Steve SleeperPBA Executive Director
Scottsdale, AZ
2009 started off with a bang! The International Salon and Spa Expo (ISSE), produced by the Professional Beauty Association, was a huge success as thousands of salon and spa professionals turned up for exclusive deals from hundreds of exhibitors, high-energy creative presentations, and abundant career-enhancing classes and presentations. The show was an example of the professional beauty industry's determination to forge ahead during these hard economic times.
Stanley Wild
1925 - 2009
PBA would like to extend its condolences to the family of Stanley Wild. A beauty industry icon and forefather of the Professional Beauty Association, Stanley was a pioneer in beauty product manufacturing and distribution. Those who were lucky enough to know and work with Stanley will never forget him. He will be sorely missed.
And that also means it is time for the entire industry to come together. Members are asking for more insight and information about industry issues that touch all sections: salon owners need to know the business side of the industry and distributors and manufacturers need to know what is and is not working in the salon. PBA has taken these questions to heart and is working toward a new all-industry platform for educational programs and initiatives that are applicable to all our members. As you read this issue of PBA Progress, you will see that the information is no longer broken into sections but is instead combined to speak to all members together, as the entire industry can only grow stronger together.
Just as information on the industry cannot be broken into sections, the important issues the industry faces today cannot be grappled with by a singular section of the industry. It will take the collective of our membership to work together and PBA is pleased to offer the first collective opportunity for the industry to meet with the all-new format at the 2009 PBA Symposium, July 18-21, in Las Vegas.
While salon and spa professionals will still enjoy the same high-level education and networking they are accustomed to, PBA Symposium is now open to the entire industry and is held in cooperation with Cosmprof North America, bringing together for the first time salon and spa professionals with top distributors and manufacturers for invaluable face-to-face interaction and networking. This year's theme, Consumer Culture, is based on PBA's year-long landmark study, Business of Beauty: Maximize Your Profitability, which delves into the state of the industry, habits and trends of the beauty consumer, the role of the salon in selling beauty products and much more. The study will be revealed during Symposium General Sessions.
As part of PBA Beauty Week, which includes the North American Hairstyling Awards, PBA Best Practice Club and Beacon, PBA Symposium: Consumer Culture will give comprehensive answers to the questions beauty professionals have been asking for years and is the must-attend event for all PBA members in 2009.
Visit probeauty.org/beautyweek for more information on these exciting events and, as always, thank you for your continued support of the Professional Beauty Association.
Steve Sleeper
PBA Executive Director
Scottsdale, AZ