Hero Cosmetics co-founder Ju Rhyu discusses how observing consumers hack existing products signals clear commercial demand, drawing on her earlier brand management experience at Kraft Foods.
Disclosure
Hero Cosmetics Intentionally Avoided K-Beauty Branding to Build US Consumer Trust
“So I actually did not want it to be K-Beauty... Just because I thought it should be an American brand for this American audience. And that was actually part of the value prop, because sometimes when you buy, I mean, even today, it still happens, like, I think …”
Disclosure
Hero Cosmetics Initiated Its Sale Process After Crossing $100M in Revenue
“And I remember, you know, 20, 21, it was clear we were going to hit that hundred million dollar threshold. So there was a board meeting, and then it was a topic, and the question was, like, should we start a process? Should we think about this? And then everyo…”
Assertion Partly supported
Samsung Monitored Mandatory 8 AM Broadcast Attendance With Clipboard Inspectors
“They had another rule where everyone had to be in their seat at eight AM watching what they call Samsung news, because they would have sort of like corporate communications at eight. And they'd have people with clipboards walking the aisle at eight oh one. And…”
Assertion Supported
Rhyu: South Korean regulations mandate listing cosmetic manufacturers on packaging
“In Korea, cosmetic manufacturers are required to list the name of the manufacturer.”
Assertion Supported
Rhyu: Hero Cosmetics Started with $50,000 in Capital
“We started with 50,000 dollars.”
Assertion Not publicly verifiable
Hero Cosmetics Sold Out Initial 10,000-Unit Amazon Inventory in 90 Days
“I think within 90 days we had run out of our initial inventory, so, and I remember before launch we were talking about, like, how long do you think it's going to take us to sell through 10,000 units? Would it take us a year? Is it going to take us six months? …”