Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Perich.
Hi Michael, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My love affair with makeup began when I was 19 years old. I can remember sitting for hours upon hours in the mirror practicing on my face, washing it off, and repeating that process over and over again. Nothing was more important to me than mastering my technique. Keep in mind that this was well before the YouTube era. There were no tutorials to rely on, there was only my own trial and error.
Out of the gate I began working for some of the biggest names in the industry. My determination immediately saw dividends, but I found myself on a battlefield competing with sharpened makeup brushes and helium inflated egos. This is a result of a business model that had created internal competition within one another for the sake of the sale. It became artist against artist, and as for myself, I’m not a competitive person. I don’t need to extract every dollar out of a client in order to prove my artistry. I’d much rather let my work speak for itself. With my own product line, ‘PERICH Skincare & Makeup,’ I have nothing to prove to anyone except for my clientele and myself.
The beauty industry has changed so much over the years. It has always been a numbers game, but it’s devolved into a multi-billion dollar celebrity sales-pitch for generic products. Who is trending at the moment and how many followers do they have? Which celebrity is schlepping a newly named, yet relatively same, filler-based mascara? It used to be about quality products, relationships, community and art. With the exception of a few holdouts, such as myself, those days are largely over.
Once my eyes opened and I saw how toxic everything had become I set out to do things differently. In 2018 I launched ‘PERICH Skincare & Makeup’ with the vision of offering a wide array of quality products that meet and exceed expectations. Currently in about 165 boutiques across the country, ‘PERICH Skincare & Makeup’ is focused on creating beauty and sharing it with integrity. As I always say, results never lie.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all…and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Like the old saying goes, ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained.’ I don’t believe that being handed anything on a silver platter is truly worth having. You must earn your way, pay your dues, and only then can one truly look back and appreciate the journey they’ve embarked on. People make mistakes by rushing through the process, but I’ve learned that true growth is found in patiently planting the seeds of your ideas, watering them, watching them bloom, and finally harvesting them in due time. Some people have instilled in them at a young age a dedicated work ethic, and others are in such a rush that they end up having to replant their crops. Whichever path you find yourself on you have to do the work to reap the rewards (ie. a heightened sense of self-respect, self-worth, and respect from your peers).
All of the obstacles of life are what makes you who you are, creates character, integrity, and values. When it comes down to crafting one’s own name brand, especially in an industry abundant with competition, they are the building blocks that have made PERICH Skincare & Makeup what it is today. All I can say is life is not a dress rehearsal my friends. If you haven’t yet, start your journey, follow your passions and dreams, and reap the rewards…because no matter how rocky the path may appear before you, the end will be that much more fulfilling.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In tandem with ‘PERICH Skincare & Makeup’ I have also created, ‘The Gnome Colony Co.’ It is a 1700 sq. ft. representation of everything that exists in my imagination, my heart, and my soul. When I set out to open The Gnome Colony in 2018 I had one goal in mind, to create a shopping experience unlike anything I’d ever encountered before. It is, as the tagline describes, “A store full of love, whimsy, and wishes.” It is a sanctuary for the soul which has become a Chicagoland destination.
Time is the most precious thing that we all own. Whether it is through ‘PERICH Skincare & Makeup’ or ‘The Gnome Colony Co.’ I spend mine creating joy, happiness, and love for others. I truly love every moment of all that I do.
Anything else you would like to leave us with about yourself?
At the end of the day I am a kind hearted, god-loving man who takes great pride in knowing that I bring out the beauty in others while adding joy and happiness into their lives.
Pricing:
- 58.00 Angel Eyes Eye Cream
- 24.00 Lipglistens
- 38.00 Essence
- 18.00 Earrings/Rings/Bracelets
- 28.00 Necklaces
Contact Info:
- Website: www.MichaelPerich.com & www.TheGnomeColony.com
- Instagram: PlanetPerich & TheGnomeColony
- Facebook: PlanetPerich & TheGnomeColony
- Twitter: PlanetPerich
- Youtube: PlanetPerich
Image Credits
Christopher Allison
