As we reported on Nov. 15 when our redesigned website launched, Robanda International (robanda.com) has bought nail file manufacturer Realys (tropicalshine.com). This is a great-fit acquisition for Robanda, and boosts its ranking on my short list of “Suppliers Beauty Store Owners Should Watch” even higher.

Robanda president David Leib notes in our story (see News) that his company will run Realys as an independent company, growing the Tropical Shine brand and the private-labeling business. Based on Robanda’s last deal—acquiring in January Bodyography Professional Cosmetics (bodyography.com)—and its phenomenal success since (including a new mineral makeup line), I have no doubt that his company will grow Realys.

In fact, Realys is now promoting its redesigned website and a new Happy Valentine’s Day Pedicure Pack (a 7-inch Mylar foot file, a 5½-inch 3-Way Buffer and toe separators). Contact your local distributor or call 888/473-2597 for more details.

In addition to Tropical Shine and Bodyography products, Robanda offers Jingles Professional hair care and hair color (jinglesinternational.com), Robanda antiaging skin care, the Mr. Pumice line (mrpumice.com), and brands such as Batiste Dry Shampoo and Fade Out skin care. And the company understands the beauty store sector, including the value of introductory deals and displays.

It’s hard to believe that Robanda actually started with only four SKUs. Watch for David, his brother Anthony Leib, Robanda’s vice president of sales, and their cousin Shawn Russell, the company’s international sales manager, to go shopping again. These guys aren’t done yet with what they want Robanda to be.

See you next Wednesday,
Marc

American Dawn (americandawn.com) is a one-stop sundries shop for many professional beauty products distributors in the United States. After visiting the company’s corporate headquarters in Compton, California, on Nov. 2, I certainly understand why.

American Dawn is a large, sophisticated distributor, importer and manufacturer of textile products with a beauty division that offers hundreds of SKUs—not just salon shampoo towels in a wide range of colors but also entrance mats as well as barber, spa and tanning products.

Ron Kothari, the division’s longtime director of sales and marketing, knows the pro beauty industry—and what’s important to his distributor customers—very well. We’ll be interviewing Ron for American Dawn’s first-ever View From The Top, which will appear in our March issue.

In the meantime, if you need a source for 100% cotton, color-safe towels, customized welcome mats, vintage barber jackets, spa blankets, bathrobes or other sundry items, contact him at salonproducts@americandawn.com, 800/627-5839, fax 310/609-3241. I’m sure he’d love to hear from you.

See you next Wednesday,
Marc

Typically, one-fifth of the retail industry’s sales occur during November and December, making it the most important time of the year for many retailers—including numerous beauty stores.

We report on the National Retail Federation’s first holiday survey of consumers’ intentions and actions (see News), and the NRF is predicting that 2007 holiday season sales will rise 4% over last year. Ouch! That’s below the 10-year average of 4.8% and would represent the slowest holiday sales growth since 2002, a 1.3% jump. (Last year, the world’s largest retail trade association projected a 5% increase in holiday retail sales over the previous year; in 2005, holiday retail sales rose 6.1%.)

Hanukkah (starting at sundown on Dec. 4) is likely to help sales earlier during this season, and Christmas falling on a Tuesday should boost last-minute sales in the weekend before the big holiday. As always, Kwanzaa begins on Dec. 26.

I realize that you’ll be very busy over the next 50 or so days, but I’d advise you to consider buying more merchandise now if you can handle it. There are a number of incredible deals I know of that are available to you only through the end of this calendar year. Be proactive and call or email your manufacturers reps (see Manufacturers Reps) or contact your suppliers (see Suppliers/Brands) right now. May your holiday season—and beyond—be highly profitable!

Please feel free to make a comment,

See you next Wednesday,
Marc