i am not advertising.

There is  the Natural and Organic Cosmetics Summit in  London next week with workshops and and most of the leading names in the industry giving talks etc, i  had wanted to go but got put off  by the £999 price tag.  one review of the summit i read suggested that there would also be apparently discussions on  industry regulation tightening etc which means possible death to the small manufacturer.

Sounds interesting, and not too far from me, but that price!!!

It would honestly be tempting to get someone to represent the small business owner at some of these things and everyone spring for the cost of getting someone in the door for this...I'm rather appalled that cost will keep the "little voices" from getting heard in this regard, or is there a small business representative there we could send tonnes of letters to?

Since I'm close, I'd offer to go as long as I don't pay that price all by myself!
That really is off-putting to us small ones.

Pity this wasn't on at a different time of year - bit of a problem finding spare cash ATM.

I suppose it's set at this time because of the recasting of the Cosmetics Directive going before the EU parliament early next year.

There is a 30% discount on their website-I wonder if you rang them you could get it down even more? Perhaps by complaining a bit about the cost being prohibitive for smaller outfits and mention representing a group of handcrafted soap and cosmetics manufacturers, do you think that would work?? They might let you in free or for a nominal fee if you complain enough !

Also i wonder if there is going to be any audio (or video) of the seminars to purchase later? Or some sort of record of what was discussed. It just doesn't seem right that we won't have access to the info because of the cost!

Checking back on this...I may ring up and ask for some minutes or transcripts of discussions, and I'd be interested to know if this is going forward next year; maybe we could send some representatives then!  Because I agree, it's pretty unfair to not have the voices of the small business owner heard on these things.

Sg, that would be great if you get feedback, please do let us know, but i wont hold my breath, the line up is  a slight snobbish bunch.
I say, sometimes the reception in here is so nice that it doesn't prepare you for the real world, this year i have been to some workshops/talks/trade shows  etc, and people's  attitudes made me feel small and insignificant, it leaves you wondering 'why, have i paid so much to come and hear someone so up their a}&* give a talk they so don't want to?, but good luck , i for one i am so intrigued by this summit and wished i had been a fly on the wall, there were a lot of reviews on it leading p to it.

So please come back with something.

I was talking to kes about this today.  It is something that I do think small businesses should have a voice on.  I would be most interested SG if you get anywhere and maybe we could publish something to the site - Small businesses take a surprising portion of the the market (but sadly do not get even a foot in the door because of budget issues).  Please, please, please keep us in the know. 

The perk is as an American expatriate people expect me to be utterly uncouth, without social graces, and  pushy and aggressive - for some reason we're all from New York  .   However when dealing with red tape, they also automatically assume that I'm not going to give in until I get a yes and tend to oblige rather quickly as a result of same so it works in my favour!

So I'll get back to everyone when I get some answers, as I've a few things to check up on in the coming year.  Does anyone have any contacts with a few of the Toiletries Guilds in the UK to maybe get a bit of leverage?

This is why I am so interested SG - I am the chair 

Right, I've got the organiser's name and number and I'll see about getting transcripts.  They might not be typed up yet but at these sorts of events, they are usually available - albeit for a fee.  I'll see what I come up with.

Ok SG, let me know 

bump!
Sg did you get the chance to follow this up at all?

Yes indeed, I have forwarded on info on, as I got names and numbers of the group that hosted the summit.  Maybe we'll be able to pool something together this year.