Issue 48

From a natural soap manufacturer for other brands, Harnn has become a well-known Thai brand for spa products around the world.

Knowing your customer is a key to any business success. Certainly, Paul Harnn, Director of Harnn Global believes so.

Harnn established a small factory in 1999 to produce natural soaps for other brands and export them to many countries. However, he realised that the business would not be sustainable in the long run and so he decided to create his eponymous brand Harnn.

“My factory was the first one in the country producing natural soaps,” he says. “I learned a lot from my customers. So, when I formed my own brand, I knew which would be the best selling ones.”

Since 2002, Harnn has produced natural soaps under his own brand, later adding spa products, body care products and skincare products to his line.

“If we want to see our business grow sustainably, we have to develop our own brand, packaging and retail concept,” he says.
In addition to the Harnn brand, the entrepreneur produces Vuudh, a contemporary lifestyle fragrance brand; Tichaa, a herbal tea brand; and JARITT, a resort ware and lifestyle accessories brand.

Harnn believes the strength of his brands comes from using the best ingredients, such as pure essential oils sourced from the best resources around the globe, as well as the expertise of the 200 factories that produce Harnn products.

“We’re proud to be an Asian brand. We are unique in the sense that we are open to all oriental wisdom such as traditional medicine, herbal treatment and art. We can learn from different cultures and create our own signature.

“Without owning any factory, we can assign the best factory in each field to produce particular products for us. Hence, we are confident that the formulations of all products are the best in the market,” he says.

Now, the Harnn brand has 60 shops in 14 countries with plans to open more shops overseas including in the Middle East, China, Japan and ASEAN countries.

Another project is the launch of a spa academy and spa at Central World, Bangkok in May. “There, you can learn everything you need to know about the spa, from spa menus, spa design to spa management,” he says. “We will train all spa people and teach the owners how to set up an international standard spa.”

For more information, visit www.harnnglobal.com
Words by Somhatai Mosika