CEO Stories: Ramy Gafni, Ramy Beauty Therapy

SURVIVAL INSTINCT

After getting fired, he leveraged his Rolodex (it was the ‘90s) and reputation for eyebrow shaping to get clients to come to his “studio” (AKA his apartment). Gafni put the knowledge he gained developing a makeup line at the salon to use to develop his own products. After a year of calling around, he landed a counter at one of New York’s most exclusive department stores, shaping brows and selling his makeup and skincare. After surviving cancer, he was initially content just to work.

THE POWER OF “CHUTZPAH”

His ambitions grew, and one of his first products was a lipstick called “Chutzpah” – which so impressed one salon owner that he dropped a prestigious makeup line to take Gafni’s. And it took chutzpah to get started. He had no capital to invest in the business, no business plan, and no business knowledge. He had no clue that people were wondering about his sales when they asked him questions like “How are your numbers?” Today, he understands the power of having a passive income stream thanks to his makeup line.

THERAPEUTIC BEAUTY

Gafni is also an author, whose first book was about helping cancer patients use makeup so they wouldn’t appear sick. He firmly believes “When you look good you feel better” and that it’s empowering to fight the disease any and every way you can.