We Never Work Alone: Interview with OceanCloud Founder Kim Da-in
By Karina Prananto and Kim Ji-yun
I admit that my knowledge of eco-friendly products is quite minimal. I do bring my own shopping bag, and I prefer not to buy plastic bags unless really necessary. I separate all my trash, but I think there are more things I can do for eco-friendliness. I met with a very nice young lady who makes soap (Orsoap, Gwangju News, March 2022), and recently, my colleague found an eco-friendly refill station downtown which just recently opened last May.
I was curious to see what they have, because I had never seen a refill station in my life. My visit there was awakening, and the bright and clean second floor of the place was very welcoming. The products were all tidily arranged. The corner with camping items is very inviting. Many people assume that eco-friendly products are expensive, but OceanCloud seems to be able to make things more affordable. So, instead of buying a 10,000-won silicone straw from Starbucks, I bought a 1,000-won one there. In short, being eco-friendly does not have to be expensive.
Curious, I asked the staff there for the person behind this store concept, and she introduced me to Kim Da-in, the owner. Below is our interview with her.
Gwangju News (GN): Thank you for accepting this interview! Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Kim Da-in: My name is Kim Da-in. I run an independent studio called OceanCloud that makes interesting designs and is an eco-friendly lifestyle shop.
GN: What motivated you to start this business?
Kim Da-in: To be honest, I have had thoughts in my mind about doing things eco-friendly, but I was one of those people who was slow to put it into practice. However, there was an opportunity to start an eco-friendly business. When I went camping, I saw a reflection of the clouds floating in the water, and while I was trying to take a picture with my friend saying it was so pretty, there was also garbage such as plastic waste and plastic bottles that interfered with the scenery. Walking around, all the trash caught my eye, and at that time, I started to think that what we do is reflected in nature.
From that day, I thought of the brand name OceanCloud, and I changed the initial concept of camping and pretty props to eco-friendly camping and other props. I also went to eco-friendly accessory shops in Seoul and Busan to do market research. I found out about the refill station idea while doing market research, and I thought that it would be good to have a refill station in Gwangju, as more people use refill stations than I thought. It is also a good way to definitely reduce the use of plastics. So, that is how the shop and refill station OceanCloud began!
GN: We saw you have a diverse range of products. Do you collaborate with certain companies?
Kim Da-in: We are contacting some companies and doing research to see whether their products use eco-friendly materials, or whether certain products can be used for a long time if they are not an eco-friendly material or brand. Currently, there are more than 30 brands that we are collaborating with, such as Cocori Jeju (코코리제주), which makes detergent and hand wash using misshapen tangerines that otherwise have no commercial value on Jeju Island. We also work with the Huinyeoul (흰여울) brand of the Sohwa Aram workplace, which creates jobs for the disabled, Toun28 (톤28), Jigu Shop (지구샵), and 175 Planet (175플래닛).
GN: You just recently opened. What has been the market reaction so far?
Kim Da-in: Initially, I was a little worried about what customers would think about refilling, as apparently in Gwangju, eco-friendly shops and refill stations are not widely known, but there was a lot of positive response that the idea was amazing and very good. There were more people who came back with empty bottles after visiting the refill station than expected, and some of them brought their families and friends. Customers have been telling me they wished there were more places to experience and purchase these kinds of products in Gwangju.
GN: Have there been any difficulties while running the business?
Kim Da-in: Since eco-friendly shops and refill stations are not widely available in Gwangju, I have to go to Seoul and Busan for market research. And the most difficult thing was to prepare for the operation of the refill station. It is difficult to find a company that receives products in bulk, is as eco-friendly as possible, and recycles used bulk bins, and since there is not enough knowledge to divide bulk-type products, it was difficult to find out how to divide them one by one. I have to buy all the valves on the market and figure things out myself by matching them to the bulk product.
GN: Can you briefly introduce your main products to us?
Kim Da-in: We currently run two businesses. OceanCloud is an independent studio which has been certified as an industrial design company. It provides various visual design services such as posters, leaflets, and logos. Then there is the eco-friendly lifestyle shop. It offers unique and diverse brands of eco-friendly products, as well as detergents, shampoos, body washes, and diffusers for refill stations. There are 33 kinds of products, including interior accessories and accessories for light camping.
GN: What kind of work did you do before you started this business?
Kim Da-in: I was an art student who loved drawing and making things, and after graduation, I got a job in design and gained a lot of experience by traveling to various countries as a freelancer. But the freelance work went better than I thought, so I started a design business. At that time, I thought I would work by myself and just enjoy life, so I set up an independent studio. However, things have grown, and now I am working with a team.
GN: As an entrepreneur who runs a recycling shop, what do you think your social responsibility is?
Kim Da-in: I think my social responsibility is to lead citizens to ethical consumption and activities. This includes discovering people who make products that are beneficial to the environment and introducing them to citizens. Another aim is not only selling products, but also informing people about various eco-friendly activities, such as bringing your own tumbler, using your own shopping bag, separating your garbage properly, and other such things.
GN: Who is the role model in your life?
Kim Da-in: My role models change every day, and there are so many of them, but the ones that always remain the same are my parents. My father, who catches onto new knowledge and skills quickly, knows so many things that the term ” knowledgeable” fits him very well. He is almost 60 years old, and he reads the trends of the times so fast, that he knows more about pop culture idols and movies than I do. It is amazing. In addition, when my younger brother and I were the first to decide on a career path through studying, there was a lot of opposition and concern from the family. However, our mother believed in our talent and supported us until the end. She loves to donate, is always like a friend, and is a very warm person. I respect her a lot.
GN: What is your plan for your store in the future?
Kim Da-in: As an eco-friendly shop operator and designer, I have the perception that I should be eco-friendly, but I want to have fun with things, so I plan various services such as workshops for making key rings from plastic waste, milk pack plastic lid collection rewards, and daily zero-waste practice bingo. I also plan to collaborate with places that make eco-friendly products that are great but difficult to design so that consumers can experience various products. In order for OceanCloud to be eco-friendly in an easy and fun way for those who were not interested in eco-friendliness, our team will always put our heads together and come up with new and interesting plans every day!
OceanCloud Eco Camping and Lifestyle 오션클라우드 무소속작업실
- Address: 2F, Jebong-ro 140, Dong-gu, Gwangju / 광주 동구 제봉로 140, 2층
- Tel: 070-4247-0677
- Opening Hours: 11:00–20:00
- Website: oceancloudlife.com
- Instagram: @oceancloud_life
Photographs by Kim Ji-yun.
The Interviewers
Karina Prananto is from Jakarta, Indonesia, and has been involved with the Gwangju News since 2007. She is a special-needs mother and loves Harry Potter, dinosaurs, watching true crime documentaries, and traveling with her family.
Kim Ji-yun is from Gwangju, South Korea, and has been doing an internship at the GIC since March 2022. She is majored in English Education, so she likes talking with global friends. Also, she loves taking a walk, traveling, drawing, and listening to music.