N.Z.'s Pioneers In Cosmetics

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31089, 18 June 1966, Page 13

N.Z. ' s Pioneers In Cosmetics

(Specially written for “The

Press” by

A. J. PETRE)

JF you go into any chemist’s shop in New Zealand, you will find on the shelves products of a Christchurch firm, Wilfred Owen, Ltd., manufacuring chemists, and its products are also found in shops in Australia, where it also has an associate company, and the Pacific Islands.

The firm makes a very wide range of toilet preparations and cosmetics, sun-tan preparations. toothpaste, soap, baby powder and deodorants. Wilfred Owen, Ltd, was first registered in April, 1938, but its history really goes much further back than that Mr Owen’s father owned Cook and Ross, chemists, which he bought in 1913. Mr Owen was apprenticed to him, qualified, and later managed the firm. Mr Owen had a brother in the business with him. “I realised that one pharmacy was just not enough to keep three families.” he says, “so I had to do something about it” Start In Depression He started a wholesale branch of the firm about 1932, and acquired some agencies, including one for which the firm manufactured goods. “Of course that was not the best time to start in the middle of the slump, but we made a success of it We had practically no money except a £lOOO overdraft, and it was quite grim, believe me. But anyway we managed to make headwav. Then my father died in 1937. and I agreed with mv brother that we should split up the business, and I would take the wholesale side.”

By the time all the arrangements had been made it was Anrtl, 1938. In November, 1938. import restrictions started and this hit the business hard. However the firm started to make its own toilet

preparations. It put its own line of cosmetics and toiletries on the market under the brand-name Monterey—then war broke out. But, at this time Wilfred OWen Ltd, was almost the only firm in New Zealand making cosmetics. Competition The Monterey preparation did very well, but after the war finished other cosmetics of world fame came on the market, and the local line lost ground. The line was brought to an end but the firm managed to market other items, and, in particular, developed its own line of pre-

in its 100 or so products have to be imported, but more are being made locally. In the last few years there has been a trend towards male cosmetics, and it is foreseen that these may comprise a growing segment of the firm’s business. But, Mr Owen points out, it takes time—usually at least paration under the brandname of Gelven and today these are a substantial success. Originally the firm used premises in Victoria street, but space soon became limited, and a site in Pages road was obtained, and the business moved into a new factory there in 1939. This factory was extended two

years ago and is already again short of space. Non-nutrient effervescent drink tablets made by Owens have been very successful, and are exported to Australia. Careful Tests The present factory has an area of about 17,000 sq. ft and all the products are made there. The associate company in Australia is at Sydney, and was started soon after the Christchurch company was started. It has not made the progress of the New Zealand company but it is still worth while, Mr Owen says. Most of the ingredients used a year—to put a new product

on the market. Careful testing and research is needed, for instance tests must be conducted to ascertain the “shelf-life” of the product, and if this is not satisfactory changes must be made. It also takes time to develop the correct container for a product, to ensure it is not going to react with material used in the container.

The picture shows on the right a mixer which blends materials under vacuum. A container of toothpaste has been taken off the machine by the two operators.