

Hiring the best people for the job remains one of the most critical and tricky decisions a business can make. When it comes to hiring foreign workers, the task can be even more complicated given the amount of admin and legislation involved, especially in Australia. You can expect a world of admin. Between eligible… Read more »
Hiring Overseas talent in Australia isn’t easy. However, it might be necessary to help grow your business; whether it be requiring a trusted employee from your company to set up your entity in Australia, or requiring niche talent from overseas to satisfy your company’s needs. With stringent policies set out by the Australian government… Read more »
Expanding into a new market is thrilling but only if your business is prepared. That preparation starts with operational readiness for global expansion. This means having the right systems, people and processes in place before launching abroad. If any part of your operations isn’t up to scratch, you risk delays, poor customer experience or regulatory… Read more »
As the new financial year kicks off, so do important updates to Australia’s payroll and taxation landscape. From changes in superannuation to new compliance requirements, staying informed is essential for every business. To help you navigate these updates with confidence, we’ve broken down the key changes you need to know. Whether you’re leading an Australian… Read more »
June is Pride Month – a time to honour the LGBTQIA+ community, celebrate progress, and reflect on the work still ahead. For global businesses, it’s also a moment to ask: how are we showing up for our people, everywhere? At Polyglot Group, we believe inclusion isn’t just a value – it’s a responsibility. And when it… Read more »
In today’s interconnected digital landscape, the Human Resources department plays a far more strategic role than ever before. No longer confined to traditional administrative duties, HR now stands as a critical line of defence against cyber threats — championing data protection, promoting secure practices, and cultivating a culture of cybersecurity awareness across the organisation. With… Read more »
On the 14th of May 2025 in Sydney, we had the immense pleasure of hosting the Grand Prix VIE 2025 — a celebration of international talent, cross-cultural collaboration, and the power of the VIE Program to shape the next generation of global leaders. The VIE Program is a flagship international internship initiative that empowers French… Read more »
The Ripple Effect: The Impact of US Tariffs on Australia The recent tariffs imposed by the USA on Australia under its “Declaration of Economic Independence” have added a new degree of complexity to the global trade landscape. While the US accounts for only about 5% of Australia’s exports, broader implications of these tariffs are significant,… Read more »
In recent years, the rise in cyberattacks has highlighted the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures. From major banks and telecommunication giants to mega corporations and healthcare providers like Medibank, no organisation is immune to these threats. The recent Australian superannuation funds hack is a stark reminder that every company, regardless of size or industry,… Read more »
Understanding the Latest Changes in Casual Employment in Australia Casual employment plays a crucial role in Australia’s workforce, providing flexibility for both employees and employers. However, recent changes in casual employment laws, implemented between 26 August 2024 and 26 February 2025 as part of the “Closing the Loopholes” legislation, aim to enhance clarity and security… Read more »
Jurlique was founded in 1985 by Dr. Jurgen Klein and his wife, Ulrike–scientists in biochemistry, herbology, homeopathy and alchemy. Jurlique is a phonetic combination of their names Jurgen and Ulrike. Their vision was to create a pure and natural skin care range that would combine the ancient arts of alchemy and homeopathy to reconnect people to nature, and inspire them to wellbeing.
To farm their own herbs and flowers for the skincare products, Klein and Ulrike left their home of Germany to establish a farm in Adelaide, South Australia.
Today, Jurlique products are sold in more than 19 countries around the world. Their most iconic natural ingredients are still grown in the Adelaide Hills where Jurlique first began.
Jurlique was looking to expand from their Australian base by taking their brand to France and retailing internationally. This entailed selling their products in Paris, and targeting the French market for the very first time.
To begin retailing in France, Jurlique had been negotiating contracts with the renowned Galeries Lafayette Haussmann & BHV Marais department stores in Paris. After a year and a half of negotiation, the department stores agreed to sign a contract with Jurlique. However, the contracts entailed an extremely short set-up period of just one month. As such, Jurlique urgently required a reactive partner who could facilitate the project extremely quickly.
Not only did Jurlique need to explore set-up models, but also to benchmark and forecast costs, and ultimately, establish a representative office in France. Most importantly, Jurlique needed to urgently recruit a French team to go ahead with the contracts held with the department stores.
Jurlique’s needs did not end with set-up requirements. Following their establishment in France, the Australian skincare brand needed ongoing HR support across both cultures and both languages. Surprisingly, such support is not common in the cosmetic and retail industry in France.
When going overseas, strategy and organisation is fundamental. Without the use of best practices, the opportunity to break into a new market can be lost. To expand to France with confidence and knowledge, Jurlique sought expert partners who would ensure their brand would resonate with the new market & generate successful expansion.
Our first priority was to help Jurlique implement the very best business model for their individual needs. This was essential to allowing Jurlique to recruit employees in France, not only legally, but also in manner which would be most suited to their business structure. To help Jurlique make the best decision in this regard, we benchmarked the different employment models, allowing them to evaluate each option available. To further help Jurlique forecast costs, we also performed a total employment cost study.
After considering all options and evaluating costs, Jurlique decided that a representative office would be the best model to adopt in France. Accordingly, we helped Jurlique to establish their representative office in Paris.
From there, we created local payroll for Jurlique, making them fully prepared to employ their own team. As such, we took the next step and recruited a team of 6 under a month for their new French operation.
To equip Jurlique with the right tools to manage their new team, we supported them with a holistic HR solution. Initially, this came in the form of supporting new employees with initial onboarding and product training, before extending our support through ongoing proximity HR management.
As part of our partnership, our French Country Manager visited Jurlique’s stores each week. Not only did this allow us to collect the hours worked, but also to assess the morale and employee engagement experienced by the people of Jurlique. This ensured that our outsourced HR solution was not removed from the French operation. Rather, we joined Jurlique on the frontline, thereby creating highly personalised support.
Accordingly, when team adjustments were to be made, our Country Manager for France was readily available to offer support. This was essential to managing the local team, as well as managing regional operations.
Finally, to make communication as fluid and smooth as possible, we organised for Jurlique to have one point of contact at Polyglot Group for all of their setup needs. This included their HR, Payroll and Recruitment as well as Accountants and Lawyers. By securing and organising key partnerships for Jurlique, the company was able to concentrate on what they do best: their core business.
Our partnership with Jurlique was more than just facilitating their business setup, it was about meeting every one of their needs within an extremely short time-frame.
From implementing the perfect employment model, to recruiting a team of 6—Jurlique was able to accomplish a great deal within a minimal time frame.
Overall, The Polyglot Group ensured that Jurlique attained all of the necessary tools for a very successful future in Europe. With our help, Jurlique has secured their contracts with two major department stores in France. What’s more, they know that they can call on Polyglot Group for expertise and HR support with their future endeavours.