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May 2-3 at the wonderfully restored Fontainebleau in Miami Beach, Intercoiffure (ICA) is holding their Spring Business Forum. I was invited to speak on trends in distribution and yes, I have plenty to say but only have ten minutes to say it!

In case you haven’t heard of ICA, ICA started in 1912 in France of all places as the elite organization for salons and hairdressers. Still going strong in 2010, ICA holds both a spring and fall event for its members. In addition, ICA has offshoots including the Hair Color Council and hosts other member events relevant to their needs.

I’m not sure how many members ICA has, but there will be 400 in the room for our panel discussion. And what is the future of distribution? Good question, I’ll share my insights after the ICA event and let you know how it went. If it went well, you’ll get the whole story, and if didn’t go as planned, I might even forget to do a recap!

I’m excited about presenting and to learn what ICA sees as the future of our industry. There are a lot of questions and not enough answers so it will be interesting to get this exclusive group of salon owners input. The highlight of the event is the Havana party Sunday night and with an open bar, I’m sure the input will be plentiful. I will keep you posted.

Happy Wednesday!

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Eric Lindsey has been doing it for 15 years. Jacques Dessange has been doing it for 20 years. Beth Jesse has been doing it for 1 day and can’t believe it.

Balayage is a technique for applying highlights and color to hair. Unlike the traditional method of using foils, the bleach (Cramer bleach is superb for this) is applied to strands of hair and then with the use of cotton and poly wrap, the product only takes 10 minutes to work and since it doesn’t use heat, doesn’t damage hair. But the true WOW! to Balayage is the way highlights shine throughout the hair afterwards.

Like watching any master, it looks deceptively easy. Lindsey, the latest Kemon Artistic Team member, wowed over 100 hairdressers yesterday at the Kemon Academy in Farmington Hills. Models sporting reds, brunettes and blondes all took center stage while Lindsey demonstrated the art of Balayage. Afterwards the lucky ones took part in a hands-on workshop with Lindsey giving tips and pointers.

Beth Jesse was one of the lucky ones. Jesse herself a Kemon coach, was amazed at the simplicity and results. Jesse even commented that she felt like an artist since the bleach is applied with a brush in small dabs taken from a paddle or in Lindsey’s case, a comb (“everyone has a comb”). George from 6 Salon and Emilio from Alex & Emilio Salon begged for Lindsey to come a do a private class for their salons.

What’s interesting about all this is that we did our first Balayage class with the Jacques Dessange team back in 2002. But for some reason, the interest level didn’t piqué like it did yesterday. I think Balayage not only excited everyone for something different and that can differentiate themselves from consumers doing their thing at home, but it really was artistic and fast forward to 2010, the industry is looking for something just like this. And unlike Brazilian treatments, this is not only affordable, but actually better for the hair.

Balayage, who would have thought? Look for plenty of new courses coming soon!

Happy Tuesday!

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Tucked into a non-descript side street surrounded by dated buildings and razor topped fences one would barely notice that this is where OPI’s headquarters are located. With the exception of a couple OPI signs, you would drive right by. While it may be no Disneyland on the outside, once you get through security, OPI Land is alive and well.

Founded by and still going strong, the affable George Schaeffer appears in his signature suspenders, never wearing a tie. His teddy bear face is for show, he can be a bear when needed. But today, he takes me to his office which hasn’t changed much since my last visit 10 years ago. The peanut M&M’s are still plentiful (we share many things in common).

I’m most excited to see his new filling lines, he’s most excited to show me his Toto electronic toilet. I’ve seen a lot of things in my life, but not this. George always has a step on technology, he loves his gadgets. When you step up to this toilet, the lid automatically opens and if you press another button, the seat lifts up too. There is a master control pad if you can believe and if you sit down, you can have virtually anything done (use your imagination) and when you are done, it self cleans itself and the seats lower. I can only think about that toilet in the middle of the night.

Like Disneyland, OPI consists of several “lands” or buildings. There are buildings for storage, formulation, filling polish, filling lotions, filling liquids, marketing, PR, and shipping. The best of course is watching bottles being filled. There is something fascinating to humans to watch automatic assembly lines. Some 200,000 bottles are filled each day of lacquer and who knows how many more bottles and jars of gels, lotions and potions.

I asked George if he made enough Shrek polish since we sold out of Alice in Wonderland in two days. George assured me yes and thinks it will outsell Alice. I’m not so sure but come next month, we will both find out quickly.

As we stroll from building to building, we pass the hundreds of OPI employees each trained for a specific job function. Some I meet have been with OPI for 20 years or longer. Many have eaten too many M&M’s.

George is proud of his company and the size it has become. He shared with me he no longer remembers “building” the company and now is focused on keeping the stores that depend on him in stock. Today it seems to be no problem, but with no more land to build on, the future could be interesting.

OPI World ended with a OPI tote filled with what else but OPI stuff. Alas I wasn’t checking luggage so I had to leave it behind, but one thing I can say about George, he is always handing out gifts. Now about that toilet. . .

Happy Monday!

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March results showed hints of hope in two important categories: Spa and salon retail. While 2010 will most likely be another difficult year, these hints may prove that a sigh of relief is coming and just in time.

Spas are booking massages as people find the experience an excellent way of relieving stress and anxiety. But with summer approaching, spas are booking more facials and waxing appointments which suggests women are opening their wallets a bit more. This is good news since spas are the biggest market indicator in our industry.

Salon retail also inched up in March as we saw record numbers for both Moroccanoil and Kemon. One month is certainly not a trend so it will be interesting to see how the all important spring season shakes out. One thing salons have learned that are still around: If you don’t have the goods consumers want on your shelf, you won’t get sales.

Other signs of hope include March payroll numbers jumping the most in 3 years; Apple launching its iPad this weekend and already telling its mail order customers to expect at least a one week delay; factories are working more hours due to low inventory levels of the past, and it’s 80 degrees April 2.

What I do know is that things are better right now than a year ago this time. But we still have a long ways to go but one thing people want more than anything right now is peeking through the clouds: Hope.

MSU 62, Butler 60

Happy Friday!

P.S. I will be on the west coast next week so no blogs. One day I will carry a laptop or perhaps an iPad!

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It doesn’t matter what religion you behold, all holidays are about eating. One thing people worldwide can agree upon is that one of life’s greatest joys is eating.

Which brings me to Easter and the Easter Bunny. Back in the day my father sold Easter baskets at the hardware store and they sold fairly well. Whatever baskets were leftover he brought home and we each got our own basket.

Without a doubt my favorite thing was black jelly beans. Red ones were pretty good too. But I had absolutely no need for the pink fluff rabbit and the hollow chocolate bunnies. I also enjoyed the malted milk eggs and solid chocolate eggs.

As a kid, we always had jelly beans in the house during this time of year. How easy is it to lift the lid, scarf a handful of beans and pop them into your mouth one-by-one or in one fellow scoop?

As my kids grew up, Cadbury came out with one of the chocolate world’s greatest inventions: The Crème Egg. These are so good, so satisfying and yet, fairly low in calories and fat. Now they have different flavors and sizes, but nothing beats the original.

Nothing like holidays and seasonal candy. The candy makers are geniuses! Now I have to get some black jelly beans.

Happy Thursday!