Article and Photos by: Len @ Gladys Rapoport
[dropcap]E[/dropcap]ach year we attend the IBS Show, with a sense of discovery. We ask ourselves, what will be the next big trend for the beauty industry? We also wonder if they can top the previous years shows in both exhibitors and attendees and once again, they seem to have done both.
IBS New York 2013 was the 96th year of continuous production of this show. The show reports that over 60,000 salon owners, stylists, cosmetologists, colorists, estheticians, nail technicians, distributors, manufacturers and more attended this show. With 500 exhibitors showing the latest products it is no wonder that beauty professionals travel from all over the world to attend this show.
This industry continues to create new products and techniques to keep us healthy and beautiful. Safety seems to be a main concern and the use of harmful or damaging chemicals seems to be in decline.
It seemed that it was shoulder to shoulder on the show floor, but this year, the layout was so much better with a wide, red carpeted center aisle that made navigation through the show so much easier then in past years. Their was no lack of enthusiastic and thousands of members of the beauty industry came to see the latest hair styles, test the newest beauty products and network with others in their industry.
The IBS Show is partnered with the International Esthetics, Cosmetics and Spa Conference (IECSC) which was situated in the Javits Center North Building, a bright and spacious area for this show to set up properly. It is accessible to the main building through a 30-foot wide corridor link which they lined with vendors offering products for sale. Unlike previous shows that housed this conference in the basement or in one of the wings on the main floor, we found the new location easy to navigate and offered lots of walking space for the attendees to navigate the sections.
[box_light]Our Official Show Video[/box_light]
[box_light]Buying Opportunities At The Show[/box_light]
Today it isn’t easy to shop for professional products on the internet. You can’t feel, touch and smell them and you certainly can’t try them out first before buying them. Imagine spending $1,000 or more for a pair of quality scissors on the internet and not knowing if it is the right fit for your hand or if it will do what you want it to do. Well, at this show you have the chance to shop from some of the finest vendors in this industry.
Many companies also offer the attendees special pricing on their products. They want you to try them out and become a repeat customer so it is not uncommon to be able to purchase your products and supplies at discounts of 75% or more from the current retail selling prices. Certainly an incentive to a beauty industry attendee to purchase products at the show. We saw many with bags on wheels to help cart off their bargains.
Sun Labs gifted me with one of their Sunset kits that contains an exfoliate and a sunless tanning solution. Haven’t tried it yet, but the next time I have to attend an important event, will give it a try.
Because this is the longest running show for beauty professionals in the United States and is not open to the general public, you will find that many exhibitors will not only showcase their products but are there to educate those that attend the show. New products, new techniques, new hair styles and so much more. The major companies usually have demonstrations of new cutting and styling techniques on the shows main stage of on one of the individual stages set up in their booths.
So attendees that spend each day at the show will find the knowledge they gain and take back to their shops will be invaluable. Even stylists in the far reaches and smaller towns in our country and others can bring these cutting edge hair styles and beauty products to their customers. No need to travel to LA or New York to get the cut you want or the products you want, your local salons may just have attended this show and have what you want.
[box_light]What Was New At The Show[/box_light]
Once again we saw many totally or at least partially organic products and even the consumer watching television commercials today will see the use of Keritin. Keratin is the key structural material making up the outer layer of human skin. It is also the key structural component of hair and nails. By incorporating Keritin into their products, companies can claim that their products contain natural ingredients and will help restore the natural healthy condition of your skin, nails and hair. I am not a scientist, so I can’t confirm that these actually do work, I will leave it up to you and your beauty professional to help you make the right choices.
This natural and organic products popularity continues this year and the Morrocan , Argan, coconut oil‘s continue in their popularity in the treatment for dry skin and in the treatment of hair and skin problems.
[box_light]Team Japan – J’s Hair [/box_light]
Last year Lisa Yamasaki of J’s Hair presented her show Mystic Fantasy which you will see in our 2012 IBS Show video. This year both Lisa and Ken Yamasaki brought their Team From J’s Hair Studio and Academy from Japan to create exciting and futuristic hair, make up and fashion designs in their avant-garde show Deep Space
This exciting show can be seen in photos included in our show video. The outstanding photos in our video were taken by IPA Event and Fashion Photographer Gustavo Villar, a talented fashion photographer who felt right at home at this show.
These stages and exhibits offer attendees the latest hair styles, cutting and styling techniques and of course the latest products to help them keep on the cutting edge of the science and technology that drive the beauty industry.
You won’t see these professional stylists in your favorite hair salon, they are the stars of this industry and the audience knew exactly who they were. For us, not being beauty experts, but rather humble photojournalists that cover many trade and consumer shows for IPA and IMPress, we have to admit, this show is a true favorite of ours.
[box_light]Companies You Will See In Our Video[/box_light]
Some of the companies we visited and interviewed at this show included Sun Laboratories. Sun is one of the most popular sunless tanning product companies in our market. We usually stop by their booth to visit with Sherie and their other models and reps who are always fun, full of energy and passionate about their companies products.
This year we met someone new at Sun, Stacie who told us a bit more about their products and showed us how you can look younger, thinner and more attractive using their products. You have to watch our video to discover her secret methods using Sun Products.
You will also see two dancing models at the Überliss booth, we loved them both and simply had to include them in our video. The company Überliss produces a premium 3-step smoothing system for use in hair straightening. Smooth and uniform hair can be obtained using their Triple Blend technology consisting of cisteine, keratine and buriti extracts. All Überliss products are formulated without formaldehyde or any aldehydes, with safety testing of the salon environment conducted by an independent laboratory.
We also love the two models on stilts at the Enzo Milano booth. Enzo Milano produces professional styling tools for the salon and beauty industry and you will see them dancing and posing for the attendees. Lots of fun and excitement at the show as you can see in our video. Visit their website and see how there new design concepts and a commitment to delivering education on groundbreaking products, including their the extraordinary clipless curling iron has revolutionized professional appliances and provided a unique alternative to traditional flat and curling irons.
We liked the BaByliss Pro and company that claims to be the World Leader in European Professional Products. Visit their site and see their line of professional products including curling irons, dryers, hair setters and other products. Beautifully designed and the quality of the product is evident when you see them.
We had an opportunity to meet and include in our video, Lasio Professional Hair cares NADINE RAMOS, Founder and CEO of LASIO®, Inc, an international beauty conglomerate, and author of e-book Million Dollar Keratin: How I Made Over a Million Dollars in One Year and How You Can do it Too! Ramos built a distribution company for LASIO® Keratin Treatments, known to date as one of the safest professional keratin straightening systems on the market. She was at the show to introduce their new waves to curls hair straightening system.
Once again the IBS Show is the show to attend if you are in the industry or are studying to be in this industry and a great show that we will continue to cover for IMPress Magazine and IPA.
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[…] We were running out of time and Andy looked really pale, so we stopped at our friends booth Staci Thomson at Sun Labs. You may have seen her in last years show video with Sheri another fav, who didn’t attend this years show. Staci looked great and I didn’t recognize her since her weight loss from last year, she is now a 10 in my book. Go to our IBS 2013 article and video to see her then…she is a blast. […]