Everyone dreams about quitting their job; can’t you just picture it? Walking up to your 60-something boss, telling her that she should reconsider her choice of shoes and her outdated mindset and…well I digress. While most fantasies revolve around winning some mega-jackpot lottery and telling their old boss to stick it, not everyone shares the same dream. A lot imagine starting their own company in their chosen field and loving every minute of their new life—even if they’re trading 9-to-5 for 7-to-11. The cosmetic industry is chock-full of dreamers; in fact, many of the biggest names in the beauty business got their start as one-woman (or man) shops.


We get calls and emails every week from would-be entrepreneurs who want to do things their way…with a little help from formulators, raw material suppliers, web designers and contract manufacturers. Going out on one’s own gets daunting, but that’s not stopping startups from getting up and getting going. With that in mind, this month we unveil a new column called Indie Inc. Each month we’ll ask a startup just how they got started, where they went wrong, what they got right and what’s next? We think tapping into entrepreneurs’ mindset is a great way to keep the industry growing and answer some of our readers’ questions, too.


If you’re looking to start your own skin care brand or want to learn more about the fast-growing anti-aging category, be sure to join us this month in New Brunswick, NJ for Happi’s 6th annual Anti-Aging Conference & Tabletop Exhibition, Nov. 29 & 30, 2017. More information can be found at conference.happi.com.


Also this month, we review some of the newest ideas in fine fragrance. The holidays are nearly here and that means it’s the busiest time of year at department store counters. Find out what women and men will be wearing to all of those New Year’s Eve celebrations. Finally, this month Happi provides updates on oral care, personal cleansers and household cleaners—all mature markets, but all of them present opportunities to grow. 


Tom Branna
Editorial Director
[email protected]