This is a series of posts I wrote in my email newsletter back in my mid-30s, titled "My Story of Graduating from Being a Cosmetics Gypsy," which I'm now republishing for my official blog.
What were the motivations behind the creation of Mirobina, and why did they end up with skincare products made from natural ingredients?
We will leave behind written materials to convey the background information that cannot be fully expressed on the product page alone.
All 15 episodes are being released sequentially.
I really want to be beautiful
To our regular subscribers,
For first-timers,
Hello.
This is Nonko, the shop manager of Bi-Natural (formerly Aromatic Life Magic Soap) (*This was the original name of this shop) (*^_^*)
Our store is,
Our shop, which started with just one bar of soap in November 2003, is finally nearing the opening of our Rakuten store!
When I distributed samples I received from my neighbors, I received over 100 repeat orders! The manufacturer, who wanted to carefully sell their prized creation, decided to help me, a complete amateur.
"Do you know Rakuten? Why don't you open a shop there?"
Huh? Are you sure you want to give us such an important item...?
I'm not the type of person to be humble, so...
"Yes, yes, I'll do it! Please let me do it!"
At that time, there was some kind of event organized by the Kawagoe Chamber of Commerce at Shobi Gakuen University in Kawagoe, where a high-ranking official from Rakuten was giving a lecture on the future potential of online shops, so my father, who has experience in running a company, and I attended.
There, I was truly impressed by the limitless potential of the internet and the brilliance of Rakuten Market's concept.
Opened the business in cooperation with my father.
I remember going home with my father, our eyes sparkling with excitement.
So, without delay, I made my father chairman and me president and store manager.
Aromatic Life Kikawa Co., Ltd.
And that's how the company was formed.
The name was originally just for a single bar of soap that didn't contain any aromatherapy ingredients, but my father suggested that I might end up selling products that utilize my aromatherapy knowledge in the future, so I named it "Aromatic."
Now, even though we were starting a company (at the time, only corporations could exhibit on Rakuten Market, so we had to incorporate), neither my father nor I were good at sales and development-related paperwork, the kind that requires writing every single word (the gentleman who developed the soap was the same).
Creating official documents with precisely defined wording was quite a time-consuming process, but since we had limited funds, we had no choice but to do it all ourselves!
So, my father worked hard and managed to get the company established.
September 24, 2003
And so, a small company was born, consisting of just my father, myself, and my mother.
Entering uncharted territory!
From here on, it's completely uncharted territory for me, someone who had never even touched a computer before.
At the cram school I attended when I was in junior high school, there was a famous math teacher there.
"You have a completely humanities-oriented mind, so you should focus on subjects other than math,"
I'm a humanities major, so much so that I've had people give up on me before.
This is my first time using a computer, and I have absolutely no idea what's going on!!!
Back then, computers had incredibly small storage capacities, would freeze with even the slightest input, and unsettling text would appear...
I would call or fax the computer company, but I would only get incomprehensible replies. Every day I would break out in a cold sweat, desperately trying to complete tasks that could only be described as a fierce struggle.
His passionate nature works to his advantage.
However, after writing my university graduation thesis about Chaplin, I became a huge fan of him, and that's when I first used a word processor and learned how to type on my own.
As you know, I have a tendency to get absorbed in things, so before I knew it, I was completely engrossed in Chaplin's life.
I had typed over 160 pages without even realizing it, so I had become able to touch-type without even noticing (lol).
So, I'm not good at using computers, but I can type!
In the midst of all that, she's creating the web pages while looking after her 2-year-old daughter and 6-year-old rambunctious son at home—youth and enthusiasm are truly amazing.
At first, I didn't even know that website creation software existed, so I bought a thick book and, believe it or not, typed all the code (tags and source code, as they're called) on the back by hand!
You were only getting 3 hours of sleep every night, right...?
While going through those confusing days, I somehow managed to complete a page that Rakuten Market approved.
It took a whopping two months to get to that point.
November 24, 2003
Today is the birthday of Aromatic Life Magic Soap.
With my heart pounding, I somehow managed to open the store.
I found the perfect cosmetics, finally ending my search for the best products and opening my own shop.
Since then, thanks to everyone's support, the quality of this soap has spread to many people, and it has become widely known through word of mouth alone. We have also consistently achieved the number one ranking on Rakuten Market, and have been able to meet the manufacturer's expectations.
Since then, I've discovered natural skincare using aromatherapy and herbs, and my knowledge and the products I offer have grown to be helpful to those struggling with skin problems.
I will continue to work hard to meet everyone's expectations. And I would be truly happy if even one more person could live a happy life with confidence in themselves.
And so, I was finally able to graduate from being a cosmetics wanderer.
I've been through a lot of hardship, but ironically, that led to this wonderful encounter. I'm truly amazed by this experience, which feels almost miraculous.
Complete(^^)/
New articles and seasonal care information are available on LINE.
New articles and seasonal care information are also available via LINE.
🌿 "The Story of Graduating from Being a Cosmetics Gypsy" (15 episodes)
List of all 15 episodes:My Story of Graduating from Being a Cosmetics Gypsy | List of All 15 Episodes
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