Dear Members;

Welcome to Issue 43 of the Professional Beauty Corporation Beauty Industry Insider. This month, we have an article on new additions to our mannequin head inventory. Enjoy!

Much Success ,
C. Tito Booth, CEO
Professional Beauty Corporation

Retail sales during the months of November and December normally account for 25 percent to 50 percent of a retailer's annual sales volume both online and in traditional stores. The National Retail Federation, along with its Holiday Mood Survey partner, Deloitte and Touche, believe that U.S. retail sales as a whole will be solid this Holiday season. They estimate a 6 percent increase over 2002 for the retail industry.

Online retail sales predictions for the peak holiday season range from $6 billion to $10 billion for the United States. Fourth quarter online sales predictions range from $10 billion in the U.S. to $12.5 billion. Gartner Group estimates worldwide online retail sales of $19.5 billion for the fourth quarter.

Customer relationship management, fulfillment, interactive customer service and the pressure to make a profit are among the trends and initiatives we saw this past holiday season. In addition, this year will mark the first time in the growth of the Internet where women make up the majority of the online audience.

• About - Along the way of growing chains and building malls and promoting self-service, many retailers lost touch with their customers. Recognizing the value in customer loyalty, retailers are now seeking to reclaim personal relationships with their customers. More...
• Consumer Trends Institute - The bottom line retailers should keep in mind is that consumers want to shop when it is convenient for them, not for retailers. They want to get product information, learn more about your company, ask questions, research warranties, understand return policies, and buy your products whether it is six o'clock in the morning or midnight and they want retailers to make it easy for them. More...
• IDC - It is a safe bet the customer-touching features are a priority for the holiday rush. Interactive customer service and specialized content/services for registered visitors are two features showing rapid adoption. The percentage of B2C sites offering interactive customer service is seeing a 110.5 percent jump.

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