Let it be known that though it may be a man’s world sometimes, it’s always a woman who’s at work. Innovation and inspiration only go far until it is applied practically. Case in point is Parlon, led by Atty. Claire Ongcango

Parlon—a clever portmanteau of “parlor” and “salon”—is an app that allows users to book their beauty treatments and appointments easily across over 700  merchants. This includes aesthetic clinics, nail specialists, hair salons, waxing centers, and even wellness resorts. 

Claire Ongcangco

In 2021, Claire relaunched Parlon through a Zoom press conference (those were the days). Claire’s rhetoric for Parlon was simple: “Everything has been digitalized already. We can book rides and hotels. We can buy groceries and shop for beauty products online. But the salon and wellness services industry was left out in terms of digitalization.”

After a decade in the IT industry building websites and digital solutions for different startups and shortly after passing the bar (can you say multi-slasher?), Claire finally mustered the guts to make Parlon. The first hurdle was to on-board her first merchant. “With just a logo and some brochures, I onboarded some of my go-to salons. I actually did door-to-door outreach, and cold calls, and invited them to be part of our launch. I showed them and shared the main points that I had.” Since Parlon was a new concept she had to put in the leg work and explain her vision to a skeptical audience. Many of the establishments she approached still very much operated in the old-school ways so app integration and acceptance was a huge step for them. 

parlon.ph

But Claire made sure they made the leap into the digital age. It also upgraded the experience for clients. Parlon means that you don’t need to go on different channels to book your beauty appointment. You can browse through other institutes to discover new services or to be the first to try the latest trends. Through Parlon, you can get lash extensions and IV drips all in the same app, under the same account, and even at the branch closest to you. You also get to enjoy exclusive discounts and earn points for every booking that can be used to pay for beauty treatments.

It all may seem superficial. But Parlon is another example that when a woman wanted to, she definitely would—and exceed expectations. “I know that I’m relentless. I don’t give up easily,” says Claire. “I come from a traditional service industry where we launch websites and services. You finish a project, you finish the campaign, you deliver it, and that’s it. Project done. But in the innovative startup world, we’re here to challenge the world. We’re here to change the game.” 

“Even if you push the most innovative and most high-tech system or app, not everything is within your control. So, it’s not easy,” shares Claire. “When I pitch Parlon, I always share this—it’s not an easy path. I didn’t just instantly get 10, 20, 50, or 100 merchants, up to 700 now. It wasn’t overnight.”

The path forward for Claire may have meant a lot of sleepless nights, but it produced a Filipino-authored app that’s now slowly making a mark abroad.  Parlon is also available in Singapore, and of course, is looking to expand to even more countries.

And all of this for the sake of being kikay! 

Claire at Hiraya Wellness Resort & Ecopark, one of the best deals you can cop on ParlonREAD: Escape All Your City Woes In This Pangasinan Getaway

“It’s a double-edged sword,” says Claire, when it comes to how women love to express themselves through beauty and dressing up. “Because it’s not just about that,  it always means something more for us. It’s armor, it’s a source of confidence.”

And, sometimes, it is the right catalyst to launch a business disruptor. 

Download the Parlon app now on iOS or Android. Follow Parlon on Instagram at @parlonph