As we head into the second half of 2002, it’s a good time to look at what the beauty business is doing to attract consumers and combat lackluster sales.

Liz Claiborne Cosmetics has been bucking the trend of anemic fine fragrance performance for the past several seasons, and its upcoming launch of Bora Bora looks to be another success story in the making.

Claiborne starts out with a clear picture of who its target audience is and then develops an entire program—products, packaging and promotions—to woo and win that consumer’s interest and dollars. Our coverage of how Liz Claiborne stages a winning fragrance launch is on page 18.

The mass market for fragrance products continues to look to its prestige fragrance cousins for a model on how to attract the consumer’s attention. Packaging is looking more and more upscale as are point-of-purchase displays and advertising. Add the convenience and value of mass outlets, and it’s easy to see why this category is getting lots of attention from retailers and marketers. Our coverage on fragrance trends in the mass market starts on page 40.

One of the best ways to win over a potential consumer is to give her a sample of the product. But sampling can also be very expensive and problematic as marketers seek to place the right sample in the right consumers’ hands at the right time. Marketers and sample system suppliers are coming up with some innovative ways to make sample campaigns more effective. Read how creative thinking and the right sample delivery system can reach the target audience, beginning on page 33.

Packaging that works and looks great are basic requirements in today’s HBA market. Check out some of the latest innovations for color cosmetics, starting on page 46 in the Supplier Review of Color Cosmetic Components. And see what unique functional and fashionable features aluminum and tinplate bring to the beauty packaging table, in The Merits of Metal, beginning on page 52.

Taking a cue from the companies we write about, Cosmetic Packaging & Design wants to exceed expectations and deliver added value too.

Starting on June 1, we’ll offer a breaking news email service to keep you up-to-date on the latest happenings in the business and let you know when the current issue is posted on our website.

To register for email updates, visit www.CosmeticPackagingandDesign.com. Simply type in your email address under “Join our email mailing list” to receive these updates.

Janet Herlihy
Editor
[email protected]