The salon and professional beauty industry’s appliances and shears category grew 7.1 percent in 2012, acccording to the new Professional Salon & Pro Beauty Industry Appliances & Shears Study from Professional Consultants & Resources, the U.S. salon and professional beauty industry’s leading strategic consulting, market intelligence and data research company. The impressive growth rate is 18 percent greater than the overall salon industry rate of 6 percent for the same time frame.  

The comprehensive 80-plus page study, which reports on the sales of hair dryers, curling/flat/styling irons, trimmers, clippers, shavers, as well as includes a full section on shears, was compiled using the expert resources of veteran executives in the professional salon industry and salon appliances marketplace. The study covers major trends and influences on the market, as well as a five-year history and growth projections with upcoming market needs of stylists/consumers. The study audits leading salon industry store stocking by brand, manufacturer and price.

“Salon appliances continued to be a leading growth category for the professional beauty industry for the sixth straight year,” says Cyrus Bulsara, president of Professional Consultants & Resources. “As a result, many professional salon companies have entered the hard goods category, which they have identified as a highly lucrative market segment. A major struggle for industry domination and leadership continued. Erosion occurred with major brands, as new entrants increased their market shares, and captive store brands gained in importance.”

According to the study, the top 10 professional salon appliance companies by dollar volume are:

· Conair (all brands, including BaByliss, Volare, Conair Pro, Jilbere, Rusk, One n’ Only, Nano     Tools, Forfex)
· Helen of Troy (all brands, including Belson, Gold n’ Hot, Hot Tools, Revlon, Vidal Sassoon, · · ·  Brazilian Heat)
· Andis
· Wahl (Sterling)
· Oster (ESS – Jarden)
· Farouk Systems (CHI)
· Bio Ionic
· John Paul Mitchell Systems
· Sally Beauty Brands
· Cricket

Key findings of the appliance study include:

· Premium and private label brands were affected by major concentration, realignments and direct sales. 

· Sales of salon-only appliances grew 7.2%. Appliances in the pro beauty gray market posted similar growth of 6.8%.

· Important growth factors affecting the appliance market were the continuing strength of at-home hair maintenance, the popularity of straightening and conditioning, new technology, plus the new trend of curly looks.

· New product features resulting in higher prices and trendy new appliance decoration offset lower base model pricing.

· Traditional channel curling and flat iron sales grew at 9.5%; blow dryers grew 4.7% and clippers/trimmers at 6.9%.

· High growth in booth rental salons/salon suites propelled sales at Sally Beauty, Beauty Systems Group (BSG), SalonCentric and other distributor stores.

· Farouk, which ranks sixth with its CHI brand, has established a “home” in BSG distribution. The study identifies significant changes at Bio Ionic, Paul Mitchell, Cricket, GHD, FHI Heat, HAI Elite and T-3.

· The study reviews Andis, Wahl, Oster and Forfex, the market leaders in the clipper/trimmer category, in depth.

· The 2012 study features an in-depth category report on shears.

Trade advertising data for appliances and shears are reported in depth, along with an analysis of promotions. A special section reveals market shares for top companies and names more than 127 North American brands.

For purchasing information or questions, contact Cyrus Bulsara at cbulsara@augustmail.com or go to www.ProConsultants.us