NEW YORK — There were some familiar faces and new twists at this year’s Extracts, a four-day biannual trade show focused on personal care and wellness. The show, which kicked off Sunday, realigned with former partner, the New York Home Textiles Show, for the first time since April last year, and also reintroduced the Natural Products section.
Some 70 exhibitors attended Extracts, while 50 exhibitors were on display at the New York Home Textiles Show. Both shows were held at the Metropolitan Pavilion and ran concurrently with the New York International Gift Fair.
“The synergy between the shows creates a more comprehensive experience and a one-stop shop for the buyer,” said Rita Malek, Extracts show manager. “The objective was to grow the show into a larger market and educate the buyers attending the New York International Gift Fair. We want Extracts to be known for new and established companies that have new lines they’re trying to bring into the marketplace.”
Robin Brown, president and owner of Erbaviva, an eco-friendly and organic skin care line for babies and adults, has attended Extracts for eight years and is excited about the two shows joining forces.
“Previously, we found that when the two shows were co-located, it brought a different spectrum of buyers than we would normally reach in other markets,” said Brown. “The venue adds extra appeal for the high-end buyer, and the space lends itself to the boutique and specialty market buyer.”
This year’s show attracted 3,000 visitors, many of them buyers from specialty stores, gift shops and department stores.
In response to the growing market for natural and organic products, Extracts decided to revive its Natural Products section from April 2005. The section featured a dozen natural and organic bath and body lines, candles and essential oils, from companies including Tiny Tillia, Shady Day, Solessence, C. Keith Vintage, Clear My Head and French Quarter Candles.
“This section is a reflection of what’s happening in the personal care and wellness industry, and we were responding to our retailers and manufactures who told us they were looking for more natural products,” said Extracts’ Malek. “It makes it easier for buyers looking for naturally based products, and we plan on further developing the natural and organic section.”
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At the show’s Best Products contest, awards were handed out to winners in six categories. Of the 30 products submitted, Principessa Beauty Inc. won Best of Show, Garden Botanika took home the Bath & Body award, Erbaviva came out on top in the Natural/Organic category, Shady Day placed first for Cosmetic & Fragrance, Dr. Carolyn Collection won for Beauty Accessory and the Jimmy Belasco Soy Candle took home the Packaging award. Below, some highlights from the show.
LUND
A year after the company launched in the U.S., Sohum Cosmetics is introducing Lund, a separate company under the Sohum umbrella. The four-year-old cosmetics company, which has six lines in the Sohum brand focused on bath and body products, wanted to create a unisex line made from more sophisticated and complex fragrances. “We wanted to create a more mature assortment that is a fragrance-focused range,” said Jenny Alex, Sohum’s co-founder. “This is definitely a departure for us since it’s a more serious line with more masculine scents, with black packaging.”
The Lund line, named after a cathedral in Sweden, features a candle made of organic palm wax and palm kernel oil ($35) and a travel-size fragrance ($24.95 for an 0.8-oz. eau de cologne). Both products come in eight scents, including Cordial, Tropicale, Cupcakes, Fireside, Champagne Strawberries, Pacific, Rouge and Cashmere. Lund will expand to include a full-size fragrance, as well as a room spray. Lund was launched in Australia three months ago where it is distributed in 60 doors, as well as two Sohum apothecary-style freestanding stores in Melbourne. The company attended Extracts with hopes to launch Lund here and in the U.K. next month in department stores and specialty boutiques. Sohum’s products have been available at Fred Segal since June.
MACLAREN
Maclaren, the 40-year-old British company known for baby strollers, is breaking into the beauty market with the launch of Beginning — an organic, aromatherapy-based collection of products designed for pregnant mothers and their children. Maclaren plans to evolve into a lifestyle parenting company, hoping eventually to break into the natural and organic environment category. “It’s about helping the mother get in touch with herself and take a few moments to learn how to relax, nurture and rejuvenate herself and find ways to connect and bond with her baby,” said Bahman Kia, president of Maclaren USA. “We’re selling a philosophy and want to continue addressing mothers’ needs by introducing a full program — whether it’s transporting their baby around or taking some time to care for themselves through our beauty products.” All six items in the mother’s range, from bath milk to belly balm, contain orange essential oil, a fragrance said to have “uplifting” effects. Prices range from $9.99 for Absorbing Dusting Powder to $24.99 for a Celebration Natural Wax Candle, and products will be available in October in New York’s FAO Schwarz. A U.S. and U.K. launch will follow in November in select department, specialty and kids’ stores, spas, boutiques and health food stores. By September 2007, the company plans to introduce high chairs, cots, blankets and car seats.
SKINCUBED
Skincubed bowed at Extracts and appeals to high-end retailers. The brand’s skin care range includes a face cream, an eye cream and a lifting serum. “We wanted to take people’s skin to a higher power,” said Louis Carvalho, chief executive officer of the year-old Scottsdale, Ariz., company. “Combined with the fact that all our products have a form of tripeptides in formulations, we thought that we could take skin to the third power.” Skincubed hopes to attract women 30 years and older who are knowledgeable about the cosmetics market.
The company’s Age-Defying Formula cream, composed of peptides and antioxidants such as green tea and vitamin C, is designed to reduce wrinkles, restore the skin’s elasticity and protect the skin from environmental damage. Instant Eye Repair contains antiwrinkle peptides, antioxidants and natural firming ingredients, such as sunflower seed oil, to treat dark under-eye circles and also firm and tone the eye area. The Instant-Lift Peptide Formula contains gamma amino butyric acid designed to act as a muscle relaxant, reducing and smoothing fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s-feet. Products will range in price from $130 for the Age-Defying Formula to $150 for the Instant Eye-Repair and Lift Peptide. Products will be sold on the company’s Web site, skincubed.com, starting in September. By November, the company will introduce a cleanser, toner and skin lightener.
GARDEN BOTANIKA
Garden Botanika is set to launch the company’s seventh body care line, Prickly Pear Jojoba Body Care, this September. Composed of extracts from the prickly pear plant, which increases cellular renewal, the line is designed for people with sensitive skin. Both allergen- and paraben-free, the line contains a body cleanser, body scrub, body butter, body lotion and a hand treatment, all made from desert botanicals that exfoliate the skin and are said to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
“Our customers were asking for a body care line geared toward people with sensitive skin,” said Lisa Springer, brand and product development manager for Garden Botanika. “The mild formula is great for sensitive skin since it doesn’t cause photosensitivity or skin irritation. This is an ingredient that advances cellular renewal while stimulating the natural process of exfoliation.” Prices of the collection range from $15 for the body cleanser to $32 for the body scrub and butter. The line will be sold at Ulta and online at gardenbotanika.com, as well as in the company’s catalogue.