A health entrepreneur has shared his secrets to how he turned his £33,000 life savings into a £40 million cosmetic clinic empire in just six years.
Sam Cinkir opened the first Este Medical Group site in 2015 to meet a growing demand for tech-enabled aesthetic treatments at an affordable price.
His rags-to-riches story has seen him come from growing up in rural Turkey with few prospects to becoming one of the UK’s most successful beauty moguls – with famous clients including Amir Khan and his wife Faryal Makhdoom, plus footballer Kenneth Zohore.
Cinkir believes the key to his success has been putting client satisfaction before profits, with Este Medical Group now boasting clinics in Salford Quays as well as Birmingham, London, Glasgow, Nottingham and Leeds.
He said: “Hair has been my passion from the age of eight and I grew up knowing I wanted to get into the health and beauty industry and make positive changes in peoples’ lives.
“I left Turkey to pursue my dream in London and I worked my way up from being a trainee consultant in a clinic to leaving as the general manager.
“I had spent 12 years working every hour possible to learn as much as I could about hair loss treatments and I felt I could use that knowledge to launch my own business.
“I used my £33,000 life savings to get the company off the ground, which was a major risk, but I was wholly confident that I would be able to make a success of it.
“The ethos of the business since day one has been to put the client at the heart of everything we do, rather than cutting corners or sacrificing quality to maximise profit.
“For me, it’s more about the joy of seeing smiles on faces because of a job well done and that’s truly the best feeling in the world.”
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Cinkir has been working in the health and beauty industry since arriving in the UK aged 21 in 2001, and has developed his skills and knowledge to the point where he is now considered one of the leading experts in his field worldwide.
It’s a far cry from his humble beginnings, growing up in rural Turkey with little money where people would look down on him because of his tatty clothes.
Arriving in Britain was supposed to be a fresh start, but he was faced with a lack of job prospects and a number of instances of racism directed towards him.
However, an entry level job at a hair growth clinic gave him an opportunity to learn his craft and set the foundations for what would become a hugely successful career in the hair and skin industry.
Launching his own clinic in 2015 was a dream fulfilled, but he could not have imagined how successful it would turn out to be.
His aim for a turnover of £52,000 in the first year was smashed when it hit £700,000, thanks to his unparalleled passion and expertise helping him build a loyal base of clients.
Today, Este Medical Group boasts 11 clinics across the globe, including Milan, Istanbul and Bucharest as well as the UK arm.
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Despite the challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company currently has a market value of £40m, but Cinkir wants that figure to reach £100m.
Now restrictions are easing, hopes are high that the future will be even brighter.
Cinkir said: “The health and beauty industry was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic and it’s been an incredibly challenging time for many businesses in the field.
“When the first lockdown came in, we were busy preparing to open three clinics, so we concentrated our efforts in getting every single detail right in preparation for restrictions easing.
“It turned out to be an incredibly exciting time for us, actually, as we invested £5m in our new London premises which is now one of the biggest clinics in Europe.
“Our Leeds clinic has undergone major works and we are now incredibly proud of how it has turned out, while we were also named the number one hair transplant clinic in Turkey.
“We are constantly looking at ways to improve our service, from innovative new treatments to investing in our people who are truly the best ambassadors for Este Medical Group.
“Many of the senior people in our business began at the bottom and have worked their way up with us because I have spotted their ambition, talent and dedication and helped them grow.
“This really comes across to our clients, who regularly comment on how much of a family atmosphere we have.
“One of the most important things I wanted to achieve when I began the business was to offer top quality treatment for affordable prices.
“Not everyone can afford cosmetic treatments and the price can often put them out of reach for people who would benefit greatly from them, such as people who suffer from conditions such as alopecia or acne which affect their confidence.”
Este Medical Group treats 2,000 patients in the UK each day, offering a range of bespoke aesthetic solutions.
Popular treatments include the HydraFacial treatment, the Emsculpt body-contouring device and a series of hair growth solutions.