30 October 2017
|
beautystorebusiness.com
Photography
by
Marc
Hickman
O O O s s s s s m m m a a a a n n n n
M M i i i t t t h h h h a v v v a y y a a n n n n n i i i i i
OKAY Pure Naturals boasts an ever-growing
operation—thanks to consumers'
increasing interest in natural beauty
products and one family's fastidious,
hands-on approach.
By Tracy Morin
li Mithavayani, founder and CEO of Miami-based Xtreme
Beauty International, the maker of OKAY Pure Naturals,
has been an entrepreneur for decades. He forged his
start by locally distributing products as a teenager, working
as a beauty salesperson from age 13 until he moved stateside
to seek an education after graduating high school.
"Back home, I was a salesperson for a company in Kuwait
as a kid. I had responsibilities to take care of my family even
then," Ali says. "In our country, you always work hard and
strive for the best. The goal is always to do something big,
and that was my goal."
After arriving in the U.S., he obtained his college degree
and became an electrical engineer at General Electric in
1982—a career that lasted for 27 years. In 1989, Ali decided
to get back into the beauty industry, and would eventually
own and operate everything from salons to beauty supply
stores to overseas manufacturing of hair dryers and curling
irons. Ali's wife, Mira, managed the stores, handling purchasing
and payroll until the decision was made to sell the stores and
focus solely on manufacturing.
A NATURAL FIT