Austrade media release

Friday, 11 July 2008

Australia’s beauty and cosmetic products will be a featured attraction at this year’s leading cosmetics tradeshow, Cosmoprof North America, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas from 13-15 July.

The premier business-to-business beauty event which combines all sectors of the industry under one roof, has selected Austrade’s Australia pavilion as the ‘country of focus’ this year.

Austrade’s Los Angeles-based Senior Trade Commissioner, Sally-Ann Watts, said this recognition would boost the profile of Australia’s cosmetics industry and assist in making further inroads into United States’ highly competitive cosmetics and toiletries market.

“Participating in this event is one of many strategies being implemented to assist Australian exporters raise their profile in this highly competitive market, which last year generated US$50.2 billion in retail sales,” Ms Watts said.

Cosmoprof North America is recognised as the premier tradeshow for the beauty, natural health and well-being sectors.  The 2007 show attracted 699 exhibitors from 32 countries and more than 25,000 trade buyers from around the world.

The seven businesses exhibiting their products in Austrade’s pavilion are:  Advance Natural Australia (VIC); Botany Essentials (VIC); Grahams Natural Alternatives (QLD); LillyPilly Australia (VIC); Pharmacare Laboratories (NSW); Privity Pty Ltd (trading as Haircare Australia) (SA) and Sharon-Lee Studios (NSW).

Austrade’s New York-based Consumer Products Team Leader, Anjali Jain, said participating in this event for the first time would help demonstrate Australia had an array of quality products which offer strong branding and consumer appeal.

“Many of the products use unique natural ingredients which has created a strong demand for them in the US market,” Ms Jain said.

“While Austrade was already assisting Australian companies enter the North American market and several Australian companies had participated at Cosmoprof, we decided to display quality products Australian suppliers can offer collectively.”

Austrade’s Sydney-based Senior Export Adviser, Betina Reid, said Australian products have a recognised  reputation for being clean and green, using natural and indigenous ingredients; all of which are already well known and appreciated in Australia
 
“Australia is also well known for its expertise with sun protection products which are subject to very stringent standards,” Ms Reid said.

Later this year, Austrade will also participate in Cosmoprof Asia 2008 in Hong Kong (12-14 November) having held an Australian Pavilion there for the past five years. Last year, Australian exhibitors at the event secured A$16 million in export deals.  To participate in this year’s event, contact Austrade on phone: 13 28 78.

Austrade provides extensive support for Australian exporters in the US market with representation in 18 US cities, eight specialist industry teams and a dedicated network of US Export Advisers around Australia.

ENDS

Media contact

Sarkis Khoury
Senior Media Adviser
Tel: +61 2 9390 2118
Mob: +61 414 401 072
Email: sarkis.khoury@austrade.gov.au

For further news and information from the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) visit www.austrade.gov.au/mediacentre.