Beauty Packaging’s publisher, Jay Gorga, and I get the opportunity to meet with industry suppliers and attendees at numerous B2B events, and through our many show floor conversations, we are able to get a real pulse of the industry, even outside of what we read and hear in our everyday interactions.

In September, we got to spend time with dozens of beauty experts—on both the supplier and brand sides—through formal and casual meetings held around and at ADF&PCD New York and MakeUp in NewYork, during a particularly busy couple of weeks. 

While the events were wide-ranging in terms of exhibitors, a number of topics dominated: No. 1 of course, is that the industry is hotter than ever, with more and more smaller companies eager to enter or expand, full-speed ahead. Mounting responsibility for everything from development to supply chain has fallen to suppliers who must deliver the goods with all the complex criteria that these brands demand. Thus, full-service solutions have become a widely accepted and efficient way of doing business; in fact, at least one exhibitor touted that visitors to their booth could simply provide a brand name—and they’d rapidly be provided with a whole line of eponymous cosmetic products.

Sustainability has truly become a reality after many years, with suppliers developing solutions for brands looking to provide a compelling eco-story to their concerned customers. Talk of tariffs was in the air as U.S.-based companies said they’d had more interest in Made in the USA components, while overseas manufacturers felt confident that it would be business as usual. Regional manufacturing was also a hot discussion topic for countries abroad, especially suppliers in Italy and France—although a number of these are also opening new facilities in the U.S. to be closer to what’s still the leading market in the world. Of course, the greatest goal of any of these suppliers is to develop an innovative product or package—for this is what will truly make a brand stand out in the crowd—and on Instagram. We hope the show videos we filmed at ADF & PCD (please see BeautyPackaging.com) will capture the attitudes and emotions of some of the many conversations we had “out in the field.”

Beauty Packaging will address several of these interests next month. Watch for our December issue with a feature story on Full Service Packaging; this issue will also include a special supplement on Italian full-service manufacturing. Additional features will spotlight Innovative Packaging and Decorative Techniques. Not to mention an in-depth report based on our visits with suppliers and brands at Luxe Pack Monaco.

We hear you! At the next show, please stop by and visit, and we’ll be happy to talk about whatever industry issues are on your mind.