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
Category Archives: Retail
Cosmetics Polska: Study tour in Warsaw, Poland
Filed under Industry News, Retail, Trade Shows, Travel
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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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
Retail notes from Zurich: Changemaker – Holy Cow!
Last week I spent another few days in Zurich. Whilst walking around the city center I came across two very cool places. Both locations caught my attention not just because of their attractive merchandise, but also because of the unusual retail concept. Continue reading
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Filed under Retail, Store Profiles, Travel, Trends
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
Next Organic 2014: [Show Report]
This Sunday I visited organic food fair Next Organic Berlin which took place in the buildings of old Tempelhof airport. Next Organic is very trend-driven show so if you want to see food/organic megatrends in action, this is the place to visit. The fair presented the latest in Raw Food, Vegan, and organic/sustainable food manufacturing as well as some very interesting regional and glocal (think global, act local:“glocal”) culinary concepts. Add to this a wide range of niche labels and small manufactories and a strong focus on local producers, and you have a very happening trade show indeed. Continue reading
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Filed under Berlin, Retail, Show Reports, 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
TRENDS. TRAVELS. AND BERLIN 