So what did you think of Excel ?

[bombini]

I have to say I didn't think it was as good as I thought it would be

This is the first time I have been to Professional Beauty London since it moved from Olympia and I swear it was busier and more exhibitors at Olympia ? Usually I go to the NEC or GMEX so thought it was about time I trekked down to London.

I noticed quite a few big names weren't there including lots of skincare ranges that definetly used to be at Olympia. Can't really complain about it not being that busy as it meant I didn't get bashed by mini suitcases and didn't have to queue for hours to buy something.

I left at 2.30pm as we'd been round the show three times and had lunch !

The highlight for me was a lady on the Pro Beauty stand where they sell the magazine subscriptions, as I was filling in my direct debit form this girl asked if she could take a magazine for free....lady at stand was like, so your a professional therapist and you've never heard of magazine or subscribe to it ? It was hilarious she was really quizzing her about how she'd come to never hear of it, how she expects to stay up to date in industry etc. it was priceless, the girls face was a picture !

 

[Rosey]

I agree with you - it wasn't quite the same as it has been - missing some of the companies who weren't there this year and I thought the nail section was quite a bit smaller than previous years.

Got a stunning nail done by antony buckley and have decided to get some further L&P training and persevere with it.

Good points were that it was less crowded and I didnt spend so much on my credit card this year! :green:

I still enjoyed it and glad I went - just didnt seem quite the same x

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

I have to say I didn't think it was as good as I thought it would be

This is the first time I have been to Professional Beauty London since it moved from Olympia and I swear it was busier and more exhibitors at Olympia ? Usually I go to the NEC or GMEX so thought it was about time I trekked down to London.

I noticed quite a few big names weren't there including lots of skincare ranges that definetly used to be at Olympia. Can't really complain about it not being that busy as it meant I didn't get bashed by mini suitcases and didn't have to queue for hours to buy something.

I left at 2.30pm as we'd been round the show three times and had lunch !

Now listen here bombini, oey, Zingara and I were hanging around waiting for you at 3pm. If you had stayed longer you could have joined us. We would have livened you day up no end :smack:. You party pooper :green:!

I have to say I agree though that the show was definitely lacking quality on the whole. I also noticed several great stands not present this year and the vibe and atmosphere was also missing.

I agree though that I didn't have to fight my way through hoards of shoppers and lookers and have my eyes poked out and feet trodden on :irked:.

 

[pips]

I thought it was a bit disapointing also but have to agree you wasnt squashed at all, plenty of manouvering room, no long queues and able to see the products on offer.

Maybe as it was mothersday there wasnt as many people there and today and tomorrow will be different? Dont make no odds to me, im now home after enduring 6 hours of underground and trains (pass me the sick bucket)

The highlight for me was meeting all the lovely geeks :green:

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

I thought it was a bit disapointing also but have to agree you wasnt squashed at all, plenty of manouvering room, no long queues and able to see the products on offer.

Maybe as it was mothersday there wasnt as many people there and today and tomorrow will be different? Dont make no odds to me, im now home after enduring 6 hours of underground and trains (pass me the sick bucket)

The highlight for me was meeting all the lovely geeks :green:

I braved it driving my car to Excel and have to say I was mighty pleased with myself. My return journey was painless too.

It was lovely to meet you pips :hug:.

 

[becki x]

Slightly random but i promised i'd ask,my hubby built the St Tropez stand (not single handedly lol) but he did ask me to ask your opinions pm if you like

 

[FEEBYBOOFAY]

Yes I agree with most of you, I was most disappointed that Creative weren't there and as I don't come on here that often, I wouldn't have read that they weren't exhibiting. A shame as I wanted to buy lots of stuff following a one to one with a trainer earlier this month. I'd hung on waiting!! I went to the Popits Seminar which was informative and great to see it done rather than reading a tutorial. Sometimes you need to see things being done up close to fully understand every aspect of the application method.

I missed my original train home by 4 minutes and they wanted to charge me and my friends again for seats for a later train. Luckily they didn't after seeing that I was quite heavily pregnant and couldn't run to catch it. I then had to wait until Reading to get a seat home to Bath. A very long and exhausting day.

 

[vonavitch]

Well noticed that it was not as busy as it was last year only ended up spending just under £100.00 (which my partner was estatic about plus it meant that he didnt have to carry so much back to the car) - the show seemed very wax orientated, I dont know if others felt the same. I managed to find someone selling cotton pads £1.00 for 160 discs thought that was good so went a bit manic and bought loads. Will have more money to spend at the NEC now so hopefully that will be good

Yvonne

 

[ruthemma]

Oh dear - I'm only going down tomorrow!!! - not that excited now!!!:irked:

 

[loualarta]

I got to see the popIt demo. I didnt get a seat inside but stood just outside but it was great. It was what I went for so I was happy!! I do agree with it not being as busy though!

 

[sarahmarie]

I'm actually glad to hear that I didn't really miss much then seen as I didn't go this year!!

Any celebs there??

xx

 

[Divaa]

I was not impressed with the show. Alot of company stores not there that i was hoping to see. a very low morale and quality company stores needed to be there.

 

[Jen Smith]

Did anyone notice any companies selling quality electric beauty/massage beds? I am looking for an up/down and different positioned bed for my salon. I saw some at Gmex but didn't buy one (my budget was for my facial range back then) and after doing lots of internet research I just can't seem to find what I am looking for. Isn't it always the way!

 

[Rosey]

Cosmetronic usually have some good deals on electric beauty couches. HTH!

 

[Terese]

I was going to go (sun) and after reading this thread glad I spent the day with my children! I was even contemplating going Tues but I dont think I will bother....when is the one at the NEC on? anyone, cheers

 

[michelle g]

Did anyone notice any companies selling quality electric beauty/massage beds? I am looking for an up/down and different positioned bed for my salon. I saw some at Gmex but didn't buy one (my budget was for my facial range back then) and after doing lots of internet research I just can't seem to find what I am looking for. Isn't it always the way!

Yes there was.

 

[pure]

Well I enjoyed it!!

I actually ran out of time and was disappointed when 6pm arrived. I met sam, Samantha and Gigi at the Popits demo which was really helpful. Met some geeks even though I totally forgot about the meet up at 4pm!

Pleased with what I did buy, got some nails done,the wonderful Kim aka Wax queen did my eyebrows for me at the Perron Rigot stand (and an excellent job she did too!). Sorry I missed you Andy. :hug:

As I said I just wish I'd had more time. (Left home at 8.30, arrived at Excel at 1.30 and finally got home at 11.45pm!!)

I want to go back! :lol:

 

[loubylou]

I thought it was a bit disapointing also but have to agree you wasnt squashed at all, plenty of manouvering room, no long queues and able to see the products on offer.

Maybe as it was mothersday there wasnt as many people there and today and tomorrow will be different? Dont make no odds to me, im now home after enduring 6 hours of underground and trains (pass me the sick bucket)

The highlight for me was meeting all the lovely geeks :green:

I think it was definitely because of Mothers day, but it was good, you got to see more rather than fighting through the crowds,
those of us on here all the time knew which companies would and would not be there and those of you that are not on here so much only had to go to the professional beauty website and read the list of exhibitors to know who would be there and what offers they had on.
Yes myself and pips had nightmares on the underground as there was maintenance on loads of the lines, we left the show at about 5pm and made it to kings cross for 7pm so 2 hours for a usual 30 Min's journey, and we both got home for midnight
A great big thank you to Fozzyo for letting us share his room and a public apology from me to him :hug:,
i embarrassed him by telling the taxi driver that he was taking the pi** when he went the wrong way and then very firmly gave him the directions, and unbelievably the taxi driver on the Sunday morning tried to do the same so i ended up telling him the directions too as he was going to take the long way around (London taxi drivers don't even get me started) lol.
I was very lucky and had my legs waxed by our marvelous Andy aka axiom, my legs feel great now and it didn't hurt at all, all the waxes are great,
it was lovely to finally meet Kim aka the brow queen :hug:`s to you both.
Thank you to Kerry Moores for my demo nail and all the fab advise you gave me and pips :wink2:, it was great to see Judy1999 again with Kerry :hug:`s to you both,
it was amazing how many geeks were at the pop its seminar and lovely to meet you all, we have pics and I'm sure pips will be putting them online soon,
Gigi and Sam were entertaining on the seminar and Samantha looked wonderful as always, it is always great to catch up with you guys :hug:
hi again to every one i met up with and sorry if your names not here but i think this post is long enough lol :hug:`s to all

 

[bombini]

Now listen here bombini, oey, Zingara and I were hanging around waiting for you at 3pm. If you had stayed longer you could have joined us. We would have livened you day up no end :smack:. You party pooper :green:!

I have to say I agree though that the show was definitely lacking quality on the whole. I also noticed several great stands not present this year and the vibe and atmosphere was also missing.

I agree though that I didn't have to fight my way through hoards of shoppers and lookers and have my eyes poked out and feet trodden on :irked:.

OMG I am soooooooooo gutted now, I thought you guys would be there about 1pm, I din't plan on staying until 3pm as had bf with me and we got there when it opened so were knackered by the time we left :cry: I won't get to see anyone for ages no as I will be on holiday when the NEC show is one.

Slightly random but i promised i'd ask,my hubby built the St Tropez stand (not single handedly lol) but he did ask me to ask your opinions pm if you like

I thought it looked excellent, bf was demanding a spray tan but queue a bit to long !! Talking of queues I liked the way the queue area was designed, Ive always wondered how people book the spray tans but with this stand it was obvious where you had to queue and as it was part of the actual stand people weren't blocking up the aisles.

 

[Ruth Mills]

Alas we didn't get much further than the left hand corner of the show; we were helping one of the geeks out who was desperate for a model for the nail competition, and didn't realise that the judging afterwards would take so long, so didn't have that much time afterwards to see much (after we'd had a break to eat and whatnot).

But we *did* bump in to quite a few geeks (including Mr & Mrs Sweet, Pips, Zozo, Zebestnails, Kim the Wax Queen, Fozzo etc) - was so nice to hear "Hi Ruth" and meet someone off the site

We also got to buy some nice stuff from the OPI stand too - and the geek Sonia modelled for (Zeze) even bought us some lovely OPI nail polishes to say thank you for helping her out, which was so kind of her. And our chat with Zeze about salon computer systems was almost certainly a lot more useful than traipsing around all the computer system stalls at Excel too, as we've got a lot more idea about what we want to do now

Can't wait for the next show now - as we know more what to expect, we'll be able to plan things a bit better time wise next time...