Uruguayan skincare brand exports through Amazon thanks to Uruguay XXI's e-Commerce Cross-border program

Cryosmetics, the skin care cosmetics line developed by Uruguayan scientists, can be purchased starting this month on Amazon. Its founders, biotechnologist Vanesa Piattoni and business administrator Federico Ciappina took advantage of the e-Commerce Cross-border program of the export promotion agency Uruguay XXI, which provided them with advice and personalized follow-up through the international consulting firm LAP Marketplace.

“The program has been a great help in opening this new point of sale. I think it is a great initiative that promotes Uruguayan companies and helps the country grow,” Piattoni explained.

“To position yourself commercially on Amazon, you must make a big effort, and small companies sometimes can’t face it alone,” he added. About LAP Marketplace, the company with which Uruguay XXI developed this initiative, Piattoni evaluated that “it has been a good ally.” As to how the process will continue now, the businesswoman pointed out that they will continue with a promotion and dissemination campaign.

Of the five skin care products they have, Cryosmetics selected three for the first stage. The consulting program included, among other things, preparing these products for online sale with the necessary regulations, translating the labels into English, and further details required by U.S. regulations.

Thus, facial cleansers, night facial oil, and body oil since the beginning of July can be found on the platform. Depending on the performance of the new sales channel, they will evaluate offering the complete line. “We are the only ones in the market that make 100% natural products and contemplate the skin’s microbiome for its best care,” explained the scientist and entrepreneur.

The startup was born in 2019 with the support of the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII) and, in 2020, was incorporated into the portfolio of GridX. This business accelerator provides funding to biotechnology entrepreneurs. Subsequently, it was selected to participate in the e-Commerce Cross-border program organized by Uruguay XXI.

Cross Border E-commerce

With Uruguay XXI’s program, beneficiary companies receive ten months of personalized advice and follow-up from LAP Marketplace, an expert in sales through global marketplaces. The objective is to generate the capacity to export to the United States, Mexico, or Canada through the global marketplaces Amazon, eBay, or Walmart.

Based on an open call to companies from different sectors, program participants are selected to receive a diagnosis and individual counseling. During the process, each company is comprehensively prepared to achieve the objective of entering or consolidating a new international market through global marketplaces.

In addition, they go through an onboarding stage, in which they register their profiles on the platforms and upload their products. In the last months of the project, digital marketing campaigns are carried out on a case-by-case basis within the marketplaces; the results are evaluated and adjusted to achieve the best possible conversion.

The Cross-border e-Commerce program aims to professionalize Uruguayan SMEs in exporting through e-commerce and to develop or improve technical and commercial skills to facilitate effective export operations necessary for conversion on global platforms.