Prestige Beauty Takes a Dip

Historically, according to The NPD Group, Inc., a leading market research company, the beauty industry has weathered store closings, recession and war, with strong sales. But the 2008 economic

Coco Mademoiselle ranked as one of the top five fragrance brands in 2008.

downturn proved different. It was the first year, reports NPD, that each beauty category truly struggled and total prestige beauty sales fell 3% versus 2007. Overall decline was influenced by a sharp drop in fragrance, which reached $2.68 billion, a decline of 6% in 2008. One bright spot: sales of higher priced gift sets ($60-$100). In addition, while new fragrance launch activity was down in total, stemming from the 20% drop in men’s new launches, women’s new fragrances posted a 9% gain in 2008, due to, according to NPD, new brands like Viva La Juicy, Estée Lauder Sensuous, Ed Hardy, and Harajuku Lovers. According to NPD, the top five fragrance brands in 2008 were Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme, Beautiful, Coco Mademoiselle, Light Blue and Chanel No. 5.

The Fragrance Foundation Adds FiFi Awards, Names Hall of Famer

The Fragrance Foundation has announced that the namesake socialite behind several best-selling Parlux fragrances, Paris Hilton, has been chosen as its celebrity of the year. This award is the first of its kind, and Hilton will be present to accept it on May 27, in New York City, at the Founda-tion’s Annual FiFi

Paris Hilton

Awards. The organization has also announced details of a new FiFi Award category: Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year 2008. Rochelle Bloom, president of the Foundation, says, “Our board of directors felt strongly that the actual ‘juice’ of a fine fragrance should stand on its own and be honored” [meaning the essential oil company and the perfumer(s)]. More FiFi news: Marc Jacobs will be presented with this year’s Hall of Fame award. Last year, Coty’s Daisy by Marc Jacobs received a FiFi for Fragrance of the Year. Additional celebrity guests expected to attend the prestigious event include: Mary J. Blige, Simon Doonan, Samantha Harris and Queen Latifah.

More info: www.fragrance.org

An Expanded Perfume Expo America Returns to Manhattan

Perfume Expo America (PXA) returns to New York on June 9-12 as an expanded four-day event in a 75,000 square foot space at Jacob Javits Convention Center. More than 300 brands are expected to participate, with more than 3,000 visitors in attendance. PXA, which brings together brands, retailers and consumers, is a selective event where classic and emerging perfume brands as well as skin care and cosmetic lines can present to independent American perfumeries, department store buyers, duty-free operators, selective pharmacies, specialty stores and the press.

More info: www.perfumexamerica.com

Susan Arnold is retiring.

P&G Announces Changes

P&G has announced that Susan E. Arnold, president-global business units, will retire in September after 29 years of service. Her position will not be replaced; instead, the vice chairs of P&G global business units who have reported to Arnold will report directly to chairman of the board and chief executive officer A.G. Lafley, eliminating a layer of management as part of the company’s ongoing simplification effort.

Commenting on Arnold’s retirement, Lafley said, “Susan has been an architect of the company’s winning beauty strategy for the past 20 years. She’s led the transformation of P&G into one of the world’s leading beauty companies—with vision, creativity, consumer understanding, and game-changing innovation.” Under Arnold’s leadership, P&G’s beauty business has nearly tripled in size from about $7 billion in 1999 to $20 billion today. Lafley added that Arnold has held positions at P&G that no other woman has held before—the first female leader of P&G’s global beauty business, the first female vice chair and the first woman to be company president.”

3C Inc. Moves to New Location

3C Inc., a company with more than 20 years in the stock and custom cosmetics packaging business, has relocated from Hawthorne, NJ, to new offices at 240 Braen Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. The move enables them to better serve their clients. More info: www.C3CINC.com; [email protected] (email); 973-310-3416 (phone); 973-310-3420 (fax).

Rexam Challenge Opens

Rexam’s 5th Annual Foam Formulation Challenge invites entries for product applications with special appeal for babies, and which can be dispensed with the firm’s EZi one-touch mechanical foamer. Open to manufacturers, contract packagers, distributors and formulators, the Challenge awards a corporate prize of €10,000. Deadline for submissions: August 15.

More info: Wendy Winder at [email protected]

Urban Decay has a new owner.

Falic Group Sells Urban Decay

Duty-free retailer The Falic Group has sold Urban Decay to Castanea Partners, a private equity firm that invests in small and middle market companies.

Zorbit Partners with U.S. Plant

Zorbit Resources has announced a strategic joint venture with Palmyra, NY-based, Paul T. Freund Corporation, thus expanding Zorbit’s global manufacturing footprint in the U.S. The 150,000 sq. ft. facility is, according to Zorbit, one of the most comprehensive and fully integrated printing and box-making factories in North America.

HBA Supports CEW, ICMAD

HBA Global Expo (Sept. 15-17; www.hbaexpo.com) announced its support of two key industry associations: CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) and ICMAD (Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers & Distributors). The collaboration complements HBA’s mission to provide a leading educational and networking forum for the entire beauty community.

Unilever Ups Its Hair Care

Unilever has signed an agreement to acquire the global Tigi professional hair product business and its education academies for a cash consideration of $411.5 million. “It illustrates our determination to actively manage our portfolio in line with our stated strategic priorities, including a focus on personal care and higher growth areas,” says Vindi Banga, Unilever president, Foods, Home & Personal Care. Banga says adding the salon brands will further build its position in the hair category, priming it for geographical expansion. Tigi’s major brands include Bed Head, Catwalk and S-Factor. Tigi has operations in the U.S., UK, Italy, Germany and Australia, and in 2008, had worldwide sales of approximately $250 million, with almost half coming from the U.S. The deal is scheduled for completion by the end of March.

Comp24 Adopts New ID

Comp24, a packaging consultant and producer of prototypes for marketers in the cosmetics and personal care, as well as other industries, has adopted a new logo and brand identity system to more fully reflect its capabilities and the services it provides. According to Ken Wasserman, Comp24 president, the color, dimension and point-the-way dynamics of the new logo project the company’s comprehensive nature and experience, which “helps marketers take new packaging from initial rough sketches to market in less time, with less aggravation and expense.”

Wet ’n Wild Marks 30th Birthday

Wet ’n Wild recently celebrated its 30th birthday at Nikki Beach in midtown, Manhattan, paying tribute to its products through the decades. Booths were set up for the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and 2009, and showcased authentic Wet ’n Wild products from each era, along with an appropriately dressed model and paraphernalia. For example, the ’70s model wore go go boots and a shift dress and had lava lamps and disco balls at her booth. Just as on top of today’s trends, the company recently launched a list of cleverly packaged, reasonably priced cosmetics, including Natural Wear Pressed Powder—an all natural powder that uses eco-friendly paper packaging.

Zorbit Merges with Maesa

In January, Zorbit Resources and the Maesa Group completed their merger agreement, creating a worldwide company specializing in branding, design, custom packaging, turnkey beauty and home products. Gregory Mager, founder and CEO of the Maesa Group, remains CEO of the parent company, Maesa Inc. Thomas Butkiewicz, CEO of Zorbit, will run the North America turnkey beauty and packaging divisions, while overseeing the packaging group in Europe and the organizations in China. Zorbit’s management team continues to handle the day-to-day operations of the company, in addition to taking a greater global responsibility. The new organization boasts a highly experienced management team, seven offices worldwide, more than 150 customers and 250 staff members.

Organic Pharmacy Opens in LA

The British-based Organic Pharmacy, which is dedicated to health and beauty using organic products and treatments, has crossed the pond to open its first U.S. retail outlet in Beverly Hills, CA. The store will be staffed by pharmacists, homeopaths and beauty therapists. The company is registered with The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and The Soil Association.

EX·TRACTS Announces Best New Packaging Award Winners

POO-POURRI, Dallas, TX, took a new approach to bathroom habits with its “before-you-go” bathroom freshener, and claimed the award for best new packaging at EX·TRACTS: New discoveries in beauty and wellness, held at Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. Finalists in the packaging category included Mommy Makeup, New York, NY, for its Mommy’s Kisses; and theBalm, San Francisco, CA, for its Big Mama set. Sohum’s Royale Collection Bon Bon Packaging, a range of 10 new fragrances, wrapped like a confectionary for gift-giving, was awarded the Best of Show title in the Best New Product Awards.

Pantone Reveals Top 10 Colors

Pantone recently revealed its report on the top 10 colors for women’s fashion for spring 2009. Bright colors again head the list, which according to the company, provide optimism and stability. Each season, Pantone surveys the designers showing at New York Fashion Week to collect feedback on prominent collection colors, inspiration, philosophy and each designer’s signature shade. This information is used to create the Pantone Fashion Color Report. The top 10 colors revealed are Palace Blue, Lavender, Super Lemon, Salmon Rose, Fuchsia Red, Rose Dust, Slate Gray, Vibrant Green, Dark Citron and Lucite Green. The report is available free of charge at www.pantone.com/ spring2009.