Magic Place Building 1

MANE Magic Place renovation

In 2001, MANE decided to set up an affiliate in Johannesburg to better cater to the needs of the South African fragrance market. This task was entrusted to Olivier Cebe, who had initially been developing the market from the MANE’ headquarters in France. Olivier Cebe had served as the Fragrance manager for South Africa and soon began to service consumer goods companies in neighboring countries as well.
In order to aid the expansion of MANE Johannesburg, the affiliate moved from a 100m² office into new 1200m² industrial premise comprising of a laboratory, evaluation, marketing, administrative offices and warehousing in 2006. The building was named Magic Place, after the name of the owner’s business, Wizard Clothing. The association in name was kept, as it was apt for our positioning in South Africa: from wizardry to the magic of perfumery…
12 years and two added African set-ups (a commercial office in Lagos, Nigeria and a creative center in Accra, Ghana) later, MANE’s team in Johannesburg has established itself as a leader in creative fragrance supplies within the Sub-Saharan cosmetics and fragrance market. Having once again outgrown the premises, the office and R&D space were doubled and fully revamped. The aesthetic is simple, yet stylish; making use of metallic aluminum and stainless steel finishes.
Indeed, the office now boasts a state of the art reception area, 2 boardrooms, accommodating in excess of 15 people each, 1 meeting room, 1 evaluation room, GCMS lab, 4 testing booths, a lab with a soap pilot machine, a mailing room (courier), arrival lounge and visitors’ office.
Because the well being of our employees is key, we decided to create a pleasant environment for when our teams are having a break from the relentless fast-paced industry. Creative ideas and meals can now be shared in relaxing interiors. The space has also recently been utilized by key clients as an up-market setting to organize PR events.
Africa has recently been the buzzword for growth. MANE had acknowledged that potential long ago as well as the need to have a local team to better service this great continent. Through its entrepreneurial spirit and singular choices, MANE has accrued detailed know-how and genuine expertise of the different African fragrance markets over the years.
With these new improved, enlarged premises in South Africa and close ties with the other African bases, MANE offers an even more targeted approach to our key local, regional and international clients. The objective is ambitious, yet clear: become the industry’s reference when it comes to African consumer insight.