AmorePacific opens first ‘refill store’
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South Korean cosmetics giant AmorePacific Corp has opened a so-called ‘refill station’ – a first for the nation’s cosmetics industry.
The company opened the facility as a trial inside its new Gwanggyo store that opened last week in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.
Customers can take an empty container made of coconut shells from the store and fill it with the product of their choice, with 15 different kinds of shampoos and body washes on offer.
After filling the container with the product of their choice and measuring the weight, they pay per gram.
Although the price is different by product, customers can generally fill a container at savings of roughly 50 percent compared to pre-packaged cosmetics products.
The contents for refill will be limited to those with a manufacturing date of less than 100 days prior. Returned empty containers will be sterilised before being released to be refilled.
“We decided to run the refill station to better meet the demand of the times requiring a wider variety of sales methods and the promotion of refill products,” the company said.
Questions & Answers
Q.What types of products are available for customers to refill at the new store?
What types of products are available for customers to refill at the new store?
Customers can choose from 15 different kinds of shampoos and body washes to fill their containers. These are the only product types mentioned as being available at the refill station.
Q.How do customers pay for the products they refill?
How do customers pay for the products they refill?
Customers pay per gram after filling their chosen container and having its weight measured. The price per product varies, but savings of around 50% are typical compared to pre-packaged items.
Q.What is the policy regarding the freshness of the refill products?
What is the policy regarding the freshness of the refill products?
The products available for refill are restricted to those manufactured less than 100 days prior to the refill date. This ensures customers receive relatively fresh items.
Q.What happens to the empty containers customers bring back to the store?
What happens to the empty containers customers bring back to the store?
Returned empty containers are sterilised by the company before they are made available for other customers to refill. This maintains hygiene standards for reuse.
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