Silver
Salute: OPI Products
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Left: OPI’s Suzi Weiss-Fischmann and George Schaeffer in the early years.
Right: OPI Products CEO George Schaeffer has led his company through 25 years of change. |
This year marks the
25th anniversary for OPI Products. Originally a
manufacturer of dental products (containing similar
compounds now used for artificial nails), the company
entered the nail field via the professional segment
of the industry. Today, it offers more than 1,500
quality nail- and handcare products, including the
award-winning, best-selling nail lacquers I’m
Not Really A Waitress that debuted in 1999, and
Alpine Snow that debuted in 1981. “I’m proud to have built OPI as an independent
manufacturer,” CEO George Schaeffer told DAYSPA.
“I think we’ve helped to transform the
professional nail business into an integral part
of the professional beauty industry. We have more
than 25 patents that have contributed to the betterment
of the industry and -our nail lacquer is recognized
internationally. We’re also the first professional-only
nail company with sales of more than $100 million.”
 To honor the milestone, OPI has introduced a 25th
anniversary collection for fall/winter 2006. The
collection celebrates the season’s fresh new
glamour with colors that complement the myriad looks
seen on fashion runways.
“I’m grateful for the OPI employees
as well as our customers, for their support over
the last quarter of a century,” says Schaeffer.
“Without them, we could not be the brand that
we’ve become. I look forward to the next 25
years and anticipate serving our wonderful industry
and its customers.”
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Website Updates
• Spa consulting service Blu Spas
announces the debut of its website, www.bluspasinc.com,
created by ohso! Design. The new website provides
information on the company’s services and
team members and includes an online portfolio.
• Visitors to Cosmopro’s
revamped website www.cosmopro.com
will now find it more informative and easier to
navigate. New features include updates on product
launches and special offers, press releases and
detailed specifications on Cosmopro Group equipment.
The site also now offers “As Seen In,”
a photo showcase of Cosmopro equipment on location
at various premier spas and salons.
• Creative Nail Design (CND)
has updated its 2005 ABBIES award-winning website
www.creativenaildesign.com,
launching a virtual Nail Style Gallery. The gallery
features fashion runway nail styles created by CND
celebrity nail professionals and education ambassadors
from around the world.
• Prescriptive Music, a private-label
music production company specializing in music for
the hospitality, restaurant, spa and retail industries,
has enhanced the services offered on its website,
www.rxmusiccd.com.
Clients can now preview and approve their CD compilation
online without the added cost and time required
to create a physical mock-up sample CD for approval.
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Giving Back
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| Employees
at AII joined the fight against women’s
cancers recently, participating in the 13th
annual Los Angeles Revlon Run/Walk event. |
Employees at American
International Industries (AII) participated
in the 13th annual Los Angeles Revlon Run/Walk event
held recently to raise awareness and funds in the
fight against women’s cancers. This year’s
Run/Walk, held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum,
also included a health expo and celebration concerts
featuring musical guests Chaka Khan and The Bangles.
To date, the event has generated almost $37 million
for cancer research, counseling and outreach programs.
“Team AII” raised approximately $2,500
for the cause.
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| Partnering
with the National Network to End Domestic Violence
(NNEDV) and the Wireless Foundation’s Call
To Protect ShelterHelp Program, skincare manufacturer
Bioelements organized a cell phone
donation drive. On April 21, more than 75% of all
Bioelements employees across the United States donated
their unused cell phones and phone accessories to
be sold, recycled or refurbished. The proceeds will
be used as donated phones, cash grants for domestic
violence programs and airtime for victims and advocates
nationwide. “Bioelements has always been dedicated
to improving the lives of domestic violence survivors
and we’re honored to participate in this effort,”
said Barbara Salomone, company founder and president.
For more information on the NNEDV visit www.nnedv.org. |
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| The Vancouver-based Megahair
Family of salons and spas hosted the fourth
annual Daymaker Day, providing complimentary
treatments. |
The Vancouver-based Megahair
Family of salons and spas recently hosted
the fourth annual Daymaker Day. Organized in conjunction
with several local children’s charities, the
event touched the lives of more than 250 children
suffering from various illnesses as well as their
parents and caregivers. More than 100 Megahair Family
employees offered complimentary stress-relieving
treatments, including nail polish applications,
hand massages, haircuts and styling, and makeup
touchups. Started 25 years ago, the “Daymaker
Movement” is rooted in the concept that we
can change the world with a small gesture to brighten
someone’s day. For more information visit
www.daymakermovement.com.
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“And the Award Goes To ...
”
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Dermalogica regional district manager Greg Kasparian accepted an award from the Cosmetic Executive Women, which named the company’s Daily Resurfacer “Best Cleanser and Scrub.” |
The Cosmetic Executive Women (www.cew.org), a nonprofit trade organization of more than 4,000 executives in beauty and related industries, has named Dermalogica’s Daily Resurfacer “Best Cleanser and Scrub” in the Prestige category. The honor was accepted by Greg Kasparian, Dermalogica regional district manager, at a luncheon held recently at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Event hosts included Stacy London and Clinton Kelly of What Not to Wear, Wendy Pepper and Austin Scarlett of Project Runway and other media luminaries.
In recognition of his continued support, George Schaeffer, president and CEO of OPI Products, has received the Circle of Humanitarians Award from the American Red Cross. Following Hurricane Katrina, the Schaeffer Family Foundation, a philanthropic organization established by Schaeffer and his family, made a donation of more than $350,000 to the
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| (From left to right) William Hopkins, Chief Advancement Officer of the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles and Edmond Lelo, Vice Chair of the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles awarded George Schaeffer of OPI the Red Cross Circle of Humanitarians Award, joined by Will Leonard, Marketing Representative of the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles. |
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American Red Cross through a matching-funds program with OPI employees and others. William Hopkins, chief advancement officer, Edmond Lelo, vice chair, and Will Leonard, marketing representative, all from American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles, presented Schaeffer with the award. “I’m deeply humbled and honored to receive this award,” said Schaeffer. “Our hearts go out to all those who suffered. We didn’t do anything special; we just did what was right.”
OPI also received recognition for its products with the editors of Brides magazine naming OPI “Best Nail Lacquer” in the magazine’s first annual Beauty Awards. OPI was selected based on its color range, application and long wear. “It’s an honor to be chosen by Brides magazine as the perfect nail lacquer for wedding-day glamour,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI executive vice president and artistic director. InStyle Australia dubbed OPI products with the distinction of “Best Long-Lasting Polish,” and stateside, the company was honored with three Best Beauty Buys awards from InStyle magazine this year.
The National Cosmetology Association (NCA) has awarded its 2006 NCA Pillar Award for Education Leadership to Lydia Sarfati, CEO and founder of Repêchage and author of Success at your Fingertips: How to Succeed in the Skin Care Business (1997-2007, Culinary and Hospitality Industry Publications Services). Pillar Awards are given to NCA members who have contributed their time, energy and passion to help other cosmetologists achieve a better
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(From left to right) NCA Pillar Award winner Lydia Sarfati, CEO/Founder Sarkli-Repêchage poses with Josephine Zeppieri, NCA immediate past president, and fellow award winner Sam Brocato, president and artistic director of Brocato America. |
life. The award was presented at the first Annual Legends Ball, held in conjunction with the 86th annual national convention in Chicago. She was honored for her dedication to the esthetics industry and her work with the NCA in developing EstheticsAmerica. As honorary chairman of EstheticsAmerica, Sarfati was instrumental in bringing the CIDESCO World Congress to America in 2005. She continues to work with the NCA in organizing educational congresses around the United States.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced the State Small Business Persons of the Year award winners. Kathleen Jennings, president of Blue Sky Spaworks and Gallery in Warwick, RI, and Patricia Owen, president of Faces Day Spa at The Village at Wexford in Hilton Head, SC, were among the winners. The awards are given out annually to mark the observance of National Small Business Week, April 9-15. For more information visit www.sba.gov. |
Silver Salute: Star Nail International
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| Then: Tony Cuccio (right)
started Star Nail with his brother Steven
(left) and wife Roby 25 years ago on the boardwalk
in Venice Beach, CA. |
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| Now: Since founding Star Nail in 1981, Tony Cuccio has built the company into one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of nailcare products in the world. |
When Tony Cuccio began selling
cosmetics with his brother Steven on the boardwalk
at Venice Beach, CA, who would have thought that
25 years later his once-small operation would be
considered a beauty industry success story? Originally
founded with an investment of $520, today
Star Nail International is one of the largest
manufacturers and distributors of more than 400
brands of nailcare products for 120 countries, including
Canada, Poland, Portugal, South Africa and Venezuela
(facility opening this year). Since its inception,
the company’s total sales are close to $1
billion. Cuccio says he built Star Nail “by
always bringing innovation and quality at affordable
prices to nail technicians around the world,”
and in fact, Star Nail operates factories on five
continents. The company was one of the first to
offer a light-cured acrylic system (Ultimate Lyte,
introduced in1994) and brush-on wrap system (Ultimate
Fiberware Brush-On Fiberglass Kit, introduced in
1996). In addition, with the purchase of Cina Nail
Creations in 2005, Star Nail began marketing one
of the first cost-effective nail art lines—All
Season Nails.
“My goal is to make Star Nail International
and all of its brands instantly recognizable in
vital nail markets around the globe,” says
Cuccio of the future of Star Nail. “I’ve
learned that if you surround yourself with the best
people, you’re able to achieve—and sometimes
even surpass—your goals.” |
For more industry news, check
out the latest issue of DAYSPA. |
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