By Kevin Lee, Staff Writer

Universal Beauty Products, Inc. is a manufacturer of quality chemical products. Located in Elk Grove Village, IL, this company has around 50 employees working in facilities of about 100,000 sq. ft.

Universal is running a factory with its own manufacturing equipment. The machines and subsidiary facilities needed huge amounts of investments, and thousands of dollars were spent to build the sanitary system alone. The manufacturing business involves a great deal of risk. Despite the obvious disadvantages of the manufacturing business, Young Jin Park, President, has insisted on handling everything, since he is aiming to accomplish more than big profits.

The process of product development itself is special for Park. In terms of profits, manufacturing only a handful of popular items is much better than developing various items. Since profitability is not guaranteed, developing a new product is not always a smart way to go. Branding itself costs thousands of dollars. Even though development involves a huge sum of money, Park will persistently develop new products, since doing so is particularly meaningful to him.

When Park started his business in 1995, he went through many difficulties. His first product had some problems after only a few months of shelf life. His agony upon return products was beyond description. He spent months learning how to make shampoo, and was sure that the product he made would work, but it also needed improvements. It was the time when he did not hire technicians, but solved problems by the knowledge he obtained through seminars and books.

Through many difficulties, he never gave up on insisting “100% Consumer Satisfaction.” His business eventually became stabilized. Now he is manufacturing products not only for his own business but also for other companies. His product lines have been expanding to produce hair-styling products, hair treatment products and hair-coloring products. Besides, various products are currently under development.

He has used the brand names African Essence, Amanzi, and Salon Pro, since he started business. Recently he added a new brand, VIA Natural. Since “via” has a meaning of “through,” the product with this brand name has unique meanings. In addition, the logo is also visually attractive because VIA looks almost the same when placed upside down.

The most popular item among the “VIA Natural” line is a hair-coloring product. This is a difficult product to develop. Controlling everything in his own factory gives Park an advantage in ensuring the quality of his products. He is expecting retailers to gain profits by carrying VIA products.

Park is proud that his parents strived to support their children through many difficulties in America, a place they knew nothing about. He also wants to be a good father to his children. When asked about the motivation of his business, he said “I don’t want my children to be proud of me for my money; I want them to be proud of the way I live. I’d like to show them how I have pursued my dreams.”

He respects retailers who take risks by running businesses in unsafe areas out of love for their children and family. He would like to find a way to help them. He is aiming for a mutually beneficial business, which will be accomplished when he applies his dream to the retailers’ dreams.

Park once read an article in a newspaper that compared life to the Sahara desert. In a huge desert like the Sahara, a wind blows consistently from all directions. You may draw beautiful pictures in the sand, but they will always disappear without a trace once the wind blows. Since life has unexpected happenings, you may need to take a rest to regain strength when you are in an oasis on the way through a desert.

He was seriously injured in a car accident a few years ago. He personally experienced a sudden change in his life, as the allegory of the Sahara desert portrayed. After the accident, he asked himself, “What good is it to devote myself to this business?” He tried to find the meaning of the days and years he devoted to research and development. He stayed away from his business for a while, and refreshed himself in the oasis.

Park seems naturally born for research and development. Now in the desert again, out of his oasis, he is full of ideas for the development of his business. He seems ardent and passionate when he talks about the products he is developing. He keeps drawing pictures in the proverbial sand, even if they may be blown away any time, in order to fulfill his dream “to show his children the process he goes through in making the best product in the United States and in the world.”

Being grateful to God for giving him hope in the midst of bitter trials, Park truly believes that peace will be with us if we try hard to follow Him.

Universal sends out salespeople each month to visit retail stores all over the states. Retailers are welcomed to call Customer Service at 847-787-0182 or 800-390-3338. Visits to retailers are not just for sales. Universal collects valuable information for product development by listening to consumers’ demands and requests.