It’s a new year and a new name, but the mission of the Independent Beauty Association (IBA) remains the same: to help independent beauty companies thrive in an increasingly complex business environment. Last year, IBA changed its name from Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors to better illustrate what its members do…and what it can do for its members.

“We’ve always had a strong presence in product development, and we’re the premier source for technical and regulatory information, with a good relationship with the US Food and Drug Administration. Plus, we’ve always had expertise about importing and exporting to Europe and China,” noted IBA Chairman Chris Hobson, who is president and chief executive officer of Rare Beauty Brands. “But we can also provide insight and guidance on marketing issues, too.”

Besides all of those benefits, the acronym I-B-A slides off the tongue a bit easier than ICMAD.

“It’s tough trying to explain to people exactly what an organization can do when it’s pronounced “ICK-Mad,” joked Hobson.

Names aside, IBA does a lot for its members. Hobson knows that first hand. He’s been a member of the IBA board for more than seven years and during that time, he’s been part of a continual upgrade in staff and the services offered.

“Our president, Ken Marenus, who had a 44-year career at Mary Kay and Estée Lauder, has been amazing,” observed Hobson. “We’ve improved our systems and our relationships outside the US.”

That’s all translated into better serving IBA members with partnerships in China and the European Union to help members get their products registered in these major markets. At the same time, IBA maintains an extensive database of suppliers and customers to help its members make meaningful, and profitable, connections.

“One of the things people always loved about ICMAD was that, when they had a question, they could call our office and get the answers they need.”


Give ‘Em a Call!

Now, IBA has formalized that system with the introduction of The Concierge Service, which connects callers with the exact company or organization they need. That kind of high-touch service has been part of IBA’s DNA for decades. The association typically fields 20 calls a day from entrepreneurs, according to Hobson, who added that the concierge service is valuable to companies in every shape and size—from one-person startups to multinationals with millions of dollars in sales. IBA has members that range in size from startups to companies with annual sales of $100 million and more.

In fact, IBA’s current membership includes well-known companies such as Ecru, Honest, Markwins, Supergoop! and hundreds more, including of course, Hobson’s company, Rare Beauty Brands, which is building a network of leading brands including Patchology and Plant Apothecary. 


A Range of Services

Companies large and small have realized the value of IBA, especially during the past year when the pandemic ravaged supply chains. IBA was able to keep its members well-informed about the issues impacting business with free webinars on wide-ranging subjects such as supply chain management, managing cash flow, proper hand sanitizer labeling and even applying for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.

“We have more resources for the independent beauty owner than anyone,” asserted Hobson. “Beauty entrepreneurs are already smart, but by joining IBA and taking advantage of our services they will become even smarter.”

Besides educating its members, IBA educates US Congress by lobbying for its members. For example, last month, Marenus published an open letter in Happi urging representatives and senators to rethink current plans to put more regulation on cosmetics industry entrepreneurs (to read Marenus' opinion, click here).

“We support appropriate regulation of the cosmetics industry—but not now! More regulation is the last thing that our members need during a pandemic,” noted Hobson. “In 2020, if you were in the home care industry, you had a great year, but lipstick manufacturers had a very tough year. The beauty industry needs vibrant solutions to get back on strong financial footing. We need support for small business.”

IBA’s expertise will be on full display during a webinar series: Indie Beauty Basics. The three-day online course, March 23-25, includes sessions on Regulatory, taught by Karen Yarussi-King, president, Global Regulatory Associates; Product Development, taught by Mindy S. Goldstein, PhD, president, Mindy S. Goldstein, PhD Consulting; and  Business & Legal, taught by Kerry Tassopoulos, Esq, The Tassopoulos Law Firm. To learn more and to register, click here.

As difficult as 2020 was, independent beauty entrepreneurs are resilient and that resiliency is evident in their association, IBA. Hobson noted that beauty entrepreneurs are disproportionately women-owned and women of color.

“Our membership is always churning. Little compa, nies get started, take advantage of our services, grow and sometimes, get acquired by multinationals. That’s one of the things that we love about our job,” explained Hobson. “The market is very acquisitive, but when one member gets acquired we gain three startups. We are growing and we have an opportunity to reach more entrepreneurs. We have the resources to make that happen.”