11.01.07
| HBA attendance jumped 12%. |
It’s another record year for the biggest trade show in the U.S.
By Jamie Matusow, Editor
Attendance was up 12% and the educational program showed a 27% increase in paid delegates at this year’s 15th Annual HBA Global Expo, held at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York (September 18-20). HBA is the largest beauty show and educational conference in the US.
In her keynote address, Karen Grant, senior beauty industry analyst, The NPD Group, painted a vibrant picture of the industry as a whole, and pointed out that in 2006, consumer spending increased in all channels, and said that mass market and department store sales are actually nearing each other. There’s a great opportunity now, even in dollar stores, she said. She also said that in 2006, Olay was the No. 1 seller, followed by Avon, which is what consumers say they use most. That’s why, she emphasized, with volume beauty sales growing at about $1 billion a year, across all channels, the most important goal is to be sure that consumers—whether in a dermatologist’s office, a prestige department store, a big-box store or on the Internet—are having their expectations met. There is no such thing as loyalty, she emphasized. This point was hammered home in many instances, including in one session where a speaker referred to the problems encountered with customer fickleness as “brand slutting.”
| Karen Grant delivered the keynote. |
High-Level Attendees
Comments on the show from both attendees and exhibitors tended toward the favorable, with one vendor from “across the pond” raving that every individual who visited his booth was a high-level contact. HBA reported that entire product development teams were on hand, from top brand manufacturers including P&G, Unilever, L’Oreal, Avon, Colgate-Palmolive, Estée Lauder, Kao Brands, Johnson & Johnson, Coty and Shiseido.
For the first time, this year’s conference was divided into three sections: marketing, technical and naturals, and there was plenty of innovation from all three areas both in the conferences and on the show floor. The New Product Showcase, sponsored by Mintel and Happi and Beauty Packaging magazines, featured more than 140 new products ranging from the latest skin care formulations to packaging design and dispensing systems.
| A record number of attendees signed up for conferences. |
• No need to worry about applying makeup while sitting in the back seat of a cab, thanks to a number of tubes and cases, such as the Litelips Collection from RDA, Inc., with a micro-lighted applicator and a mirror built into the cap. There’s also an enlightened collection of eyeliners, mascaras, nail polishes and more.
More info: www.dugrenier.com
• There was a different angle to applying cosmetics at Alcan’s booth, where the company introduced a duo of 90-degree shaped products. Its 90-degree compact features a ”smart” mirror that enables you to see both eyes at the same time while applying shadow; a 90-degree mascara wand is a take on makeup artists’ trick of bending the brush for easy application over makeup. More info: www.alcanpackaging.com
• From the files of “build a better mousetrap,” lipstick touch-ups can now be done with one hand tied behind your back with an innovation from Hana Co., Ltd. There’s no longer a need to remove a cap, or risk having it roll away. The company’s Easy-Touch lipstick turns at a touch and pops up the cap. More info: www.hneng.co.kr
• Gentlemen, worldwide will get the feel of starting their engines when they pop the complex wheel-and-tire cap, crafted by Risdon International for Elizabeth Arden’s Daytona 500 fragrance. The eye-catching cap resembles the tire, wheel and hub components found on a typical Daytona-type racecar.
More info: www.risdon.com
• Exclusive decorations from Takemoto Packaging were designed to make consumers take notice with several gradated lines and a collection called Stripes and Swirls, available in up to five colors. The company’s Vacuum Metallization with Laser Cut process uses cutting-edge technology to apply this secondary decoration to any PET bottle. After vacuum metallization, a laser-cut decoration is applied to show the original bottle color. The laser cut can be done both vertically and horizontally. More info: www.takemotopkg.com
• Two in one. That’s the advantage of the new dual-chamber tube from World Wide Packaging that houses two products for simultaneous dispensing. The tube features two chambers— a 22mm inner chamber and a 30mm outer one—and was designed for products that contain two different formulations that have to be kept separate prior to application.
More info: www.wwpinc.com
• A new line of bottles from Italy caused attendees to take a second glance at the booth of New High Glass, because although they looked to be ceramic, they were actually plastic. The company’s heart-shaped perfume bottle was also a standout. More info: www.newhigh.com
• Green is obviously here to stay, and many exhibitors showed their colors when it came to being environmentally friendly. But the greatest impact of recycling technology came to light at Chameleon Packaging. Who knew that paper (called TerraSkin) could be made from rocks, and used for products such as labels, boxes, bags, brochures and hang tags? Or that cosmetics bags could be woven from the threads of recycled soda bottles? Or that even your old flip-flops can have new life as toiletry kits or trays?
More info: www.chameleonpackaging.com
• A lineup of square cobalt blue cosmetic jars created a pretty nuclear family line. The PET Firenze line from Cosmetic Packaging Group/O.Berk Company, is available in four graduated sizes: 4oz., 6 oz., 8oz. and 16oz.
More info: www.oberk.com
The above are but a handful of clever and functional introductions featured at this year’s HBA. The 16th Annual HBA Global Expo is scheduled for September 9, 10, 11, 2008, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. More info: www.hbaexpo.com
