Light House Denver – Martha Tilaar success is inspiring, especially considering she once disliked self-care and had no interest in the beauty industry. However, with perseverance and a clear vision, Martha succeeded in establishing a beauty business that is now widely recognized through various well-known brands.
Martha Handana, better known as Martha Tilaar, was born in Gombong, Kebumen, on September 4, 1937, during the period of Dutch colonial rule. As a child, Martha preferred behaving like a boy and was reluctant to take care of herself. Seeing this, her mother decided to send Martha to a traditional beauty expert in Yogyakarta, Titi Poerwosoenoe. It was here that Martha began to learn about beauty, which later became her passion.
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Martha continued her education at IKIP Jakarta and taught there for three years before moving to the United States to join her husband, Dr. Henry A. Rudolf Tilaar. In the U.S., Martha deepened her knowledge of beauty at the Academy of Beauty Culture in Indiana. She worked at Campes Beauty Salon and later opened her own beauty salon after graduating.
In 1969, Martha and her husband returned to Indonesia. With savings from the U.S. and support from her family, she opened a small salon in her father’s garage on January 3, 1970. The first salon was only 6 x 4 meters in size, but its excellent service led to rapid growth, attracting models and the wives of government officials as regular clients.
Soon after, Martha opened a second salon in Cipete, Kebayoran Baru. At the same time, she started using the Sariayu Martha Tilaar brand, which later became a widely recognized identity in the beauty industry. To further enhance her expertise, Martha traveled to Europe in 1972 to learn about traditional beauty formulations.
Martha continued to grow her business by establishing Martha Griya Salon, which focused on traditional beauty treatments. In 1983, she founded PT Sari Ayu Indonesia and expanded her business network. Together with Kalbe Farma, Martha established PT Martina Berto, a company that produces various cosmetics, herbal medicine, and body care products.
Through Martha Tilaar’s Innovation Center, with 37 researchers, she succeeded in creating well-known brands such as Sariayu, Biokos, PAC, and Dewi Sri Spa. Her business continued to expand through acquisitions and earned numerous prestigious awards.
Martha Tilaar’s success story proves that with determination and hard work, one can turn a dislike into a great opportunity. Today, her business is not only well-known in Indonesia but also in international markets. Martha’s journey demonstrates that even though she initially had no interest in beauty, she was able to create products that have benefited many people.
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