Coronavirus has waylaid the 2020 conference and exhibition season for the global household and personal products industry. March was marked by more show cancellations than the inaugural season of the CW network. As we go to press, show organizers were scrambling to establish new dates or, in the worst of cases, canceling events completely. To keep up with the schedule changes, see p. 98 in this issue and get regular updates on Happi.com. Our website also features results of a reader survey to gauge the impact that COVID-19 has had on manufacturers and suppliers. And, in other coronavirus-related coverage, Happi.com includes articles on the steps that multinationals in our industry have taken to reduce employee exposure to COVID-19.

With face-to-face meetings against doctor’s orders, it’s time to celebrate the power of print. Who needs a show directory when a table of contents delivers so much of the news you can use? Want more? Happi.com never sleeps and we’re updating our site throughout the day and the night, to keep our loyal following, well, following us. To fill the gaps, we have a strong presence on social media, too, so you can scroll along with Happi on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as we do some social distancing, per heath experts.

Of course, COVID-19 has disrupted a lot more than conference and exhibition schedules. Contract manufacturers explain how they’re handling the health crisis beginning on p. 40 in this issue. You may or may not realize that major features on our editorial calendar are scheduled months in advance. Ironically, this month we report on the personal cleanser market on p. 64. Managing Editor Christine Esposito details how demand is soaring for soaps, washes and other formats. This month’s issue includes articles on fine fragrance (p. 52) and beauty industry trends per Accenture (p.38).

So stay calm and wash your hands. Hopefully it won’t be long before COVID-19 is vanquished (experts expect it to subside in the US by June), and before you know it, the household and personal products industry will be on the road again. For example, the biggest US show, NYSCC Suppliers’ Day has already been rescheduled for September 30-October 1, 2020.

Remember, it wasn’t too long ago that we were all in agreement: There are too many damn shows! That just goes to show you, be careful what you wish for…

Tom Branna
Editorial Director
[email protected]