Editorial Letter

Generally Speaking

Jessica De Vault Hale EDITOR There’s no doubt that wet hair products are the cornerstone at many OTCs, but general merchandise is an equally important component. Whether it’s jewelry and hair bonnets or clothing and flip flops, this category is broad but necessary. Beauty supply stores are quickly becoming the go-to place not just for multicultural beauty but for our other needs, as well.

Throughout the years, we’ve seen everything from socks and shapewear in beauty aisles to trendy accessories and cosmetics. Hair products may be the draw, but sales can be increased with general merchandise. That’s why we’ve dedicated much of this issue to educating our readers on the most popular general products at Jinny Beauty Supply.

We kick things off with our Marketplace, showcasing 12 general merchandise items that are hot at Jinny. Check that out on page 12. Our feature story taps into the essential merchandise you should have in store: personal protective equipment. Learn more about what customers are expecting to see so that you can be prepared on page 44.

And as usual, check out the hottest-selling products in the general merchandise category at Jinny. This month’s focus: detangling products and tools. You likely have tons of detanglers in stock, but we’ll share which five SKUs are selling the best. Suppose you’ve already stocked up on your general merchandise for the month. In that case, Merchandising Specialist Scott Zangwill offers a few tips on how to increase foot traffic and sales with this particular product category on page 18.

But don’t worry, we’re not solely focused on general merchandise in this edition. We worked alongside our manufacturers to provide some educational materials on some of their latest offerings, which are sure to help you sell more to your customers.

I hope you find this issue of OTC Beauty Magazine to be particularly informative. Be sure to fill out our reader survey on page 64 and let us know!