Premium Beauty News - What will be the strong points of your presence in Bologna?

Aurélie Ignaccolo - Our three entities, International Lacquers, Luxcos and Interpack, specialized in the manufacture and conditioning of nail polish and make-up products, will take this opportunity to unveil their new collections of nail polishes, lip gloss, mascaras and eyeliners. Actually, we are the only nail polish manufacturer with significant market shares to have extended our activity to the production of make-up. We relied on our mastery of technologies required for developing complex products such as nail polishes to work on other products. In addition, nail polish is a niche market, our strong growth, also needs to rely on make-up products considering their potential of expansion.

The market of exclusive subcontractors for nail polish, our core business, includes 4 main players. This figure could also drop in the future.

Regarding our scope of activities, it is international, with customers in over 40 countries. We take advantage of our position to conduct detailed analysis in order to present the appropriate trends for each market.

So, we collect information on the different markets on which our clients, with whom we have a privileged relationship, are present. These detailed information concern formulas but also trends. We can also rely on an international network of consultants and we work with different trends offices too.

Data collected by these various means help us to keep track of markets evolutions in terms of trends, distribution channels, but also in terms of prices or even sales trends.

We then proceed to an analysis of needs and positioning for each of or our clients to offer them customized solutions at all levels. Packaging for example, plays an important part. For nail polish, the brushes need to be adapted to the formulas they come along with. Thus, a wide and flat brush will be appropriate for instance to apply in one stroke a coat of nail polish. To provide our customers with quality solutions, we mainly work with European suppliers.

Finally, in order to assess the performance of products we propose, a team of experts will test them. In addition, a consumer panel meets weekly.

Premium Beauty News - What current trends were you able to identify with the help of these studies and how do they directly impact the ranges you offer?

Aurélie Ignaccolo - Several can be identified on the color cosmetics market.

Firstly, consumers want to feel totally confident with their make-up: they want to be sure it will hold all day through, regardless of their program, without blurring nor running.

For nails, long wear is a key criterion in the same way quick drying is. These two main directions in formulas have long been antagonistic. We can now offer formulas combining the two performances.

Concerning eyes, consumers today, want products which will stay true all day long, such as new generation smudges or water proofs.

The ease of use and comfort during application are also important criteria. For nail polish, for example, formulas must be non streaking and must apply easily and evenly on nails. Our sensory analysis tests for all products, take into consideration, different applications criteria such as the glide of applicators, comfort or coverage ...

Premium Beauty News - But it is not just a question of ease of use. The consumers clearly expect other things?

Aurélie Ignaccolo - Products must be enriched with active ingredients so to bring benefits. It is the emergence of "care benefit" products. Thus, for nail polish many formulas are now enriched with active ingredients which help strengthening nails, nourishing them or promoting their growth.

Consumers expect from enamels and makeup products to do more than just provide color. Glosses may also have a plumping, smoothing / softening or moisturizing effect.

We will have the pleasure of presenting at Cosmoprof, each of our formulas meeting different markets needs.