Tropic Skincare is a British online and multi-level marketing company which sells skincare and cosmetic products. The company is based in Croydon, South London. The business is owned by The Apprentice series 7 contestant Susie Ma.
History Tropic initially launched as Tropic Pure Plant Skin Care in 2007. Susie Ma collaborated with cosmetic chemists, traditional herbalists and microbiologists to launch the brand.. The company officially became incorporated in 2011. After Ma took part in the seventh series of The Apprentice, Alan Sugar invested to become a 50% stakeholder in Tropic. In 2013, Tropic launched its direct-selling model with 400 founding sales people, known as ambassadors. According to the MLM, there are around 20,000 'ambassadors' across the UK. Since April 2023, Ma now owns 100% of the business.
Business structure Tropic uses a direct sales and multi-level marketing business model, in which sales people are paid for selling and for sales made by people they recruit or sponsor. Sales people host party plan events where products are demonstrated or sampled and orders are taken from customers. Sales people also can attend commercial events and have personal web-shops, where products are sold online
Products Tropic offers naturally-derived skincare, makeup and body care products, with sustainably sourced ingredients.
Ethics Tropic donates 10% of profits to charities and good causes globally. Charity partners include UWS, Reef Restoration Foundation and Trussel Trust. It has funded seven million days of education for children in remote parts of the world. Tropic also hold annual 'Give Back Friday' campaigns, where customers that spend £100 or more will receive additional products. The profits from the sale will fund "two full days of education for children in some of the world’s most marginalised communities." The additional sales generated during these promotional campaigns have led to an additional 74,000 days of education being funded in 2023 , and 80,000 in 2024.
Tropic is a patron of the Kings' Trust Women Supporting Women initiative.
Tropic is certified by the Vegan Society, Soil Association COSMOS Organic and Cruelty Free International, and is a CarbonNeutral and Ethically accredited company.
Awards
Tropic appeared on The Sunday Times Hundred 2022 - Britain's Fastest Growing Private Companies for the sixth consecutive year (previously known as the Fast Track 100).
Tropic was listed in J.P Morgan's 'Top 200 Women-Powered Businesses Report' in 2024 and 2023.
Tropic has won industry awards, from the likes of GLAMOUR, woman&home and CEW. In 2022, it won a Marie Claire Prix D'Excellence award for 'Beauty Gives Back', to recognise its impact in empowering through education for its partnership with charity UWS.
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