Founder of Mecca shares story behind her $100m empire

The woman who founded beauty giant Mecca Cosmetica has revealed the story behind her astonishing success – from a young girl playing with her mother’s makeup to owning a AU $100 million company.

Mecca owner Jo Horgan often shies away from the spotlight – instead letting her glittering makeup empire speak for itself.

The business mogul first discovered cosmetics when she played around with her mother’s makeup pots while growing up in the UK, and at the age of 28 took a gamble and sold her home to open a boutique store in Melbourne.

Mecca founder Jo Horgan (pictured) sold her own home to open the first store in Melbourne’s South Yarra

The Mecca founder created her international empire in 1997 after working in L'Oreal for years

The Mecca founder created her international empire in 1997 after working in L’Oreal for years

‘I really was one of those kids constantly getting into my mum’s make-up pots and trying things on,’ Jo told PerthNow.

‘I would watch her taking off her make-up, cleansing, moisturising. I can still to this day remember the smell of all those different products. I remember coming home from boarding school on the weekends and sitting there next to her, chatting as she was doing that.’

Jo started in the makeup industry by taking up a job with Parisian beauty brand L’Oreal and fell in love with the allure of cosmetics and the way it made women feel.

She decided to bring the niche ‘mecca’ style to Australia in 1997 and, by 2003, she had launched her own Mecca brand which ranged from moisturiser to powder brushes.

Mecca founder Jo Horgan (pictured) sold her own home to open the first store in Melbourne's South Yarra

Mecca founder Jo Horgan (pictured) sold her own home to open the first store in Melbourne’s South Yarra

She decided to bring the niche 'mecca' style to Australia in 1997 and, by 2003, she had launched her own Mecca brand which ranged from moisturiser to powder brushes

She decided to bring the niche ‘mecca’ style to Australia in 1997 and, by 2003, she had launched her own Mecca brand which ranged from moisturiser to powder brushes

‘I feel that Australian women are naturally fashion-forward and plugged in. Now, with the advent of digital, Australian beauty consumers are incredibly attuned to what’s going on internationally,’ Jo told the publication. 

Selling her own home to set up a tiny makeup store was a spectacular risk – which ultimately paid off.

This year marks two decades since Jo lifted the veil on niche beauty on Australian shores and she is now the head of a multi-million dollar beauty business.

Mecca now has 80 physical stores across Australia and NZ and two online, with both Mecca Cosmetica and its bigger counterpart Mecca Maxima drawing in scores of beauty lovers every day.

'I feel that Australian women are naturally fashion-forward and plugged in. Now, with the advent of digital, Australian beauty consumers are incredibly attuned to what¿s going on internationally,' Jo told the publication

‘I feel that Australian women are naturally fashion-forward and plugged in. Now, with the advent of digital, Australian beauty consumers are incredibly attuned to what’s going on internationally,’ Jo told the publication

This year marks two decades since Jo lifted the veil on niche beauty on Australian shores and she is now the head of a multi-million dollar beauty business

This year marks two decades since Jo lifted the veil on niche beauty on Australian shores and she is now the head of a multi-million dollar beauty business

Mecca now has 80 physical stores across Australia and NZ and two online, with both Mecca Cosmetica and its bigger counterpart Mecca Maxima drawing in scores of beauty lovers every day

Mecca now has 80 physical stores across Australia and NZ and two online, with both Mecca Cosmetica and its bigger counterpart Mecca Maxima drawing in scores of beauty lovers every day

Jo’s 1990s vision transformed into a $100m business which stocks hundreds of brands and thousands of different products. 

‘I am really proud of the fact that Mecca is an Australian born and bred company that has focused 100 per cent on Australian and New Zealand women,’ Jo adds.

Just last month Mecca unveiled its biggest ever location in Brisbane, a sprawling store spread over two levels and on a 550sqm lot. 

More than 2,000 fans lined up outside the new retailer awaiting the grand opening, eager to get their hands on a bottle of foundation or the newest liquid eyeliner.

Stunning images from the inside of Mecca’s now flagship store reveal shelves upon shelves of illustrious brands ranging from Lancome to Yves Saint Laurent. 

Jo's 1990s vision transformed into a $100m business which stocks hundreds of brands and thousands of different products

Jo’s 1990s vision transformed into a $100m business which stocks hundreds of brands and thousands of different products

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk