THE RESIDENCY: SEOUL

The first step to creating your own product; a private 4-day program in Seoul for beauty creators and founders.

March 2–5, 2027

The Residency is a four-day, application-only program for creators and emerging founders who have thought about making a beauty product of their own and haven’t known where to begin. We introduce you to Korean manufacturers, show you how formulation, packaging and small-batch production work, and help you work out what you would make.

By the end you understand each step, from formulation and packaging to compliance and a first order, and you have met the people who manage them. It is for beauty, lifestyle and wellness creators, makeup artists, stylists and aestheticians, early-stage founders, and operators with a community, newsletter or retail business.

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RESIDENCY ITINERARY

This is a high-level overview of the days; more detail and customization will be available for those selected.

DAY

FOCUS

Seoul

TIMELINE

Arrive, settle in, meet the cohort for cultural moments, gallery exhibits and dinner.

DAY

FOCUS

Inside Beauty

TIMELINE

Private visits to manufacturing facilities and labs in and around Seoul, and to the headquarters of a leading Korean beauty group. You speak directly with specialists in formulation, ingredients, packaging and small-batch production. Get your questions ready!

DAY

FOCUS

Brands & Retail

TIMELINE

Private visits to Seoul’s leading beauty stores and brand spaces to further understand what matters commercially: consumer behaviour, merchandising and experiential branding. This is not just shopping.

DAY

FOCUS

Your Product

TIMELINE

Now it’s time to imagine and plan your own product or line! You will be led through a strategic design session that includes founder talks, time to plan and get feedback.

RESIDENCY FEE AND DETAILS

Get yourself to Seoul. We handle the rest.

$9,500 USD

Three nights in a five-star Seoul hotel

A mix of meals that range from traditional Korean to exclusive (all meals during the trip)

Private spa experiences

Cultural tours

Private ground transport throughout, including airport pick-up and drop-off

Bilingual hosting from JK and Bethany, so there are no taxis, reservations or translation to think about

Your Product Opportunity Map: your audience, the problem they bring to you, your opportunity, your category, what makes yours different, and the level of investment it may need

A tailored Sample Lab proposal for the opportunity you identify

A printed field guide and welcome gifts

The Residency stands on its own, and there is no obligation to continue. If you want to, we take your idea through the same phases as every Sample Lab client: formulation, component and packaging sourcing, packaging design, compliance, first order and re-order. Each phase has defined timelines, deliverables and transparent pricing.

We will be accepting applications until January 15, 2027.

COMPLETE APPLICATION FORM

DOWNLOAD THE RESIDENCY GUIDE