A spa day – but not as you know it

Spas and beauty salons were the hot topic this week at Target, not just because the team is planning its next pampering treat, but as a result of a visit to Spa Life, one of the UK’s leading industry events.

A first for Target, this conference was certainly an insightful introduction into the world of wellness. Alongside a range of exhibitors from skincare to cosmetics and nail art to aesthetic devices, ran a series of talks and workshops. 

So what did we learn? Oriel Frank, Director of Marketing at Elemis, confirmed our suspicions about the booming market for prestige skincare products (not just based on our own buying habits here at Target), while, perhaps surprisingly, sales of ‘cheaper’ anti-ageing products (under £30) have declined.  Our ageing population is driving demand, and so too are our skin-savvy teenagers, while men – 88% of them – are apparently embracing their feminine sides by following suit with skincare regimes.

So what’s driving people to buy?  We were heartened by the credit, from a number of the speakers, to good PR – using both traditional, but more increasingly online channels.  The value of recommendation was highlighted by Lopo Champalimaud, Managing Director of Wahanda, who referenced research which showed that 70% of consumers trust an online review, while only 5% trust an advert.  Clearly blogger activity and social media are having a dramatic influence on driving purchasing habits.  

All in all it’s refreshing to see an industry that is bucking the economic trend, embracing new communication channels and challenging innovation. And of course it’s great that it’s all about making you feel and look good too.

Sam Kandiyali

Director

Beauty – is it really skin deep?

It seems our quest for eternal youth is stronger than ever.  Or maybe I’ve been content to bury my (frown-lined) head in the sand, avoiding the needle, in the hope that the ageing process will just pass me by.

If this week’s Professional Beauty event (targeting the beauty trade) is an indicator of the shape of things to come – then aesthetic cosmetics is what it’s about.

Nearly half the show was taken up with exhibitors from this field, offering a variety of invasive and non-invasive options to plump, de-line, fill and smooth skin.  ‘New’ procedures offering alternatives to Botox and dermal fillers claim similar results without the rigours of specially qualified administration.

And so it seems that it’s less about miracle creams and more about procedures that provide dramatic results – which was clearly evident among a number of the visitors.  At lunch I sat next to a line free lady who talked me through the benefits of Botox and certainly looked a decade or so younger than me, so perhaps when she introduced me to her 20-something-year-old daughter I shouldn’t have been so surprised.

With such dramatic visible results some would argue PR for this industry should be an easy task – but many (like me) still remain cautious, perhaps a little squeamish and unwilling to part with their hard earned cash – so there’s still some convincing to be done.  But then again, never say never.

Samantha Kandiyali
Director

Strictly tanning!

The Christmas countdown return of Strictly Come Dancing has got the whole Target team thinking sequins, samba and salsa! (Well, perhaps with the exception of Colin who is more concerned about the new whip regulations, although we think that’s something to do with fillies of the four-legged variety.)

And, as the tangoed contestants hit the dance floor, two of the celebrities are getting our vote this year, but not primarily for their dancing skills.

As the result of a recent mailer of SLG Beauty’s Velvotan mitt (a handy little tool to apply fake tan which helps avoid streaks and tell-tale orange hands) to all the contestants on the show, we received thank-yous from Anita Dobson and Holly Valance.

The hand written note from Anita Dobson particularly touched us and we’ll be keenly watching her performance, and tan, from now on!