Interview with Yeşim Yavuz, Sales Director at Ravago Chemicals Kemiropa

We had the pleasure of conducting an interview with Yeşim Yavuz, Sales Director at Ravago Chemicals Kemiropa and Manager of the Life Sciences and Basic Chemicals Divisions, discussing Kemiropa's activities in the Personal & Home Care sector, product portfolio, and R&D efforts.

Could you tell our readers about yourself and your professional background?

I began my career at Kemiropa (then called Kemisan) as a part-time sales representative during my final year of Chemical Engineering studies at Yıldız Technical University. Alongside my work experience, I completed a specialization in Business Administration at Istanbul University and pedagogical training at Marmara University. After many years at Kemiropa in various roles, I was appointed Sales Director in 2005. When our company was acquired by Ravago in June 2016, we continued our business operations as Ravago Chemicals Kemiropa. I currently hold the position of Sales Director while also serving as manager of the Life Sciences and Basic Chemicals Divisions.

Could you tell us about Kemiropa's activities in the Personal & Home Care sector?

Our company, which has completed 30 years of operations, has been supplying raw materials to the Personal and Home Care sector since 2008. Although our product portfolio primarily serves the color cosmetics industry, our goal is to continuously expand our portfolio in the personal and home care sector. To this end, we participate annually in domestic and international trade shows related to the sector, closely follow innovations, and lead our customers in trend awareness. Additionally, as of 2018, our application laboratory will begin operations. Through this, we aim to assist our customers in formula development. We already do this to some extent with guide formulas from our expert suppliers in the field, and with our application laboratory in the future, we will provide more active services in this area.

What are your products? What do you attribute the quality factor in your products to?

Our main product categories are: effect pigments, organic & inorganic pigments and dyes, waxes, fillers, sensory-improving agents, polyurethane-based film-forming agents, active ingredients, titanium and zinc oxide dispersions, specially coated pigments, mineral-based clays and certain semi-finished products, and colloidal silicas for surface cleaners. We attribute the quality factor in our products first and foremost to the expertise and quality of our suppliers. We are quite selective regarding our suppliers and work with all of them under special agreements. Through our expert technical team and collaboration with our customers, we believe we make the right choices when adding new raw materials to our portfolio.

What are your R&D activities? What do you consider when determining these activities?

With our joining the Ravago family in 2016, we have intensified our investments in this area. In December 2017, we successfully inaugurated our USD 3.5 million R&D center in Kocaeli Organized Industrial Zone. In the first quarter of 2018, we will begin operations on our Personal & Home Care Application Laboratory. Our expectation is primarily to bring innovative products to life here and to provide comprehensive application and formula services to our customers in line with their needs and demands, to be their solution partner, and to support the production of innovative products.

What are the recent innovations preferred in the Personal & Home Care sector?

In recent years, we see multifunctional products coming to the forefront in every area. Particularly with the BB cream trend, we now want a product that beautifies while also benefiting our skin and protecting it against environmental factors. The combination of multiple benefits in a single product presents itself as a more practical solution. We must also say that products offering quick-acting solutions are another lifesaver. Transforming texture structures have also become quite popular this season. We must not forget our responsibility towards nature. With this awareness, waterless formulas that will help us consume natural resources less are among the trends. In home care applications, there is increasing demand for detergents and cleaning products that provide fast and effective cleaning, maintenance, are safe and easy to use, and offer resource savings.

What are your targets for 2018? How will these targets provide advantages to the Personal & Home Care sector?

Our primary target for 2018 is the launch of our Application Laboratory. Thus, we aim to be a complete solution partner to our customers. Additionally, for next year, we aim to address gaps in our raw material portfolio by adding new distributorships with qualified and innovative products to our company. We attribute the quality factor in our products first and foremost to the expertise and quality of our suppliers. We are quite selective regarding our suppliers and work with all of them under special agreements.