Here is the Baltics country profile I wrote for the June 2014 issue of ECM Magazine. I hope you enjoy reading it but please respect the copyright (ECM/HPCi Media!): ECM Baltics Country Profile 2014
Category Archives: Industry News
The Baltic C&T markets 2014: ECM article
Filed under cosmeticsbusiness.com, Industry News, Retail, Travel
Asian extravaganza: CosmeTokyo, Tokyo Designer’s Week (TDWA) and Cosmoprof Asia!
The last couple of months have been hectic. I’m currently preparing for a major research trip to Asia in October/November – five weeks of retail, food, cosmetics and trade shows, my favourite type of holiday! First two weeks in Tokyo to attend CosmeTokyo trade show and Tokyo Designer’s Week, then two weeks in Taipei to check out local retail and design and finally a week in Hong Kong to visit Cosmoprof Asia! I already have a whole list of interesting Japanese and Taiwanese retailers and stores that I will write about, so watch this space!
Filed under Industry News, Retail, Trade Shows, Travel
Organic beauty in Europe 2014: ECM article
A few months ago I researched and wrote a feature on the organic beauty market in Europe. Great fun it was; unfortunately I had to stick to my 3000 word limit – I could have written twice as much! – but even so I think the article turned out well. Here it is. As always, please respect the copyright (ECM Magazine, April 2014, HPCi Media)!
Filed under cosmeticsbusiness.com, Industry News, Retail
Megatrend Neo Ecology: Social & community agriculture in and around Berlin
Eco-social agriculture was a major topic at the Next Organic 2014 trade show. As part of the Neo Ecology megatrend this type of community farming is booming at the moment. It is especially popular with city dwellers: you receive fresh organic food that is locally (i.e. sustainably) grown and you can also choose to get involved in the planting/harvesting process, reconnecting with nature etc., all without having to move to the countryside. In Berlin and Brandenburg (the county that surrounds Berlin) there are several interesting social farming enterprises. Continue reading
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Filed under Berlin, Industry News, Trade Shows, Trends
Retail notes from Riga (2/2): Favourite organic beauty stores!
When I’m travelling I always spend a lot of time checking out the different retail chains and perfumeries and, incidentally, spending a lot of money on interesting looking beauty products. All in the name of journalistic research, of course….!
For Riga I had a very long list of retailers that I wanted to visit, including outlets of Drogas, Kristiana, Stockmann and Douglas (the big chains in Latvia). However, the city also has some wonderful independent beauty stores…..and here are three of my favourites! Continue reading
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Filed under Industry News, Retail, Travel
Retail notes from Riga (1/2): Organic beauty from the Baltics
I am currently writing an article on the Baltic cosmetics markets so I just spent three days in the capital of Latvia, Riga – for research, for holidays and to revel in organic cosmetics, baked goods, Art Nouveau, birch trees and wooden houses. All of which Riga has in abundance.
I arrived back in Berlin yesterday with a suitcase full of organic beauty products, including products from Madara (Latvia), Joik (Estonia), Natura Siberica (Russia), Planeta Organica (Russia), Graenn (Latvia), Anna Liepa (Latvia), Gusto (Latvia) and Uoga Uoga, a niche brand from Lithuania. Continue reading
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Filed under Industry News, Retail, Travel
Store Profile: Show-rooming and curated shopping at Bikini Berlin
A few weeks ago Berlin’s latest shopping mall opened: the eagerly anticipated Bikini Berlin. It’s a very long building which stretches along Budapester Strasse, extending from Bahnhof Zoo to the Europa-Center. Bikini Berlin describes itself as “Berlin’s first Concept Mall” and it combines curated pop-up stores, brand boutiques and flagship stores on 17,000 sq m of retail space. Their pop-up store concept really is quite impressive. Continue reading
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Filed under Berlin, Industry News, Mintel, Retail, Store Profiles, Trends
Estonia’s organic beauty brands: Eesti looduslik kosmeetika
Have you ever come across Ingli Pai, Green Nature, Moshi, Jovely, Sohvy, PanicaOrganica, Luminordic, Vestige Verdant or Ontic Minerals? They are all organic beauty brands from the Northern European country of Estonia. These labels have a very selective distribution even in their own country. And none, at the time of writing, are available outside of Estonia. Unless you count online stores. Talk about niche retail! Continue reading
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Filed under cosmeticsbusiness.com, Industry News, Retail
Bio Ost 2014: [Show Report] Regional organics in Berlin
On Sunday, 6th April, I visited Bio Ost trade show which is part of a rather interesting trade fair concept: Bio Ost (East) is one of four regional German shows – the others are Bio West, Bio Süd (South) and Bio Nord (North). Continue reading
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Filed under Berlin, Industry News, Show Reports, Trade Shows, Trends
Beauty International 2014: [Show Report]
Last week I was in Düsseldorf to visit Beauty International, Germany’s most important trade show for salon C&T. Beauty International 2014 was as busy – and as interesting – as last year’s show. Besides the usual big German exhibitors like Babor, Dr. Grandel or Alessandro International I noticed a number of organic beauty brands, including Annané and Aiomyth from Switzerland, Amala from Germany and Zinobel Organic Boost from Denmark.
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Filed under Industry News, Retail, Show Reports, Trade Shows
TRENDS. TRAVELS. AND BERLIN 