Le Rouge Français Blooms with First Boutique and Ambitious Global Growth Plans
Le Rouge Français, a pioneering beauty brand established in 2019 by Élodie Carpentier and Salem Ghezaili, has recently marked a significant milestone with the opening of its inaugural physical boutique. Nestled on Rue de Turenne, just a stone's throw from the iconic Place des Vosges, this new address is envisioned as an immersive space designed to fully showcase the brand's distinctive ethos and innovative craftsmanship in the realm of plant-based cosmetics.
The brand's unique know-how lies at the heart of its offerings: an exquisite range of lipsticks and other cosmetic products meticulously crafted from tinctorial plants. Ingredients such as roucou, madder, hibiscus, and Damask rose are expertly harnessed to create vibrant, natural colors, a process that is rigorously protected by patents. This commitment to botanical innovation positions Le Rouge Français at the forefront of sustainable and natural beauty solutions.
This exciting retail expansion coincides with a period of dynamic growth for the young company. Despite its lean team of ten employees, Le Rouge Français has already established a robust international footprint, with its products distributed in over 100 points of sale worldwide. This includes prestigious retailers like Neiman Marcus and Credo Beauty in the United States, underscoring its global appeal and market acceptance. In a strategic move to fuel further expansion, the company is currently engaged in a fundraising campaign via the Tudigo platform, aiming to secure 1.5 million euros. The operation, accessible to investors from as little as 500 euros, has already successfully garnered over 175,000 euros, demonstrating strong public interest and confidence in its vision.
The capital raised through this campaign is earmarked for critical strategic initiatives. These include supporting the industrialization of its production processes, strengthening the company's international presence, and ultimately achieving an ambitious sales target of 10 million euros by 2027. Domestically, Le Rouge Français is poised for substantial growth within France, with plans to integrate its products into an initial 50 Nocibé outlets. This represents a significant step towards a potential integration into 500 Nocibé stores, affirming the brand's overarching ambition to become the undisputed world leader in plant-based color for beauty.
The current fundraising builds upon a solid foundation of previous investor support. In December 2019, Le Rouge Français successfully completed an initial financing round with key partners including Obratori, L'Occitane's incubator, and BNP Développement. This was followed by a second successful round in 2022, which saw the continued commitment of these initial investors, joined by the impact fund WinEquity and several business angels. Notably, the founders have maintained a majority stake in the company across both financing rounds, reinforcing their steadfast leadership and long-term vision for Le Rouge Français.
