70 years of internationally acclaimed know-how made in France
The story begins in the beauty salon located at 35 rue Tronchet, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It was 1954 and Jacques Courtin had a revolutionary idea in mind: to draw a link between science and beauty. The former medical student decided to open a place that would allow him to express this vision, which was completely new for the time.
The enthusiasm of the clientele for the institute was immediate. Driven by this same pioneering spirit, Jacques Courtin decided to launch his own range of products based on plant extracts, to offer formulas that are as innovative as they are effective. In 1966, the Tonic Oil, a body care oil made of 100% plant extracts, which is still one of our bestsellers, was born.
Only a few years were enough to lay the foundations of a real French success story. But Jacques Courtin’s audacious and passionate spirit gave him a glimpse of much wider horizons. Why limit itself to France when Clarins has the necessary assets to conquer the world? This new impetus was carried out in the family, since Christian Courtin, Jacques’ son, took over the reins of the export department in 1974. A date that will mark the beginning of an incredible adventure.
Powerful partnerships around the world
Today, 95% of our products – entirely formulated and designed in France – are distributed in 150 countries on five continents. A global influence that has largely been based on the diversification of our sales channels. In 1968, we chose to offer our formulas in selective perfumery in order to expand our customer base. In the 1980s, this strategy was further reinforced with the proliferation of Clarins corners in high-end points of sale and in selective distribution chains.
Over the years, we have established partnerships with renowned department stores around the world. These allow us to benefit from increased visibility in key markets such as China, where we are present in the stores of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi chain. In the U.S., we also have a prestigious storefront at Macy’s. More recently, in 2021, we opened a corner in the new Printemps store in Doha, Middle East. It is also within these high-end establishments that the majority of Clarins spa cabins are installed.
Values that bring us together
Beyond commercial interests, it is common values – excellence in the lead – that bring Clarins and the department stores together. Several spokespersons for prestigious brands testified to this on the occasion of our 70th anniversary. Tony Spring, CEO of Macy’s Inc. said, “Congratulations to Clarins on its 70th anniversary! What an extraordinary milestone, and one that is certainly a good time to celebrate the outstanding work of your company. Macy’s Inc., including Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury, appreciates the partnership with the Clarins Group. It’s inspiring to work with a partner that continues to innovate, invests in the customer experience, and prioritizes the effectiveness of every product. We appreciate your continued support of our brands and look forward to many years of success.”
Richard Wu, president of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Dept. Store Co., Ltd, also recalled the strength of his partnership with Clarins, which began nearly 30 years ago. “My sincere congratulations to Clarins on its 70th anniversary. This extraordinary milestone represents 70 years of innovation, excellence and perseverance. On behalf of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Group, I would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for your partnership and continued support. During our collaboration, we have built many successes together, such as the first Clarins beauty corner, opened in our Taipei store in 1996, and the first Clarins Skin Spa opened in the Xinyi 19 store in 2003.”
For his part, Jean-Marc Bellaiche, CEO of the Printemps group, insisted on the very special link between him and Clarins. It was in 1962 that we opened our first corner at the Printemps. A milestone that allowed us to position ourselves in the luxury market from the beginning. “It is with great pleasure that I think of the long-standing partnership between Clarins and Printemps, as well as the remarkable journey of your company that I have had the chance to follow personally,” he said.
Chosen to be one of the few distribution partners of our new very high-end Precious line, the Printemps group also wanted to thank Clarins and reaffirm its confidence in the brand, through the words of Jean-Marc Bellaiche: “At Printemps, we are very proud of our partnership with Clarins and are delighted to have contributed to your growth and success. We’ve collaborated on many successful initiatives, including being one of the few partners chosen to launch your new collection, Precious. This partnership illustrates the strong bond and mutual trust that exists between our organizations, as well as shared values of innovation, human relations, loyalty, commitment and excellence. »
As we celebrate 70 years of heritage, Jonathan Zrihen, President and CEO, along with Virginie Courtin and Olivier Courtin, Managing Directors, embody Clarins’ vision for a promising future. Driven by this vision, Clarins continues to establish itself as a global reference. Today, Clarins’ expertise and leadership are well established: the number one in high-end skincare in Europe, the brand is accelerating its growth in America and Asia. Our pioneering approach to e-commerce, based on proximity to our customers and the quality of their experience all over the world, is of course not unrelated to this plebiscite.
Jacques Courtin said it himself: “For Clarins, beauty only makes sense if it is accompanied by generosity, benevolence and humanity”. A commitment that we have faithfully applied for 70 years now, in France and internationally, and which will continue to guide our actions throughout the coming decades!