ishga Conference 2022
ishga held its annual conference this year at the Kimpton Blythswood Hotel, Glasgow. The ishga Conference 2022 brought together the brand’s leading spa partners for a one-day event of networking, new product launches and education.
Following a welcome and business update from Co-Founder and Director, Leon Trayling, Head of Marketing, Cara Hosie reported on the marketing strategy for the past year with key highlights and offered a first look at NPD for 2022. Mark Smith Media presented an overview of the brand’s success in the consumer press revealing a series of awards and accolades for ishga products received in the past year which included: Best Hand Sanitiser and Best Natural Formula in the Marie Claire Skincare Awards, and Best Body Oil and Best Balm Cleanser in the Top Sante Skin and Body Care Awards.
Malcolm Macrae, Co-Founder and Director of ishga and Sophia Mackay, Research and Development Project Manager offered a unique insight into the research and development work taking place behind the scenes at ishga’s HQ. This work is examining the many benefits of seaweed in skincare and is also looking at a range of additional protective benefits that seaweed extracts can offer when delivered in organic skincare products. The team is currently working in partnership with Atlantic Technological University in Sligo and is hoping to release its findings later this year.
The conference also heard how ishga has partnered with Swell, a sound wellness business founded by international DJ and music psychology specialist Brian d’Souza. D’Souza explained how this unique partnership aims to harness the power of sound, translating this into a range of therapeutic sound ‘treatments’ to accompany ishga’s award-winning products and treatments.
Following a healthy, Scottish-inspired lunch, Spa Consultant, Jacqueline Ross presented an engaging talk on retail titled, ‘GROW’. The session was hard hitting with some simple and effective takeaways for the audience to implement in their spas including bespoke training sessions for therapists on implementing 90 second consultations and perfect prescriptions with every client.