Brand History
In 1968, founders of Vibelle Manufacturing Corporation, Don Vicente Ang and his wife Belen introduced the first locally produced nail polish brand in the Philippine market, Caronia.
Caronia, named after the luxury ship, RMS Caronia easily became a popular brand among Filipinas because it provided them an alternative to limitedly available imported nail care brands.
RMS Caronia was a 34,000 ton liner of the Cunard line from 1947 to 1967. She sailed from the Americas to Asia and rested her hulls on August 12,1974 in Guam. The new RMS Caronia sailed on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York on January 4, 1949. Today, the ship sails the different seas of Europe and the Americas.
The original RMS Caronia ship was named after Caronia, a town in the southern province of Messina, Sicily (Italy). In turn, the town’s name came from Latin variation of an Old French word carogne.
1960s
Premium quality comparable to the US brands available in the market coupled with a successful marketing program catapulted the brand to gain market dominance, unprecedented for a local brand for the next 20 years.
70s - 80s
In the 1980s, Caronia became a certified household nail care brand with its TV and radio commercials, catchy \ jingle and through the use of admired celebrity endorsers like Vilma Santos.
90s
The 90s marked product & marketing innovations in the nail polish industry.
In the next decades that passed, Caronia continued to introduce and update their wide color selection range to meet an ever changing fashion and to meet lifestyle trends.
2005
The brand’s image was also re-energized catering to a younger, more dynamic female market through the use of image models in the succeeding campaigns as well as the production and release of a new Caronia jingle entitled, "Sharing your Passions" and further a dance music video remix.
Following this re-launch, the company expanded its distribution network through partnerships with regional distributors and opening new retail distribution formats.
2007
In 2007 Caronia introduced a wider line of nail care products and a new Hand & Foot Care line, further reinforcing the brand’s commitment in providing more Filipinas access to quality and innovative nail care products at reasonable prices.
2008 – 2009
Caronia’s commitment in delivering up–to–date color choices were seen in the campaigns launched.
2010 – Present
In 2010 Caronia launched its interactive media platforms, Caronia website and Facebook fan page, via an exclusive Spa Tea Party. Guests consisting of fans, bloggers, trade and media partners were given a virtual tour of the website. They also witnessed the awarding of the first nationwide Caronia Online Photo Contest winners.
To date, Caronia still holds with pride the prestigious heritage of being the pioneer and trusted local nail care brand. It continues to successfully delight an avid loyal following of generations past, together with a new breed of empowered young Filipinas with their new nail color releases and innovative product offerings.
