I have the distinct honor of working with a beauty retailer to build their managers conference and in a world of man-based businesses, it's an absolute delight to work with women. Pink Keynote templates! Photos of lipsticks! Learning about new products! If ever there were a show I'd wanna be on, it would be this one. But the part I hadn't yet enjoyed was their Expo.
My only experience previously was watching the attendees all walk back to the conference hotel laden with tote bags filled with products like a horde of Beauty Santas. I could only imagine the joy of their Expo where instead of stress balls you got mascaras; instead of taking a swing on the virtual golf course, someone curled your hair and redid your eyeshadow. And it seemed all they had to do was bring a bag and just like Halloween, vendors would simply toss these algae masks and perfume samples in without so much as a joke being uttered. It was Lady Halloween and I have never wanted to go to something so desperately in my life.
And then it happened. This year, the schedule cleared, there was a two-hour window, and the North Hall was in full swing so we locked up our laptops and were magically transported (via tour bus) to LADY HALLOWEEEEEEEN! There were brow magicians! Ball pits! Fresh pressed juices! Photo ops with skincare founders and makeup founders and hair care founders! There were casino games and costumed characters and manicures and makeovers and it was a glorious beauty wonderland I never wanted to leave. But, like all magic, it must come to an end. So, I will cling to my memories of a convention center hall filled with beauty and dream of the day I can return for the greatest holiday of the year - Lady Halloween.