[VIDEO] How to Build a Beauty Empire: Lessons from Dr. Aivee Aguilar-Teo and Dr. Z’Shen Teo of The Aivee Group

The Aivee Group’s Dr. Aivee Aguilar-Teo and Dr. Z’Shen Teo share what it takes to build The Aivee Clinic and transform the business into a beauty empire.

Read the full story on The Business Manual: The Business of Beauty and Beyond: The Aivee Group’s Dr. Aivee Aguilar-Teo and Dr. Z’Shen Teo Talk About Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Trust

The origins of The Aivee Clinic began in a small, 50-square-meter space that Dr. Aivee Aguilar-Teo shared with another doctor. From there, it grew into a veritable beauty empire on the back of unrelenting dedication to her patients and constant innovation. 

Today, The Aivee Group has grown to become a chain of specialist aesthetics clinics, general skincare and wellness clinics (Aivee Skin, Aivee Skin Spa, Brovage) and all the supporting companies that have spun-off from the original Aivee Clinic (A Institute, Aivee Café, Luxuri Pets). But beyond the number of clinics and companies, The Aivee Group has truly elevated and redefined the aesthetics industry. And it has done so by offering cutting-edge treatments, and a curated, luxury, lifestyle experience over the past 15 years.

Redefining the Beauty Industry

The first big step for The Aivee Clinic was establishing their initial, landmark, luxury clinic in Bonifacio Global City.

Recalling the early days of her growing practice, Dr. Aivee says, “I remember very clearly how people started coming and people started to get to know me. And they just all came and I became so busy.”

Meanwhile it was her husband, Dr. Z’Shen Teo, or Dr. Z as he is known, who was quick to spot the opportunity unfolding before their eyes. He shares his realization upon seeing the long lines at Dr. Aivee’s clinic, saying, “I have to help her to grow this because she was busy tending to the patients… I said, ‘Let’s get a bigger space.’”

From her first clinic, Dr. Aivee then did what was unthinkable in that time: move to a 450-square-meter space, spend on lavish French interiors, and equip the clinic with the latest machines to provide luxury lifestyle, one-stop-shop service to a discerning clientele.

For these pioneers in the luxury aesthetic industry, establishing the first Aivee Clinic was not without risk. But Dr. Z doesn’t think of it that way. He says,  “I look at things very differently. I always see it not as a risk. I see it as an opportunity. I felt that Aivee as a doctor has a lot of potential, right? So I agreed with the vision of making [the clinic] into a lifestyle [experience] because I’ve seen how they like to go to the clinic just to have a good time, feel good about themselves. So I thought, there is a gap in the market here because no one’s doing it.”

Vision and Authenticity

“One of the things that makes us different is that we’re authentic,” Dr. Aivee says. “We built something different. We’re true to who we are.”  

It is this authenticity that Dr. Aivee credits for the success of The Aivee Group.

“In this industry, I feel that it’s important that you have a vision,” she continues, “but at the same time, you let people know and see who you really are, and you stay true to that.”

Dr. Z adds, “She genuinely treats the patient, and the patient genuinely trusts her. And because they trust her, they trust the brand. And I think we underestimate how consumers can actually see through it, and they can see it being genuine and authentic. And I think maybe that’s the difference.”  

Growing The Aivee Clinic

Scaling the business beyond The Aivee Clinic while staying true to the company’s vision was not without its challenges. Dr. Z explains, “Scaling is, of course, something that entrepreneurs will always want to do… but we cannot overexpand.” For The Aivee Clinic, the reason is obvious; there is only one Dr. Aivee Aguilar-Teo, and she insists on playing an active role in each clinic she establishes.

As the number of Aivee Clinics has slowly but steadily expanded, The Aivee Group has grown to spinoff into businesses that serve their clients’ needs. Every new venture The Aivee Group has launched is based on this understanding of their customers.

Dr. Z explains, “When we see our patients, we think, ‘How do we service their needs beyond aesthetics?’ Anything that they need, we spin off something.” 

Dr. Aivee adds, “Patients don’t just want treatments; they want to enjoy, relax, and feel good about themselves.” 

Watch the full interview to learn more.