Yoanna Lee, CEO of Heart Planet Company (DDM Youth Entrepreneurship Center Unicorn resident company)
-Main items include ‘Jinrest’s Camping Relaxation Chair’ and ‘Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Tent’.
-Sustainability, safety, and a combination of design and practicality are the item’s greatest competitiveness.
Heart Planet Company is a startup that produces eco-friendly camping supplies. It was founded in August 2022 by CEO Yoanna Lee (27).
CEO Lee introduced, “Heart Planet Company is a company that realizes social value through sustainable products and services,” and added, “We are introducing environmentally friendly camping supplies and a variety of products based on upcycling.”
“The company’s goal goes beyond simply selling products and focuses on protecting the environment and fulfilling social responsibilities. Heart Planet Company’s mission is to propose a sustainable lifestyle and provide a better future for customers through eco-friendly products. Based on this mission, we are realizing innovative ideas to solve constantly changing consumer trends and environmental issues.”
Key items include ‘Jinseom’s Camping Relaxation Chair’ and ‘Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Tent’. Jinshim’s Camping Relaxation Chair is an eco-friendly product made using upcycled bands. It is a product that uses a durable band to provide comfortable seating and pursues both sustainability and design. It is a multi-purpose chair that can be used not only at the campsite but also in everyday life, and is optimized for camping due to its light weight and portability. It is an essential camping item that combines sophisticated design and practicality.
The carbon monoxide poisoning prevention tent is a product designed to minimize the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning that can occur while camping. The core technology of the tent is its ventilated structure, which allows air to circulate smoothly and reduces the concentration of carbon monoxide inside. This tent, which puts safety first, provides a safer camping environment by reducing the risk factors that may occur when using a heating device inside the tent in cold weather.
CEO Lee said, “Heart Planet Company is helping customers enjoy camping more safely and more happily through these products,” and added, “At the same time, we are doing our best to provide environmentally friendly products.”
The competitiveness of Heart Planet Company’s items can be broadly divided into three categories. First is sustainability. “The products are made using eco-friendly materials and upcycling, making them attractive to consumers with a sense of responsibility for the environment. In particular, the Jinshim Camping Relaxation Chair is made using upcycled bands and is a product that is in line with the trend of saving and protecting nature. This sustainability is becoming a differentiated competitive advantage in the market.”
Second is safety. Carbon monoxide poisoning prevention tents are designed to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning that can occur while camping. The ventilated structure facilitates air circulation and helps consumers enjoy camping more safely. This safety, differentiated from other tents, provides strong confidence to consumers.
The third is the harmony of design and practicality. “The products offer practicality yet sophisticated design. The Jinshim Camping Relax Chair is a lightweight and portable yet stylish camping chair that can be used not only at the campsite but also in everyday life. Another competitive advantage is that it provides both aesthetic design and high functionality. I believe that this combination of sustainability, safety, and design and practicality is the item’s greatest competitive edge. By doing this, we are helping our customers use our products more safely and conveniently while also having a positive impact on the environment.”
Heart Planet Company is pioneering sales channels targeting the global market with the theme of sustainable lifestyle. To this end, we are actively promoting our products by participating in various overseas exhibitions.
In September of this year, we participated in the Maison&Objet exhibition held in Paris, France and introduced the Jinseom Camping Relaxation Chair. The exhibition is an important event leading global design and lifestyle trends, and it served as an important opportunity to confirm the potential of the camping relaxation chair in the European market by receiving great attention from local and international buyers.
At an exhibition held in Germany in October 2023, Heart Planet Company plans to promote its brand and begin developing sales channels in the local market. As one of the important bases in the European outdoor market, Germany plans to actively promote sustainable products and brand philosophy to European buyers and seek various business partnerships.
“Through participation in these overseas exhibitions, we are continuously conducting global marketing to increase brand awareness in the global market and reach more customers. We plan to continue to expand our sales channels by participating in domestic and international exhibitions. Currently, we are strengthening our position in the market with a focus on sustainable products, and through this, we are continuously increasing our brand value. In the future, we plan to accelerate global expansion and technology development by attracting investment at the appropriate time, ultimately aiming for brand exit. Through exit, we aim to create new business opportunities and achieve sustainable growth in a larger market.”
How did CEO Lee start his business? “It came from my passion for creating social value and my personal experience with camping. I have enjoyed camping activities since I was in middle school, and spending time in nature made me appreciate the importance of nature and the environment. This experience led to concerns about how to not harm nature while camping, and later became an important opportunity to develop eco-friendly camping supplies. During my college days, I came to crystallize this idea through activities in a social value startup club, and was selected as an excellent model in the program, which led me to pursue my startup in earnest. “Heart Planet Company’s vision of creating practical camping supplies while protecting nature is the starting point of Heart Planet Company.”
After starting the business, CEO Lee said, “The most rewarding moment is when I get a positive response from customers,” and added, “I empathize with the fact that customers who use the eco-friendly camping products we developed express convenience and satisfaction, and further contribute to environmental protection.” “When you give, those moments become a great driving force to overcome the difficulties of starting a business,” he said.
Regarding future plans, CEO Lee said, “Heart Planet Company’s goal is to pioneer sales channels by expanding product lines and strengthening marketing activities,” and added, “We want to expand into the global market through exports and opening stores on global platforms.”
“To develop new markets, we plan to expand our product line to include tents and camping accessories in addition to the current camping relaxation chair. Additionally, we will strengthen brand awareness and increase contact with consumers through social media campaigns and YouTube collaboration. Expansion into the global market is planned to be achieved through exports and platform entry. We plan to expand our exports of eco-friendly camping products with Europe and North America as our main targets, and enter our stores on global e-commerce platforms so that more overseas consumers can access our products.”
Establishment date: August 2022
Main business: production of eco-friendly camping supplies, product design
Achievements: Selected as an excellent model for 2019 Seoul Innovation Park
Reporter Jinho Lee [email protected]
How does Heart Planet Company balance the use of innovative materials with affordability to reach a wider customer base interested in eco-friendly camping?
## Heart Planet Company: An Eco-Friendly Camping Adventure
This article delves into Heart Planet Company, a startup dedicated to producing eco-friendly camping supplies. CEO Yoanna Lee’s passion for the outdoors and commitment to sustainability are central to the company’s mission. Let’s explore the key themes through open-ended questions:
**1. Sustainability & Social Impact:**
* **Heart Planet Company emphasizes sustainability in its products. How can businesses effectively balance profit with environmental responsibility?**
* **Beyond using eco-friendly materials, how can companies like Heart Planet contribute to a broader shift towards sustainable lifestyles?**
**2. Product Innovation & Design:**
* **What are the challenges and opportunities of designing camping gear that is both functional and environmentally friendly?**
* **How can technology and design work together to further enhance the sustainability of camping equipment?**
**3. Target Market & Global Expansion:**
* **What are the motivations behind Heart Planet Company’s focus on the global market, particularly Europe and North America?**
* **How can Heart Planet adapt its marketing strategies to effectively reach different cultural contexts and consumer preferences?**
**4. The Future of Eco-Friendly Camping:**
* **What trends do you foresee emerging in the camping industry, especially regarding sustainability?**
* **How can industries collaborate to promote responsible tourism and minimize the environmental impact of outdoor recreation?**
**5. Entrepreneurial Journey & Leadership:**
* **What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who are passionate about building a sustainable business?**
* **Yoanna Lee mentions the rewarding experience of seeing customer satisfaction. How important is customer feedback in shaping the direction of a startup?**
These open-ended questions explore the multifaceted aspects of Heart Planet Company’s journey, encouraging critical thinking and engaging discussion on the intersection of business, sustainability, and innovation in the camping industry.
