For almost 75 years, Estetica has served the hairdressing industry, spreading its support to the four corners on the world, but our mothership has always been docked in Northern Italy, which was the first major European focal point of the COVID-19 pandemic.
So what is life like in Italy now and how are our Italian brothers and sisters in the hair industry being affected by this horror story which is now touches all our lives? It’s not great news, I’m afraid – not by a long chalk. On March 11th, the Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, made a live announcement that retail and shopping outlets for good and services – with the exception of grocery stores, supermarkets and pharmacies – were to close with immediate effect. That, of course, includes hairdressers and barbershops. So EVERY salon across the entire nation is closed for the foreseeable future – at the very least until March 25th, when the situation will be reviewed.
Roberto Pissimiglia, Publisher of Estetica Network, adds: “The vast majority of hairdressers understand and share the inevitability of this restriction. Of course the economic repercussions because many will be immediately sensitive. Estetica has activated its own work unit –to give a voice, discuss proposals, encourage ideas and interactions– available to our whole industry, primarily hair salons.”
In the USA, given the statistics on hand and those expected to be forthcoming, the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is sharing all available resources and the most up-to-date, accurate information with the beauty industry so everyone remains safe as this virus spread inexorably: click here to know more!
TRADE FAIR POSTPONEMENT
Measures taken so far at an international level have already led to the general postponement of professional fairs and other planned events in the industry:
Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2020: The Italian fair has changed its dates for the second time. Initially scheduled for March 12-16, 2020 and later postponed until June, it will finally take place from September 3 to 7, 2020.
The Beauty Experience NY 2020: Formerly known as IBS NY, the show set to take place on March 8-10 was cancelled the day before its opening, following New York’s declaration of a state of emergency. The Beauty Experience & IECSC NY 2020 event is rescheduled to August 1-3, 2020 at the Javits Center in New York City. Click here for more info.
Premiere Orlando 2020: The organization has been monitoring the situation around the COVID-19 virus, and after ongoing developments has decided to reschedule Premiere Orlando. The event will now take place on August 29-31, 2020. Click here for more info.
Cosmobeauty Barcelona 2020: Initially scheduled for March 28, 29 and 30, 2020, the professional fair that takes place in Barcelona has rescheduled its dates to May 16, 17 and 18, 2020.
ITVA 2020, from Wella Professionals: the great international event of Wella Professionals was going to be held in Seville, from March 13 to 15, 2020. After its cancellation, the brand has informed that the winners of the International Trend Vision will be announced next Monday, March 23, 2020 on their social networks and that the finalists will be invited to the Global Destination Event that will take place in Gran Canaria, from September 14 to 17, 2020.
Top Hair and Beauty Düsseldorf: These two German fairs that were postponed due to the coronavirus will finally be held from September 18 to 20, 2020.
We are a caring, loving industry. We spend every working day making people feel good about themselves. We are also a very resiliant industry and, however irritating it might be to have politicians keep reminding us of the fact, we will come out the other side and things will get back to normal.