Since the U. S. Transportation Administration implemented its 3-1-1 (3-ounce container/1-quart bag/one bag per person) liquid carry-on regulations for anyone on commercial airplane flights, a number of suppliers to beauty stores have successfully brought to market specially designed containers—often with clear, ziplock plastic bags—and other small-size personal-care products. With a phasing in of a new generation of the latest X-ray equipment, those regulations could be relaxed by next fall and then dropped in 2010, says a blog posted on Friday at TSA’s website (tsa.gov/blog).

As early as fall 2009, the size restriction may be removed, according to the blog. Therefore, shampoos, skincare products and other large personal-care items may be allowed on board. However, “all liquids will have to be placed in a separate bin,” states the blog.

By the end of 2010, there might not be any liquid carry-on restrictions with a uniform standard across the country, notes the blog.

See you next Wednesday,
Marc

If you haven’t figured it out by now, there will be only one major trade show for beauty professionals during January and February 2009 in Southern California: The International Salon & Spa Expo (probeauty.org/isse) produced by the Professional Beauty Association (probeauty.org) will take place on Saturday Jan. 31 through Monday Feb. 2 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California.

Tickets for the upcoming salon-industry show are now available online at the ISSE website and at select, authorized professional-only beauty stores and professional beauty product distributors, including Ultimate Beauty Cos. (Nancy’s Beauty Warehouse, Exclusive Salon Distributors, and Bella, Spa, Skin and Nails, 800.888.4055). Morad and Nancy Zahabian’s Ultimate Beauty is promoting a great 2009 Mercedes Benz C-Class car giveaway with a raffle-ticket order contest.

On Monday, the PBA detailed for the media its show plans. More than three months out, ISSE, marketed as “the West Coast’s largest beauty event,” looks like it could be better than ever with more than 400 exhibitors.

The big news for me: Sally Beauty Supply and Beauty Systems Group are returning to the show floor. And, as a result, SBS (800.ASK.SALLY) and CosmoProf/BSG West/West Coast—Artistic (cosmoprofbeauty.com, 800.544.9227) stores are selling ISSE tickets.

By the way, as you’d expect, there was no mention that Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Florida, will be played on the afternoon of Sunday Feb. 1 nor that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform during halftime of the game. Officially, ISSE ends at 6 p.m. on that day.

See you next Wednesday,
Marc

Betty Dain Creations, one of the leading sundries and salon/spa apparel suppliers to beauty stores, has a totally new website. Check it out! Bettydain.com now features enhanced graphics, easier navigation and detailed product information on all of the manufacturer’s brands—including ColorTrak by SBS haircolor accessories, Artist’s Choice cosmetic accessories, and the Zyrca and A Size Above Plus Size apparel collections.

The home page features flash animation highlighting new products and promotions.

A ZIP code-based Distributor Locator has been added to help drive business to the company’s partners.

Also, a special portal allows distributors to access a wide range of information, including promotional sheets, and gives them the ability to download product images.

See you next Wednesday,
Marc

The No. 1 new product I saw at Cosmoprof North America 2008 was André InVigorators!. From those smart folks at Fromm International (frommonline.com, 800.323.4252), they’re Class 1 medical-compression socks with a patented weave for stylists who, as we all know, work on their feet all day. They’re marketed as the first medical-grade socks for salon professionals.
      Fromm is starting to heavily promote InVigorators!, which is a can’t-miss breakout product for the professional beauty industry. The company is advertising the line—debuting in black—in the November issue of Beauty Store Business, which starts mailing from our printer on Friday.
      InVigorators! provide energizing support and improved circulation to prevent tired, achy legs and feet. Poor circulation can cause blood to pool in the legs, putting pressure on veins that causes swelling, fatigue and soreness.
      The company tests all its new products with stylists before marketing them, and 8 out of 10 stylists told Fromm that their feet and legs felt better during or after wearing InVigorators! I’m sure that consumers—including women worried about varicose and spider veins as well as athletes concerned about shin splints—will also buy this remarkable product in your beauty store. And a complimentary pair of InVigorators! helped get me—a Type 2 diabetic on diet, exercise and pills—through Cosmoprof North America 2008 with happy feet.
      Because of valuable, limited in-store real estate, most beauty supplies and salon stores don’t carry floor mats for stylists or offer just a few. But all can easily offer these socks now. Fromm develops some of the best in-store displays in the pro beauty biz, and the one they’ve come up with for InVigorators! is compact and informative, holds all six sock sizes and conveniently hangs on power wings, Peg-Boards and slat walls. If you order InVigorators! by Nov. 1, you’ll get a free, side end cap loaded with the top-selling sizes.

See you next Wednesday,
Marc

Van Nest Coleman & Associates (800.888.7377) has two new salespeople in the Midwest: Matt Bucholc and Shelley Rose. “Both Matt and Shelley bring exceptional experience and professional qualities to their new positions,” Tom Harrison (tharrison@vannestcoleman.com), VNC Midwest’s managing partner, told me last week.

Bucholc (mbucholc@vannestcoleman.com), pronounced “buckle,” is handling the rep firm’s accounts in Illinois, portions of Indiana, Kentucky and southern Wisconsin. He has worked in purchasing and management for one of the country’s largest professional beauty dealers as well as in sales and sales management with a beauty industry salon apparel/salon necessities manufacturer.

Rose (srose@vannestcoleman.com) is handling accounts in portions of Detroit, Indiana and all of Ohio. She has years of beauty industry experience.

See you next Wednesday,
Marc