For the past four years on the day after Cosmoprof North America, manufacturers, manufacturers reps, distributors, beauty store owners/managers and others have participated in an unofficial, open-to-anyone golf outing. This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, July 22—but it’ll be at a new course, TPC Las Vegas.

Currently, organizers are planning for about three dozen golfers, and want to close the event’s registration by June 22. A fee of $150 includes transportation, golf club rental (not included in previous years) and the golf. If you want to bring your own clubs, the cost is $125. For more information, contact The Kirschner Group’s Alan Aronson, alan@kirschnergroup.com, 516.647.1248, or Vitalife’s Jeff Spindel, 973.220.8124.

The organizers tell me that this is a fun way to end CPNA. Last year, I took this sport up—and attended my first-ever PGA Tour event, the Northern Trust Open, in February. However, you won’t see me at this CPNA get-together. I’m still nursing my ego after losing to my mother-in-law’s 83-year-old friend!

See you next Wednesday,
Marc

Earlier today Andis announced that Ivan Zoot, its director of education and training and the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the fastest haircut at 55 seconds, is challenging any licensed barbers/cosmetologists and barber/cosmetology students at registered barber/cosmetology schools to two clipper-cutting races at the Spring 2009 Barnum Fashion [Focus] on May 3-4 in the Cleveland Convention Center in Cleveland.

“I’d love to see a big turnout,” Zoot told me. “Only clippers will be allowed–no scissors or razors. Everyone needs to bring his or her own clipper, and, of course, it must be an Andis clipper! We’re providing a mannequin and a technical breakdown of the haircut to level the playing field.”

Each participant must purchase a show ticket by calling 800.362.3186, visiting a CosmoProf professional-only beauty store within the show’s marketing area or from a local salon consultant. (Discount tickets are available for students.) Each must also pay a $100 race-entry donation, which will be given to a local barber school to provide tuition or tools for needy students. All challengers who complete the haircut will receive a gift from Andis.

Participants need to register for the race by emailing Zoot, expert@andisco.com. Space is limited and will be allotted on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, watch Zoot himself issue his challenge on YouTube.

See you next Wednesday,
Marc

Beauty Alliance. Maly’s West. Columbia Beauty Supply. And now Dick Copsey’s Idaho Barber & Beauty Supply. Last Thursday L’Oréal USA quietly announced that it has agreed to buy the Boise, Idaho-based distributorship and will make it part of Maly’s West—a division of SalonCentric, its professional products distribution operation. The transaction is expected to close within the next 60 days.

“As with our previous acquisitions, L’Oréal’s goal is to create better service and education for salon professionals around the United States,” says Paul Sharnsky, SalonCentric president. “IB&B is a highly regarded, service-oriented company that has earned the respect of all it does business with. This acquisition gives us a stronger presence in the western part of the country and allows us to combine our expertise in the areas of education, supply-chain management, service to salons and, of course, the continuing fight against diversion.”

IB&B is a family business founded in 1937 with 80-plus employees serving more than 5,000 salons. It covers Idaho, Montana, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, western Wyoming and northern Nevada, and has 10 professional-only beauty stores.

“We’ve built strong, long-standing relationships with salon professionals over the years, and are proud of what we’ve accomplished,” adds Copsey, IB&B president and owner, who also manages the business. “IB&B shares SalonCentric’s passion for the salon business. We both have a reputation for providing our customers service with integrity and the best educational programs to help ensure their success and sustainability. Together we have an exciting opportunity to take that commitment to new levels.”

Did you think that this global beauty giant would stop buying? Look for more acquisitions of distributorships to come! My bet is before Cosmoprof North America 2009.

See you next Wednesday,
Marc

DailyMakeover.com conducted an online survey last month, and the results of how 450 women responded were announced recently. They aren’t pretty.

Among its salon-industry highlights:

• Eighty-six percent stated that they would forgo professional manicures and pedicures to save money.

• Seventy-six percent reported that they’ll wax/pluck their own eyebrows instead of having them professionally sculpted.

• Fifty-five percent say they’re spending less on professional beauty services such as haircuts, hair coloring and waxing.

• Forty-four percent said they’d likely color their own hair to save money.

Among its beauty-products highlights:

• Seventy-three percent said they would change lipsticks, and 66% reported that they would change shampoos and/or conditioners. Results for other items are: blushes/bronzers (67%), lotions/cleansers (64%) and makeup foundations (57%).

• Forty-seven percent say that they had already changed brands of beauty products to save money. Sixty-one percent of those in the 45-to-54-year-old age bracket noted that they had already changed brands.

I can’t believe that things are this bad! What do you think?

See you next Wednesday,
Marc