I still can think of a bunch of brands we sold when we first started out in 1985: Jessica, Ladyfingers, Linen Batiste, NuArt, Silicone Shield, Faberge, Nailtex, Fingermates, and Major International. Most of the brands are long gone.

The influx of new brands over the past few years in the Professional Nail Industry (PNI) has diminished substantially. Reasons may include the growth of Asian salons, lack of product innovation, higher costs to entry or the risk/reward ratio is too high.

One of my colleagues recently told me that the Asian market is having tough times. Completely saturated in most major markets, it’s the same thing Starbucks is going through–not enough customers for all the stores.

This might be the tipping point we have been waiting for to bring the PNI back into the good times experienced in the 80’s and 90’s. What companies will capitalize? What companies will nail techs align with? What will be the trigger point to get it started?

I have identified five key categories within the PDI:

1. Acrylics
2. Gels
3. Manicure
4. Pedicure
5. Polish

For each category, what company do you think is the most relevant and will win market share over the next two years?

Here are some companies in no particular order that you can select from or you can select your own:

Cuccio; essie; Creative Nail Design; OPI; Young Nails; Entity; Tammy Taylor; NSI; China Glaze; Zoya; EZ Flow; Pinnacle; Gehwol.

And finally, which category do you think will grow the most?

Thanks for input and Happy Wednesday!

One of the strangest things about life is that we have no idea about most things until we trip over them. For instance, do you have any idea where the maternity stores are until you are pregnant? Until you have a medical condition, do you have any idea what that condition is or how to deal with it?

Head lice happens to be another one of those strange things. But according to headlice.org, some 6-12 million cases of head lice occur each year and most of those are in school age kids.

Now I don’t know about you, but if I had lice and/or nits (before they become lice) alive and well in my hair, I would do anything to get rid of them (well, perhaps I wouldn’t set my head on fire). So if a kid comes home from school with a letter from the teacher that there are lice present at school, I certainly know what the parent(s) would do: Buy lice prevention stuff and buy it fast.

All of which brings me to the point of today’s blog. I was presented with a fabulous line of all natural, organic hair care products that do nothing but deal with head lice. There is the signature prevention product and the product that kills lice if already in the head. And the obligatory shampoo and conditioner designed for kids.

There are no shortages of lice products on the market. I was assured that there are no products like these and they work. I have plenty of testimonials to back it up and we are getting ready to launch the line in September.

But first, what is your experience with head lice and nits? What product(s) have you tried? And are you excited that we would be selling a product line like this? (We are going to be selling a special comb as well).

Happy Tuesday!

What was better than a birthday when you were a kid? For me, it meant presents, cake and ice cream and a visit to my favorite "fancy" restaurant. It was so exciting that sleeping the night before was difficult. (Nowadays, birthday parties for kids are out of hand and so are the gifts (no longer presents)).

Turning 18 at Michigan State was certainly a memorable date because I was legal to drink. Turning 21 was also memorable because I was legal in all states including Nevada. 30 was a non-affair although I did miss saying "20-something." 40 was fun because the BUB threw me a surprise party with decorations and fun games to play. And I loved turning 50 doing the Chicago Marathon and the wine thing at Santa Barbara with my friends.

But other than milestone birthdays, at what point do we stop getting excited about having a birthday? Sure we still get cards and stuff but our enthusiasm wanes and for what reason? Getting older sure beats the alternative….

I was at 6 salon inside the MGM Detroit over the weekend with my son and 3 girls were there talking about getting a pedicure. The one girl stated that it was her birthday and she was there to treat herself. She opted for the Express Pedi and was all excited.

That made me think . After all, is there anything worse than buying birthday presents? I mean, how many bottles of fragrance does one need? Or shoes? Or handbags? (Yes, I know the answer is infinite).

The Pedi thing is a great birthday idea but how many salons/spas actually promote services as a birthday present? I’m thinking the salon can buy some small frozen cakes and then put a gift card on top of it. Or put out a fake cake on the reception desk with the idea. It’s the perfect gift.

Speaking of cake, my favorite is pound cake with no frosting. What’s yours?

Happy Monday!

P.S. If you want the final installment on engagement, let me know.

Is today really August 8? Is today really Friday? Wasn’t it just Monday? Didn’t we just get done celebrating the Fourth of July? Is back-to-school less than 3 weeks away–the true beginning of the end of summer? It’s going by way too fast.

This weekend my son is coming in for a pre-wedding celebration. Michael gets married Labor Day weekend and what once seemed so far away is right around the corner. The question I ask myself now is when should I buy the crib?

OK, enough transgression and back to the subject at hand–and one of my favorites at that.

Yesterday I wrote about the first four questions of Customer Engagement according to Gallup. Today, I am going to lead with the next four so here you go:

1. I feel proud to be a customer of (company name).

2. (Company name) always treats me with respect.

3. (Company name) is the perfect provider of services for people like me.

4. I can’t imagine a world without (company name).

When I read the questions for the first time, it was question #4 that really got me thinking. I thought about companies and products that if they were no longer around, what would I do?

Of all the things I love to do, I would say the one thing that I would miss the most would be my iPod because it makes running so much more enjoyable. So for me, I couldn’t image a world without Apple (I even bought the new iPhone; I will never have a Blackberry).

Last year, Gallup surveyed 800 of our customers and we came in their 99th percentile for that question. And Gallup has some heavy hitters as clients. That was an awesome testimony to our commitment to our customers.

Take these four questions and the four from yesterday and try them out. Monday I will finish with the final 3. You have nothing to lose and engagement to gain. It’s so much fun.

Happy Friday!

P.S. August 18 is only 10 days away.

According to Gallup, Customer Engagement is the combination of loyal attitude and emotional attachment. It is the most important measurement for determining whether the business will succeed with both its internal and external customers.

Now quick, what brands and/or companies could you not live without?

Please scroll down to continue!

I splashed some logos that I thought you might have chosen (I certainly hope you chose our logo!).

What brands and/or companies did you select?

As a Gallup client, we know the importance of customer engagement; so much in fact that we  "engage" Gallup and pay for their annual CE11 assessment.

The CE11 assessment is 11 questions that matter. Over the next 3 days, I will review the questions and I want you to interject them into your own business or experience. You can share them with others. The bottom line is that during difficult times (and even good times), engagement is especially good for your business. And if you are happy, we are happy.

Here are the first set of questions:

1. (your business) is a name I can always trust.

2. (your business) always delivers on what they promise.

3. (your business) always treats me fairly.

4. If a problem arises, I can always count on (your business) to reach a fair and satisfactory resolution.

I would love your feedback on these questions. Friday and Monday I will review the other questions and then share with you our CE11 results as a company.

Happy Thursday!

I remember way back driving through Marshall, Michigan on the way to somewhere that we had to stop for dinner at Win Schuler’s. Being a kid, I don’t remember much, but I do remember their cheese in a crock and crackers. I also sort of remember that we ate so much cheese and crackers that we didn’t have to order dinner (I think that was the plan).

Win Schuler’s is celebrating their 100 year anniversary so how fitting is it that right down the street in historic downtown Marshall that Debbie Knight is celebrating her 25th year in business.

I love small town downtown streets because you never know what you are going to find (there is always a cafe that seems to make great breakfasts). Walking down Main Street you come across a huge black awning with D. Knight Designs on it.

Walking into the salon you know you are somewhere special. Very quaint. Artwork on every wall. Fresh coffee brewing next to tasty snacks. Immaculately clean. And the friendly staff.

Debbie and her salon manager Dennis are having festivities all week in the salon and who else but Schuler’s is doing the catering! How much fun.

With the celebrating in full bloom, one of Debbie’s long time employees decides to strike it on her own and gives Debbie notice. To Debbie, this employee is like family. But Debbie knows there is nothing she can do to keep her. This Friday is her last day.

Nothing about being in business today is easy. Making it to 25 years is an achievement that few businesses reach. But Debbie and Dennis are fully engaged as are the rest of their staff (thanks in part to Gallup). They will keep celebrating and enjoying their success. Because at the end of the day, that’s what being in business is all about. The rest will take care of itself. Congratulations to the entire staff at D. Knight Designs!

Happy Wednesday! Now I got to have some cheese and crackers…..

It’s not uncommon to drop $200 at any upscale salon in Birmingham for a cut, color and highlight. It’s also not uncommon to drop $60 for a set of nails and $100 for a Swedish Massage.

Moving out into Taylor, prices drop by 30-50%, but salons are busy cutting, coloring, and clipping. Or are they?

During past recessions and downtimes, salons thrived. The thinking was that consumers would give up their vacations and "want" items, but never their "need" items such as salon visits . After all, they had to look good for interviews, hanging out with friends and family and for their own well-being.

But with $4 gas still around, the foreclosure mess to hang around at least until 2009 and inflation hitting a record .8% last month, consumers are different this time around.

In a recent Detroit News article, some salon owners were stating that business was bad and that they see their clients doing more color at home and waiting longer between appointments.

Luckily in conversations with salon owners I have had recently, most say business is good (what business can’t be better?) and they are in good spirits.

The great thing about this "blogging" is that your opinion on what is going on is instant and can be read by all. So I am throwing out a couple of questions.

First, if you frequent a salon for hair, nail and/or spa services, are you maintaining or decreasing your appointments? And second, if you are a salon owner or professional, how do you see the business right now?

One good thing the News article did point out: people doing services at home usually come back to the salon when they find out it isn’t so easy to look salon beautiful. And then again, that’s why we are in business.

Happy Tuesday!

Angie had a dream. To open her own salon/spa.

Angie is a hairdresser, a common dream for many.

What makes Angie’s story so telling is that she opened her salon in one of the most depressed business cities in the U.S. in one of the most economically-troubled times the U.S. has seen.

VanityLab opened without fanfare April 12 in Westlake, OH, a suburb of Cleveland. As a former L’Oreal employee, she loved the New York City vibe and implanted it when she designed VanityLab.

Exposed ceilings with painted ducts. Live DJ music on weekends and busy nights. Sliding wall between massage room so couples can enjoy treatments together. Kemon color bar in the middle of the salon. Cool and hip retail products.

The dream lives because Angie had a vision. Her vision paid off in spades when she received her $200,000 SBA (Small Business Association) loan to finance the project. She endured the grueling process and unlike many others, prevailed.

Three months later, VanityLab is going great and has made Angie proud of her creation. Our industry needs more entrepreneurs like Angie willing to take the ultimate risk and making the vision come to life.

Angie had a dream. And now it’s a reality. Congratulations!

To learn more, visit vanitylab.com.