But that created Kibio An ayatollah of the bio Non

"I would have liked create Kibio", said Jacques Courtin. Three years after the disappearance of the founding President of Clarins, family group led by his two sons, Olivier and Christian, respectively Managing Director and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, acquired on 29 January all of this brand of organic cosmetics. This is the epilogue of a beautiful story that began four years ago, when the leaders of Clarins have decided to support this small start-up launched on the world of beauty with unique products, composed up to 99.9 natural ingredients. The secret: an original formulation process, which excludes water replacing it with flowers distillates.

In October 2006, the group first took 10 of the capital, reserving the right to 60 with convertible bonds into shares. A transaction which reported then 3 precious million of cash to Kibio. Given the explosion of revenue of 100,000 euros in 2006 to EUR 8 million in 2009, Clarins became last summer as planned, majority shareholder.

But that created Kibio An ayatollah of the bio Non. Stone cabin is a former financial framework of l ' Oréal. Become number two of the division of luxury after twenty years, he decides, foul perspectives, to its independence. More precisely his revenge: "I wanted to show to l ' Oréal that I could create my own brand", says the Founder President of Kibio. But this is not the world leader in cosmetics that has inoculated the virus of the bio. It is the pure effect of random.

The power of plants

During a hiking family in the gorges of the Verdon, in the spring of 2005, the young son of Pierre cabin is égratigna deep leg about. At the same time, a female doctor on the trail, left a jar of his bag and gave a good layer of ointment on the wound, this immediately stilled the intense burning sensation. "It was a remedy of its composition, with natural extracts of plants to incredible levels." "I then realized that nature had unsuspected resources," says Pierre cabin, which had the spark.

Taking its draft to Stigmata, phosphorus on the concept of products, then meeting contractors specializing in the natural raw materials, with his partner, Laurent Potier, a veteran of l ' Oréal, who joined him in this adventure end of 2005. They are then dealing with Sanoflore, since absorbed by l ' Oréal.

Released in April 2006, the first Kibio range covers, with 20 products labeled Cosmebio and certified Ecocert, all necessary care for face and body. But the financial reality quickly caught up with Pierre cabin, which, with all his savings and a bank loan, not had together only EUR 500 000 to start his business. "Build a cosmetic brand cost a lot of money when you go to zero."

Of course, Word-of-mouth works. The first products are sold to the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann Paris, and the chain Monoprix it opens its doors. It is also a network of sales at home. But it is not enough. "I realized quickly that we were going in the wall", he acknowledges.

A first anti-aging cream

After a failed with a venture capitalist, Swiss attempt, President of Kibio decides to lean to an industrial. "I wanted a family group, because we were all small, which is led by its creators and which is specialized in the plants", explains Pierre cabin, which will contact one: Clarins. Asking to speak to Mr. Courtin, it means respond: "which". By chance, the switchboard visit it to the Assistant of Olivier Courtin, who, for at the outset, will be interested. Incurred in the wake, the negotiations lead a few months later, in October 2006.

Today, Clarins, who refined the formulations of the Kibio range in the centre of R & D site of Pontoise, where are also manufactured products, will invest to print the mark in the international market. "The essential effort will be focused on the France, but we will also deploy Kibio in Switzerland, the Canada, Germany, Russia and the Brazil", explains Olivier Courtin, new President of Kibio, entrusted the Directorate to Christine Varet, a Liérac former entry with Clarins to launch new lines. Precisely, Kibio has just released its first cream natural anti-aging, texture and fragrance are also refined than those of a cosmetic product of luxury.