What We Learned From NYSCC Suppliers’ Day 2023

We have just returned from the New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC) Suppliers’ Day 2023 event. It was a valuable learning and networking experience for all the members of the Applechem team who attended. 

In today’s blog post, we would like to tell you a little more about our experience of the event and what we learned from attending. 

What Is Suppliers’ Day?

NYSCC Suppliers’ Day is an annual event for cosmetic chemists, engineers, suppliers, distributors, and others involved in the cosmetics and personal care industry. Now held at the Javits Convention Center in New York City, Suppliers’ Day originated in Edison, New Jersey. The event has a global reach and was once the largest volunteer-run trade show in the world across all industries. It has become such a staple in our industry that it is now more notable for an organization not to attend. 

Suppliers’ Day is free to attend. This year’s conference attracted 10,362 people over the two days and featured 546 exhibitors from 73 countries, breaking attendance records from all previous years. 

Stacey House, the chair of NYSCC, said, “Attendees and exhibitors were energized by the look, feel, and size of the show and being back together to explore, discover, and discuss the science behind ingredients and formulations. Every inch of the show embraced our theme of Reimagining Renewal and Wellness and helped spark attendees’ product development plans.” 

Applechem’s Presence at Suppliers’ Day 2023

Click here to learn more about how Applechem prepared for NYSCC Suppliers’ Day 2023.

Applechem has been growing steadily over the past few years, and we believe it is important for us to attend major industry trade shows to reflect our company’s growth. We exhibited at Suppliers’ Day from a large booth, rivaling the size and scope of many multinational organizations’ displays, and were incredibly proud of the feedback we received on our setup. 

We primarily wanted to use Suppliers’ Day to network, as well as to showcase some new products we will be releasing in the next few months. 

The main product we were showcasing this year was a new grade of our Phytocare Snow Mushroom Extract. The original product has been tremendously popular, and this new version aims to offer deeper hydration of the skin and a greater production of hyaluronic acid (a carbohydrate that is plentiful in young skin and can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water). 

We also showcased a new rheological modifier for sulfate-free thickening. One of the most exciting developments seen in this product is that it is ultimately biodegradable—a claim no other thickener currently on the market can claim. 

Finally, we showcased the new grade of our S-Block zinc oxide dispersion for sunscreen. Previously targeted primarily at the high-end dermaceutical market, this latest variation is aimed at clinical companies looking to move away from silicones to more natural ingredients while retaining the sensory benefits offered by this type of dispersion. 

At this year’s Suppliers’ Day, we presented our products within themed kits representing the dominant trends within the industry. The “A Day in the Sun” collection focused on skincare and suncare products, especially those offering both moisturizing benefits and SPF protection. “A Night on the Town” focused on color cosmetics, particularly hybrid formulations providing skincare benefits. And finally, “An Hour in the Shower” focused on cleansing products, self-care, indulgence after a long day, and overall wellness. 

Takeaways From NYSCC 2023

We were fortunate enough to enjoy numerous fascinating conversations and networking opportunities at this year’s event. Throughout the two days, several themes emerged, which we have grouped into our main takeaways from Suppliers’ Day 2023: 

The Value of In-Person Events

There has been a hesitancy over the past few years—particularly from larger and multinational brands—to have chemists attend large events such as Suppliers’ Day in significant numbers. This year, however, attendees were back in numbers we had not seen since before prior to the pandemic. This demonstrates the importance of trade shows such as Suppliers’ Day to our industry. 

The pandemic and resulting loss of in-person events over the past few years have likely shown many organizations the true value of these events. Now that many restrictions have been lessened or removed (both at a governmental level and within internal company policies), attendees are keen to get back to Suppliers’ Day—which many regular attendees describe as the highlight of their professional year. 

Increased Interest in Applechem Products

We were delighted to see a significant increase in global interest in Applechem products this year. Attendees from a range of countries approached our booth, demonstrating brand recognition in those countries that we did not have even five years ago. This included countries where we do not have distributors regularly showcasing our products, which has proved to us that our international marketing efforts are working. 

A True Team Effort

From an internal company perspective, we were proud to see a wide range of our people from an array of backgrounds all working together toward the show’s success. In some cases, our employees were attending their first-ever trade show. 

At this show, we generated three times the number of leads we achieved at any previous event. Our ability to work together as a company at the largest Suppliers’ Day yet, and to gain the level of success that we enjoyed, is a testament to the power of a strong and supportive team.

An Increased Sustainability Push From Legacy Brands 

In conversations with large and legacy brands, sustainability remains at the forefront of everyone’s minds. In particular, communicating the sustainability of their supply chains is becoming increasingly important to these companies. This is especially important in the context of controversial ingredients such as palm oil. 

Thanks to the grassroots pushes from customers and small brands to ensure that ingredients come from sustainable and ethical sources, these larger companies are now evaluating their suppliers and making sustainability a key part of their platform in ways they have not done previously. In some cases, this includes acquiring small and independent brands that already have those practices in place, forcing the larger company to continue with them to retain and grow its customer base. 

What’s Next?

The Applechem team would like to thank the organizers of NYSCC Suppliers’ Day 2023, as well as all the colleagues and clients we had the pleasure of seeing at the event. If you would like to learn more about any of the takeaways we have discussed here, or about new products such as the latest addition to our Phytocare line, please get in touch anytime. 

The Applechem team will be attending the Florida Chapter Society of Cosmetic Chemists’ Sunscreen Symposium at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club from September 13–15. We will also be at the California Suppliers’ Day from October 25–26. We hope to see you there!