The Independent Beauty Association (formerly ICMAD) provides technical, legal, regulatory and business expertise to its members. IBA Executive Committee Member Dr. Ken Marenus details the merits of membership. 
 
Happi: The Independent Beauty Association changed its name from the Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers & Distributors a couple of months ago. Why the change?

Dr. Marenus: Thank you for inviting me to share our thoughts about the recent transformation of the Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors (ICMAD) to the Independent Beauty Association (IBA). We understand that our industry and its products now represent a broad spectrum of technical, legal, regulatory and business disciplines. In order to better describe how our Association supports all of these, we determined that it was time to update how we describe the wide range of benefits we provide to our members and the industry.   Both names – ICMAD and IBA convey our strong commitment to independent beauty companies. 


Happi: What makes IBA unique?

Dr. Marenus: When ICMAD was formed almost 50 years ago, our industry was quite different. Our products were less sophisticated, and those who focused on marketing products would be amazed at the array of distribution channels available today. Our vision, mission and dedication at IBA (as was ICMAD) is still focused on four key principals: Education, Advocacy for Reasonable Legislation, Networking and Member Service. Every one of our programs, events and offerings is dedicated to support one or more of these principals with actionable and relevant support


Happi: Can you comment on how the pandemic is impacting IBA members? How is IBA helping its members?

Dr. Marenus:  In the past year, we have all been significantly challenged by the world-wide pandemic. In some cases, it has caused significant personal hardship and even lives lost. In the business community it has accelerated changes and trends that were already underway and in other cases created a tremendous need for innovation, process change and flexibility.

Throughout this unprecedented challenge, IBA has been in step with our members to provide information, education and guidance. There have been over 20 webinars dedicated to specific topics that could help ease their path through. These range from business finance, formulation, HR aspects, government loan programs and even specific regulations of hand sanitizers.

When the scope of this difficulty became clear, we conducted surveys of our members to create the most accurate portrait of conditions possible. In March and April, it was clear that our members were beginning to experience a significant negative impact from the Virus. At one point only 30% of those surveyed had sufficient financing to last more than 90 days. By late June fortunately, things had improved as the industry adapted and created mechanisms to work around some of the most pressing difficulties. As we now enter a second wave of virus activity, we are going to set out a fourth survey to again, check the pulse of our members and our industry. We will do everything possible to support our member Companies including lobbying for another round of PPP financing.


Happi: On the regulatory side, what bills at the Federal level could have an impact on the beauty industry? What is IBA doing to impact this legislation?

Dr. Marenus: In the mid 1970s, there were attempts to over-regulate our industry with unprecedented and disproportionally strict regulations proposed for cosmetics. If they had passed, tremendous regulatory burdens would have been placed on our products. In fact, one of ICMAD’s first major efforts in 1976, was to represent and support small businesses that would have been so badly damaged by these restrictive regulations.

Fast forward almost 50 years and we are in the same situation again. There is legislation proposed that will once again create a significant regulatory burden on the small businesses that compose most of our industry. Once again, IBA is at the forefront in challenging these so that proportional, reasonable and equitable proposals move forward. 


Happi: What about at the state and local levels? Where are the hotspots?
 
Dr. Marenus:  At IBA we are constantly monitoring the activity of each State legislature in terms of adding unnecessary or redundant regulations. As usual, certain states lead the way in trying to over-regulate a safe industry. 

California is perhaps the most active in this arena.  Time and again bills are put forward in their legislature that are simply attempts to re-regulate an industry that is already Federally monitored and regulated.  
 

Happi: How is IBA working with other associations to build a coalition to support independent beauty companies?
 
Dr. Marenus:  At IBA we have excellent working relationships with other trade associations and partners.  We engage regularly with the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. In addition, for certain topics we also work with the Fragrance Creator’s Association, Professional Beauty Association, Cosmetic Association Canada and the Personal Care Products Council.  We are US representatives to the ICCR, the International Collaboration on Cosmetics Regulation, an international group of both industry and regulators, whose goal is to seek to seek reasonable and aligned global regulations for our products.