Pauline Ng (entrepreneur)
Pauline Ng (born 1 December 1985) is a Singaporean entrepreneur who founded Porcelain, a successful skincare cult brand, in 2009. After graduating from Singapore Management University, Pauline decided to forgo job opportunities at a Melbourne-based HR consultancy firm and another international marketing firm to take the road less travelled, despite difficult economic times in 2009.
In 2010, Pauline led Porcelain to cross the S$1 million mark in revenue, while continuing to push the boundaries within. Under her leadership, Porcelain grew from a 2-man team to a company of close to 100 today.
Her relentless drive to achieve service perfection also helped Porcelain land the prestigious World Luxury Spa Awards for 7 consecutive years from 2013 to 2019. Porcelain is also a recognized spa with more than 80 media accolades and was even featured in the likes of the Louis Vuitton City Guide (Singapore edition), BBC, Forbes, etc.
In June 2016, she was the youngest winner of the inaugural Teochew Entrepreneur Award in 2016 presented by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shamugaratnam, after being selected as one of the BBC's "30 under 30" women in November 2015.[1][2]This was followed by clinching the Winner of the Pulsar category in the Women Entrepreneur Awards 2018.
Today, Pauline aspires to grow Porcelain into more than just a cult skincare brand. Always one to push the boundaries, Pauline conceptualized Singapore’s first smart spa into fruition in 2018. She dreamed of a spa experience that leverages on technology to create a seamless omni-channel customer experience across all physical and digital touchpoints… and launched Porcelain Origins, Porcelain’s latest concept store at Paragon, that utilizes tech and innovation to enhance consumer engagement, satisfaction and experience.
Biography
Ng was born on 1 December 1985 in Singapore to a middle class family.
Her mother is a beautician and her father, a retired classical guitar player. At the age of 17, she had started her own events company. [3]
In 2009, shortly after Ng had graduated from SMU, her mother Jenny Teng sought her assistance in relaunching her facial care business. While her mother was skilled in facial treatments, she had little business experience.[3] Porcelain, the new company, was founded and managed by Ng, who also took care of marketing and procurement, while Teng took charge of the treatments and staff training.
From modest beginnings, the company expanded rapidly thanks to its high level of service and outstanding treatment and product results. Ng reinvested the profits into hiring more staff and in developing a line of Porcelain skin care products. By collaborating with facial care firms in the United States, Japan and Taiwan, the range of products was extended. By 2013, the business itself had revenues of US$1 million and was recognized as Asia's Best Luxury Beauty Spa at the World Luxury Spa Awards.[3][4] By mid-2016, the business was employing a team of 45, most of them therapists. They have three outlets and an online store - PorcelainSkin.com/Shop.
A firm believer of holistic wellbeing, Pauline encourages a good balance between work and play, indulging in music, traveling, diving, skiing and exploring.
Awards and media features
- 2016 - Pauline was recognized by the inaugural Teochew Entrepreneur Award and emerged the Grand Winner in the Promising category. She was the only female and also the youngest amongst other contenders, receiving the prestigious award from DPM Tharman Shamugaratnam.
- 2017 - As part of her personal challenge to conquer her fears of public speaking, she accepted multiple speaking opportunities, including a Startup Conference in Ho Chih Minh in July, and as a Panelist at the SME Conference organized by SCCCI and Spring Singapore.
- 2018 – Winner of the Pulsar category in the Women Entrepreneur Awards 2018
Other accolades include:
| Best Luxury Beauty Spa in Asia
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
World Luxury Spa Awards |
| Winner, Pulsar Category | Women Entrepreneur Awards 2018 |
| Best City Spa in Asia 2017
Best Country Spa in Asia 2017 Best Beauty Spa in Asia 2018 Best Boutique Spa in Singapore 2018 Best Spa Brand in Asia 2018 Best Beauty Spa – Global Winner 2019 Best Boutique Spa in Singapore 2019 Best Destination Spa in Singapore 2019 |
Haute Grandeur Global Spa Awards |
| More than Skin Deep | Straits Times Feature, January 2017 |
| Keeping things clean and clear at Porcelain | Business Times SME May 2017 |
| Face to Watch | ICON Magazine May 2017 |
| Grand Winner, Promising Category
Straits Times Feature Business Times Feature |
Teochew Entrepreneur Award 2016 |
| Nuyou 30 under 30 | Nu You Singapore, January 2016 |
| Prestige 40 under 40 | Prestige Singapore, September 2016 |
| Top 55 Most Inspiring Millennial | Her World, July 2015 |
| 5 Bosses who made $1 million dollars before 30 | Straits Times April 2015 |
| Homegrown Beauty | Singapore Tatler, June 2015 |
| Style New Guard Feature | Style, August 2015 |
| Featured Beauty Spa | Louis Vuitton City Guide |
| BBC 30 under 30 | BBC |
| Women of the Moment | Her World, September 2014 |
| Top 100 Most Inspiring Women 2012 | CozyCot Singapore |
References
- Leong Weng Kam (27 June 2016). "'New face' of Teochew entrepreneurs at inaugural awards". The Straits Times. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- "Pauline Ng, 29, Singapore". BBC. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- Varma, Ankita (19 April 2015). "Five bosses whose companies made a million dollars before their 30th birthday". The Straits Times. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- "2013 Spa Awards". World Luxury Span Awards. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.