Our journey to Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna marked Salt of the Earth's first European trade show appearance, and what an adventure it was! From travel mishaps to impressive connections, our trip to Italy's premier beauty exhibition certainly didn't fail to amaze.
The Journey Begins...With Challenges!
Any seasoned traveller knows that sometimes the journey is as memorable as the destination itself. Our trip to Bologna proved this point perfectly. With sore feet from miles of walking exhibition halls, a citywide bus strike in Bologna that tested our navigation skills, and even a fire at a substation near Heathrow that knocked out power and caused one team member to hastily book a new flight – we certainly earned our pasta dinners!
Despite these hurdles, our spirits remained high. After all, we're an adaptable bunch at Salt of the Earth. Being a family-run business since 1993, we've learned to roll with the punches while staying true to our values of trust and honesty.
Connecting Across Continents
The beauty of Cosmoprof lies in its international appeal, and we were thrilled to meet companies from across the globe. Our stand welcomed visitors from Ukraine, Mexico, Peru, Lithuania, Armenia, Germany, Brazil, the Dutch Antilles, Denmark – and that's naming just a few!
It was particularly heartwarming to reconnect with many of our existing distributors who've helped bring our COSMOS Natural certified deodorants to international markets. These partnerships have been crucial in sharing our unique range of natural deodorants with environmentally conscious consumers worldwide.
What Caught Visitors' Attention
Feedback from visitors was overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting they "hadn't seen anything like" our products before. Particular highlights included:
- Our comprehensive refill concept (which we've proudly offered since 2013)
- Our diverse fragrance range
- Our commitment to 100% natural origin ingredients
- Our recent B Corp certification
Our Ocean & Coconut, Peony Blossom, Oud & Bergamot, and Clary Sage & Mint proved to be the crowd favourites – something to note for those of you who haven't tried these fragrances yet!
Industry Camaraderie
One of the unexpected joys of Cosmoprof was spotting familiar faces from other UK brands. We shared laughs, insights and support with teams from Elipsis Brands, Evolve Skincare, Dr PawPaw, The Scottish Soap Company and many others.
There's something uniquely special about the camaraderie among independent brands. Despite technically being competitors in some cases, we found ourselves sharing experiences and strategies for growing our respective export businesses. This collaborative spirit reflects what we love about the natural products industry.
Behind-the-Scenes Inspiration
For Thomas, our Managing Director who has run the company since 2008, the manufacturing equipment exhibits proved irresistible. "I loved all the packaging machinery," he confessed, "and now I want to find a place in our manufacturing line for a robotic arm – big dreams!"
Who knows what innovations might be coming to our Hampshire factory next?
Pasta, Pizza, and Planning for the Future
No trip to Italy would be complete without mentioning the food! Between meetings, we savoured authentic pasta, tortellini in brodo, and pizza that reminded us why Italian cuisine is celebrated worldwide.
On the last day, it was finally time to indulge in super cappuccinos for breakfast – a proper Italian treat to fuel our final round of meetings!
These meal breaks provided valuable time for our team to reflect on what we'd learned and how we can continue to improve our range of natural deodorants – from sprays and roll-ons to sticks and balms.
Looking Ahead
With 57 awards already under our belt, we're not resting on our laurels. Cosmoprof has inspired us with fresh ideas and connections that will help us continue to lead the way in natural deodorants.
Will we be back next year? Absolutely! As they say in Italian, "Arrivederci Cosmoprof" – See you next year!
Have you tried any of our award-winning natural deodorants? Which fragrance is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
