Amway helps Korean SMEs grow

Amway Korea workers check out cups made with environment-friendly
materials during a launch event for a "One-for-One Kind Shop" in downtown Seoul, Sunday. Amway donates all the proceeds from these shops to charity. / Courtesy of Amway Korea

By Choi Kyong-ae

Amway (American Way) Korea said Sunday it will strengthen its partnership with Korean small- and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) to cement its presence in Asia's fourth-largest economy.

Amway has been running the "One for One" program since 1998 to allow domestic SMEs to sell their products through the world's largest direct-selling company's global networks.

Last week, Amway Korea launched another program dubbed the "One-for-One Kind Shop" in which consumers buy environmentally friendly products and Amway donates all the proceeds to charity.

"We will connect local SMEs and consumers to encourage the sales of those eco-friendly products offered by the SMEs," Amway Korea Chief Executive Park Se-joon, said in a statement.

The first product that will make its debut under the latest one-for-one project is the "Original Green Cup" designed and manufactured by Ecojun. The green product won three major design awards ㅡ the IF Product Design award, the International Design Excellence Award in 2013 and the Red Dot Award in 2012.

Amway's business ties to Korean SMEs are in line with the Seoul government's efforts to help its businesses amid the prolonged economic slump and to allow them to compete on a level playing field, the statement said.

Korean products offered through Amway direct-selling networks include Jinmi Foods's traditional Korean sauces, Kleannara's diapers and powdered milk, and B&F's fruit juice.

Meanwhile, Amway launched the "Global Development Project" in 2010. Under the project, it has been working with local think-tanks to develop new technologies for foods and cosmetics, the statement said.

"Amway offers R&D (research and development) consulting services to the think-tanks in the project. Its worldwide sales networks will allow SMEs easier access to global markets with newly developed products," Park said.

Kolmar Korea exported Sun Screener products worth more than $500,000 through Amway's networks in 2012. The skin-care product was jointly developed with Amway. Genic was another success story, as its Cel-Derma mask sheet product was shipped to Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Using multi-level marketing techniques, the company has been selling a variety of products, primarily in the health, beauty and home care markets, since its foundation in 1959 in Michigan.

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