The Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors association (ICMAD) will welcome Claudia Lucas, director of beauty merchandising for QVC, to the 8th annual ICMAD CITY Awards for Cosmetic Innovators of The Year on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, in New York City. Lucas will present a keynote address as well as honor the winners of the 2011 CITY Awards.

The CITY Awards and the ICMAD annual meeting will be held at ASTRA in the D&D Building, 979 Third Avenue (58th & 59th Streets), in New York City. The celebratory event begins with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and will honor the very best of the best entrepreneurial cosmetic innovations.

ICMAD, with 650 company-members, supports entrepreneurial businesses in the cosmetic, toiletry and fragrance industry. “Our members are creative, hardworking and deserving of recognition for cosmetics innovation,” says ICMAD executive director Penni Jones. “Whether it’s for a new brand, packaging design or an advertising campaign, the ICMAD CITY Awards honor entrepreneurial achievement.“

Claudia Lucas has more than 15 years of experience in luxury beauty retailing in both the United Kingdom and United States. Prior to joining QVC in 2010, Lucas held merchandising leadership positions with high profile retailers, including Alpha, Selfridges and Henri Bendel. Lucas is well respected by retailers and cosmetics manufacturers alike for her expertise in identifying trends, emerging products and brand opportunities.

Deadline for CITY entries is April 29, 2011

To be eligible for a CITY Award, the company must be a current member of ICMAD and follow the criteria established for each award category. In addition to winners in nine CITY Awards categories, judges will select a member company from among all the entries that have been in business less than three years, to be eligible for a New Beauty Innovation Award. This award will be presented to a new ICMAD member company that best represents innovation and creativity.

CITY Awards winners will be featured with links and contact information on ICMAD’s CITY Awards microsite as well as the ICMAD CITY Innovation Directory page on www.icmad.org. CITY Awards finalists will be featured on the site as well. Winners and finalists are also encouraged to incorporate their awards into their own online and industry marketing.

CITY Award Categories for 2011:

Product Innovation:

· Personal Care Product
· Color Cosmetic Product
· Skin Care Product – Professional (Salon/Spa, doctor’s office)
· Skin Care Product – Mass (Department/Specialty/Discount/Drug Store)

Package Design Innovation
· Personal Care Product Package Design
· Color Cosmetic Product Package Design
· Skin Care Product Package Design – Professional (Salon/Spa, doctor’s office) and Mass (Department/Specialty/Discount/Drug Store)

Marketing & Advertising Innovations:
· Print Advertisement – Trade or Consumer
· Online Advertisement

All products must have first shipped, and marketing and advertising programs initiated, between April 1, 2010, and March 31, 2011. Judges for the CITY Awards are respected advertising, marketing and sales executives with experience, but without current affiliation, in the cosmetics industry.

“The CITY Awards program,” adds Jones, “in addition to our ongoing events and benefits, makes membership in ICMAD a must for every entrepreneurial company in the fast-moving cosmetic business. We encourage every member company to participate and to attend the CITY Awards presentation.”

For more information on membership or to receive a Call for Entries brochure, visit www.icmad.org or call 800-334-2623.