One Successful Entrepreneur with 5 Entrepreneurial Traits

What is Blackmores?

Blackmores is Australia's leading natural health brand. Our quality range of vitamin, minerals, herbal and nutritional supplements, and continued support of the community and environment, are among the many reasons Blackmores is the most trusted name in natural health. Most trusted brand at Blackmores we are committed to delivering natural healthcare products and services that meet the highest quality standards. We do this to meet the deserving expectations of our customers and in 2014 were awarded Australia's 'Most Trusted Brand' for vitamins and supplements for the sixth year running. Blackmores was founded more than 80 years ago by pioneering naturopath Maurice Blackmore. Our naturopathic heritage has a strong influence on the way we approach health conditions and maintenance of wellbeing, drawing on the traditional use of herbs as medicines and combining this with the latest knowledge of nutrition. Blackmores has stayed committed to research and innovation, minimizing our impact on the environment, supporting the community and being recognized as an employer of choice. Our range of more than 250 vitamins, minerals, herbal and nutritional supplements are developed by our in-house experts using the highest quality ingredients from around the world and made to exacting requirements under the international Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC / s) standards of good manufacturing practice (GMP) .We offer consumers a range of innovative services , including our free Naturopathic Advisory Service, which was used by over 50,000 people last year, and our award-winning website, which is an extensive health and wellbeing resource. We also provide support to our retail partners through superior training and education. Our long -term commitment to environmental and social responsibility includes partnering with stewards in sustainability, such as the World Wildlife FUND Sustainable Fish Oils Partnership, and supporting community organizations and initiatives. The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival raises millions of dollars for numerous charities.

About
Marcus C. Blackmore AM

Marcus Blackmore was born in Queensland in 1945, received his high school education at Church of England Grammar School in Brisbane, and later gained a Naturopathic Diploma from the NSW College of Naturopathic Sciences.

For many years, Marcus has been involved with many charitable and BUSINESS organizations and has received many awards for his contribution to industry and the community.  He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1998 and an Honorary Doctor of Southern Cross University in 2006. 

Marcus started his life on the water as a deckhand and casual Master for Hayles Cruises in Brisbane in the late 60’s.  He has had an extensive sailing CAREER including 13 Sydney-Hobart Races and is a past Australian Farr 40 champion. 

Service

1969-1971 Australian Army R.A.E.  Rank 2nd Lieutenant with service in Vietnam. Marcus is currently the Chairman of Blackmores Ltd, a public company employing over 540 people in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.  The company MARKETS the premium brand of vitamin and herbal products under the ‘Blackmores’ label and is widely recognized for its ethical practices and its treatment of staff. 

Marcus also holds the following positions: 

Director (and Past Chairman), Young Endeavour Youth Scheme. Honorary Trustee, CEDA (Committee for the ECONOMIC Development of Australia). Vice Chair, Defense Reserves Support Council Chairman and Board Member of the Heart Research Institute. Chairman and Board Member of the Southern Cross University Foundation. Director of the Australian National Maritime Museum. Member, Maritime Ministerial Advisory Committee to the NSW Government

Awards 

Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) (1998) – for service to BUSINESS, industry and the community. National Australia Day Council Citizen of the Year for community service in 1994. NFAA ‘Lady Cilento Award’ for contribution to industry, 1981. NSW Government Premiers Award 1990 for community service. RiverCare 2000 Gold Award in 1995 by NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation.

Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club of Manly. Honorary Doctor of Southern Cross University, 2006 – for distinguished leadership in the complementary medicines industry in Australia. Inducted into ATMS Hall of Fame in September 2011.

Interests

Yacht Racing and Cruising and Helicopter Pilot

How Marcus Blackmore demonstrates entrepreneurial traits to be successful in his venture. 

Marcus Blackmore has such a good foresight in this business. He does take it from his late father, Maurice Blackmore who had started this business. Marcus took the reins of this business in 1975, 2 years before his father dead. His late father was the one who responsible for starting Australia’s first health food stores. Since he was 5 years old, he is already showing his interest in this business as he always visited his father’s clinic in Queensland. As he grew as a teenager, he learnt how to prepare skin cream and ointment. His late father’s once told him “Doctors can bury their mistakes” which means that people are still going to him to get advice and medicine even though they have been meeting the doctors. It shows here that people are still going to rely on other medicines and supplements, not only to the doctor’s prescriptions. 

Marcus knows how to plan very well as he launched Blackmores not only in Singapore but also in Malaysia. As the result, Blackmores already reached $1 million of sales in 1976. Marcus is also aware of cruelty of using animals as a tester for product’s quality that have been done by other companies. Blacmores is the first Australian Company that uses no cruelty on animals. He knows by using this strategy, people will get attracted to use his products not only in present but in future as well. Started only with skin and hair products, he began to diversify his products to vitamins and mineral supplements and as a result of that, Blackmore tend to reached $10 million sales in 1984. As the company have a good potential to grow, Marcus changed its company names and converted it into public company. With then, they can raise more and large capital sum as there are no limit number of shareholders. 

Marcus has furthered the vision established by his father and made Blackmores a world leader in natural health. Marcus knows that health is very important issues that everyone is aware of. So he took a wise decision to follow his father’s step and run the legacy. As for it, Blackmores’ unrivalled heritage is at the heart of who we are today and guides our approach to health and well-being.

Marcus Blackmores, the Chairman of Blackmores Ltd is an initiative person who has been learnt the business ins and outs from his late father, the founder of Blackmores medicine. When he was young, during school holidays, he  learnt how to prepare skin creams and ointments, although during one school holiday he and a friend decided to concoct a laxative formula consisting of dates, raisins and senna where there is no one ever explored yet. His experiences help him in develop business. Now, Blackmores, Australia’s leading natural health brand, improves peoples’ lives by delivering the world’s best natural health solutions, to become peoples’ first choice in healthcare. They achieve this by translating their unrivalled heritage and knowledge into innovative, quality branded healthcare solutions that work. Blackmores is the most trusted name in natural health.

Marcus Blackmores is the person who ability to learn from mistake or learn from the past. Blackmore began working for his father full-time at the age of 18. Over the years as young bull clashed with old, he was sacked three times before eventually taking over the business at 28. As young teenager, Marcus Blackmore and his few friends who now as a doctor learnt how to concoct a laxative formula consisting of dates, raisin and sienna. Before they succeed from making this new produce, they was been failure many time and they taste the ingredient which they couldn’t stop licking their fingers for the taste. “The next day they just shifted themself always,” said Blackmore while laughing. “He’s never forgotten it. ”A many years ago before this Blackmore’s name familiar to a health care routine product which good to stay healthy or to help them with their health problems. This product have been critic and questioned the function of the product. For the scientist or doctor they said it's not built on anything but a fairy-floss approach to science. There have been surveys showing that many Australians are spending $80 or more a month on supplements, and scientists all around the world have been studying modern Western populations and pointing out that the vast majority of people do not need to take vitamin supplements. The advertising claims, for example, that are made by Blackmores that they relieve stress and provide energy are simply false." But Blackmores not given up, he kept it up and go through all the closed minded scientist. Now, Maurice Blackmore was already a pioneering figure in the world of Australian natural health when Marcus was born in 1945. Twenty-two years earlier, Blackmore senior had arrived in Brisbane by ship from the UK looking for a healthier life.

Marcus Blackmore also has the Ethical Consciousness trait during handling Blackmores. One of the examples that shows this trait is when he aware about the working environment.  In 2009, the corporate headquarters in Australia was relocated. At the new premises, the office, warehouse, packing factory and distribution centers are all accommodated under one roof. It includes innovative, environmental-friendly features aimed at minimizing environmental impact, and creating an ideal workplace for his staff. Furthermore, in making sure the product safety standards, he had never subscribed to the conspiracy theory when it comes to alternative medicine practice. Because of his consciousness in ethical issues, he has received several awards such as River Care 2000 Gold Award in 1995 by NSW Department of Land and Water Conservations, AM in the Queen's Birthday Honors list. Not only that, Blackmores itself received a few awards like the Ethical Investor 2006 Sustainable Small Company of the Year Award. Australian Packaging Covenant recognition Blackmores receives an accolade for their high achievement in reducing the environmental impact of their packaging. ‘Blackmores’ label is widely recognized for its ethical practices and its treatment of staff.