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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Oxygenated water spray
to join offerings at
new products showHOPES of launching a better mousetrap drive many a company to expos like this weekend's Spring New Products Show.
Pilot, aircraft mechanic, professional beach volleyball player and model Lia Young will launch her new Alo2ha Mist oxygen-drenched water spray and offer samples of a related skin care line as well.
In logo form, the 2 in the word aloha is slightly dropped, as in H2O.
Young tried the mist during a pro beach volleyball tour over the summer. "This is unbelievable," she thought. It provided the cooling she needed on the hot sandy courts, relieved sunburn and cleansed and toned her face.
"Oxygen is scientifically proven to help regenerate cells. Having that kind of science in the can was amazing," she said.
She felt it filled a need in Hawaii and told the manufacturer, "I don't want a sponsorship, I want distribution rights for Hawaii."
Young used her marketing major to create a marketing plan, which was accepted.
People equate oxygen with air and wonder, "Why would you pay for air in a can?" she said.
Education about oxygen's benefits is all it will take, Young predicted. "We'll probably see tremendous growth in the next ten years and we're anticipating turning some heads here among mainstream consumers."
Necks and hands of those consumers may enjoy a mini-massage and oxygen treatment at this weekend's show.
The mist is the beginning of Young's activated oxygen line that will include SPF-30 sunscreen, face cream, eye cream, cleanser "and an unbelievable face mask." The mist and sample kits of the skin care products will be sold at the show. Alo2ha Mist will also appear in selected ABC Stores tomorrow and will be in selected 7-Eleven and Foodland stores in late June. The 2-ounce spray sells for $7.95 at alo2hamist.com, with discounts for bulk purchases.
Having used and liked the mist, Young was willing to put her name and $15,000 behind it to start up the business.
It's a little scary, but "if you're a business person, you can conduct business in any industry. You do your research and bring your armor and full steam ahead," Young said.
Cindy Chang exhibits similar resolve, though her medical spa concept is new to Hawaii. Chang, already in business with Mo' Better Massage in Aiea, established CMC Medi-Spa LLC and brought her armor, wares and services to the Great Aloha Run Expo in February.
"We had great success," she said. "People were looking for us before we even got there the second day."
Ten percent of CMC's regulars were introduced to her business there.
Its services include acupuncture, electromedicine, laser zapping of wrinkles and eyebrow shaping, to name a few. Some treatments enhance recuperation from surgery to "reduce swelling and bruising, we're the hand-holders," Chang said. "Spa and medicine have slowly crawled together, but science and beauty have already merged, big time."
Her signature skin care and makeup products in shades beyond light, medium and dark, were formulated for Hawaii's salty air and many complexions, for instance.
Chang will also be at the Spring New Products Show, offering discounted services and products including the signature mineral makeup line.
The show at Blaisdell Center is open from 5 to 10 p.m. tomorrow night, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. General admission is $4.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at: eengle@starbulletin.com