Korean cosmetic products gain attention on beauty platform Maycoders

Maycoders’ cosmetics [Courtesy of Maycoders]

South Korean cosmetic products are gaining attention from foreign social media influencers, and one company at the forefront of this trend is Maycoders, a K-beauty manufacturing and distribution platform startup.

With its innovative approach to globalizing K-beauty, Maycoders has become a pivotal player in the beauty industry, serving as a bridge between Korean beauty products and consumers across the globe.

In six countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, the United States, and Canada, over 2,300 K-beauty enthusiasts use the Maycoders platform to import and sell Korean-made cosmetics.

The successful venture is breathing new life into the Korean beauty industry and capturing the imagination of influencers worldwide.

Maycoders relies on big data analysis and high-quality product development to facilitate borderless market activities, supporting the globalization of K-beauty.

The platform acts as a conduit between Korean small and medium-sized cosmetic manufacturers and over 9 million online sellers worldwide, creating opportunities for them to collaborate.

The brain behind this innovative platform is Choi Sae-mi, the chief executive officer and founder of Maycoders.

Before founding the company in 2020, Choi had no direct involvement in the cosmetics industry. She began her journey as a coder and was known for creating fan pages for her favorite singers during her middle school years.

However, when she decided to venture into entrepreneurship, Choi’s focus shifted exclusively to market analysis through data.

“After deciding to start a business in the consumer goods sector, I looked for the most cost-effective category among Korean-made products,” Choi said.

She recognized that while Korean cosmetics excelled in quality and affordability compared to competitors like Japan and France, the information technology (IT) sector was relatively underdeveloped in these traditional industries. This insight motivated her to explore this niche.

Choi founded two platforms, SEOUL4PM and MAYK, which utilize IT to connect over 9 million online sellers globally with Korean small and medium-sized cosmetics manufacturers.

Foreign sellers can conveniently convey their requirements, such as product type, packaging, and branding, through the platform, and Maycoders ensures that these specifications are accurately communicated to suitable Korean manufacturers.

“Most of the major Korean cosmetics original design manufacturers (ODMs) receive orders for over 20,000 units per product,” she said. “However, online sellers typically order between 1,000 and 2,000 units, making it challenging to secure actual contracts. By connecting them with verified small-scale manufacturers, we aim to solve this problem and make small-quantity orders the main focus of our platform business.”

Maycoders has streamlined various manual processes, including sample production, contract management, and export-import procedures, reducing the time required for brand cosmetics to reach the local market from a minimum of three months to as little as two weeks.

One intriguing aspect of Maycoders is the unique branding choices made by foreign sellers.

Many adopt a distinctly Korean style, surprising Maycoders’ team members.

For instance, a seller from Thailand launched a brand as “The Seoulution,” blending “Seoul” with “Solution.” This brand has gained significant popularity in the local market.

Choi has ambitious plans to expand beyond cosmetics and into other high-value-for-money Korean products.

“Through data analysis, I have realized that, in addition to cosmetics, there are numerous product categories among Korean daily essentials, such as socks that excel in both price and quality,” she said. “As we expand our product range, we will continue to seek out a diverse range of buyers.”