Cebu cosmetics firm signs deal with hotel in Finland

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

HOMEGROWN cosmetic company GT Cosmetics has clinched an export deal with a hotel chain in Finland, marking its first entry in the international market.

“The spa manager of the hotel found us through a blog then sent us an email requesting for samples of our bar soaps. Now, we will be sending our first shipment to Europe,” said GT Cosmetics owner and chemical engineer Leonora Salvane.

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Social media

According to Salvane, social media word-of-mouth were the company’s channels in getting the attention of the international market. About 1,000 soaps will be shipped to Finland.

“Our shipment to Finland is considered our first business-to-business deal with a foreign buyer. It serves as another proof that local brands can be world-class. The deal would also become our first step to be recognized in Europe,” Salvane said.

Salvane, who is a chemical engineer, formulated the company’s beauty bar soaps using organic and herbal extracts to help improve the skin. It comes in three variants, the carrot, papaya and bleaching organic soaps.

The buyer in Finland has ordered the carrot and papaya soap variants that can remove skin blemishes while keeping it smooth and moisturized.

Popular

The company said GT Cosmetics has become popular among the youth market in Cebu and some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao regions. A number of overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong, Dubai, and Japan also patronize products.

Its new line of cosmetic cream products such as the night cream, day cream, sunblock and toner are also starting to gain popularity, the company said.

Salvane is looking at tapping more clients in Europe as its first foreign buyer promised to help promote the product in the region.

GT Cosmetics was founded in 1992 as a home-based family business in Liloan. The firm now has a hundred workers and retails to over 170 locations of health and beauty store chain Watsons, as well as to leading department stores, malls and supermarkets nationwide.