By Angelo Yanga and Jove Moya
Domestic demand for beauty products is on the rise, amid rising income and evolving lifestyle of Filipinos.
Trade exhibitors are so optimistic about the growth of the Philippine market for beauty products that they invited 200 brands from 24 countries to participate in PhilBeauty 2017, a beauty trade show that will be held on May 31 to June 2 at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
“We found that suddenly there was a big increase in buyers from the Philippines,” said M. Gandhi, president of UBM Exhibitions Philippines Inc., the exhibit organizer.
Philbeauty 2017, its third edition, has become an integral part of local beauty business environments and is highly regarded as a platform to meet with serious trade buyers and distributors. The three-day exhibition is expected to attract 6,000 local, regional and international trade visitors.
“We have 50 percent more exhibitors compared to two years ago. That’s a clear indication of the growth of the show,” said Gandhi.
The exhibit will bring together local and world’s leading suppliers from color cosmetics, skin care, hair, nail, make-up, spa and wellness, personal care and toiletries, perfumery and fragrances to beauty salon equipment, packaging and machinery, raw materials and natural health supplements, formulators and R&D to showcase the most diverse range of innovative beauty products, services and technologies.
“When the market grows, initially, we are importing finished products, but then these companies will be going to look for local partners,” said Gandhi, citing opportunities for business deals during the three-day event.
Chamber of Cosmetics Industry of the Philippines president Silliman Sy said teaming up with UBM has helped them organize the exhibit. Philbeauty 2017 is considered a good opportunity for business networking between local and international industries expanding channels so people will look for Filipino products, he said.
“It’s very expensive for a small and medium enterprise to be going out of the Philippines to explore their opportunities to grow their business. This one opportunity is coming to us in the Philippines, so we are very thankful,” said Sy, who is also an executive of Ever Bilena.