NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Indie Beauty Expo (iBE), the largest professionally-curated exhibition of independent beauty brands, is proud to announce its 2016 schedule of events.
Double the Shows
"Last year, iBE validated two things: First, that the indie movement is large, highly relevant and growing. Second, that there is an unmet need in the market that is not addressed by the traditional trade or consumer beauty shows," said Jillian Wright, co-founder of iBE.
Building on the success of iBE's summer 2015 inaugural event in New York, iBE will be adding Los Angeles to this year's schedule.
"Globally, New York and Los Angeles are ranked second and third in per capita GDP. New York is recognized as the center of beauty and lifestyle media, and Los Angeles includes a catchment area, which extends from San Diego to Santa Barbara. Together, these cities provide iBE exhibitors with access to two of the most valuable and commercially-meaningful 'must win' markets in the world," said Nader Naeymi-Rad, co-founder of iBE.
iBE will kick off on May 4th and 5th at The Shrine expo hall in Los Angeles. Built in 1926, and designated a historical-cultural monument in 1975, The Shrine has served as a venue to many prominent events, from the Academy Awards to the Grammys.
iBE will hold a second show on August 24th and 25th at The Waterfront in New York. Built in 1891 as a commercial complex, The Waterfront is a stunning venue that soars seven-stories high and stretches an entire city-block, leading to the Hudson River.
"Each iBE venue is recognized as an architectural monument that is rich in history and natural beauty," said Wright. "The indie movement is rooted in independence, authenticity and the entrepreneurial journey. We chose venues that both honor this spirit and will provide indie brands with a suitable environment to showcase their amazing products."
Double the Duration
Based on the high volume of attendees at last year's event and projections for even more foot traffic in 2016, each iBE show has been extended to two full days. This allows the trade and consumer portions of the show to be held on separate days, and also gives buyers, press and consumers more dedicated time to discover and interact with exhibitors.
iBE will be implementing press and buyer-only segments, and also host a greater variety of workshops, panel discussions and speakers to serve the various interests of attendees.
Double the Footprint
"Last year was our inaugural show, so we listened very carefully to feedback. Exhibitors and attendees both asked for more time and more space," said Naeymi-Rad. "Buyers and press loved what they found at iBE and asked to see more brands. In fact, based on our post-event survey, an astonishing 89% of our exhibitors received some form of press or media coverage at iBE. And buyers representing spas and specialty retailers specifically asked to see more indie brands in categories adjacent to Beauty."
Therefore, we have tripled the total event space to better facilitate attendee traffic and accommodate more areas for networking, educational events and entertainment, and doubled the number of brands who are participating. iBE will also be curating brands in categories directly adjacent to Beauty, such as Wellness and Lifestyle.
Building A Differentiated Platform Specifically for Independent Brands
"Traditional shows fit the needs of many brands, but not indie brands. Indie brands are different. And Indie consumers are different. It is why they covet their independence," said Wright. "We want iBE to be a totally differentiated experience for our attendees. We want to open their minds to the incredible possibilities that indie brands offer and open their hearts to the entrepreneurs' infectious passion and energy."
"iBE owes its success to the heartfelt support and amazing innovations coming from the indie community. We want to nurture the success of the indie community by building a powerful and internationally relevant platform from which indie entrepreneurs can showcase their brands. To do so, we will continue to invest heavily in iBE to make it the most compelling destination for buyers, press and consumers to discover, learn and experience indie brands," concluded Naeymi-Rad.
About iBE
iBE's mission is to provide a platform to recognize, showcase and promote independent beauty, lifestyle and wellness brands to retailers, consumers and the media. Launched in 2015, iBE presents the largest collection of independent beauty brands from North America, Europe and Asia. iBE draws buyers (national, regional and specialty), consumers and press specifically seeking to discover and acquire highly differentiated products. To qualify, exhibitors must be 50% or more owned by individuals directly operating the company and have demonstrated commercial viability (fulfillment, marketing, sales, and customer support). By Exhibiting at iBE, companies may also participate in the "iBE Best in Show Awards" and the "iBE TV" media channel.
For more information, visit www.indiebeautyexpo.com.
#weareindiebeauty #theindiestandard
SOURCE Indie Beauty Expo
Share this article