The Polish Investment & Trade Agency recently invited international Cosmetic businesses and media delegates from China, UAE, Turkey and Indonesia to visit Poland, to look in detail at the Polish cosmetics industry.
Funded in part by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency hosted a four-day ‘cosmetic study tour’ in Warsaw, Poland. Taking place from 07 – 10th March. The tour’s participants were international buyers and journalists, invited to Warsaw in Poland to learn and understand the dynamics of Polish cosmetics producers.
During each March beauty buyers should take advantage of attending the Beauty Forum in Poland, this year the event was held from March 9th – 10th. The International Business Forum is an exclusive area for foreign producers and investors looking for business partners in Poland.
The Polish Investment & Trade Agency does it best to intensify Polish exports. Supporting entrepreneurs, the Agency assists in overcoming administrative and legal procedures related to specific projects as well as helps to develop legal solutions, find a suitable location, reliable partners and suppliers.
My first interaction with The Polish Investment & Trade Agency, was at Cosmoprof Hong Kong 2018. Maja Justyna, Project Manager was part of the government team exhibiting at the trade show. Maja came into the Press Office to meet with some industry professionals and to invite us to a press meeting on their stand.
Only due to her Polish tenacity, was she able to bring together a group of press, who met with various cosmetic companies from Poland attending Cosmoprof. Robert Zawaszki Deputy Director of The Polish Investment & Trade Agency is responsible for maintaining the relationship between Polish companies, industry organizations, chambers of commerce and foreign offices of the Agency. Mr. Zawaszki headed up the cosmetic team when they attended Cosmoprof in Hong Kong.
Maja’s follow up on behalf of Polish companies was to bring this business and media professional group to Poland to see firsthand how Poland drives business. So, from the trade show floor we find ourselves in Warsaw and ready to meet Businesses, Associations, Factories and Celebrity global brands.
The Polish Investment & Trade Agency – Cosmetics Industry Tour Poland 2019
Naturativ, based just outside of Warsaw, was the first of many exciting companies to visit. They are based in a wonderful authentic building and if you are in Warsaw, go and see their products at their head office. The building truly reflects the nature and history of this young dynamic company.
Magda Hajduk has been leading a team of creative executives for the past 10 years. Her team works to deliver effective natural skincare. One of Naturativ’s “hero products” are their Face Serums – Eco Ampoules. There are five in their range and reviews for each one is highly rated. These include one for acne, couperose, hypoallergenic, dry and sensitive as well as the eye area.
The Polish Investment & Trade Agency – Cosmetics Industry Tour Poland 2019
Chantal professional hair care offered the group an opportunity to visit to their impressive research and development head office. A professional and retail haircare line wholly manufactured in Poland. Seeing first hand their production factory, and their R&D department was for many cosmetic buyers a highlight, and a decision-making part of the business trip, where seeing is truly believing. The high quality and standard put in place by the entire team of Chantal reflected the enduring high-quality Poland delivers to the world.
Chantal features its own research-development branch where most of the innovative formulas are prepared. The first company in Central Europe that introduced the keratin system for hair smoothening without formaldehyde.
A key part of Chantal is The Prosalon Professional Training Academy offering an authorized training system in the art of hairdressing, from the basic level, up to specialized, extended courses. The Prosalon Professional brand carefully prepares one of the most interesting and attractive training offers on the market.
The Polish Investment & Trade Agency – Cosmetics Industry Tour Poland 2019
Ministry of Good Soaps, well if this name looks unique, so are the two owners and their creative spin on “soap.” Ministry of Good Soaps is a company producing decent, handmade soaps and cosmetics. Their secret plan for success is good materials, good craftsmanship and hard work. Ministerstwo Dobrego Mydła (Ministry of Good Soaps) also offers excellent balm sticks, oils, body butters and peelings created by the two sisters.
Hard work for these two girls, is fun, yes fun! As we learnt in their make your own body scrub workshop. A true gift from Poland that we all took part in and took home, another memorable side of this tour, with lots to share and talk about.
From the packaging and recipes from Ministry of Good Soaps which we understand is reminiscent of pre-age pharmacy recipes. Products that are clearly describe and are a welcome change, from brands who try to be too smart.
The Polish Investment & Trade Agency – Cosmetics Industry Tour Poland 2019
A meeting with Polish Association of Cosmetics and Detergents headed by Anna Oborska Ph.D. Once again supported by a wonderful vibrant 7-woman team. We learnt just how this association, works with not only its 123 member companies (as of 2018) but navigates the corridors of the EU commission and their own various ministerial departments that touch areas such as, pharmacies, chemicals, licenses, terms and conditions as well as training to name a few.
Anna told us that in her forums at the Polish Association of Cosmetics and Detergents, all competitors join with one voice to problem solve. Often problems that may benefit one member more than the others, but then again that’s how Poland works. The World Bank Report Doing Business 2013 confirmed that Poland was the global top improver.
The Polish Investment & Trade Agency – Cosmetics Industry Tour Poland 2019
Inglot global head office in Warsaw Poland, showcasing their new products and techniques for Spring/Summer 2019. A full makeup demonstration with the new colors for Summer 2019 that will be added to the extensive Inglot Freedom System. The Freedom System is a flexible tool, a palette of color and a favorite of many professional makeup artists from around the world.
Freedom System Eye shadows contain special silicone’s and treated pigments. They boast high lubricity and a silky touch combined with easy, smooth, long lasting, and a crease-resistant application. The unique Freedom System allows makeup artists to mix and match products and colors to make their own custom designed palette of almost any size.
The Polish Investment & Trade Agency – Cosmetics Industry Tour Poland 2019
Polish Cosmetic Industry Association, prior to the Beauty Forum a presentation from Blanka Chmurzynsha-Brown, General Manager of the Polish Cosmetic Industry Association. A presentation on the history and data, as well as projections for the future on the Cosmetics industry and their recommendations to the EU that they feel needs a voice.
Poland sits among Europe’s top 6 in the cosmetic industry. The forecasted market value for 2021 is PLN 20 Billion. As many as 63 academic institutions offer cosmetic programmes, the highest number of nay European country.
If we walk to talk “breaking the glass ceiling” here in Poland, they are forever breaking and building a new one. Women make up 43% of board members in the cosmetic sector. Most of the employed people in the industry are women, they account for an average of 62%. Women decide which cosmetic products will end up in the shopping basket – 88% of purchased cosmetic and household decisions are made by women.
The Polish Investment & Trade Agency – Cosmetics Industry Tour Poland 2019
Beauty Forum Fair gave the opportunity of having B2B meetings with approximately 40 cosmetics producers. This part of the Forum was organized with table meetings. Meetings that provided each cosmetics company the opportunity to discuss their products for a more in depth, and personalized individual business talks. The Beauty Forum Expo was just full of products from Poland and well worth the time to walk through the convention center.
The Polish Investment & Trade Agency – Cosmetics Industry Tour Poland 2019
The Polish Investment & Trade Agency – Cosmetics Industry Tour Poland 2019
All in all an active study tour, that all participants enjoyed, gained knowledge and new business relationships.
