You beauty! NQ beauty product companies take on Asia

Two innovative North Queensland companies have Asia in their sights as a target export market for their Queensland-produced beauty and wellbeing products

Minister for Trade John Mickel said that Port Douglas-based Stone Eagle Massage Stones and Townsville’s Larissa Bright Australia were amongst 18 Queensland beauty, lifestyle and wellbeing businesses taking the opportunity to promote their products when Trade Queensland led its inaugural mission to attend the Cosmoprof Asia trade show.

“Stone Eagle produces handcrafted Australian granite and marble massage stones which are used in spas, beauty salons and upmarket hotels and resorts around the world,” Mr Mickel said.

“Larissa Bright Australia has its own range of high quality natural skin and body care, mineral cosmetics and aromatherapy products that are finding export success in New Zealand and Korea, and also represented the North on the recent trade mission.

“I visited Larissa Bright Australia’s base in Townsville this week. The company employs 9 people locally and has over 900 Direct Selling Consultants around Australia.

“North Queensland is proving an excellent home to these businesses capable of succeeding in exporting their cosmetic and other beauty products overseas.

“The State Government and Trade Queensland identified Cosmoprof Asia 2008 as a strong vehicle for promotion of Queensland’s growing natural health products and cosmetics industries in Asia. Exhibitors from around 40 countries and an estimated 20,000 international visitors attended the trade show.

“Trade Queensland’s offices in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Taipei and Seoul attracted buyer delegations from their markets to attend Cosmoprof Asia and to meet with the visiting Queensland companies in Hong Kong.

“The State Government and Trade Queensland are committed to working with promising businesses like Maja International, Organic Island and Natural Vitality to strengthen Queensland’s economy for the future.

“This gave these North Queensland companies and other companies participating in the Trade Queensland mission an opportunity to pitch their products and services to buyers from across Asia,” Mr Mickel said.

The trade show focused on the key lifestyle and wellbeing sectors including cosmetics, perfumery and toiletries, professional beauty salon products and equipment, packaging, raw materials, machinery, private label and contract manufacturing, hair products, equipment, salon furnishings and natural health products.

It also included seminars and presentations by industry leaders highlighting new developments in Asia affecting the lifestyle and beauty industry such as consumer demand, effective packaging, import restrictions and regulations, and growth trends.

A total of 32 delegates participated in the Queensland trade mission and had the opportunity to meet with senior executives and potential buyers from Asia’s major import and distribution companies and inspect leading department stores and retailers in Hong Kong. Cosmoprof 2008 was held in Hong Kong from 12 to 14 November.

Media contact: 3237 1944

Stone Eagle Massage Stones: Brett Smith Tel: 1800 504 886 www.massagestones.com.au

Larissa Bright Australia^TM: Claudia Brumme Tel: 07 4779-1577 www.larissabright.com.au

21 January 2009