An affiliate of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. has announced an agreement with the Lane Crawford Joyce Group for exclusive distribution rights to the Jo Malone luxury lifestyle brand in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Macau, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Lane Crawford Joyce Group represents luxury and fashion brands through a network of distribution, retailing and franchising. The distribution agreement is effective immediately.

According to the company, Estée Lauder and The Lane Crawford Joyce Group will work closely together to strategically position and expand the Jo Malone brand’s presence in the region. Over the first five years of the agreement, a combination of free-standing retail stores and shop-in-shop concepts will be opened throughout the region. The first store is slated for a July 9th opening in Hong Kong at Lane Crawford in the IFC mall.

The Stephan Co. has purchased Bowman Barber and Beauty Supply Company of Wilmington, NC.

According to Frank F. Ferola, chief executive officer, it was “a very important strategic acquisition for The Stephan Co., which will strengthen our position in the professional barber and beauty distribution business.

The Stephan Company also owns Williamsport Barber and Beauty Supply, Morris Flamingo and Major Advance distribution companies.

Inter Parfums, Inc. has entered into an exclusive six-year worldwide agreement with Bebe Stores, Inc. of Brisbane, CA, under which Inter Parfums will design, manufacture and supply fragrance, bath and body products and color cosmetics for company-owned Bebe stores in the United States and Canada as well as select specialty and department stores worldwide.

Jean Madar, chairman and chief executive officer of Inter Parfums, noted, “We look forward to the opportunity of interpreting Bebe’s signature look into fragrance and cosmetics for the brand’s strong, hip, sexy and sophisticated clientele. Our timetable calls for the debut of lip glosses in time for holiday 2008 followed by a new signature fragrance launch by mid-2009.”

Actress Kate Hudson and hairstylist David Babaii are set to debut on HSN July 3-5 to unveil their new line of eco-conscious hair care products devoted to wildlife preservation called David Babaii for WildAid.

Mr. Babaii will share his top styling secrets as he demonstrates how to achieve his famous red carpet hairstyles. Ms. Hudson will make an appearance by phone to join Mr. Babaii chatting with HSN callers.

In response to a complaint filed by Oscar de la Renta Ltd. against Elizabeth Arden, Inc. relating to the alleged unauthorized sale of its fragrance products, Oscar E. Marina, executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of Elizabeth Arden, Inc., stated the following: “The Oscar de la Renta fragrances, including the perfume size mentioned in the complaint, have been sold for many years directly to Elizabeth Arden for resale to mass retailers in the United States by YSL Beaute, Inc. (YSL), Oscar de la Renta's fragrance licensee and registered owner of the trademarks at issue. In January of this year, Elizabeth Arden and YSL confirmed to Oscar de la Renta that these products were purchased directly from YSL. Elizabeth Arden was informed that any issue Oscar de la Renta had with respect to the sales of these products would be addressed by YSL. We believe the complaint is without merit and will vigorously defend ourselves against these allegations.''

Revlon, Inc. announced that its Almay brand has signed one of Hollywood’s rising stars, Leslie Bibb, as its newest brand ambassador. She joins Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp and Marina Theiss, who currently represent Almay worldwide.

In her new role, Ms. Bibb will be the face of new and existing cosmetics collections and will appear in global multi-media campaigns that include television, print, in-store and internet placements.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Almay family,” said Ms. Bibb. “The Almay Woman is pure, fresh, and natural which is how I try to be everyday. It is a tremendous honor to be partnering with a brand which shares the same sensibilities on life and beauty.”

Maureen Kelly, creator and chief executive officer of cosmetics line Tarte, received the Metro New York Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008 Award in the Retail & Consumer Services category. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. The award was presented at a gala event at the Marriott Marquis, Times Square, New York on June 26.   

As a Metro New York award winner, Ms. Kelly is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008 national program.  Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards event in Palm Springs, CA on Nov. 15.

The Fragrance Foundation’s Board of Directors will honor Michael Gould, chairman and chief executive officer of Bloomingdale’s, at this year’s Circle of Champions dinner on Oct. 7.

The Circle of Champions Award is presented annually at a dinner ceremony held in honor of an individual who has made a notable impact on the fragrance industry. This year’s honoree, Mr. Gould, is often referred to as one of the most accomplished and recognized leaders in American retailing.  

Mr. Gould received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1966 and continued there to earn a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Business.  In 1978, he was named senior vice president of J.W. Robinson’s in Los Angeles and became chairman and chief executive officer in 1981.  In 1986, he was tapped as president and chief operating officer of Giorgio Beverly Hills.  When Avon Products purchased the company in 1987, he was named president and chief executive officer, and remained there until joining Bloomingdale’s.

Mr. Gould has also received numerous awards for distinguished service from many organizations, universities and industry associations, along with a variety of cultural and philanthropic groups.

Rochelle Bloom, president of The Fragrance Foundation, commented, “Mike Gould has been a strong and continuous supporter of the fragrance industry and it is long overdue that we honor him for not only what he has done in the past year but for every year he has been in the retail business.”

It’s super shopping for a super savvy cause. Leading multimedia retailer QVC has, once again, joined forces with The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) to broadcast QVC Presents Super Saturday Live, a charitable “designer sale” to benefit OCRF.

Broadcasting live from the Hamptons on Saturday, July 26, the two-hour show will feature a variety of products—including beauty brands like Vincent Longo makeup—at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, with all net proceeds benefiting OCRF.  Currently in its 11th year, Super Saturday will broadcast live for the second consecutive year on QVC.

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. announced Karen Fugate has joined the company as vice president, investor relations. Ms. Fugate will report to Mark Flaherty, senior vice president and chief financial officer of the company.

“We are pleased to have Karen join the Sally Beauty management team,” said Mr. Flaherty. “I believe her experience in investor relations and significant financial background will be valuable as we continue to strengthen Sally Beauty’s relationship with the investment community.”

Ms. Fugate most recently served as vice president, investor relations for Lennox International. Previously, she was vice president, investor relations for Sabre Holdings after serving in various roles in corporate and financial planning, mergers and acquisitions, and accounting during her 18-year tenure with the company.

Building or enhancing a brand are key strategies for those involved in beauty and personal care product development and the Marketing Conference Program at HBA Global Expo will offer the latest information and insight to help industry executives stay ahead of the curve.  HBA is the largest product development event for the cosmetics, fragrance, personal care and well-being industries, and will take place Sept. 9-11 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.  

The HBA Conference Program is organized into three distinct segments—marketing, technical and naturals—each focusing on a specific element within the overall personal care, fragrance, well-being and cosmetic production cycle. With over 200 speakers and more than 50 sessions to choose from, brand managers, product development executives, marketing professionals and entrepreneurs attending the HBA Global Expo & Educational Conference will have the most comprehensive educational program to further their knowledge base.

“HBA is committed to being at the forefront of the educational process and no other event provides the variety, depth, or breadth of this year’s curriculum. Attendees will walk away with unprecedented information and insight that will lead them on the way to professional and product success,” said Jill Birkett, Event Director of HBA Global Expo.               

The HBA Marketing Program offers 25 sessions that provides the latest information on marketing and strategic brand development, packaging, design, and display, as well as industry trends and forecasts.   New sessions this year include “Skin Health Today” a live radio broadcast hosted by Celeste Hilling; an intimate conversation with “New York Times Fragrance Critic Chandler Burr”; “Beauty Influences and Color Trends” by Peclars Paris, “Making Your Packaging the Supermodel that Gets Into Every Magazine” and “Merchandising: How to Create a Compelling Experience for Consumers.”

The emergence of Latin America, Middle East, Russia, India, and China, as growing business opportunities will be discussed in two sessions led by analysts and experts familiar with the culture and unique buying needs of these huge areas of opportunities.

The HBA Marketing Program also offers sessions on the latest packaging innovations and techniques including “Sustainable Packaging Initiatives”;  “Contract Packaging: The Do’s and Don’ts”;  “Labels: What the Outside Says about the Inside”; “The Strategic Use of Display and Design.”   The high growth areas of men’s grooming and specialized personal care markets are explored in “Primal Attraction”; “Personal Care: The New Intimacy;” and “Hygiene Made Handy: Tissues, Wipes and Soaps.”    

Other sessions of interest to the HBA audience will cover brand building well as new media platforms for promotions, merchandising, integrated marketing, and the art of hair care marketing.     

In addition, the HBA Global Expo & Educational Conference kicks-off with a Keynote Address, by skin care expert, Dr. Nicholas Perricone, providing strategies and insight on anti-aging and inflammation, on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 9 a.m. in the Special Events Hall of the Javits Center.

For the second year, The Fragrance Business Conference will focus on building fragranced product brands and ideas and products to help attendees re-structure and reshape their business in new and creative ways.  The International Safety, Regulatory and Certification Summit will provide a multi-faceted curriculum that will facilitate dialogue and critical information exchange among regulatory, safety, brand packaging, marketing, and labeling companies within the personal care and health industry.

Complementing the educational agenda is an exhibit floor showcasing a full spectrum of international products and services, including: private label, contract manufacturing, prestige and mass market packaging components, delivery systems, design houses, raw material and ingredient suppliers          

The Exhibitor Presentation Theater will offer a full program of concise, ready-to-implement solutions from exhibitors across the globe and The New Product Innovations Showcase will spotlight the most leading-edge products and services debuting at HBA Global Expo.

Online registration is now open for HBA Global Expo & Educational Conference.  More info: www.hbaexpo.com

 

The industry’s syndicated retail tracking service Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) InfoScan Reviews will soon include data from Duane Reade, the largest and most recognized drugstore chain in the metropolitan New York area. The data covers Duane Reade’s stores in New York and New Jersey and will be available starting June 26, providing the broader consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retailer community access to relevant market information from New York City’s leading drug store chain.

IRI customers will now have access to two years of Duane Reade retail market area and competitive retail market area (RMA/CRMA) data in their Reviews databases. CPG companies that distribute products through Duane Reade will have a powerful new tool with which they will be able to track sales trends and market share through the Duane Reade channel and compare this performance across channels.

“The addition of Duane Reade data provides a significant upgrade to IRI’s industry leading InfoScan Reviews offering and gives IRI customers incredible insights to performance at Duane Reade stores,” said IRI Retail President Tom Peterson. “We are delighted to establish a partnership with New York City’s largest drug store chain.”

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) announced that Douglas J. Wetmore will step down from his position as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Mr. Wetmore will continue to serve as CFO until July 31.

"Doug has been a key contributor to IFF for nearly two decades and we thank him for his dedication and leadership," said Robert M. Amen, IFF's chairman and chief executive officer. "The management team and Board of Directors all join me in wishing him well in his future endeavors."

Mr. Wetmore stated, "I have had the pleasure of working with an outstanding team, and together, we've achieved a number of significant objectives while positioning the company to continue its leadership in the flavors and fragrances industry. With the experience I've gained during my tenure at IFF, I believe now is the right time for me to pursue other career opportunities."

The company has retained an executive search firm and is interviewing both internal and external candidates for the position. IFF expects to name a new CFO prior to July 31.

The famous pink brand is going green. Mary Kay announced the Mary Kay Compact Recycling Drive to coincide with the launch of its new eco-friendly Mary Kay Compact. The new product features a refill system that is estimated to eliminate 60 million units of packaging, helping to cut more than 60,000 tons of carbon emissions.

Starting today, consumers are invited to turn in their previous platinum and pink Mary Kay Compacts for recycling—either by providing them to their independent beauty consultants or by going to www.marykay.com to find a local consultant.

For every compact returned, Mary Kay will plant a tree in the Bitterroot National Forest in Montana and Idaho through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and under the direction of the U.S. Forest Service—with a goal of planting an entire forest. The new Mary Kay Compact, available with 18 million possible color combinations, also gives women the opportunity to "green" their beauty routine in another way.

Ouidad, a pioneer in the curly hair care category for over 20 years, debuted her Botanical Boost and Climate Control lines on HSN on June 12, with two more beauty shows to air June 13.

Prior to HSN, Ouidad products have only been available at the Ouidad Salon, Ouidad affiliate salons and ouidad.com.