Caci Celebrates Turning 30
Passionate about delivering what they like to call 'Skin Confidence', Caci was founded by Jackie Smith and her husband David in 1994, after they returned from several years living on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands and were looking for a business they could work on together. “We came back to New Zealand with a piece of facial-toning technology called the computer-aided cosmetology instrument – or CACI,” she explains, “and what started as an idea to make a living, became a movement."
Helping start and shape the aesthetics industry in New Zealand, Caci imported the first commercially available lasers for hair removal in the world, with Jackie explaining: “David was up in the middle of the night with our three-month-old daughter when he saw a UK science programme about them and knew instantly there would be a huge demand for permanent hair removal. The next day, he was in touch with the professor in Wales who had done the research. A couple of months later, we had our first laser operating in the Newmarket clinic”.
There are now over 70 franchisees across 80 plus clinics from Kerikeri to Invercargill, all operating under the Caci brand. “And these are all small businesses mostly owned by women,” says Jackie proudly. Another matter of pride that sets Caci apart from many other aesthetic clinics is that everything starts with the customer. “We don’t initially focus on the treatment, but on the customer's needs,” explains Jackie, “and then work our way towards the best treatment options for them.
The truth is that most good things take time and consistency. You don’t get fit by going to the gym once. The same is true for healthy skin. We also absolutely do not judge,” says the co-founder. “Every person has their own view on how they want to look and what is best for them, and we totally accept that. It’s not about achieving unrealistic beauty standards or perfect, flawless skin. We’re all about ageing on your terms, feeling fantastic at 40, 50, 60, 70 and beyond.”
When it comes to choosing which treatments to introduce at Caci, the focus isn’t just on what is newest, or most fashionable, or most popular on Tiktok. “We take a very disciplined and measured approach and think about things like safety, evidence for effectiveness, consistency of the results, affordability to the customer, and how combining treatments can be arranged to deliver a better outcome,” explains Jackie.
Over the course of the last three decades Caci has often been first to market with new treatment options for their customers, “but sometimes, we choose not to offer treatments that may have lots of hype, but that we don’t believe add any extra value. We always start our evaluation of new treatments with ‘what does the customer need to get the best result?’.
Our goal is to be able to personalise a clear and simple treatment plan for each customer with the most effective treatments available.”When asked what Jackie sees happening in the future for Caci, the longtime skin health expert says simply: “more of what we do best! Helping New Zealanders feel confident in their skin, educating kiwis about how best to take care of their skin health and to feel really great!”
As Caci celebrates 30 years, we reflect on the pivotal moment turning 30 is for many. Turning 30 often signifies a time of empowerment for women. It’s a period where many women have a clearer sense of who they are, what they want, and the confidence to pursue their dreams.
At Caci, we understand the importance of this stage in life and strive to support women through our personalised treatments and expert advice. Our goal has always been to help women feel their most confident, beautiful selves, and we are proud to have been a trusted partner in their skincare journeys.
Over three decades we have become New Zealand’s leading skin, laser and injectables experts. As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we are excited about the future and what it holds for Caci. We’re committed to staying at the forefront of the industry, continually innovating to meet the evolving needs of women at every stage of their lives.
Our dedication to quality, care, and results will ensure that Caci remains the go-to destination for skin and cosmetic injectables in New Zealand.
