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Hirofumi Matsugi on KUPA in Japan & Expanding a Nail Brand into a Global Market

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Business Growth

Hirofumi Matsugi on KUPA in Japan & Expanding a Nail Brand into a Global Market

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Hirofumi Matsugi on KUPA in Japan & Expanding a Nail Brand into a Global Market
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All skill levels
Business Growth
Hirofumi Matsugi discusses bringing KUPA into Japan and what it takes to earn trust in one of the world’s most advanced nail markets.
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Watch with a free Premium trial
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Giselle Caballero on Winning NTNA, Building Ego Beauty Academy & Growing a Nail Career
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Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Giselle Caballero shares her journey from passionate nail artist to NTNA winner, educator, and salon owner, building a career rooted in creativity and purpose.
Ryan Lanji on NAILPHILIA, Creative Direction & Building a Cultural Movement in Nail Art
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Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Ryan Lanji reveals how he turned nail art into a cultural movement, from launching NAILPHILIA to working across fashion, television, and global creative platforms.
Max Estrada on Building Exclusive Nail Couture & Growing a Global Brand
Free to watch for Standard members
Included with your Standard membership
Included with your membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Max Estrada shares how passion, early exposure, and innovation led to building Exclusive Nail Couture and shaping the future of nail artistry.
Richard Hurter on KUPA Innovation, Leadership & Building a Global Nail Brand
Free to watch for Standard members
Included with your Standard membership
Included with your membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Richard Hurter shares how KUPA grew from a small operation into a global innovator through passion, engineering, and a commitment to the nail industry.
Lindsey Karnopp on Nail Photography, Lighting & Building a Personal Brand
Free to watch for Standard members
Included with your Standard membership
Included with your membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Lindsey Karnopp reveals how nail technicians can elevate their brand through photography, lighting, and visual storytelling to stand out in a competitive digital space.
Tony Cuccio on Entrepreneurship, Global Growth & Building a Nail Industry Empire
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Tony Cuccio shares how decades of passion, resilience, and vision built one of the most recognized global brands in the nail industry.
Dafne Fernandez on Nailympia Mexico, Leadership & Elevating the Nail Industry
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Dafne Fernandez shares her mission to bring Nailympia to Mexico, creating opportunities and elevating the industry through passion, leadership, and vision.
Kimi Chang on Nail Manufacturing, Innovation & Expanding Globally
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Kimi Chang shares how innovation, quality, and global partnerships are shaping the future of nail manufacturing and international industry growth.
Alex Fox on Nail Media, Industry Leadership & Building a Global Platform
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Alex Fox shares her journey from journalist to global nail industry leader, shaping media, education, and competition across decades of influence.
Eve Tran on Competition Success, Nail Education & Building a Global Career
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Eve Tran shares her journey from beginner to world champion, building a global career through competition, education, and relentless determination.
Hirofumi Matsugi on KUPA in Japan & Expanding a Nail Brand into a Global Market
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Hirofumi Matsugi discusses bringing KUPA into Japan and what it takes to earn trust in one of the world’s most advanced nail markets.
Hazel Dixon on Building a Nail Academy, Brand & Global Education Network
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Hazel Dixon shares how she built a global nail education brand, leading a team of educators while balancing business, teaching, and salon work.
Jacqui & Sean O’Sullivan on Nail Education, Mentorship & Developing Future Talent
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Jacqui and Sean O’Sullivan discuss education, mentorship, and their mission to guide and elevate the next generation of nail professionals.
Alex Fox on Nail Safari, Education Innovation & Building Community in the Nail Industry
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Alex Fox shares the vision behind Nail Safari, a one-of-a-kind education event designed to elevate skills, build confidence, and connect nail professionals globally.
Lauren Wireman on Nail Education, Overcoming Adversity & Building a Global Brand
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Lauren Wireman shares her journey from adversity to global educator, building a successful academy and inspiring others through education, faith, and resilience.
Jenny Bui on Building a Nail Empire and Becoming the Queen of Bling
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Jenny Bui shares her powerful journey from refugee to Harlem salon owner, building a global brand and becoming known worldwide as the Queen of Bling.
Jan Arnold on CND Innovation, Leadership & Building a Global Nail Industry Legacy
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Jan Arnold reveals how bold thinking, innovation, and education built CND into a global leader and shaped the future of the professional nail industry.
Marian Newman & Gigi Rouse on the Evolution of the Nail Industry Over Three Decades
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Marian Newman and Gigi Rouse reflect on three decades of nail industry evolution, sharing insights on education, artistry, and the changing landscape of professional nails.
Morgan Haile & Taylor Daniel on Building Morgan Taylor & Leading a Global Nail Brand Legacy
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Morgan Haile and Taylor Daniel discuss building Morgan Taylor, growing a global brand, and continuing a family legacy rooted in innovation and professional nail excellence.
Life on the Free Edge Naja Rickette
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
From chef to couture nail pioneer, Naja Rickette shares how vision, reinvention, and mentorship shaped her beauty empire.
Life on the Free Edge Haz Dean Salon Design
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Interior designer Haz Dean shares how layout, materials, and feng shui principles shape high performing, intentional salon environments.
Giselle Caballero on Winning NTNA, Building Ego Beauty Academy & Growing a Nail Career
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Giselle Caballero shares her journey from passionate nail artist to NTNA winner, educator, and salon owner, building a career rooted in creativity and purpose.
Ryan Lanji on NAILPHILIA, Creative Direction & Building a Cultural Movement in Nail Art
Watch with a Premium membership
Watch with a free Premium trial
Included with your Premium membership
All skill levels
Business Growth
Ryan Lanji reveals how he turned nail art into a cultural movement, from launching NAILPHILIA to working across fashion, television, and global creative platforms.
Episode Description

Hirofumi Matsugi brings over two decades of experience within the highly skilled and competitive Japanese nail industry. In this episode of Life on the Free Edge, he speaks with Alex Fox about the introduction of KUPA into the Japanese market and what it takes to establish credibility in such a discerning environment.Japan is known for its exceptionally high standards in both technique and product performance, making it one of the most respected nail markets globally. Hirofumi shares how KUPA approached this expansion, focusing on education, product quality, and building relationships with leading schools and salons.The conversation explores the importance of understanding cultural expectations, adapting business strategies for international markets, and earning the trust of professionals who demand precision and excellence.Hirofumi’s insights highlight the complexities of global expansion and the role of education in bridging markets, reinforcing how strong foundations and industry respect are essential for long-term success.

Learning Outcome

Understand how education, strategy, and cultural awareness drive successful expansion into global nail markets.

Professional Use Case
  1. Leadership
  1. Brand Building
Instructor
Hirofumi Matsugi
Series
Life on The Free Edge

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