He Said, She Said: Didier and Sophie Guillon

Lara Mansour   |   18-01-2017

Husband and wife duo at the helm of Swiss luxury cosmetics brand Valmont

Guillon

It’s not often that couples manage to mix business with pleasure successfully, however Didier and Sophie Guillon are an exception to the rule. A husband and wife team, whose individual talents have helped an iconic Swiss beauty brand succeed in the industry. The dynamic duo are not just a powerful combination in the business world, they are also proud parents of three, Capucine, Maxence and Valentine. Didier is the third generation of Guillon’s who took over the family business, as Chairman of Valmont, and Sophie, his wife, is the scientific brains behind the mastermind products. Their pioneering products have included the first use of glacial spring water in cosmetic care and they have had DNA and RNA advances with their products, making them an innovative force in their field.

What is the history of Valmont?

Didier: In 1905 Valmont clinic was the first to open in Switzerland. It welcomed film stars, including Charlie Chaplin and Ingrid Bowman, and people in politics. Clients came to rejuvenate and recover from their busy lifestyles. Eventually, it was our clients who asked us to create cosmetics. By 1985 we did just that and in 2000 Sophie joined me in the company.

Sophie: I always wanted to work with cosmetics and mix business with science. Previously, I worked at Balmain and Oscar de la Renta perfumes, and Yves Saint Laurent. I started as an export manager, selling products that others were developing. That is what I did for 15 years. Now when I develop a product I think about the customer first. At Valmont, I am Director of Operations. I look after the creation of concepts and product development. When Didier took over the company there were 30 products and now we have 115 formulas. I love developing scientific products, I’m addicted to innovation.

Tell us about yourselves and how you met.

Didier: I was born in Paris, and I met Sophie in Paris.

Sophie: I grew up in Paris and studied there. I am French, but bloodwise I’m Vietnamese.  I never lived in Vietnam though and I’m someone that has no roots to one place, I’m an international person. I live everywhere and I feel comfortable anywhere. I was brought to Paris when I was five and, when I married, I moved to Switzerland to raise a family and take care of Valmont.

How would you describe each other in three words?

Didier: I believe she is passionate person, a real leader and represents excellence.

Sophie: I think Didier is visionary, artfully accurate and intellectually brilliant, all at the same time.

What do you admire most about each other?

Didier: Sophie’s ability to be everywhere at the same time, her strong dedication to everything she does and her high precision to deliver perfection.

Sophie: What I admire most about Didier is his visionary sense and his artistic ability.

Tell us the secret to your success?

Didier: To be very honest, I believe there are no real secrets to success, you need to combine persistence, determination, innovation, and hard work, together with learning from your mistakes. Multitasking is also a major part of success.

Sophie: There are definitely three fundamental factors at the same time, passion, vision, and hard work.

How is it working together and being married?

Sophie: It’s our life, we don’t know any other way. It’s probably boring for the children but they enjoy it and the oldest wants to join the company.

Didier: Normally you need to force children to join a family business, but our eldest, Capacine, really wants to join us. The youngest even said she would join. They would be the fourth generation to stay in the family business if they did. Today, getting a good job at a nice company is difficult, and there’s no guarantee you are going to keep your job. Having a family company is a chance for our children to succeed. We hope our daughter will work in the new store in London, which will open in Knightsbridge next year.

Are there compromises you must make to enable a good work harmony?

Didier: Well, Valmont is a family owned-business. Everyone is different and everyone has different ideas obviously. Each idea is a piece of puzzle. You just have to know how to put them all together because they are all fundamental to the final great result. Working with family is a beautiful adventure and is part of your actual family duties.

Sophie: It is all about accepting different point of views, not everyone is the same, but together you create great outputs.

What makes your brand special compared to others?

Sophie: People will pay for something luxurious that gives instant results. Many are skeptical that cosmetics don’t really work and won’t change anything. However, our customers are loyal to our brand because they see the instant positive benefits on their skin.

Didier: If today we are cosmetic leaders in the industry it’s because we have proved our products really work. Worldwide our products are sold in stores and spas where the customer will have the best beauty advise from a qualified, trained therapist.

What can’t you live without?

Didier: My family.

Sophie: Joy, passion, and friendship.

Where is your happy place?

Didier: I would say, in artistic galleries where I get to dive into my favourite world.

Sophie: On an island near Bordeaux where I don’t wear make-up.

Nights out or relaxed evenings in?

Didier: Personally, between both I would choose to have a relaxed evening with my entire family.

Sophie: My choice would be a relaxed evening watching a good movie.

Where is the next place on your wish list to visit?

Didier: Costa Rica, it is a childhood dream.

Sophie: Nordic fjords.

What talent do you yearn for?

Didier: Sometimes I would like to have my youngest daughters’ artistic talent, with her compilations of videos and her short creation of small movies. It may look easy but it actually requires talent.

Sophie: No hesitation, music.

What is the best lesson you have been taught in life?

Didier: Great organisation as well as good communication can lead to incredible results. These are some fundamental things that you need in order to build an empire, and accomplish what originally seemed quite impossible.

Sophie: If there is one lesson that life has taught me, it is to always trust yourself. You always know more than you think you do.

What are your hopes for the future?

Didier: I would like to stay with my wife for a very long time and to keep making beautiful products in this beautiful environment. I’d like to continue to do everything with passion and emotion and to please our customers.

Sophie: I would like our products to continue to be innovative and to help women grow old with grace.

If you could be remembered for one thing, what would it be?

Didier: My artistic world and perception of things.

Sophie: I would say my way of seeing the bright side of life.

By Hershey Pascual

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