Category Archives: Industry News

Natural Cosmetics Conference 2014: [Show Report] Day One

Last week the annual Naturkosmetik Branchenkongress (Natural Cosmetics Conference) took place in Berlin: two days of stimulating presentations, interesting people and so many new ideas, inspirations and things to research that my head is still spinning.

This year the conference was all about trends and changes: how the organic beauty market is changing and how it might look in five or ten years. Topics included customer journeys, the way that consumers are changing the retail market (social media, peer reviews, shit-storms…) and how they are starting to influence what brands are doing, the role of e-commerce and how this is changing C&T distribution and how authenticity and transparency are amongst the most important factors in successful brand management.

I will be splitting this article into two separate posts – Day One and Day Two – which should improve the readability. It is still a long text though. You have been warned! Continue reading

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Mintel articles: Kauf dich Glücklich and Beauty & Nature

Here are two more Mintel articles, from June and July 2014 – concept store Kauf dich Glücklich in Berlin and organic perfumery Beauty & Nature in Leipzig. Continue reading

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Cosmetics Polska: Study tour in Warsaw, Poland

I just returned from a brief trip to Warsaw, where I attended the annual Cosmetics Polska study tour. This is an EU-funded program to promote Polish beauty companies abroad. The organizers are Warsaw-based media company SPC House of Media, they also make sure that Poland has a large presence at every major international C&T trade show. Once a year they organize a study tour in Warsaw for international journalists, beauty buyers and distributors. And this year I was invited. Thank you SPC Media! Continue reading

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The Baltic C&T markets 2014: ECM article

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

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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!

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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)!

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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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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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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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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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