Janet Herlihy, Editor09.30.09
What a difference six months can make.
Last October, flights to Luxe Pack in Monaco from the U.S. had room to spare, few Americans made the trip, and virtually everyone was nervous about the economy and anxious about security.
But those flying to Italy’s Cosmoprof, March 8-11, found flights filled to capacity and, although many exhibitors were still reporting a shortage of American visitors, confidence in the economy is returning and most have gotten used to the new security measures. Many economists have decreed the recession over and recovery begun—although warning it will be a slow improvement.
With Cosmoprof, the annual round of trade shows has begun. Here in the U.S., Ex•Tracts is next in April, followed by EastPack in June. HBA 2002 Global Expo has moved to Oct.14-16; then it’s time for Luxe Pack again, Oct. 23-26. By then, we’ll have attended a year’s worth of shows featuring packaging for the beauty and personal care business.
Trade shows, like everything in the universe, have their pluses and minuses. New customers, new contacts and new ideas are all on the plus side. At Cosmoprof, a major negative was also apparent: nondescript people sidling in and out of stands with cameras—snapping pictures of the latest/greatest—in order to be able to copy the products. Many U.S. and European suppliers complained that such industrial espionage is increasing and that competition from manufacturers in other parts of the world is heating up.
Having long reported on the U.S. textile industry as it battled offshore competition, I have some advice. We cannot close our markets and barricade the ports. What we can do is make sure our manufacturing is as up-to-date as possible and, more importantly, that our service gives domestic supply a way to compete.
One offshore supplier noted that package manufacturers in the Far East have improved their product to the point that it is as good as what the U.S. and Europe produces—for a lot less cost. “What they still don’t have is good, original design,” he said. Obviously, that too is another point of difference a domestic supplier must nurture and support.
This month’s Cosmetic Packaging & Design covers other aspects of doing business successfully. New Look for BabySpa (p. 18) details the steps in developing an effective redesign, which is also the topic of Colin Hession’s From The Marketing Point of View (p. 16). Injection Molding 101 is a quick course in how high tech manufacturing creates thousands of perfect caps, closures and components. Overviews of Prestige Fragrance (p. 25) and Color Cosmetics (p. 31) discuss trends and innovations.
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