Cosmoprof North America (CPNA) enjoyed its sixth and most successful year yet as the premier, business-to-business beauty event encompassing all sectors of the industry under one roof. Recognized as one of the top 200 shows in the United States by Trade Show Weekly, CPNA brought 740 exhibiting companies (up from 700 in 2007) to an expanded show floor, along with more than 25,000 attendees, including importers, distributors and global beauty leaders. Highlights included:
Discover Beauty. This ground-breaking initiative, in its second year, brought a select group of emerging brands together with buyers from top retail institutions, including: Beauty Addicts, Mommy Makeup, Hair Rules, Skin Nutrition, VitaMan and more.
Emerging Beauty. Attendees were introduced to a fresh selection of ideas and products at this special section for small manufacturers. Emerging Beauty was dedicated to the small entrepreneurs starting out with a great idea and showing their products to industry professionals for the first time, including: "Pencil Me In" Cosmetics, CURLS, Entity Beauty Inc. and more.
Country Pavilions. These pavilions showcased beauty products with authentic elements and innovation from countries recognized for a strong heritage in the beauty industry and looking to expand their foreign trade. CPNA 2008 featured pavilions from Australia, Brazil, China, the Dominican Republic, Italy and Taiwan.
PBA Annual Business Forum. Kicking off an explosion of educational seminars, PBA's Annual Business Forum provided attendees with an overview of how PBA is shaping the beauty industry and fulfilling member needs. Keynote speakers, Mary Matalin and James Carville, explored the intricacies of the race to the White House, provided insight into the current election year's effects on the beauty industry and discussed how professional associations such as PBA can best represent their members.
L to R: Lee Rizzuto Jr., James Carville, Mary Matalin and PBA Executive Director Steve Sleeper
International Buyer Program. Exclusive to CPNA, this program united buyers from Australia, Chile, Germany, Italy, Japan and beyond with exhibitors for one-on-one, pre-scheduled appointments.
First-Class Education. Filled-to-capacity sessions included CPC Packaging Magazine's Green Packaging Conference, Women's Wear Daily's 2nd Annual Specialty Beauty Retailer Panel, PBA's Learning Lounge: Combat Compensation and Beauty Store Business' OTC's Biggest Mistakes & Ways of Successfully Overcoming Them.
Learning Lounge Panel - L to R: Peter Mahoney, Neil Ducoff and Bert Carder.
Cosmoprof North America 2009 is planned for July 19-21, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. PBA Symposium also moves to a new home in conjunction with Cosmoprof North America in 2009! For more information on exhibiting or attending next year's event, visit cosmoprofnorthamerica.com or call 800.557.3356.