NEW YORK — Although its most recent run was only a few months ago, last weekend’s Extracts Show for the personal care and wellness industry was certainly not lacking in newness.
For one, the location and timing of the biannual show have changed: Once housed in the cavernous Jacob K. Javits Center, Extracts now holds court in the much more intimate Penn Plaza Pavilion a few blocks away. Organizers of Extracts decided to schedule the show (which in the past has occurred in April and October) to coincide with the New York International Gift Fair in August and January. The move proved to be a fortuitous one, at least for attendees. Walking through the aisles of the pavilion’s second floor, where about 79 exhibitors and 250 lines displayed their wares Saturday through Tuesday, the entire feel of the show was invariably calmer, more low-key and refreshingly doable.
“The new venue definitely added a cozy, intimate atmosphere to a category that lends itself to that type of venue,” said show manager Rita Malek. “And the co-location not only made Extracts more visible, it also helped the Gift Fair because it added an entrepreneurial personal care resources element that is not typically found at the Gift Fair.”
Not to be overlooked was the plethora of innovative new brands, bolstered in part by 10 personal care companies out of Australia that exhibited as part of the Australia Trade Commission. And, while the event drew about 2,000 attendees (which is considerably lower than April’s turnout of 5,300), Malek said that she was “delighted” overall with the results. “While it was lower than the number we’d anticipated, it was still a very solid market,” she said, adding that, in the past, Extracts has been paired with the New York Home Textiles Show, so “this was a completely different show.” Below, several of the highlights.
ZO1
Australian skin/sun care brand ZO1 brings you back to the days when we covered our noses in thick, white zinc oxide. The line, housed in graphic yellow-and-gray packaging, features seven products — from sun protection to self-tanning — some of which are based on a clear form of zinc oxide called ZincClear. Until now, zinc oxide has been available only as that thick, opaque cream, according to the company. ZO1 products are also free of chemical absorbers, titanium dioxide and mineral oil, and protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Prices range from about $25 for Tinted Lip and Cheek Balm SPF 30+ to about $50 for Sunless Tanning Jet Set Tan. In October, the line will make its U.S. debut at Studio at Fred Segal.
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Destination 360
Tapping into the wanderlust of men all over the nation is Destination 360, a line of 14 grooming products with scents based on road routes across the U.S. — from Destination 80 Napa Valley (jojoba, vitamin E, tea tree oil and citrus) to Destination 59 The Big Easy Facial Moisturizer (aloe, avocado, calendula and chamomile). The line ranges from $10 for Destination 75 Everglades Shaving Oil to $22 for Destination 94 Thousand Lakes Body Lotion. “The whole idea of traveling for men works on a much more emotional level, it’s more tangible,” said Susan Milne, one of the founders of Destination 360. Milne added that the brand is currently seeking distribution in men’s clothing stores, boutiques and spas.
D.L. & Co.
At first glance, D.L. & Co., a line of candles started by former packaging designer Douglas Little — including everything from Victorian-style scallop glass candles to crystal-encrusted skull candles — seems a bit macabre, and it is. But get past the initial shock and it’s clear Little’s vision (while dark and, well, somewhat creepy) is a powerful one. The line ranges from $35 for a miniature candle to $135 for a diffuser, and the hand-poured scented candles retail for up to $125 each. D.L. & Co.’s fragrances include Absinthe, Thorn Apple and Wormwood. In October, a collection inspired by the upcoming film version of the novel “Memoirs of a Geisha” will launch, and Little noted that he will open a permanent section on Barneys’ home floor next month. The line is currently available in Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys New York, among other retailers.
HollyBeth
HollyBeth Anderson’s story could be described as the heart and soul of a show like Extracts; the Decatur, Ga.-based businesswoman and gardener created her company out of necessity after she lost her job. “I was making creams at home and giving them to my friends,” said Anderson. “When I got laid off, they all suggested that I start selling them. I’m just hoping it will pay my mortgage.” The result of Anderson’s efforts is a line of four creams, from the $20 Eye Cream, made with vitamin E and sweet almond oil, to the $25 Rose and Geranium Face Moisturizer. Lavender and Citrus Body Creams round out the line’s offerings, and smaller, $10 versions of both the face and body creams are available. HollyBeth is currently sold in small boutiques, mainly in the Georgia area.