Exhibition Report July 2010
In light of this summer’s World Cup 2010, the first part of this Exhibitions Report focuses on South Africa. Julie-Anne Hegarty (South-African Agent for Denman International) was able to provide an insight into the two main professional exhibitions, which are held in South Africa each year…
Preview of Professional Beauty, Johannesburg, South Africa, 29th – 30th August 2010
Professional Hair Johannesburg is one of the most comprehensive exhibitions for the hairdressing professional. This exhibition is an ideal platform to network and do business for industry trends, buying the latest products and equipment. The event is organised by Professional Beauty (Magazine). Please see www.professionalbeauty.co.za for further details.
The visitor profile consists of distributors/international buyers, OTC, salon/spa owners, salon chains, massage therapists, manufacturers, skincare professionals, cosmetology schools and suppliers to the industry. The exhibitor profile includes manufacturers, distributors, reps, importers/exporters, hair stylists, nail technicians and estheticians.
Preview of Hair and Beauty Expo, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26th – 27th September 2010
Hair and Beauty Expo is a uniquely composed multicultural hair and beauty trade show. It is held at the Coca Cola Dome in Johannesburg. The exhibition provides the opportunity for brands to engage with their target market on a personal level. The very best quality in hair pieces, wigs, hair care systems, cosmetics, skin care, nail care, salon equipment and general merchandise will be available. The Expo provides a unique, invaluable opportunity to meet beauty industry professionals face to face in an environment dedicated to networking and the sharing of ideas.
This world-class event is an opportunity to showcase products and services to a captive audience of professionals from all over the world. Leading companies from South Africa and beyond choose this Expo to introduce, demonstrate and display new products and services to the market. Visitor attendance figures are reported to be 16,000 (based on 2009 Expo).
(Julie-Anne Hegarty, South-African Agent for Denman International
Cosmoprof Worldwide, Bologna, Italy, 16 - 19 April 2010
Jonathan King, Denman International’s Marketing Manager, reports on another excellent Cosmoprof Bologna for Denman, in spite of the volcanic eruption that caused chaos for airline travel…
This year’s show was overshadowed by Eyjafjallajökull’s cloud of volcanic ash which slowly drifted south-east across the UK and into northern Europe causing widespread travel chaos. The Denman advance party travelled on the Wednesday with no problems but the misbehaving volcano put paid to the rest of the team leaving the UK the following day. Airport closures effectively scuppered the travel plans of UK visitors to the show though some hardy souls undertook the 16 hour drive via the Channel Tunnel.
Thus the atmosphere in Bologna took on a somewhat surreal air as “how to get home” became the main topic of conversation amongst those visitors and exhibitors not from continental Europe.
It is difficult to judge what effect the volcano had on visitor numbers other than on those flying from the UK and Ireland. We had a full complement of export customers at the Annual Denman Dinner with the exception of our Republic of Ireland distributor.
The show itself was on a par with 2009 with L’Oréal once again notable by their absence. Several of the furniture manufacturers also did not exhibit and announced that they would now only participate on a biennial basis. Overall, based on my vast experience of the Bologna exhibition, it was a much smaller show than previous years. Hence my disbelief when I read the official post-show press release issued by SoGeCos claiming that visitor numbers, exhibitor numbers and the amount of exhibition floor space sold were all up! I can only assume the department charged with preparing the official statistics also co-ordinates the counting of votes at Zimbabwe’s presidential elections. Official figures as follows:
Total Exhibitors: 2,254 (+0.26% versus 2009)
Total Exhibition Space: 185,000m² (+2% versus 2009)
Total Visitors: 146,331 (+4.88% versus 2009)
One of the more interesting innovations was “Beauty Night” on the Saturday of the show when Hall 36 remained open to visitors until midnight. You can imagine how thrilled the exhibitors in Hall 36 were at this initiative. Suffice to say it was an experiment which is unlikely to be repeated.
This was Denman’s 10th consecutive year exhibiting as part of the British Group and it was a great show for us despite being short-staffed on the stand. Cosmoprof is our most important overseas exhibition as it attracts the majority of our 60+ export distributors. HBSA members who are serious about exporting need to be at this exhibition, whilst those of you who import and distribute goods will find it an unrivalled event for sourcing new items.
Cosmoprof Worldwide is set for some competition from Intercharm Milano, an event owned and organised by Reed Exhibitions. The first show will take place in Milan from 18th to 20th September.
Finally, how did we all get home from Bologna? Echoes of the Dunkirk spirit as two coaches crammed with British exhibitors departed Bologna at 11.00pm – they should have departed at 10.30pm but the Corioliss lot kept us waiting. Fittingly the surreal beginning to Cosmoprof 2010 was matched by its finale as the two coaches meandered their way through the Alps with those on board whistling the tune from the Great Escape. By teatime the following day we were at Calais. Cosmoprof Bologna 2010 is one we’ll not forget in a while!
(Jonathan King, Denman International)
Empire Future Pro Expo, Philadelphia, USA, 16 - 17 May 2010
Claire Copeland, Denman Inc, reports on the Empire Future Pro Expo, which is an educational show and competition event for the up and coming hair stylists within the States…
Empire Education Group has been in operation for 75 years and is the largest provider of cosmetology education in North America. They are a nationally accredited institution providing licensure in each of their state-wide locations.
Empire held their ‘Future Professional Expo’ featuring their National Competition and Show at the Hershey Convention Center in Hershey, PA on May 16th and 17th. This year, over 3,000 students and over 200 educators were in attendance.
The Future Pro Expo consists of educational classes, a show floor where students can purchase product direct from industry manufacturers and distributors and various cosmetology contests. The contests involve cosmetology students from the 95 Empire school locations competing for titles in evening long hair design, ladies trend, men’s trend story board, nail art display and make-up story board. The competitions are intended to enhance the educational experience of future cosmetologists and inspire them to reveal their creative brilliance and artistic talent to the beauty industry.
Empire seeks the assistance of esteemed industry professionals to serve on the panel of judges for the National Competition and invited Denman ambassador Mark Woolley to attend.
Mark judged the competitions and was also interviewed by Empire CEO Frank Schoeneman for a DVD which is shown to students to inspire them and get them excited about the many opportunities that can come from a career in Cosmetology. Other Judges included Brig Van Osten, winner of television show ‘Shear Genius’ 2010, Jan Zanetti of Creative Nail Design and Francie Sorem of ISO Hair.
It was interesting for manufacturers to see the difference between stylist and student shows. There was a noticeable difference in the level of interest the students showed. They were much more inquisitive about the products and were eager to learn about the functionality of various products and why one brand might be superior than another brand in the market.
Some Exhibitors in attendance included Sally Beauty, Sexy Hair, FHI, Matrix, Goldwell, PIBBS, Denman and many more.
The Empire Future Pro Expo has proved a useful insight into Cosmetology schools. This is only one example of a show of this nature focusing on the up and coming stylists in the country. Another Cosmetology School show coming up is the American Association of Cosmetology Schools Annual Convention which will be held in Orlando FL on October 29th – November 1st 2010. This is said to be the largest in the country with students, educators and decision makers on what products are used in the school kits from all schools around the country in attendance.
The 2011 Empire Future Pro Expo will be held at Hershey Convention Center in Hershey, PA from May 15th – 16th.
(Claire Copeland, Denman Inc)
The 6th Asia Beauty Expo, Yokohama, Japan, 24 - 25 May 2010
Philip Steele, Denman International’s Marketing and Sales Director, returns to the major professional hair show in Japan, the 6th Asia Beauty Expo, which takes place every four years in alternate locations…
Organised by the Japan Beauty Supply Institute and now running every 4 years (alternating between Tokyo and Yokohama), the 6th Asia Beauty Expo show took place again at the magnificent harbour side “Pacifico” exhibition centre in Yokohama, just southwest of Tokyo.
180 companies occupied 500 booths displaying goods to an estimated 35,000 + hairdressers over the two show days; unlike previous years, the show days were not preceded by a Dealer only day on the Saturday.
Undoubtedly an event aimed exclusively at the Japanese market, international businesses and visitors were scarce, with the small number of foreign visitors being from neighbouring Far Eastern countries such as Korea, Taiwan and China, although there were a handful of European and US visitors.
Major exhibitors included L’Oreal Japan, Wella (P&G Japan), Shiseido Professional, Takara Belmont and Schwarzkopf (Henkel Japan), with only Denman and Toni & Guy (in partnership with their respective Japanese distributors) representing British products.
As with all things Japanese, the show was a high quality, well organised event also featuring a collection of 30 top styling teams from Japan in separate seminar theatres and show stages; big names included Peek-A-Boo and Kakimoto Arms.
The Asia Beauty Expo remains the only truly national professional hair show in Japan and would be of potential interest for businesses looking for distribution or indeed new quirky products ( such as “Cock Grease” Hair Pomade) in this vast market of 350,000 salons and barber shops.
(Philip Steele, Denman International)
