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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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A couple weeks ago a salesperson came in for a meeting. A common occurrence that happens far too often. In conversation I learned he had a daughter and a wife and was traveling light.

I wanted to give him something to take home to earn some bonus points. I gave him the new mini collections from both Essie and OPI.

The phone call I received the next day was such that you would have thought I gave him a couple sets of Tiffany studs. That’s how happy they were.

Last week I interviewed a candidate wanting to work at TNG. He came in from NY and I learned that he too had a daughter and wife. On his way back to NY, I have him the OPI mini collection to earn some bonus points.

He gave the collection to his soon to be 13 year old daughter and she was giddy with excitement. She soon envisioned her father bringing home boxes of TNG goodies. And his wife wants 50 of them for a big birthday party.

The thing is, we are around beauty products all day long and to many of us, they are as utilitarian and exciting as a cup of morning coffee. We are so used to the products that they don’t excite us and we take them for granted. But when the same products are given or made available to those not around them, they jump up and down with excitement.

I doubt the owners wife of a florist gets excited when her husband brings home flowers. I doubt the owners wife of a jewelry store gets excited when her husband brings home another trinket. We all get jaded.

But I’m telling you. These mini collections are priceless and hot. If you own a salon or spa, put a dozen of them at the cash wrap and see what happens. It’s time to get excited about what others get excited about.

Happy Tuesday!

Welcome to Mardi’s Gras or Fat Tuesday. It’s also the day of eating 500 calorie fat bombs known in the Polish community as Paczki’s.

Recently I strolled through ULTA to see what their latest signature brands were. As I walked through the store (there was one other customer), I noticed that a good 25% of the items  were out of stock. ULTA is no Sephora when it comes to merchandising.

Pro hair care represented more than half the store which makes ULTA the biggest threat to salons. Their signature brands were all L’Oreal especially REDKEN and MATRIX adorned on the back wall. They had more hair dryers and flat irons than some of the manufacturers we buy from. Signature brands were Helen of Troy and Revlon.

OPI was certainly the signature brand when it came to nail care. The Hong Kong collection was displayed at the entrance and at the polish section. OPI itself was larger than all the other nail brands combined. Essie had many colors available but  mostly out of stock. CND color was not sold but their treatments were.

Skin care was a hodge podge and they are certainly weak in this area. DDF and Dermologica was the signature brands but neither stood out well. Make up also seems to be a work in process but certainly Bare Essentual’s was their signature brand.

Most surprising was their private label. In all categories, it was scattered and not well stocked or merchandised. I wonder what percent of their business is in this category.

Oddly, they are also carry many Target and Wal-Mart beauty brands and these too are not well stocked. What is odd is that prestige brands have allowed themselves to be sold with mass brands. Perhaps desperate times call for desperate measures but long term, I wonder.

No doubt women walking into ULTA are looking for salon wet goods, nail color and appliances. This is where they shine. Salons have the ability to compete by offering bi-monthly deals and having a nice, tight retail area. ULTA pricing on open stock items is the same as salons so salons can’t complain in that area. The complaint is the constant promotions ULTA offers. We offer plenty of the same promotions ULTA does so the resources are available.

ULTA is a work in progress. More importantly, ULTA is a wake up call to our industry. It’s time that we respond.

Happy Tuesday!

Finally, 2010 is here. Memories of the previous year and decade will linger for far too long but at least it’s over. We can now focus on the next decade and especially this new year.

This is the year that we need to move our outer lips in the up direction instead of the down direction. This is the year in which we can’t wait for something to happen, we have to make it happen.

This is the year of renewed optimism. Consumers see the first half as still difficult but see the second half with bright eyes and the sun finally breaking through the clouds. If you were ever in Florida on vacation and all it did was rain, then you know the feeling the first day the sun shone bright.

thebeautybook Spring 2010 is filled with renewed optimism. We reinvented the book and the look. Early responses have been terrific. There are new lines such as Spa Ritual and Ceripil, perennials like OPI (new Hong Kong collection), CND and FPO. And there is a brand new product called Forever Natural that’s bound to be a major hit.

More importantly, thebeautybook Spring 2010 brings the arrival of a new year, new decade and new inspiration. This week I’ll write about more stuff we are doing to help make 2010 the year to remember on the "happy" side.

Happy Monday and welcome back!

Don’t ask why but OPI Holiday is the hottest salon gift item of the season. We sold out open stock and collections twice and were lucky enough to get yet another shipment for next week. We will have both 12-pc collections in limited numbers (120 each) so with the biggest month of the year fast approaching, call today to reserve.

But OPI isn’t letting the rush of Christmas spoil its debut of 2010. Of all their "off season" collections that they have introduced, perhaps the most exciting is their much anticipated Alice in Wonderland collection coming in January.

The collection is only four shades, but what fun four shades they are:

I have no idea how OPI connected with Disney or how they are going to spend more than $1 Million promoting this but I do have an idea that this collection will be ultra hot. We doubled our allocation and we’re not even sure that’s enough.

We are going to open pre-sell to Nailco Gold customers in December (visit our website for more info then). With everyone Mad as a Hatter this collection brings much needed fun and frivolity.

Thanks So Muchness OPI.

Happy Tuesday!

Welcome to OPIville, the official town of OPI. In this unique community of OPI lovers, for over a quarter of a cent-cherry, residents live, breathe and treasure OPI.

The main road in town where the restaurants, shops and nail salons are located is Collins Ave. All the homes are done out in deco from the likes of conga-like coral to Miami beet. Dutch tulips line the roadways like you were in Holland.

The residents never get older either, they keep celebrating 20 years over and over again. Girls are referred to as babes and guys are referred to as sweet hearts because who needs a prince, it only makes men blush? But like every other town in America, princesses rule.

Everyone loves to eat out at OPIville’s famous restaurants. The cafes feature espresso your style, dulce de leche, or if you just want coffee, people lean towards java mauva-a with just the right amount of California raspberry syrup. Lunch at the Delhi specializes in cajun shrimp, spicy Cheyenne peppers with wild rice, and their homemade Malaga wine.

For dinner, Mrs. O’Leary’s BBQ serves up the best strawberry daiquiri’s, tropical punch and who would of ever thought, vodka and caviar? Their signature dessert Coney Island cotton candy looks just like fresh, alpine snow and tastes just like a koala beary-y.

Unusual for such a hot restaurant town, all food is served buffet style. When asked why, the overwhelming reply was "I’m not really a waitress."

The town folk drive around in Red Mustangs, type away at on Pompeii purple Dell laptops and sit under the apple tree dreaming of Romeo and Juliet or watching Ellen.

Visitors are allowed only in the early afternoon since all the residents are clubbing til sunrise. The sweet hearts are always asking the babes to party in my cabana especially the ones that make their heart throb and feelin’ hot-hot-hot! But no matter the passion, the princes only end up with a kiss on the chic. Oh so glam!

Happy Monday!

Some events you try once and decide to move on. Luckily, the Manicure & Pedicure Summit is not one of them.

In the ultra casual environment of our Global Logistics Center, the perfect backdrop for exhibition space, lectures, eating and shopping all came together. It was a fun time for all.

CND was busy showcasing their new colour and effects line. Manicurists loved the way the effects worked over the colour and how dramatic the change was. Many shades sold out.

Steve Wallace from Medicool was busy showing off his drill collection (John Barth was ready to assist buyers). As mentioned yesterday, OPI was swamped with Soak-off demos and we had to steal their Suede’s collection to satisfy the demand.

China Glaze was doing a demo that seem to mystify everyone. Linda Woods took a glass bowl, filled it with water, and then explained the secret to nail art using polish. She took one bottle of a deep hue and dropped 3-4 drops into the bowl. They dispersed magically. She then added drops from 3 other bottles. Linda then took a straw and made swift strokes through the color. It was almost like a kaleidoscope effect. Then the fun part. She submerged a nail tip into the mix and the polish stuck to the nail tip in the same design. It truly was mystical!

Dave Albers from Graham Medical used every trick in the book to make nail wipes and towels attractive. Whether it was his logo shirt or aura, many Graham products were sold.

The lecture area was busy in the morning and it was great to see so many actually listening and paying attention.

Lunch from Jimmy John’s, chips and soda, all complimentary were enjoyed by all. After lunch, many took the tour of the facility and were amazed to see the technology at work. One manicurist commented, "Now I see why we can’t add on to our order after it is placed."

Lots of fun, lots of learning, and lots of meeting and greeting all helped to make the event successful and it will be back in 2010, September 26. Now let’s hope that is a long ways away!

Happy Friday!

All eyes were on the OPI booth at the first Annual Manicure & Pedicure Summit. It was a sight I haven’t seen in nearly 20 years when IBD introduced their UV gel system.

Manicurists are uniquely curious and when something hits their radar, they have to see it. So when the OPI tech was demonstrating the new colors from OPI’s Axxium Soak-Off gel line, a swarm of manicurists were standing and watching all day long sort of like the next big secret was going to be unveiled and you had to be there to know it.

The ooh’s and the ah’s were clearly within listening range. Once the curiosity was satisfied, it was a shopping must. The kits sold out quickly. The open stock followed. All of a sudden, nails were fun again.

Soak-Off gels in case you are new to this are sort of in the middle of nail polish and gels. They aren’t a nail extension product so you can’t build a nail. They aren’t a nail polish because you can’t simply use acetone and wipe it off.

The genius behind this new category is that unlike traditional gels and acrylics that take a long time to remove and can damage the natural nail over time, soak-off gels can be removed in a little as five minutes. OPI masterfully matched up the gel colors to their nail lacquer and the category exploded.

Here’s what I love best about this category besides the excitement level back in the industry: It’s not a consumer product that can be sold at retail. It requires a UV light cure and unless Sally Hanson gets into the UV light business, we are clear for take-off for at least a year or two.

And after nearly 20 years, it’s fun to have fun again.

Happy Thursday!

P.S. More about the Summit tomorrow

OPI should have known their French collection wasn’t going to do well. The Americans and the French still are at odds although they are still very happy to take our money.

South Beach collection was fun but at the end, what consumers really love about OPI is their dark shades. Espana has them covered and then some.

And besides, we love Spain. It has great food, great wine, great Tapas and bullfighting to boot. Spain is a friendly country and they love to have fun.

Espana colors are right on. They are noticed. They are what consumers need at the moment.

I have yet to put any of the dozen colors on my nails and most likely, I’m going to pass this time as all the previous other times. But hey, i know there are plenty of women wearing Espana so I would love to find out your favorite Espana color(s).

Ole!

Happy Thursday!

P.S. Off to see Jimmy Buffett tonight. Yes, I’m a true Parrot Head.