Taking a shine to clean skin
Posted 25 March 10EGO is anything but a dirty word in the estimation of the Australian Institute of Export.
The judges of the institute’s “2010 Heroes Awards” yesterday announced that among the winners of six prizes was Victorian Alan Oppenheim, managing director of skincare company Ego.
Signalling that export success is more than skin deep, the awards honour individuals whose “sheer hard work” drives their enterprise’s plans for global domination.
And while some Australian heroes are fighting a different battle in the Middle East, Mr Oppenheim says the region is a key frontier for Ego products.
“The Middle East continues to power much of our international growth, with sales growing 40 per cent in the past 12 months,” he said.
The 57-year-old company manufactures QV skincare lotion, Aqium hand disinfectant, MOOV head lice treatment and Sunsense sunscreen.
Mr Oppenheim said last year’s international sales, which spanned 24 countries, grew by 34 per cent to $16 million.
Naming the winners, AIE executive director Ian Murray said people who receive an export hero award have fought and won on the international stage.
“They have made more sacrifices, travelled more miles and spent more time away from home than they would like to remember,” Mr Murray said. “They have that magic mix of good business skills blended with loads of passion.”
And no doubt a healthy ego probably helps, too.
Herald Sun: Taking a shine to clean skin
