Arrowpak to expand its network in the U.S.A.

Jean-Yves Bourgeois

27 June 2011

The U.S. firm, head-quartered in New York, which is owned by the Italian group Baralan, is on its way to strengthen its commercial presence in the United States. First step: the establishment next year of sales offices in Chicago, Miami and Texas. A decision that comes at a time when the, in addition to its strong business position in nail polish bottles, has considerably expanded, in other sectors, its portfolio of standard packaging.

Portfolio enlargement

Initially focusing, when it was founded in 1980, on the distribution, of standard bottles of nail polish designed by with its own moulds by several glass-makers worldwide, this New York based subsidiary of Baralan an Italian group, has considerably expanded its scope of activity both in the skin care and then the make-up sector and also by integrating new partners, particularly in Asia.

Currently, Arrowpak’s portfolio comprises bottles, caps and plastic jars, but also an increasing number of make-up cases, lipstick tubes, mascaras, lip glosses, etc., plus a range of airless bottles, including, twenty new models which were recently presented to clients.

"It’s fairly simple," Jim Slowey, the Commercial Director explains, "given the slowdown in the U.S. skin care market because of the economic crisis, we decided to invest more in the make-up segment."

Hence the firm’s presence at the very first edition of the MakeUp in New York trade show, which will be held on 13 and 14 September next, in New York.

Flexibility and "on time" delivery

One of the company’s biggest assets is obviously, its catalogue of standard products designed by its own team of designers/developers making it possible to offer some 500 moulds for nail polish bottles and at least as many in the other areas covered by Arrowpak.

Another asset, a stock which is divided, for the time being, between the firm’s historic headquarters in New York (7,500 sqm) and also on the west coast in Los Angeles (3,000 sqm). "For now, a significant part of the plastic packaging comes from Europe thanks to one of Baralan’s converting subsidiaries in Italy, but it is not said that this will continue", pointed out Slowey, "taking into account the euro/dollar rate that remains very disadvantageous." And there is only one step to take... before considering converting ourselves directly on site on the more or less short term.