VIPER VENOM "POISONS" THE COSMETICS MARKET 7,500 cosmetics which use viper venom are manufactured daily on the local market

• Interview with Marius Buldur, General Manager at FaviAmmodytes

Reporter: You are the first viper breeder in Romania. How has this business been going so far?

Marius Buldur: I am the first authorized breeder of vipers of the Vipera Ammodytes species (nose-horned viper), in Romania. We had bad days and good days. We mostly had to deal with bureaucratic hurdles, due to a rather muddy legislation.

Businesses selling viper venom work, but that depends on the persistence and seriousness of those who manage them. Some of those who succeeded are now my associates. Andrei Tinu is one of them.

Reporter: From breeding vipers and selling the venom earned in other countries you have now moved on to a different level - using the venom in producing cosmetics. How did the idea of this business begin and when did you start the project?

Marius Buldur: A few years ago I thought about how I could sell in Romania the venom I got from the vipers, because I already had information that you can sell anti-rheumatic ointments and facial wrinkle creams which the major cinema stars are interested in.

Fate decided that I would meet Mrs. Engineer Virginia Faur, who received international awards for her research and production of natural products in her own laboratories Favisan of Lugoj.

This led to the partnership between MB Ammodytes and Favisan Lugoj, which resulted in the creation of four innovative and revolutionary products on the domestic market.

Reporter: According to information on your Facebook page, there are four faviammodytes products. What benefits do they have and what else do they contain (besides the venom)?

Marius Buldur: Yes, we have four products: nutritive cream for wrinkled skin, SPF15 nutritive cream and two products in the massage range.

It is well known that Vipera Ammodytes venom which is included in the facial creams acts deep within the tissues of the face's skin, thus eliminating wrinkles and oxygenating cells, and it represents a 100% natural non-invasive alternative to Botox.

Facial creams with viper venom are well known in the market as "cosmeceuticals", halfway between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and the anti-aging and anti-wrinkle effects of snake venom have been clinically proven, through laboratory tests.

Those in the massage range are recommended for use in cases of: neuralgias (nerve pains), arthralgias (joint pains), myalgias (muscle pains), post-traumatic pains (surgical interventions).

All the products are ecological, and the viper venom is 100% natural.

Reporter: You are now the first maker of cosmetics which contain a special ingredient - nose-horned viper venom. What was the initial investment in this project?

Marius Buldur: I think the most important costs were: patience, time and human resources.

Reporter: What is the output capacity of the line inaugurated this year?

Marius Buldur: The output capacity is approximately 5,000 tubes/day of ointment for therapeutic massage and approximately 2,500 boxes/day of facial nutritive and hydrating creams.

Reporter: At this time, you are the only maker of this kind of products in Romania. Do you think that you will start a new trend among viper breeders?

Marius Buldur: At this moment I am the only maker of 100% natural viper-venom products, soon to have nationwide distribution.

I may launch a new trend, but I repeat, it is all up to the persistence and the seriousness of the one who begins such an activity.

Reporter: Do you feel that you have competitors on this niche? Are there foreign products being sold in Romania?

Marius Buldur: I know there are imported products sold in Romania, but they use synthetic proteins, which imitate the proteins in the snake venom, instead of 100% natural venom, obtained by "milking" the vipers.

Reporter: What category of customers are these products intended for, in terms of their purchasing power? How expensive are they?

Marius Buldur: They are aimed at anybody who needs such products: adolescents, adults, elderly.

These products can't exactly be cheap if we take into consideration how the viper venom is obtained and the benefits it has for the overall health. The price in the store ranges from 37 lei to 42 lei/ 50 ml tube, cream or gel for therapeutic massage.

Facial creams will be more expensive compared to those sold in retail stores, but with a price similar to those which already exist in stores specializing in natural products. The hydrating cream will have a shelf price of approximately 70-80 lei/piece, and nutritive cream for wrinkled skin will cost about 130-140 lei/piece.

Reporter: Where can the faviammodytes products be found?

Marius Buldur: Faviammodytes products can be found in specialized stores, namely in drug stores, and in natural products stores.

Reporter: How have sales been going, between the launch and the present day?

Marius Buldur: Like any producer who enters the market with new products, I have faced various situations concerning sales, but three months after the launch I am expecting better results. I expect that in November this year I will have more information than I do now.

Reporter: As for the goals which you started off with, what is the turnover you are expecting this year?

Marius Buldur: Of course I have expectations, just like any investor does, but at the present time I am not able to make turnover estimates.

Reporter: As the business grows, are you considering entering the foreign markets?

Marius Buldur: Yes, of course I am thinking abut that! I have already received requests for information on the four products from Italy, England, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, France, Switzerland.

Reporter: How are you currently advertising your business? Are you considering joining the major retail chains?

Marius Buldur: Promotion on the social networks has been very well received, to be followed by print advertising. Soon there will also be radio and TV spots.

The products are not intended for retail chains. They will be sold in specialized stores: drug stores and natural products stores.

Reporter: The company's website is not yet ready. Are you considering selling these products online?

Marius Buldur: I estimate that by autumn this year, the website and the online store will be available as well. For now, the Facebook page will bring a lot of information to potential consumers.

Reporter: Thank you!