Contradiction and Realization


In the years that followed our company's establishment, the customer base faithfully using Margaret Josefin products grew to a few thousand.
In our pursuit of products kind and beneficial to humans, we widened our network of links with experts in various fields, including academics, color therapists, aromatherapists, pharmacists, beauticians and dermatologists, etc.
Around this time, our developmental capability came to be recognized in the industry and we received requests not only from customers but also from various fields to make other items in addition to skin care products.
Around the same time, the mass media drew attention to our activities, and we were faced with the issue of growing from being a concern that only needed to think about its relationship with a limited set of customers into a company that had to interact with society as a whole.
Our fundamental principle in product development was freedom from chemical additives. Our minimum condition in developing new products was not to add synthetic surface-active agents, coloring, flavoring or preservatives.
However, one day we received a request to make toothpaste for people with bad breath.
Bad breath may not be a big deal for ordinary people. However, for some, bad breath or halitosis is so serious that they need to go to the hospital, and there are others who commit suicide out of despair at not finding a solution.
Since we had previously sold additive-free toothpastes for people suffering from gustatory dysfunction（dysgeusia）, we conducted various experiments based on the knowledge we had gleaned from this.
Out of various solutions suggested by our staff, we came up with an idea to add 32 different flavors.
However, realizing this idea would mean breaking our conventional rules of product development. At the same time, there was growing opinion within the company that it would be OK to use some additives if it meant overcoming halitosis problems.
If we had intended only to serve people with eczema and allergies, this rule would have been upheld indefinitely.
Needless to say, some people thought that using artificial flavoring represented a betrayal of customers who had supported our conventional approach to product development.
We were faced with a conflict between the path we had previously followed and the needs that were being placed on us by society.
However, the answer to this conflict was clear. We needed to return to the company's starting point, take a renewed look at ourselves and proceed with the clearest path.
Our company had been founded on the desire to help children. The fountainhead of this was undoubtedly the desire to heal other people's troubles, or what may be called maternal love.
Rules for making products were only part of the various processes needed to realize this goal. The most important thing was to help solve the problems that caused worry, trouble and hopelessness in people.
We decided to embark on selling flavored toothpaste and soaps, incorporating color therapy know-how.
We may not be able to dress products up with clever images and sweet words like the big corporations. Our actions and products may lack in attractiveness and may sometimes seen contradictory.
However, we intend to honestly show our customers and society the conflicts and worries we faced and the decisions and actions we took in the past, and we hope to be judged on that basis.
We aim to have customers choose and value our products and corporate activities by showing them the utmost consideration and providing honest information.
Our reason for existence lies in creating products to solve the troubles of as many people as possible.



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