iMèi expands its presence in Europe and the United States
With beauty pouches and kits, bags, makeup accessories, pocket mirrors, and gift sets, the Italian company iMèi is sure to impress with its wide range of products. It expects to generate between 9 and 10 million in revenue this year, a million more than last year. “ “Our strength,” explains Riccardo Signorini, CEO, “lies in the fact that all our products are created in-house. Our uniqueness stems not only from our constant search for trends but, above all, from being on the ground. This allows us to co-create original projects with our clients. It’s essential for the brands we supply, which want to stay one step ahead of their competitors.”
The firm can now claim credit for developing numerous brand merchandising projects that promote the identity and business of more than 350 of them, with whom it has established long-term partnerships, particularly in the beauty sector.
And it relies on a network of some twenty manufacturers carefully selected across Europe and around the world.
In recent months, iMèi has participated in several product launches. “We are currently investing in one of the major trends,” explains Riccardo Signorini, “‘charms’. These pendants make packaging unique and even more eye-catching, reinforcing the brand’s identity. We are also focusing on the 100% Italian design and production of new beauty accessories, such as facial massagers and skincare tools. These products are particularly popular in Asian and North American markets, where demand for innovative skincare solutions is growing rapidly.”
The company now relies on a network of manufacturers not only in Europe but also worldwide. It produces not only promotional products—which were the reason for its founding—but also retail product lines that account for 50% of its total revenue.
“Our main current objective,” emphasizes Riccardo Signorini, “is to expand our exports by strengthening our presence in Europe and the United States. Admittedly, the introduction of U.S. tariffs has created a complex and still unclear situation. For a company like ours, the initial phase was not easy, as clear information was limited. Especially since our business model—which involves providing a full-service solution, from design to delivery of the finished product to customers’ warehouses—makes it difficult to accurately estimate the impact of tariffs during customs clearance. Frequent updates and changes have caused conditions, rates, and application methods to vary over time. The impact on our operations is therefore primarily managerial in nature: it requires constant monitoring, flexibility in financial assessments, and a cautious approach to supply and cost planning. It is clear that the current geopolitical situation necessitates regular updates. But beauty remains one of the strongest and most dynamic sectors:
according to data from KPMG and Pambianco, the global cosmetics market has recorded average annual growth of between 5% and 7%, with particularly strong performance in skincare and fragrances. In this context, our strategy is to continually strengthen our partnerships and our presence in this sector.” The firm is one of Cosmetica Italia’s partners. “We also participate in many key industry events, such as Milano Beauty Week and the Crema Beauty Days.”
Sustainability: a key focus
“Environmental responsibility has been a central theme in the beauty sector for years,” emphasizes Riccardo Signorini, “and we view sustainability as a priority, not merely as a goal to be achieved in the future. “One of our key strengths is our ongoing commitment to reducing waste and choosing increasingly sustainable materials and solutions. Sustainability is integrated into every stage of our process, from design to product development, with a particular focus on efficiency and reducing environmental impact.” In this context, the Italian firm has also received the EcoVadis Gold Medal. As for criticism regarding plastics, and although iMèi’s core business is primarily focused on secondary packaging, its CEO believes it is obviously essential to reduce environmental impact and adopt more responsible solutions. The company has decided to prioritize recycled and sustainable materials that are easy to recover and reuse. “This includes using organic cotton,” iMèi explains, “and R-PET made from post-consumer plastic, which gives materials a new lease on life while ensuring quality and durability.”
Laurent Frydlender Joins iMèi
Laurent Frydlender joins iMèi as Business Development Manager for France.
This follows a “rich” career in the beauty packaging sector, where he previously served successively as director of the Quadpack France subsidiary, managing director of the Yonwoo Europe subsidiary of the Quadpack Group, and managing director (on assignment) reporting to the President of the Farevacolor Group (Fareva Group), President of HCP Packaging France (Hsing Chung Plastics Group), Sales Manager, and then Key Account Manager, reporting to the France Director at Edelmann France.
He holds an MBA (Security Management) from EOGN (War College).
He has also been a member of the New York City Fire Department since 1996, responsible for international technical and technological exchanges and the public relations office, and a Lieutenant Colonel in the National Gendarmerie’s Citizen Reserve, reporting to the DGGN’s International Relations Office since February 2024. He served as a volunteer firefighter with SDIS 83 from 1990 to 2000. He was a member of the Association of Former Paris Firefighters “Paris 75” from 1991 to 2002, serving as Secretary General. He is an expert advisor to SDIS 55 / Communication & International Relations and served as France’s Foreign Trade Advisor from 2008 to the end of 2019.
