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With less than US$3, a homemade mixer and the intuition of a young Bolivian pharmacist, one of the greatest stories of Brazilian entrepreneurship was born in Curitiba. Understand the origins of O Boticário, which went from being a small pharmacy to becoming one of the largest cosmetics groups in Brazil.
A origin and creation of O Boticário is linked to the life story of Miguel Krigsner, a Bolivian who arrived in Brazil as a child, settling with his family in Curitiba (PR). The son of Jewish immigrants who escaped World War II, he grew up in a home marked by overcoming obstacles, hard work and respect for human relationships.
In the 1970s, while studying Pharmacy and Biochemistry at the Federal University of Paraná, Miguel decided that he did not want to pursue a career in laboratories or the pharmaceutical industry. He wanted to become an entrepreneur. So, in 1977, with the equivalent of less than US$3 at the time, he opened a small compounding pharmacy in the center of the capital of Paraná. Thus, the creation of O Boticário was born.
The name of the pharmacy alluded to the old apothecaries, professionals who handled medicines by hand — and reflected well the initial company proposal.
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From pharmacy to cosmetics brand: Miguel Krigsner's strategic shift
What began with the manipulation of dermatological creams soon took on another dimension. Observing that the majority of his customers were women and that many waited in the store itself to collect compounded medications, Miguel began to prepare handmade cosmeticsas the collagen and seaweed based facial creams.
The success of the formulas spread throughout the city of Curitiba, and soon the revenue from cosmetics surpassed that of the traditional pharmacy. This was the first sign that the company's future lay in beauty — not just health.
With a business vision and bold spirit, Miguel began investing in the development of fragrances and personal care products, even at a time when the national cosmetics market was limited. creation of O Boticário, therefore, it was more than a store — it was a response to a market lacking innovation.
Silvio Santos' 60 bottles and the birth of a perfumery classic
One of the most iconic moments of Miguel Krigsner's trajectory, founder ofO boticario, happened in the late 1970s, when the brand was still taking its first steps in the area of perfumery. Determined to create a line of signature perfumes, Miguel learned from industry contacts that the businessman and presenter Silvio Santos had given up on launching his own fragrance brand in Brazil.
The reason? The project did not move forward, but Silvio had ordered 60 thousand glass bottles, in the shape of an amphora, which were stored in a warehouse in São Paulo. Upon learning of this, Miguel traveled to the capital of São Paulo with the intention of buying only a small part of the lot, since he had no money — nor need — to acquire everything.
Upon arriving at the location, he was informed that the negotiation would only be made “all or nothing”.With no capital available and not even a place to store the pots, he risked everything: he closed the purchase, had the bottles loaded and took them to Curitiba. The trust was based on pure intuition and urgency.
With the vials in hand, Miguel called his team and asked them to the fragrance that was still in development was finished immediately. According to him, there was no more time for testing. It was necessary to launch something quickly to start selling and recover the investment made in the bottles.
Thus was born the Fresh water, a perfume with citrus and aquatic notes, which became a real sales phenomenon in Brazil — and remains to this day one of the brand’s most traditional fragrances.
Miguel Krigsner: the founder who combined science, art and entrepreneurial vision
A creation of O Boticário was much more than a commercial initiative. Miguel combined his technical knowledge in pharmacy with a rare sensitivity for meet consumer desires, especially women who visited their pharmacy in search of dermatological solutions.
He started to develop facial creams with collagen and seaweed, own recipes, applied with scientific rigor, but with aesthetic and sensorial appeal. The result was immediate: word of mouth made the products popular in Curitiba.
Miguel says the secret has always been in the be careful with people. “I learned from my father that entrepreneurship is about knowing how to deal with people. Everything we build is based on this trust,” he said in an interview with the Terra portal.
Furthermore, Krigsner attributes part of his entrepreneurial vision to your family's story of overcoming, which has gone through wars, immigration and new beginnings. This resilience is in the DNA of the Boticário Group, which today employs thousands of Brazilians.
The second store and the birth of the franchise
The turning point in O Boticário's trajectory was the opening of the second store, in 1979, at Afonso Pena International Airport, in São José dos Pinhais, in Greater Curitiba. This strategic location made the products known to passengers from all over the country.
Airline employees began to take the cosmetics as gifts or to resell in other cities. With demand growing, Miguel Krigsner realized the potential for national expansion. Thus, in 1980, even when the term “franchise” was still little known in Brazil, the first O Boticário franchise store was opened in Brasília.
In a few years, the model was consolidated. By the end of the 1980s, there were already 800 stores spread throughout the country. Today, with more than 3.600 units in 1.700 Brazilian cities, O Boticário is recognized as the largest franchise network in BrazilAccording to Brazilian Franchising Association (ABF).
O Boticário today: a multichannel beauty ecosystem
Currently, O Boticário is part of a group that brings together several brands, As:
- eudora
- who said, berenice?
- The BeautyBox
- Vult
- Dr Jones
This portfolio offers more than 9 thousand products, sold by physical stores, e-commerce and direct sales, in a multichannel model that consolidates the company as a leader in the beauty sector in the country.
With more than R$ 8 billion in annual revenue, the Boticário Group employs around 7 thousand direct employees e more than 22 thousand franchisees and beauty consultants.
Sustainability and social impact: beauty with purpose
From 1990, Grupo Boticário also stands out for its social and environmental actions. It created the Boticário Group Foundation for Nature Protection, which today is a reference in the preservation of biomes such as Rain Forest e Cerrado.
The company maintains two private nature reserves, in addition to financing dozens of environmental projects throughout Brazil. In its manufacturing units, it invests in the circular economy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and recyclable packaging.
In cities such as São José dos Pinhais (PR), Registro (SP), Camaçari and São Gonçalo dos Campos (BA), the company also invests in professional qualification, culture and community well-being. For the founder, the community is the extension of the company, and the entrepreneur must take care of the place where he operates.
Family values and resilience: the roots of the group
Miguel Krigsner says that what he learned from his father — a businessman who escaped the war — was essential for the brand's growth. Values such as respect, trust and perseverance shaped the corporate culture of the Boticário Group.
Amid the economic crises of the 1990s, Miguel faced financial difficulties and even called suppliers to explain that he needed time and trust. He paid each of them before the agreed deadline. The gesture built a relationship of trust that remains to this day in the production chain.
These episodes show how O Boticário's trajectory is based on solid relationships, not just in commercial strategies.
The role of the physical store in times of digitalization
Despite the progress of E-commerce, Miguel believes that the physical store remains the heart of the operation. According to him, contact with the products, the possibility of trying them out and the welcome at the point of sale are irreplaceable.
Today, stores are more than just commercial spaces: they are sensory experiences that connect the consumer to the brand. This combination between the physical and digital has ensured customer loyalty and sustained expansion.
The formula for success: attention to detail and commitment to the future
The founder of O Boticário sums up his career with an important lesson: opportunities do not arise by chance, but as a consequence of dedication and attention to detail. For him, luck is being prepared for the unexpected.
Miguel says that if he could go back in time, I would do it all again. His advice to new entrepreneurs is clear: there is no shortcut to success. You have to learn from your mistakes, grow over time, and act with purpose.
From a small pharmacy to the largest beauty group in Brazil
The history of O Boticário shows that it doesn't take a lot of money to build an empire — all it takes is vision, courage and commitment. What started as a small pharmacy in Curitiba has become one of the largest cosmetics groups in Brazil, with national and international impact.
Today, the Boticário Group is synonymous with beauty, ethics, innovation and social responsibility, being an inspiration for thousands of entrepreneurs who dream of transforming realities based on simple ideas.
And all this was born with less than 3 thousand dollars, a domestic mixer and the dream of a young Bolivian.
I remember Dr Miguel's beginnings well... I was a little girl and I was enchanted by the Acqua Fresca that my mother got from Dr Miguel, because my mother was his professor at the pharmacy school...
Today I work in one of Boticário's stores and I am very proud to be an employee of Grupo Boticário…
Congratulations Dr Miguel for your magnificent vision and achievement… Tania Marchesini
I also know a little about the history of Boticário. I worked in a printing shop in the 70s where they made the first packaging (bags) for selling Boticário products.
Serene graphics???
I started as an advertising representative for Studio Oscar Vissem, Dr. Miguel's first advertising agency, since the pharmacy. Then I was invited to participate in the agency's profits by Mr. Oscar. Boticário is synonymous with visionary entrepreneur Dr. Miguel. Congratulations.
How do I make deliveries from Boticário in my city?
I'm also part of this story.
I was studying Pharmacy and did an internship at Boticário
Good afternoon, I am proud to be part of this great group as a collaborator.
Nelsi Kuerten I love love love Boticário, it's a dream to see the factory from the inside
Today one of my 5 children works
In this huge factory where we are left
Smelly Boticário I love it
41 98894-4430