Seoul Cosmetics, Hair Care Expert with 36 Years of Experience

#9 Seoul Cosmetics 서울화장품



▲ Seoul Cosmetics website


#Brief History of Seoul Cosmetics

Han Kwang-Seog, the founder and president of Seoul Cosmetics (서울화장품), was a salesperson in the beauty distribution industry in 1980's when he was in his middle of 30's.
With his ambition and conviction that sales is the key point in terms of business, he decided to acquire a beauty manufacturer "Seoul Perfume & Cosmetics" in 1982 to start his own business.

"I closed saving accounts and sold the house to make the budget to acquire. Moreover, I borrowed money from private loans with high interest rate as well. Now I know that I was pretty reckless at the time."


Despite the unreasonable acquisition, he always tried to meet the deadline as it was related to the credit and trust of the company and he tried his best to build a good reputation in the market.

In the early days he focused on hair care products such as hair dyes as he thought that the category is what he could lead in the market.

As most of the big cosmetics companies were trying to get more market share in skin care and makeup, his strategy is to focus on the category with less competition with those big players.

He had concentrated on becoming a leading company within the hair care category until 1993 when he changed the company's name as it is now: Seoul Cosmetics.

Still now Seoul Cosmetics is well known for its high quality hair care products they produce.


▲ Han Kwang-Seog (R) receiving the award of "Grand Prize for Incheon-si SME" in 2014



# Growth by Innovative Products

As the business was started with many of difficulties, Seoul Cosmetics could not make any profits at the beginning as they needed to pay off interests and debts.

Despite those difficulties, Seoul Cosmetics tried to find a breakthrough with innovative items in the hair care category.

In 1983, Seoul Cosmetics developed a hair spray under their own brand "Mimona Rara" which was the first aerosol type hair spray in Korea.

The aerosol type hair spray had been one of the best sellers of Seoul Cosmetics and it became a mega-selling item in the market: sold 200K units monthly in 1990's.

After its launch, Seoul Cosmetics broadened its item range - hair perm, dyes, pomade, etc. - under its own brands and they became a leading hair care manufacturer in Korea market.


▲ Mimona Rara Hair Spray: still available online shops



#Transformed into OEM/ODM 

in 2000's, Seoul Cosmetics faced a different market situation. 

The road-shop trend (generated by MISSHA) was dominating the Korean beauty industry and Seoul Cosmetics needed to change their old business model of making their own brand products and distribute it through small & medium sized beauty retailers.

As Seoul Cosmetics had the manufacturing ability, they decided to stop expanding their own lines but they started focusing on manufacturing for other brands, which is, ODM business.

Seoul Cosmetics expanded its research & development team with more researchers and tried to improve its product development capability.

Also they acquired various ISO certificates (Quality management system, Environmental management system, etc.) and CGMP certificate that were not easy for small/medium sized manufacturers at that time to prove themselves as a safe and talented manufacturer.

With all those efforts, Seoul Cosmetics got contracts with those new booming road shop brands such as The Face Shop, Skin Food, etc. to produce not only hair care lines but other various skin care and body care lines.

Also Han Jung-Soo, the oldest son of the founder Han Kwang-Seog, who used to work as a marketer at another company, joined Seoul Cosmetics to expand their business overseas (Now Han Jung-Soo is the CEO of Seoul Cosmetics).

▲ Seoul Cosmetics attending Shanghai Cosmetics fair in 2016


#Products Manufactured by Seoul Cosmetics

1. NATURE REPUBLIC - Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel


Nature Republic's most popular best seller, Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel is produced by Seoul Cosmetics.
Although Seoul Cosmetics was known for the hair care lines, this Aloe vera soothing gel proves that Seoul Cosmetics can make good skin and body care products as well.
As Seoul Cosmetics used to produce many products for The Face Shop in earily 2000's, the founder of The Face Shop Jung Woon-Ho, currently president of Nature Republic (who is in jail because of illegal gamble and bribery to politicians and prosecutors), may have a good impression of Seoul Cosmetics and tried to make a hit item with them.


2. CHAHONG Beauty - Hair Care line


Over 20 years experienced hair designer CHAHONG's private premium hair line is manufactured by Seoul Cosmetics.
This line is mainly made of herb based ingredients like Angelica root extract to deliver safe antioxide function.



3. SKINFOOD - Argan Oil Silk Plus Hair Essence


As a hair care expert, Seoul Cosmetics produces many of hair care products.
This Argan oil and Ceramide contained hair essence helps provide nutrients and moisture to hair and care permed and dyed hair.
The affordable price makes customers happy thanks to its high quality and it is known as a steadily re-purchasing item.
(FYI, SKIN FOOD is put under court receivership because of its short of cash generated by high deficit from its aggressive global expansion in 2018 Oct.)



4. Dr.Young - AC Out Cleansing Foam Cream 


This tight texture cleansing cream for sensitive and acne-prone skin is launched by a dermatology brand Dr.Young.
The cleanser has been a best seller of the brand especially in Summer when sebum and oily agent are generated on skin easily.



5. SNP - W+ Bird's Nest Eye Cream 


Another dermatology brand SNP's unique bird's nest eye cream is manufactured by Seoul Cosmetics.
This EGF ingredient contained eye cream helps caring eyes with brightening effect.


#Vision for Global Manufacturer

Not like other ODM companies, Seoul Cosmetics once ran their own brands and the experience helps them better understand the pain points of brand companies.

Seoul Cosmetics established its 2nd manufacturing facility in 2017 and announced its vision to become one of the global leading cosmetics manufacturers.

Its annual sales in 2017 was over US$57 million which is quite remarkable even among 
those big manufacturers.

They also try to help local students and refugees from North Korea to provide warm and positive influence to the society.


# List of items produced by Seoul Cosmetics

Brand
Product
Link
Nature Republic
Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel
Nature Republic
Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel (Tube)
Nature Republic
Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel Mask Sheet
Nature Republic
Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel Mist
Nature Republic
Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera Body Shower Gel
Nature Republic
California Aloe Vera Lip & Eye Makeup Remover
Nature Republic
California Aloe Vera 80% Essence
Nature Republic
California Aloe Vera 80% Gel Cream
Nature Republic
Real Squeeze Aloe Vera Air Mist
Nature Republic
Argan Essential Moist Hair Mist
Nature Republic
Argan Essential Deep Care Hair Pack
Nature Republic
Argan Essential Hydro Hair Essence
Nature Republic
Argan Essential Deep Care Shampoo (Bulk sized)
Nature Republic
Argan Essential Deep Care Conditioner
Nature Republic
Argan Essential Deep Care Hair Essence
Nature Republic
Argan Essential Curling Essence
Nature Republic
Natural Olive Scalp Cooling Hair Pack
Nature Republic
Natural Olive Hydro Treatment
Nature Republic
Love Me Bubble Body Oil - Olive
Nature Republic
Love Me Bubble Body Oil Mist - Olive
Nature Republic
Love Me Bubble Body Lotion - Fresh Aloe
Nature Republic
Love Me Bubble Body Lotion - Herb Relief
Nature Republic
Real Nature Oilve Cleansing Cream
Nature Republic
Brown Sugar Facial Scrub Mask
Nature Republic
Black Tea Nerishing Mask
Nature Republic
Jeju Sparkling Mud Foam Cleanser
Nature Republic
Herb Styling Water Setting Spray
Nature Republic
California Aloe Ice Puff Sun SPF50+
Nature Republic
California Aloe Ice Puff Sun (Transparent) SPF50+
Nature Republic
Real Nature Clay Mask - Ginger & Lemon
DASHU
Daleaf Galactomyces Better Perfume Shampoo - Rainy Day
DASHU
Daleaf Galactomyces Better Perfume Shampoo - Ylang Rose
DASHU
Daleaf Galactomyces Better Perfume Essence - Rainy Day
DASHU
Daleaf Galactomyces Better Perfume Essence - Ylang Rose
DASHU
Daleaf Galactomyces Better Perfume Treatment - Rainy Day
DASHU
Daleaf Galactomyces Better Perfume Treatment - Ylang Rose
DASHU
Dashu Daily Anti Hair Loss Protein Treatment
DASHU
Dashu Daily Anti Hair Loss Hair Fixer Mist
DASHU
Dashu Daily Anti Hair Loss Herb Hair Tonic
DASHU
Dashu Daily Vita-Flex All In One Body Wash
BOUQUET GARNI
Body Lotion (Lovely Rose, Foral Musk, Cherry Blossom, Aqua Soap)
BOUQUET GARNI
Nard Repair Shampoo
BOUQUET GARNI
Nard Repair Treatment
BOUQUET GARNI
Nard Silky Essence Oil
BOUQUET GARNI
Nard Shampoo
BOUQUET GARNI
Nard Treatment
BOUQUET GARNI
Nard Repari Treatment Pack
The SAEM
Silk Hair Style Spray
The SAEM
Silk Hair Color Cream Gray Hair Cover Brown Black
The SAEM
Silk Hair Color Cream Cherry Brown
The SAEM
Silk Hair Hair Loss Care Essence
The SAEM
Silk Hair Hair Loss Care Treatment
The SAEM
Silk Hair Hair Loss Care Shampoo
The SAEM
Silk Hair Change Volume Up
The SAEM
Silk Hair Refresh Scalp Pack
The SAEM
Silk Hair Repair Oil Mist
The SAEM
Silk Hair Repair Curl Serum
The SAEM
Silk Hair Repair Moisture Oil
The SAEM
Silk Hair Repair Pack
The SAEM
Silk Hair Repair Conditioner
The SAEM
Silk Hair Repair Shampoo
The SAEM
Silk Hair Style Water Spray
The SAEM
Silk Hair Refresh Shampoo
The SAEM
Silk Hair Refresh Conditioner
The SAEM
Healing Tea Garden Green Tea Cleansing Water
The SAEM
Natural Condition Sparkling Lip & Eye Remover
The SAEM
Natural Condition Sparkling Cleansing Water
The SAEM
Natural Condition Sparkling Cleansing Foam
MUKAN Homme
Herb All In One Lotion
MUKAN Homme
Pore Cover Primer
MUKAN Homme
Protection Shaving Gel
MUKAN Homme
Easy Q Self Down Perm
MUKAN Homme
Block Cut Strong Hold Pomade
MUKAN Homme
Herb All In One Shampoo
From Nature
Bio System Deep Cleansing Oil
From Nature
Bio System Deep Cleansing Foam
From Nature
Bio System Cleansing Water
From Nature
Bio System Mild Lip & Eye Remover
From Nature
Double Big Ultra Aqua Cream
From Nature
Double Big Ultra Aqua Serum
From Nature
Hand Cream with Shea Butter
It's Skin
PRESTIGE Hair Shampoo D'escargot
It's Skin
PRESTIGE Hair Conditioner D'escargot
It's Skin
PRESTIGE Hair Essence D'escargot
It's Skin
It Style Hair Water Fixing Mist
It's Skin
It Style Hair Water Essence Mist
It's Skin
It Style Pro Hair Wax Super Hard
It's Skin
It Style Tinted Hair Coloring Cream
It's Skin
Pure Moisture Mist
It's Skin
The Fresh Plop Cleansing Water
It's Skin
Cooloud Beer Head Cooler
It's Skin
Urban Classic Transfoamer
The Face Shop
Rice Water Bright Cleansing Cream
The Face Shop
5 Minute Speedy Hair Color Cream
SNP
Timeless Black Homme All In One Fluid
SNP
Timeless Black Homme Balancing Lotion
SNP
M'Solic Coolist Man All In One Wash
SNP
Bird's Nest Revital Balancing Emulsion
SNP
Bird's Nest Eye Cream
Dr.Young
AC Out Cleansing Foam Cream
Faith In Face
Truely Watery Cleansing Water
CHAHONG
Shiny Pomade
CHAHONG
Chiffon Soft Wax
CHAHONG
Dual Hard Wax
CHAHONG
Flexible Curl Cream
CHAHONG
Fix Hard Spray
CHAHONG
Color Enhance Shampoo
CHAHONG
Vital Scalp Mist
CHAHONG
Vital Scalp Shampoo
CHAHONG
Intensive Repair Essence
CHAHONG
Intensive Repair Mask
CHAHONG
Intensive Repair Shampoo
CHAHONG
Protein Mist
CHAHONG
Origin Hair Essence
CHAHONG
Re-hydra Mask
CHAHONG
Re-hydra Conditioner
CHAHONG
Re-hydra Shampoo
MISSHA
Fresh Scalp Therapy Cooling Pack
MISSHA
Fresh Scalp Therapy Shampoo
Monsieur J
Good Face All-In-One
Monsieur J
Gentle Body Perfume Mist
SKIN FOOD
Argan Oil Silk Plus Hair Essence

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

1st ODM in Korea, Kolmar Korea

COSMAX, the biggest ODM in Korea

[2nd Week Mar 2020] Rising beauty products/brands in Korea