Manufacturer sales for the professional salon industry’s appliances category grew 5.2% in 2014, according to a new study from Professional Consultants & Resources, a strategic consulting, market intelligence and data research company. That rate is 65% greater than the overall salon industry’s growth rate of 3.1% for the same time frame. Sales to the pro beauty and gray market posted lower growth at 2.8%.
“Salon appliances continued their hot streak as a leading growth category in the professional beauty industry for the seventh straight year,” said Cyrus Bulsara, President of Professional Consultants & Resources. “As a result, major professional salon companies have entered the hard goods category, now identified as a high-margin, high-profit market segment. A major struggle for industry domination and leadership at the top continued during 2014, with Conair leading pro market sales by dollar volume for the third straight year. Significant erosion occurred with some major brands, as new entries increased their market shares and captive store brands gained further importance.”
According to the 2014 Professional Salon & Pro Beauty Industry Appliances & Shears Study, the top 10 professional salon appliance companies by dollar volume are:
1. Conair (includes BaByliss, Forfex, Italia Brava, BeLiss Pro, Jilbere, Rusk, One n’ Only/Argan, Mira Curl, Volare)
2. Helen of Troy (includes Belson, NextGen, Gold n’ Hot, Hot Tools, Revlon, Sassoon, Brazilian Heat, Laila Ali, TIGI)
3. Andis
4. Wahl (Sterling)
5. Oster (Jarden)
6. Farouk Systems (CHI)
7. John Paul Mitchell Systems
8. Sally Beauty Brands
9. Bio Ionic
10. GHD
Note: On a pure styling appliances play basis, excluding shears, clippers and trimmers, FHI Heat, Cricket and T-3 Micro make the Top 10 list.
Other key findings and growth drivers influencing appliance sales during 2014:
• Professional channel curling and flat iron sales grew at 6.3%; blow dryers grew 3.2% and clippers/trimmers at 3.7%.
• Important growth factors affecting the appliance market were the continued demand for curling and specialty irons, along with the continued strength of flat irons, plus newer technologies introduced into the market.
• Growth in chair and suite rental salons contributed to sales at Beauty Systems Group/CosmoProf, SalonCentric and other full-service distributor stores. Rentals are the fastest growing industry segment and use the newest hard goods.
• Continuing gray market diversion accounted for 25.8% of all appliance sales, with “exclusive” salon lines now available at QVC, Ulta, Sephora, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and other mass and department store retailers.
• Helen of Troy reported lower personal care sales, but strength in its Hot Tools brand; however, the company’s other brands were “impacted by the economy and captive labels.”
• New product features, resulting in higher prices, offset lower, base-model pricing.
• Farouk (CHI Brand), which ranked sixth in overall professional distribution and third in styling appliances, partnered with Kardashian Beauty.
The 2014 Professional Salon & Pro Beauty Industry Appliances & Shears Study, a comprehensive 80-page report, can be purchased by contacting Cyrus Bulsara at cbulsara@augustmail.com or visiting www.ProConsultants.us.
