Earlier this year, American Spa was lucky enough to meet with Shinichi Kojima, chairman and CEO of Faith Group, home of Faith Cosmetics, while he was here visiting New York City from Japan. Get to know Kojima, his proudest accomplishments, his best advice, and more in our latest Spa Talk.
American Spa: How many years have you been involved in the spa/hospitality industry?
Shinichi Kojima: 30 years.
AS: What was the path that led you into the spa industry?
SK: Skincare is sold through various channels. I wanted to provide customers the best health and skin results, and to do that, esthetics was the perfect industry, having the best knowledge and technology for becoming beautiful.
AS: What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of being in the spa industry?
AS: What is your proudest accomplishment?
SK: For products, the two Lamellar Series. The patents prove their results and are our proudest accomplishments (especially the Precare and Nourishing Gel which are liposome formulations). Also, the customer’s excitement and positive response is another accomplishment which proceeds from the successful development of our employees.
AS: What has surprised you most about working in the spa industry?
SK: It surprised me to know that this job can actually change people’s lives.
AS: Where do you think the industry is heading?
SK: It’s heading to a generation which only the real products, technology and service will remain.
AS: What’s your favorite skincare ingredient?
SK: The liposome.
AS: What positions have you worked in that you feel have been most influential to your career?
SK: The position I am in now.
AS: If you could work in any other profession in the world, what would you be?
SK: I cannot imagine anything better than this profession.
AS: How would you sum up your personal philosophy?
SK: Love, faithfulness and harmony. Love: Having a heart which feels the happiness of others as if it were your own. Faithfulness: Having a heart which thinks of how to be helpful to people and society. Harmony: Having a heart which wishes a life of health and happiness for the ones around you, not just your own.
AS: How do you like to spend your time away from work?
SK: With my family.
AS: What are your three greatest priorities in life?
SK: The happiness of my family. The happiness of our employees and their families. The happiness of our clients and every person involved.
AS: What’s the best advice you’ve received?
SK: You cannot change others, but you can change yourself and your future.
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