Westlab, Bella & Bear Win Buyers’ Choice Awards at virtual ECRM session
Two companies dazzled buyers at the recent virtual ECRM Skin, Bath, Cosmetics and Natural Beauty Session. Westlab won the Drug Store News/ECRM Buyers’ Choice Award for its Mindful Salts bath products and Bella & Bear was a finalist for its Tropical Travel Pack.
The products were selected from dozens of entries submitted by participating suppliers. Buyers were able to evaluate each entry and cast their votes based on product packaging and innovation via the Drug Store News-branded Buyers’ Choice Awards section of the ECRM Connect platform.
“One trend we’ve seen during the pandemic is consumers’ increased use of self-care products to help them relax at home and achieve some sense of normalcy and well-being,” said “Craig Chmielowicz, ECRM senior vice president of health and beauty care. “The two Buyers' Choice Award winners’ products certainly address this need with some beautifully packaged and innovative self-care regimens. Congratulations to both winners!”
Westlab develops pure mineral bathing salts, aiming to make great-quality, natural wellness products that is said it works to make available at a consumer-friendly price point. Its award-winning Alchemy range blends its signature mineral salts with essential oils and plant extracts and are 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free.
The company’s Mindful Salts were developed to encourage consumers to take time out from modern life and step into a moment of peace and tranquility with a fragrant bath blending Epsom and Himalayan Salts infused with Frankincense and Bergamot essential oils, plus CBD to help promote deep relaxation.
“The ECRM sessions were a success for Westlab again,” said Nigel Hargreaves, sales director Westlab. “The platform worked seamlessly and allowed some great conversations with our new retail partners, both old and new.”
Bella & Bear, a subsidiary of Lusso Brands, started as a hobby in 2014 from a spare room in the home of partners Kelly & Patrick Campbell, with a brand and logo inspired by their two cats, Bella and Bear. The business quickly turned into something much bigger than they anticipated, and they now develop a line of products that are cruelty-free, vegan and as close to homemade as possible. The company only buys ingredients from companies that don't believe in animal testing, strives to reduce packaging and use 100% recycled material where possible, and is committed to sourcing the safest ingredients.
The Tropical Travel Pack holds four resealable sachets containing its Hawaiian Sea Salt Shampoo, Hawaiian Conditioner, Ocean Spray Foaming Salt Scrub and The Tropics Face Mask at a $7.99 retail price. It was designed to stand on its own on the shelf or to be hung on a peg. Each sachet holds more than one application, and the package itself is ideal for gifting and a great way for consumers to try out several of the company’s products before committing to a larger size.
“ECRM has played a pivotal role in the success of Bella & Bear,” said Sue Campanella, president of GMC Consulting International. “In 2019 Bella & Bear teamed up with GMC Consulting to launch the brand at that year’s ECRM session. This year has seen a lot of challenges and changes in ‘normal’ behavior, one being ECRM going virtual. We were very impressed with the overall ease of the virtual ECRM experience and are grateful for the hard work and dedication that the ECRM staff has shown us.”