona, Executive Sales Director Guillaume Bona |
Essence Corp celebrated “25 Years of Excellence” at the 2013 IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas with a party for customers. The Miami-based distributor treated guests to fine wines and sushi handmade by specialist chefs at a top Orlando restaurant.
Here, The Moodie Report looks back at Essence Corp’s past year and its milestone events.
January 2013: Supporting green urban living
Every year, as part of its week-long marketing meeting, Essence Corp holds a team-building event to support its local community. In 2013 – Essence’s 25th anniversary year – a team of 55 employees spent a day at the Green Urban Living Center, at Miami Dade College North campus.
The centre’s outdoor garden space, which is a Certified Wildlife Habitat, features an organic butterfly garden, an organic vegetable and herb garden, a compost area, and a native Florida ecosystems habitat. It serves as an important source of healthy food for the surrounding urban neighbourhood. On 17 January 2013 the Essence team spent the day weeding, mulching, and planting trees and vegetables.
Essence worked with Fairchild Palms, a young professionals group dedicated to fundraising and volunteer support for the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens Challenge Programme. The Challenge is an annual, Miami-based environmental education and awareness programme that is replicated across the nation in elementary, middle and high schools to engage students to compete academically and excel in environmental and sustainable solutions.
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The Essence team’s helping hands in action at the Green Urban Living Center, Miami |
March 2012: Oscar de la Renta fashion show
Oscar de la Renta raised over US$5,000 for travel retail industry charity Hand in Hand for Haiti at its first-ever fashion show at the IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas in March 2012, organised in partnership with Essence Corp, which distributes Oscar de la Renta fragrances in Americas travel retail.
The show featured the Oscar de la Renta Spring 2012 collection and was well attended by trade show visitors and members of Women in Travel (WiT).
After the event, Essence Corp Vice President Patricia Bona commented: “We raised US$2,170 but there are some pledges to come, including a match from Oscar.”
Describing the link to Hand in Hand for Haiti as “really important” to the company, Bona added that the fundraising efforts should reach US$5,000.
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January 2012: Beach clean-up “a huge success”
On 12 January 2012, over 75 volunteers from Miami-based beauty distributor Essence Corp joined the Environmental Coalition of Miami & the Beaches, to clean up South Pointe Jetty and the adjacent beach.
“Essence Corp is committed to helping others and shares the common goal of improving the environmental, economic and social well-being of the community,” noted the company.
The clean-up was described as “a huge success”; volunteers collected more than 46 bags of rubbish, weighing over 700lb, which was then taken away by the City of Miami Beach. Three brave individuals even went into the ocean to remove a large, sodden mattress that had got stuck on jetty rocks.
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The Essence Corp team shows off its corporate social responsibility credentials at South Pointe Jetty in Miami |
November 2011: Burberry boutique opening
On 1 October 2011, Essence Corp officially opened a new Burberry Boutique within the DFS Galleria at Honolulu, Hawaii. The 365sq ft shop showcases both the Burberry Beauty make-up collection – which made its debut in Americas duty free – and the new, flagship Burberry Body feminine fragrance, which was unveiled earlier that year.
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The Burberry Beauty make-up collection and new Burberry Body fragrance, as showcased at the DFS Galleria Honolulu |
Essence Corp history
1953: Guillo & Bona, founded by Maurice Guillo and Jacques Bona in Paris. First agency company exporting luxury brands to the Caribbean and Central America. Introduction of Dior, Rochas and Givenchy in the region
1974: Second generation, Philippe and Jean-Jacques Bona, join the company. Expansion to South America. Launch of Azzaro and Gucci
1982: Jean-Jacques and his wife, Patricia, open a G&B branch in Panama. Expansion to US and Canada duty free markets. Beginning of distribution activity
1988: Essence Corp founded in Miami
1993: Introduction of Burberry Fragrances
2002: Third generation joins the company: Antoine Bona, son of Jean-Jacques and Patricia Bona, followed by cousin Guillaume and sister Laetitia Bona Piedra
2003: Essence Corp becomes the Regional Sales and Marketing office of the Clarins Group
2007 to 2012: Addition of Versace, Elizabeth Arden, Oscar de la Renta, Hermès, BPI group, Bulgari and Lolita Lempicka to portfolio. Opening of distribution in Puerto Rico local market.
About Essence Corp
Essence Corp is a master distributor/agent of fine fragrances and cosmetics covering the Caribbean, travel retail markets of the Western Hemisphere and the local markets of Latin America. Founded in 1988, the family company has an office and warehouse in Miami, boasting a multicultural team of 19 nationalities.
