October the 1st, 2024 – Leading Croatian cosmetic brand Manuela Picard Cosmetic Centres, founded by a pioneer of aesthetics in Croatia, are becoming part of one of the leading healthcare groups in the region, Futura Medical Group (FMG).
With two popular salons in Zagreb, located in Cvjetni Centre and Gajeva Street, 15 employees, and over 200,000 satisfied clients, this leading Croatian cosmetic brand has become synonymous with perfect brows and flawless skin. It’s now entering a new phase of business development with the support of new investors, led by Ognjen Bagatin, an experienced serial entrepreneur, co-owner and director of Futura Partners, under which Futura Medical Group operates.
Manuela Starčević, better known as Manuela Picard, experienced her career rise after spending time in London, where her clients included some of the world’s most famous women, such as actress Sienna Miller and singer Andrea Corr. Upon returning to Zagreb, her salons have, over 13 years, become a small empire of eyebrows, introducing Croats to threading, a hair removal technique using thread.
Manuela initially worked alone, but soon her appointments were booked months in advance. From opening Croatia’s first brow bar, where she and her team shaped between 500 and 700 brows per month, to offering top facial treatments like HydraFacial and Dermapen, Picard is also among the first domestic experts to build a brand using her own name. Now, she is turning to new challenges – she has created her own skincare and makeup product line, which will soon be launched in the U.S. and French markets.
“The salon has been my life for years, and I’ve deeply rooted myself in it. For a long time, I’ve felt it was time for the next step, and now that moment has arrived – I’m happy to say that I am developing new products for my brand and that I am ready for a new business leap. In Futura Medical Group, which brings together leading experts with proven results, I see a logical partner who will continue the tradition and improvement of the salon’s quality while introducing innovations. The Manuela Picard brand is in safe hands,” explains Picard about her business decision, after which she will remain in the role of advisor and brand ambassador.
“We are delighted that Manuela Picard, a pioneer in Croatian aesthetics, has recognized FMG as a partner who shares the same values,” says Ognjen Bagatin, co-owner of Futura Partners.
“With the acquisition of the leading Croatian cosmetic brand, Futura Medical Group expands its aesthetic portfolio, which also includes Sinteza Skin Clinic, a leading dermatology and aesthetic polyclinic. We are also active in online beauty brand sales and continue to develop the aesthetic services segment, to the satisfaction of our clients, and the Manuela Picard brand has immense growth potential,” announces Bagatin.
Bojan Pintarić, director and co-owner of Futura Medical Group, revealed that long-term plans include expanding the Manuela Picard salons to other cities in Croatia.
“We plan to expand the range of facial treatments, with an even greater emphasis on HydraFacial, Dermapen services, ZoSkin Health services and products, and similar popular treatments that clients can undergo quickly, without the need for recovery. Additionally, Manuela Picard Cosmetics products will be available in all salons, and together with the expert team from the Group, new aesthetic services will be developed to continuously broaden the offering for our clients. Manuela’s clients are accustomed to a team of top professionals who are constantly developing and learning themselves, and we will continue to nurture this employee culture in the future,” explains Pintarić.
Futura Medical Group is fully owned by Futura Partners, which, since its founding in 2022, has been investing in small and medium-sized businesses with high growth potential. Earlier this year, they also acquired the well-known pediatric polyclinic Sabol, one of the pioneers of private healthcare in Croatia. Futura Partners is backed by a group of successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople ready to invest so-called smart money. Along with directors Ognjen Bagatin and Filip Jelić, and FMG director Bojan Pintarić, their collective includes Luka Abrus Fijačko and Alan Sumina from the ICT sector, Berislav Horvat and Krešimir Šikić from banking, finance, and auditing, lawyers Josip Konjevod and Zlatko Knezović, and serial entrepreneur Saša Cvetojević.
