Discover the Key to Success with PBS

Professional Beauty Solutions (PBS) is Australia’s most respected and trusted distributor of professional beauty brands to beauty salons, spas and clinics across the country. Building their reputation over almost two decades, they source the world’s most impressive and innovative beauty brands, and deliver them to salon, spa and clinic partners.

We sat down with Matt Williams, CEO and owner of Professional Beauty Solutions to discuss what you can expect when you partner with PBS:

1. Tell us about your business
   My parents originally met Pauline Youngblood back in 1995 and after falling in love with her brand, convinced her to award them the Australian distribution of Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics. Nine years on, after they had built a loyal salon following, they understood that to grow the business they were going to need some help. In 2006, my wife and business partner, Lisa and I took over operations, growing the business from a team you could count on one hand to over 40 exceptional team members at our head office in Kurnell, Sydney.
   Today, we distribute 11 professional beauty, skin and body brands that are leaders in their categories, throughout more than 2,000 salons, spas and clinics across the country.
   

2. What products do PBS distribute?
   As soon as we started to expand our offering beyond makeup, we became fixated on providing our salons with everything they need from one convenient supplier. Today, our salons trust us with offering the best in mineral makeup, skincare, tanning, spa body, hair removal, inner beauty nutrition and LED technology to satisfy their business needs. Our collective of world-class brands are chosen based on their efficacy, innovation, performance and profitability for the salon and unlike a typical wholesaler that might carry multiple brands and offer minimal support, we only select the best of the best within each category, providing a full service.
   Our brands will not only deliver the results their clients are looking for, but also provide them with the support and education they need to grow a profitable business.
   

3. What is your overall mission at PBS?
   The question that we are constantly asking is, “How do we help our salon, spa and clinic partners become more profitable?”. That is our key goal at PBS, and is what drives our decisions when acquiring new brands and coming up with strategies to support and nurture our salons.
   With more than two decades of experience behind us, and having bought, built and sold several businesses over the past 20 years, we understand the challenges that small businesses face, and know we can lead you on what we like to call, a pathway to profitability. We have taken all the experience, knowledge and the lessons we have learnt – also known as, mistakes – and channeled it towards doing whatever we can to make our salon business owners’ life easier, from the marketing tools and ongoing education to the business support we offer.
   This year, I will be expanding on our vision by launching a new coaching platform for our salons, including live workshops on how to build a profitable, predictable business in 2018.
   

4. Speaking of education, it is a fundamental key for any business’s success. What does PBS do to ensure their clients stay at the forefront of an ever-evolving industry?
   Our industry is evolving rapidly, and salon owners need to stay current if they want to remain the trusted authority on beauty in their client’s lives.
   Each year Lisa and I travel to international trade shows and conferences to make sure that we are staying ahead of what is happening in the industry. We share this information with our salon partners throughout the year through our educational Facebook Live sessions with guest speakers, annual education events like Beauty Expo and our own Passion to Profits roadshows, and hopefully along the way we also inspire our salon partners to grow and evolve their business to the next level.
   Training and education is without question one of our crucial points of difference at PBS. To help our salons grow, we have employed a qualified team of Business Development Managers in each state who conduct monthly classroom trainings for each brand, as well in-salon focus training.
   

5. Do you offer any incentives or rewards to support the growth of your salons?
   Absolutely! Our newly relaunched PBS Rewards Program makes it much easier to leverage your buying power by pooling your rewards points when you stock more than one brand with us. By combining rewards from up to eleven brands – including wax and sugar – even as a small single operator, you can reach a reward status that might otherwise have been reserved for bigger salons. The more PBS brands you stock, the more support you gain! I think this is a rewards system that truly levels the playing field and is unlike anything else in the industry.
   

6. What makes PBS stand out as a distributor in terms of the level of service you offer?
   I think the greatest differentiator for us is our focus on supporting salons in becoming better business owners, carrying them to the top of their game. Most brands and distributors focus entirely on educating salons on their product’s benefits and how they can sell more. This is only one aspect of running a successful, profitable and predictable business, and a small fragment of what we offer. We have now developed systems for each aspect of your business, from daily sales tracking sheets to business health checks and workshops that address the financial foundations of the business. Our exclusive ‘Marketing on a Platter’ – where we deliver FREE monthly marketing sets for each brand – is just one of the ways we provide a service that cannot otherwise be found in this industry.
   

7. As for the future of Professional Beauty Solutions…
   Our mission drives our vision for the future of PBS! We know that over the next decade there will be much more disruption in our industry and we can’t be complacent, and we can’t resist change, but we will remain guided by our mission to make PBS salons, spas and clinics the most profitable in the industry.

Entrepreneur of the Year | Janna’s claim to Skin Innovation Success

This independent businesswoman, mother, and licensed esthetician started her business from her one-bedroom Houston apartment in 2003. Her range of innovative, professional-grade skincare products are now taking the world by storm.

We talk to Image Skincare CEO and Founder, Janna Ronert on her success, innovation and her plans for 2018.

From humble beginnings

From a small-town country girl from Nebraska, to the founder and CEO of one of the biggest skincare brands in the world, Janna Ronert is one remarkable woman.

Established only 15 years ago, today Image Skincare is one of the most highly-regarded professional skincare brands in the industry, sold in over 60 countries and with 20,000 salon professionals reaping the rewards that its innovative and superior quality products bring.

Whether it is managing her family dynamics at home with her twins, or leading the charge at the head of a global business, Janna’s incredibly modest work ethic stems from her natural determination and tenacity, pushing through obstacles throughout her career to get Image where she knew it could go.

As one of the most successful female CEO’s in the industry, Janna’s fearless dedication in seeking innovation where others wouldn’t dream about, has led her to be honoured with Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2012, and recognised among the top 200 CEO’s in the USA.

The team that keeps on growing

Despite Image Skincare’s growth, Janna’s strategy remains as simple as it did when she had a single employee and no customers, working out of her apartment.

“There are two things that are responsible for our success as a brand: Our passion for developing innovative products, and our amazing team of more than 200 employees that are inspired to be the very best in the industry,” Janna explains when talking about her constant focus on her team at Image.

Janna and her business partner slash husband, plastic surgeon Dr. Marc Ronert, stand their business on the belief that employees should be treated like family, and their loyalty rewarded at every turn.

“Never underestimate the meaning of a team, those who strive to get to the finish line with you. I endeavor to remain grounded and focused on my employees, and my customers, keeping them highly engaged with the brand and empowered to meet their life goals.

We know that if our employees aren’t invested in the brand, our customers won’t be either. Even our warehouse staff undergo training on our products and are given free skincare regimen starter kits and skincare education,” says Janna.

When you stop innovating in the industry, your brand will die

Janna and Marc frequently travel the globe in search of the latest breakthroughs in technologies and ingredients, recently travelling to Korea to investigate the latest trends in K-beauty. “As relentless innovation is the backbone of our brand, we continue to evolve our formulations to keep up with an ever-growing industry that will discard you at the drop of a hat if you stand still,” says Janna.

“We’re constantly working on evolving the brand with new innovations but we also continue to go back and reformulate best-sellers in the range.”

Core to her business strategy is driving customers to skincare professionals to purchase, though Janna admits that the advent of digital continues to present a challenge to the industry.

“Even in the face of the digital revolution, as a former esthetician myself, I believe that a website will never replace a good facial. The biggest challenge for the coming years is meeting the needs of customers who want to buy authentic products online, while continuing to educate them about the importance and value of professionals in the skincare industry.

Every leader of our industry will need to find the right balance between digital and offering a personal, face to face diagnosis and treatment plan.”

What is in store for 2018

Today, Janna juggles her roles as a CEO, public service advocate, wife and mother, and international health and wellness speaker. She continues to inspire women around the world with her passion, dynamism and leadership.

With a growing list of celebrity fans including Cameron Diaz and Miley Cyrus, Image was listed on Inc. 500’s ‘Fastest Growing Private Companies in America’ in 2017, along with other corporate giants like Microsoft and Chobani. 

 “At Image Skincare, we are always shattering our own ceilings. In 2018, we’re focusing on researching the next professional skincare secrets to help you Age Later. Our 2018 NEW products are light years ahead of the curve and transformational to the professional treatments and services you experience every day.” says Janna.

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With 12 collections spanning professional and retail products, customised to your skin type and needs, Image Skincare is powered by safe, proven ingredients, smart botanicals and next generation innovations. This cutting-edge, clinically proven line provides your clients with the tools to Age Later. To learn more about Image Skincare, call 1800 625 387 or visit www.probeautysolutions.com.au/imageskincare/

Rev up your Revenue with Lashes

The global trend to take over in 2018

With a 152% surge in searches in the past 12 months, Pinterest predicts that 'next level lashes' are set to be the top beauty trend for 2018! We explore how your business can take advantage of this trend and boost your profits through the roof.

Mascara is the number ONE beauty product women would use every day if they could only choose, according to a recent Lab42 Makeup Habits study*.

There is no question that the demand for lovely lashes continues to skyrocket – with the global lash enhancement market estimated to grow 5.83 percent per year for the next five years AND reach US$513 million in the United States by 2023 (Marketing Research Future 2018). Powered by the development of better eyelash enhancing agents and rapidly improving cosmetic technology that goes beyond the standard expectations, women across the world are on the search for treatments or products that will get them ‘next level lashes’.

Unmistakably, capitalising on this burgeoning trend is more crucial than ever to keep up with what your clients will mandate.

Majority of women want longer, thicker and darker eyelashes. But, in an industry that often demands the quick and inexpensive fix that helps them ‘get it now’, seemingly the only options to these women are costly and often laborious extension services. And unfortunately, many among your clientele will not be willing to fork out the dollars, or the time.

This has resulted in many salons side-stepping the semi-permanent, expensive lash lift and extensions path for easier, simpler products that provide instant profit growth for their business.

Consumer demand is at an all-time high for beautiful lashes, with 75 percent of young women* more than happy to spend money on makeup just because it makes them feel good. So, what is simpler and friendlier on your business than take-home lash products that are not only easy to retail to your clients, but also have extremely low expenditure and require no complicated training?

We take a look at two trending lash innovations in the market, giving you the choice of receiving results instantly with brush on fibres OR enhancing over the long term with a powerful growth serum. Pop these on your point of sale and pay your salon’s rent with these products alone!

Time to take your client’s lashes from how to WOW:

Growth Serums that Work

The industry has come a long way since the early days of lash serums that caused redness and watering, as well as darkening the eyelid skin and eye-colour of those that carried the chemical, prostaglandin.

We love the advanced Image Skincare Lash & Brow Enhancement Serum, as the serum of choice due to its intensified, prostaglandin free formula. Backed by clinical tests, and utilising a potent blend of peptides and plant stem cell extracts, this wonder product enhances the appearance of sparse lashes while conditioning and supporting follicles. Not only can you see visible results in as little as two weeks, but advanced serums of today fortify the hair to protect against breakage, and prevent further hair loss, making it perfect for those who struggle with thinning hair.

“Enhancing serums have become increasingly popular due to their effective functional features. Your clients will see incredible improvement by using a serum daily on lashes and brows!”

— Marketing Research Future 2018

Brush on Extensions

When you’ve heard hundreds of horror stories of people gluing their eyes together with strip lashes, or the struggle to upkeep outwardly flawless eyelash extensions every two to three weeks, something that can give you the appearance of extensions in under 60 seconds sounds like a godsend.

It only takes three easy steps to enhance your lashes up to 300% with the Cherry Blooms Fibre Lash Extensions Mascara, thanks to the power of brush on fibres. No glue, no mess! This number one salon recommended eyelash extensions solutions adds 3D volume and instantly produces longer, more natural looking lashes without the finicky process of extensions or lash lifts. As simple and familiar as applying mascara, let your customers trial a tester of the lash building black fibres, and watch this product sell itself!

*Lab42 ‘The Foundation of Female Millennials’ Makeup Habits’ report

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To learn more about stocking IMAGE Skincare or Cherry Blooms Cosmetics in salon, call 1800 625 387 or visit www.probeautysolutions.com.au for more information.

What Goes On, Goes In

As consumers realise how the health of their skin is directly influenced by the nutrients that are available to them, we look into the rise of the ‘Clean Beauty’ movement and what your business needs to do to stay ahead of this leading trend.

Like pre-packaged food, many beauty products don’t deliver the benefits they promise, and eye-catching packaging coupled with flashy marketing can disguise a host of unhealthy ingredients. With consumers catching onto this ruse, it’s no wonder many are starting to scan beauty labels as thoroughly as they would their food, and calling for products that are healthy, ‘clean’ and safe.

‘Clean’ beauty products are not only free from toxins – like carcinogens and endocrine disruptors that can enter your bloodstream and cause havoc to your skin – but are also harnessing the power of superfoods as key ingredients. Think nut oils, chia seeds, probiotics, berry extracts and more, that contain high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, proven to calm and protect skin when applied both topically and consumed internally.

One company leading the ‘Clean Beauty’ movement in Australia is Lük Beautifood. While conventional lipsticks can be a source of harmful chemicals, Lük Beautifood harnesses the powers of organic produce to boast a range of all-natural, ‘clean’ Lip Nourish Lipsticks, infused with food-active ingredients, like avocado, citrus and cacao.

“More and more women are realising that beauty is a natural extension of health, which can be heavily affected by the products you use daily,” says Cindy Luken, founder of Lük Beautifood.

After realising women wanted the opportunity to cultivate natural beauty without compromising on health or wellbeing, Cindy Luken – a food scientist and chef in her own right – used her knowledge to develop toxin-free lipsticks in 2012. Following much trial and error in her test kitchen, experimenting with delicious food active ingredients, Luken knew she had caught onto something that would change the traditional cosmetics market.

“Our products are made from organic ingredients that you could literally eat, without a second thought. And when you consider that the average woman ingests 1.7kg of lipstick in her lifetime, that’s pretty important!” says Luken.

It is clear now that the ‘Clean Beauty’ movement is gaining even more momentum, now extending beyond a fringe group and into the masses at beauty counters. Made popular by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Miranda Kerr with their brands Goop and Kora Organics respectively, ‘healthy’ and ‘toxin-free’ are prominent buzzwords among the modern beauty user, who will unreservedly demand products that align with their lifestyle and values.

As the retail and service sectors rapidly rise in this ‘clean’ product space, it is crucial for businesses to cater to this forward-thinking market with beauty brands created to accommodate this trending shift.

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Lük Beautifood is now distributed by Professional Beauty Solutions. To learn more about the ‘clean beauty’ trend, and stocking Lük Beautifood in your salon or spa, call 1800 625 387 or visit www.probeautysolutions.com/lukbeautifood

Success starts with Innovation

Whether you’re big or small, if you fail to innovate and create a better product or service for your customers, your business is vulnerable. We delve deeper into why innovation is the cornerstone of all business success and which brands are leading the way.

The word “innovation” is often associated with large-scale businesses and global brands, but as a small business owner, you too should be focused on innovation in order to stay competitive. Businesses that innovate not only have an edge on their competitors in attracting new customers, but are also more likely to attract new talent, which often leads to greater innovation. This is how the gap widens between companies who lead, and those that follow.

“The heart and soul of a company is creativity and innovation.”

— Bob Iger

The benefits are tangible. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Innovation in Australian Business report showed that 91% of innovating businesses benefitted from improved goods, service, processes or methods.

Customer needs are constantly changing, and the most innovative businesses predict changes in the marketplace, providing solutions before their customers even realise they need them.

“We are always looking for breakthrough brands that produce cutting-edge product innovations. We love big ideas that lead to big results for our salon partners,” says Matt Williams, Managing Director of Professional Beauty Solutions.

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

— Steve Jobs

“If there is one skincare company in the world of professional skincare that is innovating more than any of its competitors, its Image Skincare,” says Williams. “They don’t rest on their laurels, or wait for competitors and customers to demand new products, instead they are constantly researching new ways to innovate, staying ahead of the trends.”

In the last three years alone, Image Skincare has developed or reformulated a total of 46 products! Here are a few of our most recent favourites…

The MAX Stem Cell Neck Lift

This ultra-firming neck and décolletage lifting crème targets sagging and lax skin, deep creases, wrinkles and fine lines. The MAX Stem Cell Neck Lift uses a maximum concentration of innovative peptides, combined with plant-derived stem cell technology, working together to increase skin elasticity while brightening, tightening and defining the neck and jawline. IMAGE’s exclusive Vectorize Technology™ delivers skin nourishment for up to 48 hours following the initial application, resulting in a long lasting, intense effects after each application.

Ageless Overnight Retinol Masque

This advanced fusion of triple action time-released retinol technology helps to increase firmness, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve skin imperfections. Using its trademarked unique delivery system, the Ageless Overnight Retinol Masque allows pure retinol to be easily absorbed into the skin with less irritation and superior results. Formulated with water bank technology to continually release hydration, as well as marine collagen microspheres, this overnight masque delivers retinol deep into the skin while locking in nutrients.

NEW Ageless Total Pure Hyaluronic⁶ Filler

Plumping power without an injection! This concentrated topical filler contains six forms of lower and higher molecular weight hyaluronic acids to rapidly smooth away the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The time released hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge that locks in hydration into the skin and turns back the hands of time for immediate, noticeably fullness.

 

NEW Vital C Hydrating Overnight Masque

Beauty sleep now in a bedside jar, this overnight treatment is infused with a triple mineral complex to enhance skin tone and energise skin. The gel-texture delivers water to the skin whilst locking in vital nutrients while you sleep. Blue-green algae extract, a natural retinoid alternative, helps the skin appear smoother and diminishes the appearance of wrinkles, while hematite and malakite provides unique mineral radiance.

NEW Vital C Hydrating Water Burst Gel

Rejuvenate dry, tired skin with Vital C’s Hydrating Water Burst Gel. Bursting with brightening nutrients, Botox-like peptides and defensive polyphenols, the Water Burst Technology transforms the lightweight gel into a flood of H2O hydration for your skin, whilst also releasing a tide of antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, vitamins and peptides to provide a youthful, radiant, healthier-looking complexion.

NEW Vital C Hydrating Antioxidant A C E Serum

The Vital C Hydrating Antioxidant Serum offers a concentrated infusion of three different forms of Vitamin C. Together with vitamins A and E, and a blend of plant antioxidants including green tea and Echinacea extracts, this powerful serum reduces the fine lines and dryness that’s associated with ageing. Blended together with Five Amino Acids to support collagen, and Red Rose Wine Complex to help fight the signs of ageing, the Vital C Hydrating Antioxidant A C E Serum is a potent multi-vitamin for your skin.

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To find out more about Image Skincare's innovative vision and the accompanying cutting-edge skincare line, featuring over 460 active peptides, lightening agents, AHA/BHA's, retinols, vitamins and sun protective ingredients, call 1800 625 387 or visit www.probeautysolutions.com.au/imageskincare

Eat Your Way to Healthy Skin

The power of nutrition to transform skin from within cannot be overestimated, says Janine Tait, founder of Bestow Beauty. Here, she explains why it is important for therapists and their clients to become educated in the holistic approach to treating problem skin.

When you run into a problem with your skin, what is the first thing you do?

Most women instinctively look for a new skincare product or treatment. While of course, the right topical skincare strategy is essential, it is still only half of the story.

A holistic approach to skincare is about considering the whole person and viewing skin as a reflection of your life. It is all about identifying and addressing underlying nutritional and lifestyle factors which are contributing to skin problems, and wreaking havoc on how the body feels. Quick-fix methods can often make temporary improvements, but from my experience, genuine skin transformation is only possible when you work from within.

Our skin needs a wide range of nutrients in order to thrive, heal and resist premature ageing. Dull, lifeless, inflamed or spotty skin are indications that your body is not getting enough of the nutrients it needs for optimal health, or that poor diet is actively working against a clear complexion.

As holistic skincare therapists, we need to tackle skin nutrition by following two paths. Firstly, we need to nourish the skin from within with the essential nutrients required for skin health. Secondly, we need to remove the food and drinks which inflame and aggravate skin. ‘Heating’ foods are a particular food group that must be addressed when working with those who struggle with inflammatory skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema, dermatitis or overall redness and sensitivity.

Avoid Foods that Heat the Skin

There are certain foods that can heat and inflame the skin from within, often causing flare ups of rosacea or breakouts. Common ‘heating’ culprits are caffeine, alcohol, and spicy food, but even strawberries and oranges can have an inflaming effect. Other major foods to avoid are chocolate, peanuts and curry. These foods are called vasodilators – ‘vaso’ referring to the blood and, and ‘dilating’ meaning to expand. They sensitise skin by increasing blood flow through the fine capillary system that feeds the skin cells. Obviously, this will exacerbate sensitive skin and cause it to immediately react.

• Coffee

• Alcohol

• Chocolate

• Peanuts

• Chilli

• Paprika

• Curry

• Oranges

• Strawberries

Alternatives

The Bestow way of eating avoids all heating foods and uses healthy alternatives instead to nourish and support beautiful skin. If you want to overcome skin problems like acne, rosacea, dermatitis or congested skin, in addition to avoiding the above foods, you should also be looking for skin-friendly alternatives to reduce ‘flare ups’. Drinks such as herbal teas, dandelion or turmeric lattes are great alternatives to coffee.

Raw nuts such as almonds or Brazil nuts are an excellent replacement for salted peanuts, and less ‘spicy’ spices like cinnamon and ginger are great substitutes for chilli. Unlike other ‘heating’ citrus fruits (such as orange), lemons boost digestion and provide plentiful amounts of vitamin C, an important antioxidant that is vital for the production of collagen.

Bestow Beauty’s range of organic superfood powders, oils, herbal teas and recipe cookbooks are perfect for overcoming several skin problems. Each delicious, skin-friendly Bestow recipe avoids heating and congesting foods, and opts for soothing alternatives instead, focusing not on what you can’t eat, but what you CAN eat.

Like all wellness journeys, learning to work holistically requires change, patience and dedication in the beginning, but it is truly a beautiful way to live.

• Herbal teas (without orange peel)

• Dandelion or turmeric lattes

• Kombucha

• Medjool dates

• Figs

• Tahini

• Almond paste

• Raw unsalted nuts (almonds or Brazil nuts)

• Fresh herbs and less 'spicy' spices (ginger, cloves, nutmeg, mace, cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, coriander and mustard seeds)

• Dark grape juice

• Lemon juice

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Janine Tait is New Zealand’s leading dermo-nutritionist and founder of Bestow Beauty, which offers a beautiful range or organic super-food blends, recipes and rituals to nourish skin from within. She is also a respected leader within the Slow Beauty movement which champions a holistic approach to skincare.

For more information on Bestow Beauty call, 1800 625 387 or visit http://www.probeautysolutions.com.au/bestow-beauty/