mbris

Well just got home from my first Expo, all I can say is WOW! I recieved a lot of samples and info on different lotions. As a brand new salon needing to stock an entire inventory, I was impressed with several Mfg. reps and very disappointed in a couple. Cal Tan did probably the best job overall. Then Supre, and AG/SB, they did an awesome job putting lotions in my hands and giving me free stuff. The worst presentation of the day had to be FIGI. This expo was for both salon owners and any employees they wanted to bring, name tags distingished the difference between the two. There were 2 salons that probably had 4 to 5 employees with them. When this trainer started her sales pitch and started to give away products and samples, all of these employees were jumping up and down on each lotion and were given all the free products, after which many were handing them to the owner with them. Rep did not catch on and several of us owners just sat their and looked at each other. Needless to say I scratched off all that was on my list from FIGI and at the end of her presentation I was handed the small sample card for the 2006 line-up. I handed it back and said "no thank you" Several others put theirs back. Now to my question are most of these expos like what I described "Hard-up salon owners that need inventory for free, that need to hog all the samples"?

Kristia0712

OH MY! I been to a few of them and have had a smaller version of your experience, but good GAWD! The rep should have been paying more attention and not have given all the samples to just that group. Thanks for the info on Figi, I won't even bother with them now. I thought the best one I went to was Designer Skins. Very informative and fun.

capetan

I am in the NE and just attended 2 of them one with my wife and one alone. I felt the exact same way. I really didn't think that the salon employees should be able to attend (although it is good for them to get the product knowledge). The first one I went to an employee won free lamps (what the **** are they gonna do with lamps?) I have decided to just go to National shows from now on, I haven't been to one yet but will be in Vegas at the end of June.

tnannie

Sorry to hear that your first expo wasn't what you thought it would be mbris. I have been to smaller training seminars given by disty's and this is a fairly normal practice. They always have samples for all who attend but those attending that jump up with the answers usually are the ones who get the extra goods. Next time try to participate more in the questions and answers and you will get more. These are great opportunities for employee's to learn about the new products and to receive samples to try for themselves, so they can be better sales people for your salon. Also, maybe you shouldn't view these events as a way to stock your salon for free. The lotion companies give us these samples to use, and to pass out to our staff and customers for feedback. Expo's aren't intended to stock our shelves with free product.

devastoj

I went to one in Conn. about two weeks ago, but I missed the product seminar because my spleen was bleeding, yes my spleen was bleeding. I got into a snowboarding accident the day before and had to go to the hospital and missed the free stuff. I basically got my smart tan certification and left. I really wanted to learn more about the product that's out there though.

Anyone have any clues on how to get info on expos???

Sherin

It's really too bad that you make your opinions based upon the greed of others? Are you eliminating a company based upon how much stuff was not showered on you? If you had really been paying attention, you might have found out that this company, (spelled FijiBlend by the way) is a socially conscience company that actually gives back to locations where is procures it's ingredients and fosters growth to better the quality of life for less fortunate people. I can only base my experiences on first hand interaction with this company and it has been excellent, in fact way above par, but that's OK.....you keep making your product decisions upon what is popular and easily diverted on ebay & other lotion websites.

__________________
War does not determine who is right, war determines who is left.

body tan

Not a real good reason to write off a good product. If it got to you that bad talk to the Dist. that put the show on and see if they could have a more owner oriented expo.

mbris

Don't get me wrong, it is not that I didn't have a great time, we really did, but I am there spending $2000 on my initial order and have no compliants with the Disty (TSO) they did a fabulous job and I appreciated their efforts and that of their staff, but the catch from the beginning of the day was 50% off all lotion orders that day. I needed to stock a new salon, it was not my intention to do this for free, but as I said in my post their were several Mfgs. that did a awesome job in presentation and made it fun with questions and prizes. Passed around the products with an explanation of the features and benefits. My situation is this I am making a sizable lotion order that I will start with and making my list at the expo. The Figi Rep held up the bottles gave a brief explanation with the salon employees in front yelling "Oh this is my favorite" and recieving the lotion. Actually another salon owner asked them politely to quite down at least once. My feeling is that maybe the wrong person was in front as the Rep. and in the process their products were crossed off my list. Maybe the next expo will be different, but being my first I was really disappointed that the Rep. let herself be taken advantage of. IMO