Top 10 event in Beauty Biotech industry in Year 2006 (updated)

qnDamaged in last week's earthquake off southern Taiwan on internet access plus my own tight schedule cause the delay of such post.

However, my friend said it better late than never.

Top 10 event in Beauty Biotech industry in Year 2006

1 L’Oreal acquired The Body Shop

2 "The Body Shop" franchise in Malaysia sold by Bolton for RM80m at a Management Buyout (MBO)

3 INS legal battle with Lim Chew Yin and Yigaho

4 P&G Halts SK-II Cosmetics Sales in China

5 Pig farmer in Malaysia used banned beta agonist (BA)
Pig farmer in Malaysia used banned beta agonist because the price of a legal growth-inducing substance, Ractopamine by Eli Lily's animal health unit: Elanco, costs three times higher than Beta Agonist.

6 Mystery death of Malaysia's cosmetic surgery centres operators in China

7 F&N buying Nestle milk operation


8 Scrapped listing Hospitech Resources Bhd and GP Ocean Food on Mesdaq

Hospitech Resources Bhd and GP Ocean Food Bhd. Hospitech — manufacturer of disposable hospital equipment — made history by aborting its IPO exercise the day before it was scheduled to trade on Mesdaq on April 20. The company had raised more than RM12 million from its listing to build a new factory and repay borrowings. The IPO was oversubscribed by 18.4 times. The company voluntarily withdrew its listing after the SC started probing into its financial history upon receiving information from a whistleblower. The listing proceeds were refunded to investors. The regulator unearthed falsified documents such as sales invoices and as a result, Hospitech's managing director Jimmy Goh Kai Tong was slapped with a RM500,000 fine. Barely two months later, GP Ocean, a seafood processor, withdrew its listing plans following a probe by the SC into a possible breach in securities laws, also on a whistleblower's tip.

GP Ocean's chairman and former SC chairman Datuk Ali Abdul Kadir said at the time that the company was postponing its listing in order to strengthen the company. He has since resigned from his position. The GP Ocean case also hit the limelight because it had big name investors like the Razak Foundation and Rio Capital Sdn Bhd, which was owned by Ali, Datuk Azman Yahya and Datuk Amin Rafie Othman.

9 Song Hae-Gyo (宋慧乔) dropped as Etude spokeperson


10 Elianto fastest growing cosmetic company in Malaysia in 2006 at least in term of number of outlet

11 France honours Dr Lam who discover Nipah virus

Blog that link to this page: Nerdy Science Blog

Technorati Tag: Cosmetic : Beauty :Malaysia: Health Biotechnology

How SK-II become market leader from nearly bankrupt

SK-II is a product under a US company call Max
Factor. Thus, before I start talking about SK-II. Lets talk about Max Factor.

Max Factor is a make-up artist, complete his study in Russia and work as make-up apprentice in an opera performing company. Due to his passion on ladies movies star. He started his own retail business.

In 1936, Max Factor has become a leading cosmetic company in US. He build his reputation with cooperation with Hollywood movies star.

Max Factor is a family business as all his 4 sons work for the company. But non of it daughter in law work for the company. Thus, The company is manage and dominance by male even this is a famine business.

Max Factor family later dispose off the company and the new owner listed the company in stock Exchange in 1961. However, the new owner dispose to another company in 1971. He claim than operating a public listed cosmetic company is not fun as much of his time emphasis on profit and growth rather than creative and beauty previously.

A scientist in Japan, in search for a cure for his friend sickness, accidentally found a yeast called saccharomycopsis has successfully cure his friend illness. They name it Pitera. The scientist then sell the recipe formula to Max Factor in Japan.

In 1980, Max Factor launch it first product base on the recipe formula. They call it success Key initially. Only second generation product, they call it SK-II which used until today.

Procter and Gamble (P&G) acquired Max Factor (including SK-II ) in 1991. However, as the company used to sell detergent and pampers or what we call mass market product. This is first time P&G enter into beauty & cosmetic industry. Max Factor making loss of USD30million for continuously 3 years accumulating total loss of USD100million.

A 30 years old brand manager of Olay product in Taiwan's P&G's Olay division, Michelle was send to Japan as SK-II brand manager January 1994. She does not know Japanese language at that point of time.

Michelle was the third batch of brand manager assigned to revive the brand. The company has try numerous method but fail. Thus, an out of the box or breakthrough strategy was needed.

SK-II, despite an unpopular product with merely 5% of the population heard of it at that point of time, have a batch of loyal customer including movies star and royal family. It market through word of mouth.

Michelle, look for a spoke person for SK-II among it loyal customer. They decide to used Momoi Kaori (right picture) eventually. She is 45 years old at that point of time. Michelle also replace the TV advertisement prepared by the advertising company with a black & white advertorial in magazine.

After the launch of the new promotion. Sales start picking up and the division stop bleeding. Thus now the target is to become top mega brand in Japan.

She convinced P&G in Japan to allocate 50billion yen budget for TV advertising expenses. They also provide a hotline on the TV advertisement for customer to call up to request for sample product. From the first day of the launch of TV commercial, they received 100 thousand call. They retrieved the hotline number after 5 days as they only prepare 500 thousand sample sets.

It take 7 days for the yeast to convert to Pitera like brewing alcohol. It become the factory unable to produce enough to meet demand. Whole country women age 35 to 50 in Japan are talking about SK-II.

Michelle get promoted immediately. P&G in Taiwan & Hong Kong also shooting similar TV advertisement using local spoke person. P&G hq in US also consider launching the product in North American.

Later, Michelle launch another TV commercial to target for customer age below 35. She used same spoke person Momoi Kaori describing she start using the product since at the age of 20.

Michelle however, request to transfer to other department after that. P&G transfer her to hair care product Pantene division. She has left P&G now.

Spoke person Momoi Kaori career in entertainment industry pick up again after such incident

P&G acquired Cover Gil in late 1990 and hair care product Wella in 2003.

Wikipedia

Technorati Tag: Cosmetic : Beauty: Biotechnology:Pantene

Qiqi will be in Malaysia on Wednesday & Thursday

KARINA FOO met actor Simon Yam and his international supermodel wife Qiqi in Hong Kong while they were wrapping up the production of their new television commercial for SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence (FTE).

While REVITALISED skin with a beautifully supple texture that defies description is testimony of those who have used SK-II skincare products.

Celebrities and ambassadors of SK-II have provided similar endorsements and the brand is well-established in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Britain, Australia and Hong Kong.

"We call it ‘Miracle Water’ because of an ingredient called pitera. I’ve been using in for many years before becoming an SK-II ambassador. Simon only started using it recently and his skin is looking much better," said Qiqi, who has been endorsing SK-II products since 1996.

Their youthful and radiant skin clearly belies their age (over 40) and they attribute it to FTE, their favourite product.

The new advertisement, which took 10 weeks to produce, portrays Qiqi’s life-long intimate relationship with the FTE as her skin condition and needs change over the years.

"When I was 20, FTE helped to keep my skin fresh and moist. When I reached my 30s, it gave it a radiant tone and now it still looks healthy and I’ve received many compliments for my smooth and clear appearance."

Qiqi has appeared in several SK-II advertisements on different mediums but most people remember her in the television commercial for the brand’s Facial Treatment Mask where she comes home after a long day of work and treats herself to an exquisite "facial treatment", much to the bewilderment of her friend over the phone.

This is the first time Qiqi is appearing in an SK-II advertisement with her husband. "I’m very happy to work with Simon because he’s been a great support in whatever I believe in," said Qiqi.

"Many men may be apprehensive about trying something associated with women and I admit that I wasn’t so sure about SK-II and its products. But I saw that Qiqi’s skin was the result of the brand and it didn’t take me long to become an SK-II user. Now I use it before and after any film shooting," Yam said.

Kaewta Tachamahachai, assistant brand manager for beauty care, Asean/Australasia/India, for Procter & Gamble, which manages the brand, said: "We did a consumer study in Malaysia to assess audience responses to the new advertisement and the result was sufficiently encouraging for us to believe that consumers will take to it very positively. We found that they could connect with the advertisement."

"I feel that the new commercial will tell people what FTE can really do for them, especially those who are seeking a natural and simple way to improve their skin," Qiqi said. The advertisement will be screened this month and Qiqi will be in the country on Wednesday and Thursday.

Technorati Tag: Cosmetic : Beauty