John and Denise Philipp started TruBeauty Concepts in the basement of their home 30 years ago. Now they’re one of the largest independent beauty distributors in the world. “We’re a unicorn,” says John. “There isn’t anyone like us.” 

So, what does TruBeauty Concepts offer professional salon owners and stylists that they can’t get anywhere else? Simply put, it’s HOPE, which is an acronym for Home of Professional Education. The premier, technique-driven educational facility is located on an eight-acre farm just 70 miles from Manhattan and 40 miles from Philadelphia where they host celebrity hair artists like Guy Tang and Tabitha Coffey and offer independent education to meet the ever-evolving needs of salon owners and stylists. 

“It’s technique-driven education, and not product knowledge,” says John. “We want to give stylists the tools they need to become successful and profitable.”

“And we want to make this kind of education easily accessible,” adds Denise. “People fly in from all over the country because we offer a sense of community. I’m talking everyone from stylists new to the industry as well as seasoned pros who come to renew their passion for hairdressing.”

While you’ll find top brands like Milbon, AlfaParf, Surface, Olaplex, K18, Eugene Perma, and Wella KP at TruBeauty Concepts, they excel at finding excellent pro-focused brands that partner with the stylist. One of their most successful partnerships has been with Milbon, the #1 professional haircare company in Japan that’s trusted by 400,000 salons worldwide. In 2013, when the brand sought a strategic partner to navigate the competitive U.S. market, John seized the opportunity to become the company’s first distributor in the United States. Ahn Co Tran, Milbon’s Global Artistic Director, who usually visits HOPE about once a year, will be there this April to provide state-of-the-art education. 

“Our main focus is to support independent salon professionals by offering product, education, and support,” says Denise, “and we are fortunate to have an amazing team, from our outstanding Territory Sales Managers, the best sales people in the industry, to support staff at our headquarters, and an excellent customer service team. They all help to make TruBeauty stand out above the rest.”

The family-owned company does business with 34,000 hair salons that trust them to go the extra mile. Case in point: Their distribution center is 30 minutes away from a UPS and a FEDEX hub, which means that customers who order products by 5 p.m. receive them the very next day in 14 states from Maine to Virginia on the East Coast. 

“Striving for excellence in all areas is what sets us apart,” says Denise. No wonder her husband calls TruBeauty Concepts the Neiman Marcus of beauty. 

For more information about TruBeauty Concepts, please visit www.trubeautyconcepts.com or call 888-371-5040.