ISSE 2010 Post Show Release
40,000 Beauty Professional’s Set Record Attendance at the 2010 International Salon & Spa Expo
Phoenix, AZ (February 4, 2010) – Exceeding all expectations, a record 40,000 beauty professionals attended the International Salon & Spa Expo (ISSE) January 30 – February 1, 2010 in Long Beach, California. Produced by the Professional Beauty Association (PBA), the phenomenal attendance numbers, up 21% from 2009, combined with a wider array of educational opportunities and first-class exhibitors, reaffirmed ISSE’s position as not only the West Coast’s largest and most influential professional industry event, but one of the top international beauty events. Featuring 397 exhibitors, up 3% from 2009 on a sold-out expo floor, the positive numbers and better-than-expected sales many exhibitors experienced proves the beauty industry is resilient and provides a positive indication for the future.
“The International Salon & Spa Expo continues to grow, while maintaining a professional, first-rate experience for exhibitors and attendees,” stated PBA’s Executive Director Steve Sleeper. “The phenomenal, record setting attendance ISSE experienced proves the importance the industry places on this show and the value it places on education, networking and the opportunity to connect with exciting new products and services.”
Known for bringing in some of the biggest names in the beauty industry, ISSE 2010 featured overflow crowds for classes and presentations by Tabatha Coffey, Charlie Price, Ruth Roche, Karg + Blackwell, and Martin Parsons, to name a few. Exhibitors, many of whom invested in dynamic new booth installations on the reconfigured show floor, reported positive sales and eager customers. Discounts and “bargain basement” deals typically seen in the final hours of the show were not common with exhibitors selling through onsite inventory. Key exhibitors included: Conair / Rusk, Vidal Sassoon, OPI, TIGI, CND (Creative Nail), Clairol Professional, Farouk / CHI, Moroccan Oil, Global Keratin, and Sally Beauty Supply along with first-time standouts California Meltology, Nordic Hair Contrast, Belvada Cosmetics, and Color Spatch. PBA also reports a significant increase in onsite-exhibitor renewals for 2011, reaffirming the commitment the industry places on ISSE.
The other key mission of ISSE is to provide valuable education. Organized in a more concise manner that allowed attendees to follow certain “tracks”, over 250 education classes in hair, skin, nails, massages therapy, marketing, and business strategy were offered. Licensed massage therapists were also able to earn continuing education (CE) credits. From the renowned Technical Theater to the Latino Fashion Theater and International Fashion Theater, attendees were able to view and interact with some of the most respected industry professionals and gain insight into the trends, both in beauty treatments/products and overall business management, in an effort to help better position their careers.
One new educational experience offered at ISSE 2010 was the LFG Fashion Photo Shoot by the Masters. Presented by the Latino Fashion Group (LFG) and taught by famed photographer, Babak, aboard the historic Queen Mary, attendees were able to learn how to produce and shoot a first-rate editorial focused campaign.
ISSE 2010 also hosted for the first time the Legends & Icons Gala, which honored Ann Mincey (legend), Robert Cromeans (icon), and Sonya and Christopher Dove (icons). Attended by nearly 400 beauty professionals in support of the PBA | NCA Cares Fund, the event was not only a beautiful and moving affair, an additional $3,400 was raised for Haiti earthquake relief through a special collection.
ISSE will return to Long Beach, California January 29 – 31, 2011. For additional information on ISSE and other PBA events such as PBA Beauty Week: Las Vegas, which will be held in cooperation with Cosmoprof North America July 17 – 20, 2010, please visit probeauty.org/events.
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