IBE 2017 is a wrap and Jillian Wright and team are moving on with plans for 2018—including a new location: London! From its debut 2015, it has been interesting to see just how fast this expo has grown. This week in New York, there were 220 exhibitors! That very first show was quaint in comparison.
 
The companies at IBE might be making bath bombs or skin balms; they may have been in business for years or for days (literally). But across the board, there is a common thread. They all have stories of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of trying to make it in the beauty business. It could be the quest to find a like-minded, reliable contract manufacturer, brand name/website development SNAFUs, sourcing a great, but underutilized ingredient, or not having enough inventory to answer demand.  We also heard tales from entrepreneurs inspired by their own journey—think needing to mix up their own home-made treatment for acne, being frustrated by limited color choices, or not being able to find a brand that matched their cause or addressed their concerns (something vegan or paraben-free….).
 
While on the show floor, we also enjoyed hearing from compannies who turn to Happi as a resource. While we have been just that for 50 plus years—offering highly focused market news and go-to resources like our Contract Manufacturing Directory, Buyers' Guide, and starting point formulations—you made us blush a bit. It is always nice to hear from our readers, especially in person, when we cover events like IBE.
 
(And, not for nothing, we are an indie too! We’ve been family owned since the get-go, and the third generation of family leadership is stepping into roles here at our parent company, Rodman Media.)
 
We can’t wait to see how many companies come to Los Angeles in January 2018, Dallas in May, New York in August and London after that, to participate in the next round of Indie Beauty Expos. We’re with you, indie brands—not just in spirit, but in print and online!