Industry

Discover Beauty
The success of Cosmoprof North America's Discover Beauty program in 2007 prompted show organizers to broaden the profile for 2008 to include the spa sector. Discover Beauty—Spa will offer new companies and international ones not yet distributed in the United States the opportunity to meet with spa buyers interested in finding new resources. In support of the program, Cosmoprof North America partnered with the Las Vegas Spa Association (LVSA) to bring directors from some of the largest spas in the country to participate in one-on-one meetings with the pre-selected companies exhibiting at the show in July. "The Discover Beauty program is an innovative way to make personalized introductions to the newest brands to enter the United States," says Jennifer Lynn, LVSA chairperson and director of Qua Baths & Spa in Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas.
 

David Suzuki, Bio-Therapeutic

More Than a Device

For the second year in a row, Bio-Therapeutic made the Puget Sound Business Journal's Top Medical Device Manufacturers list printed in its 2008 Book of Lists. The company moved up four spots this year to number 20. The publication ranks top companies in Seattle's Puget Sound area in categories from banking to construction to technology.
 
Acquisitions

• Salon industry giant L'Oréal recently acquired Columbia Beauty Supply, one of the industry's most well-respected distributors. The family-owned beauty supply company, located in Charlotte, NC, has been servicing the salon community for more than 80 years. "Columbia Beauty Supply's mission to provide education, opportunity, products and services with integrity perfectly mirrors that of L'Oréal," says Don Anderson, president and CEO of Columbia Beauty Supply. "We are pleased to be part of their organization."

 
 

David Craggs, president of L'Oréal's professional products division, adds, "This acquisition enables us to continue to leverage our strengths and further control diversion, while creating better services and efficiencies to the benefit of salons, our brands and consumers of salon products."

 
• Wahl Clipper Corp. recently acquired California-based equipment manufacturer Kayline Enterprises. Bo Langley, director of marketing and sales for Wahl's professional division, will assist in managing the company's new addition. "Dotty and Ken Reiner are tremendous people who've built a great business in Kayline," says Jim Wahl, executive vice president. "Both will be staying on to help with the transition and continuation of this great business."
 
• Brian Keller, Ph.D. (right), president of Equalan and co-founder and executive vice president of research and development at Bio Labs, has acquired Glyderm. Keller plans to "take the dermatology-based skincare company to the next level" with QuSome and other proprietary technologies.
 
Stressing a Message
Murad Inc. and its founder, dermatologist Howard Murad, M.D., have awarded the International SPA Association Foundation an educational endowment to research ways to reduce what the dermatologist calls “cultural stress.” Murad describes the phenomenon as a societal crisis that’s wreaking havoc on our physical and emotional health. Factors that may contribute to cultural stress include technology overload, overworking and lack of purposeful work, inadequate nutrition, isolation from friends and stage of life. Recipients of the $2,500 Dr. Howard Murad Research Grant will be invited to attend the 2008 ISPA Conference and Expo November 10-13 in Las Vegas, with complimentary registration, airfare and hotel accommodations. 

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