Uplink Live opens in New York City this August

But it’s not only big-name cosmetics and personal care ingredient suppliers who will be exhibiting at this first Uplink Live event; packaging companies like Aptar; manufacturers like Mana Products and The Goodkind Co. (formerly Texas Beauty Labs)​; and others industry mainstays will be there too.

Having become well known for its IBE events around the world, the Indie Beauty Media Group (IBMG) is evolving with the indie movement to help brands meet the challenges of building a business and competing in the marketplace. The new event is “a natural progression in terms of the ecosystem we’ve created for indie brands,” ​says IBMG co-founder Jillian Wright.

Accordingly, the spectrum of business-support providers exhibiting at the inaugural Uplink Live goes well beyond ingredients, packaging, and manufacturing. Wright tells Cosmetics Design that shipping and fulfillment contractors, PR and influencer marketing firms, insurance providers, attorneys, sales and staffing agencies, operations experts, business consulting firms, certification ventures, regulatory and compliance pros, beauty tech providers, and ecommerce platforms will be showcasing their offerings at Uplink Live next month and speaking directly with beauty entrepreneurs and brand leaders about their business needs. Uplink Live exhibitors, says Wright, “want to work with indie brands.”​

Indie Beauty means business​

The new supplier discovery show for indie beauty brand leaders will run concurrently with this year’s IBE NY event, and the same ticket gets attendees in to both shows.

For the first time since IBE launched here in New York City 5 years ago, the show will not include a consumer shopping event, as Cosmetics Design reported in May​. IBE is now, exclusively, a place where indie brands (in cosmetics, personal care, fragrance, supplements, wellness, intimate care, etc.) exhibit there latest and greatest products and meet with retail buyers, media, and influencers.  

All the major beauty tradeshows now welcome and feature independent and startup brands. So Cosmetics Design asked Wright why the industry needs another supply-side show.

“We are the largest exhibition of independent beauty in the world; and there is nobody else doing what we are doing in such a laser-focused manner,”​ she says, noting that at Uplink Live “You don’t have to navigate through 400 other companies that won’t even look at you.” ​

Uplink Live, adds Wright, “is the​ indie showcase…​.It’s bespoke. It’s vetted. It’s curated….We’re [bringing together] the crème de la crème of service providers.”​

The time and place and content  ​

Uplink Live will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, August 21 (2pm-8pm) and August 22 (9am – 5pm), at Pier 94 in New York City. IBE NY will be in the same venue on those same dates. The idea being that entrepreneurs and business leaders can connect with the right people to help move their brands forward, whether that means media and buyers, suppliers and service providers, or a combination of both.

There will be educational presentations each day as part of Uplink Live as well. For instance, Sheri L Koetting, founder of beauty branding studio MSLK will talk about omni-channel packaging design and in a separate session Martin Kartin and Rebecca Levin of staffing agency Martin Kartin and Company will give a talk on recruiting and cultural fit.

Learn more about Uplink Live online here​.
and save 10% on your ticket with the code CD10

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Deanna Utroske, CosmeticsDesign.com Editor, covers beauty business news in the Americas region and publishes the weekly Indie Beauty Profile column, showcasing the inspiring work of entrepreneurs and innovative brands.