As I'm doing my last minute errands before I leave, i'm thinking about all the things that make a trade show work. I'm thinking about all the opportunities we have, as Beauty Professionals and why, we as Distributors or Mfg's., do what we do.

It's a pretty amazing cycle to be honest with you. And, I would venture to say.....most of you have no idea. So, let me share!

BTW....read this till the end, i'm sharing a couple of our

best Trade show specials with you.

Many times also, we offer an addendum to the show classes by staying an extra day or coming in a day early for a paid Professional class.

In this case, Centre for Beauty is offering a toenail restoration class the day after the show.

Toenail Restoration class $189.00

Hilton Garden Inn - Lakeshore @ Wildwood Cr. N

The class preparation is different as it includes payment.  It also includes class materials, a whole different type of powerpoint presentation, a paid classroom location and more importantly, a process in an effort to get the class filled.

As a Thank You for your support, your encouragement, your continued need for new products, new ideas and new ways to grow your Business, i would like to extend the following special to you.

We have expanded our Trade Show space to bring you something which has never been done before (that I know of).  A Spa Luxury experience.

We offer Demo's but we have never offered a true Spa Luxury experience.  At Premiere Birmingham attendees will witness a complete Anti Age treatment.  They will experience the luxury of our Spa Bali product while sitting in a Contego Spa Design chair, finished with our Anti Age treatment under our Golden Girl mask.

The ultimate in a Spa Experience

Designed to show you how to more $$$$ in your Foot Care room

When it comes to this time of year, I think we all feel a little obligated to give gifts. Personally, I never really liked the gift idea because it does become an obligation. We gift on Birthday's, Christmas, Showers and more because in Society we have been taught and/or brainwashed that Gifts on any occasion should be given. I feel a Gift is more of a Gift when it's unexpected.

In looking at the definition of Gift, "willingly and without payment" sticks out at me. If you are thinking about giving client gifts, it has to be because you want to, not because you feel you have to. And, you must realize, there is a cost involved for these gifts with no monetary return. However, the ROI received, cannot be calculated. Especially when the gift is thought provoking, usable and memorable.

Soooooo...who's idea was it anyway?

According to Curious History

Origins of Gift Giving

The giving of gifts may be one of the oldest of human activities that pre-dates civilization and may go back to the origin of our species. Even in primitive cavemen culture, the giving of gifts was fairly common as it was used to show love and affection towards one another. The bestowing of gifts was also inferred as a status symbol when leaders of tribes or clans would show their appreciation for the contributions of those who were part of an important achievement. At Gifts Ready To Go, you will find many gifts ideas to help you find the perfect gift for any occasion and connect with people around you.

Whether it was an unusually shaped rock, a tooth from an animal, the bark from a tree or some other item that was natural in origin, the giving of gifts was certainly common behavior long before we became an advanced civilization. As tools were developed, the gifts started to become more elaborate, for example holes were drilled into animal teeth and stones so they could be displayed on necklaces and many other objects were fashioned as well.

Later during the Egyptian era, gifts were most notably given to their pharaohs who built massive pyramids to store their wealth for afterlife and produced idols to support their beliefs of idol worship. In Roman times people would present each other with good luck tokens, which lasted for centuries and later influenced all of Western civilization onwards. Such tokens of good luck were used as presents to carry favors and show allegiance, which is still the case today.

By the Medieval age, gifts were used to secure the personal favor of the king or show allegiance in times of war. Also, personal gifts of betrothals were given as dowries which ranged from coins to precious metals to a herd of cattle, goats or sheep. In many cultures, dowries and other similar expressions still exist today.

Today gift giving is still part of our everyday culture and defines who we are and the message we want to send with our gift. Gifts are given for all occasions and celebrations and are a means of us communicating with each other and expressing ourselves.

The Psychology Behind Gift Giving

Today, gift giving is spread across all cultures around the world, from celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, offering good luck, best wishes for getting well, showing love and affection, or just saying thanks. Gifts are given to family members, friends, those we work with and even neighbors who receive gifts of all different types. There are large industries dedicated to creating and selling gifts that allow people even in the busiest of times to find the right type of present to give someone for many different reasons and occasions.

The psychology of why gift giving is so rewarding is simple it allows people to connect. The giver of a gift expresses their feelings and emotions by sending a gift with the hope of being able to share these with the receiver of the gift. The receiver of the gift in turn receives the feelings and emotions and with this a connection is made. Making connections with people around us gives us a sense of purpose and feeling of satisfaction. This feeling is one that enlightens the soul and brings out the best in us. There is an old saying “it is better to give than receive” and it has a special meaning especially when the realization of the benefits that it provides to those who give.

Why is it Important To Give Gifts?

There has been a considerable amount of research over the years into the feelings of wellbeing that occurs when we give gifts to those we care about. From as early as cavemen days gift giving has been rewarding which may be the reason it has stood the test of time. Here are some reasons as to why:

We Feel Happy: Simply put, the giving of gifts can make a person feel happier about themselves as well as to the person that has received their gift. In studies were people were asked to give gifts as a part of an experiment, the result was that people actually felt better and happier about their own lives.

Improve State of Mind: Research suggests that giving gifts may improve a person’s state of mind. If giving a gift makes you feel happier with a sense of purpose then this may inevitably improve your state of mind.

Greater Social Connection: By giving a gift, you not only expressing your feelings but building a stronger connection to that person as well. Not only does the person receiving the gift feel closer to the giver, but vice versa as well. This greater social connection also means an improvement in the state of being as well as overall happiness.

It’s Contagious: When a person starts giving gifts, not only will the recipient become more likely to give, those around them who see this act will start giving as well. This is in part due to the release of the endorphins, which not only benefits the giver, but is also felt by those who receive and see the act of giving as well.

Visit giftsreadytogoblog.com for more interesting articles on the history of aromatherapy, cast iron teapots, silk flower arrangements and more.

CJ Murray, President

Centre for Beauty Salon Supply

My oh my oh my.  It has been several months now, I have removed myself from the constant grind of Social Media.

Don't get me wrong, I still participate for the purpose of Business Building.  I answer questions i'm tagged in.  I respond to messages.

What I don't do however, is participate in to many threads.  I've learned Social Medial can be downright belittling, nasty, shocking, mean and very very sad.  It can be disappointing, it can be stressful and it can be  haven for bullying.

In some ways I guess to influence and to be an influencer are much of the same thing.  Someone or something brings awareness to someone or something and helps us decide what to do.

The primary difference , by definition, an influencer gets paid high dollars for "influencing" people

In both cases, be it the person who influences or the influencer, it is usual someone who has worked countless hours of discovering his or her image.  Someone who has spent countless hours of building his or her "brand".  This "brand" recognition does not come easy.  It is non-stop studying, perfecting and maintaining a high level of standards expected by those of us who follow.

It can be fun, there may be some perks, but it also can be tedious.

Many of you may not know that my Business is within a Business.  I rent warehouse and office space from some very special people who I consider B2B partners, and friends.  Life of Riley Salon Supply, promoting primarily hair products.

I've been blessed with the relationships i've formed and i've been lucky enough to have learned a lot about the differences in our Industries.  Yes, hair and nails are within the same industry, yet......they are not at all treated the same.

I could get into the various amount of differences, but for the purpose of this article, I think it's worth sharing the very minimum amount of cruelty I see and/or hear regarding social media.

In hair we see before and after of many creations.  Whether it be color, cut, extensions etc. I see tons of compliments and support.   What I don't see is the ridicule, the callous remarks, the belittling, the nastiness, the lack of support.

However, when it comes to our nail industry, it's the complete opposite.  I am constantly seeing the negativity, the jealousy, the lack of Professionalism.

I've worked for many years,, in fact I have made it my mission to take us Nail Technicians from the bottom of the totem pole and put us on the top.  This is a big nut to crack and it can't be done alone.  All of us have to contribute.  We have to look like Professionals, talk like Professionals, act like Professionals.

We have to support each other.  We have to learn how to express our opinions, our thoughts without hurtful expressions or comments.  We have to support the differences between us and raise the bar on the image of our Nail Society.

Every single one of us either influence or is an influencer.

 We are being watched, we are being heard.  

We all need to set the example.

It may sound like i'm rambling.  I'm not.

I'm saddened by what I recently saw, but i'm also elated to have seen the tremendous amount of support which followed.

I am also hopeful that in some way i'm able to influence those of you who read my blogs in a positive manner.  I hope I help you think about the various amount of options which are available in our Industry.  I hope I am able to teach you something you maybe didn't know prior to reading my blog.  I hope I have a positive influence on your growth.

Have you thought lately about who you can or who you already do influence?