General News
Mekka Team Sign On To Lead Education For Backstage Commerce Inc.
Posted on Jul 17, 2019
Montreal, CANADA— July 12, 2019— Backstage Commerce Inc is proud to announce that the Mekka Systems Team, led by Kathy Simon, have signed on to lead education for BSC with a focus on Lakmé Hair Color. The Mekka Team’s mandate will start August 1st, 2019. They will be available to our distributors in support of BSC brands upon request for all future education, seminars and shows.
“Its official, the Mekka Systems Team lead by Kathy Simon is part of the BSC, Inc team. We are so thrilled to be working with some of the best stylist. We are all going to have so much fun, I love it!” – Jonathan Morello, President of Backstage Commerce Inc. (BSC Inc.)
“We are really excited to be joining the BSC team. Having worked with some of the top brands in my 25+ years in the industry, Lakme, matches, if not surpasses the major color lines. Lakme color has fantastic shine and vibrancy; the pigments have great strength and are true to swatch. It is as high quality as we have ever experienced down to their production principals; their consistency and attention to detail are superb.” – Kathy Simon, Creator and Developer of the Mekka System.
About The Mekka System
The Mekka System of Education is a fresh and innovative approach to teaching the art and science of structural hair design. Incorporating an understanding of the timeless principles of geometry with the knowledge of how to apply these principles, the Mekka System teaches artists how to design and create haircuts and colors placement that work with the unique architecture of an individual’s head shape.
About Kathy Simon
Kathy Simon is the Creator and Developer of the Mekka System of Education. Kathy has been in the hair industry for almost 30 years. She is the creator and developer of the Mekka System of Education. Since 1997, her system has impacted the lives of hundreds of hair professionals and has helped students raise their professional and technical standards. Kathy is the owner and the Artistic director of the Montréal’s Mekka Education Studio established in June 2013, where she teaches the various Mekka programs to students visiting from across North America. She also leads and develops the Mekka Artist team who all travels to promote the Mekka system throughout North America at countless seminars and shows.
About Backstage Commerce Inc
Backstage Commerce is a Canadian based importer and manufacturer of professional hair beauty products, operating in global markets. Always striving to be first to market with differentiating innovative solutions, BSC sources the most cutting edge answers from suppliers ahead of the curve. Reaching out to over a million stylists in North America alone through a network of established distributers, BSC’s team boasts collectively over 65 years of experience in the professional beauty industry, thus appreciating the creativity and artistry of their end user, the stylist, to better serve them and their needs.
The New Experience in Blondes
Posted on Nov 21, 2017
Lightening is the service that gives the colorist freedom of expression at its most authentic. Create and recreate with multiple techniques which bring out the professionals’ skill, creativity and imagination.
k.blonde is the lightening system from Lakmé which allows a complete change of image, with spectacular results and with extreme care of the hair fibers.
Creativity without limits
k.blonde puts in the hands of the colorist the most versatile and functional tools to unleash their imagination and creativity. k.blonde lets you create more glamorous and desirable cool blondes.
Create a revealing makeover or play with multiple techniques to achieve colors with a very different and special feel, and create spectacular, personalized blondes.
k.blonde Compact bleaching powder-cream. Bleaching in highly-active compact powder- cream. Its homogeneous and stable non-volatile formula prevents powder from forming during mixing. Highly active bleaching agents which achieve greater lightening while respecting the hair fibers.
k.blonde Bleaching cream ammonia free. Ammonia free bleaching cream, low in persulfates. To achieve personalized, unique and more creative blondes with maximum safety and comfort. Excellent cosmetic properties. Dermatologically tested.
k.blonde Bleaching clay. Bleaching clay to create the most on-trend and creative looks. Soft, clayey and consistent texture. Dries rapidly on the hair, does not stain. Allows any free technique to be applied.
k.blonde Toners. Ammonia free toning cream for blonde and bleached hair. Neutralizes unwanted yellow highlights to achieve perfect, luminous, shiny blonde hair.
At Lakmé, creating blondes means creating perfect blondes, real blondes, glamorous blondes. The challenge is to treat hair delicately during the process of achieving that dream blonde.
Backstage Commerce Inc. Ranks No. 133 on the 2017 PROFIT 500 – Canadian Business and PROFIT unveils the 29th annual PROFIT 500 ranking of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies
Posted on Sep 14, 2017
Montreal (Sept 14, 2017) Canadian Business and PROFIT today ranked Backstage Commerce Inc. No. 133rd on the 29th annual PROFIT 500, the definitive Ranking Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies by five-year revenue growth, the PROFIT 500 profiles the country’s most successful growth companies. A joint venture between Canada’s premier business and current affairs media brands, the PROFIT 500 is published in the October issue of Maclean’s magazine and online at CanadianBusiness.com.
Backstage Commerce Inc., importer of professional beauty products, made the 2015 PROFIT 500 list with five-year revenue growth of 537%“It is never easy to earn a spot on the PROFIT 500, but this year’s applicant pool was the most competitive yet,” says Deborah Aarts, PROFIT 500 editor and program manager. “This year’s winners demonstrate the resilience, innovation and sheer management smarts it takes to build a thriving business today. Canada—and the world—needs more entrepreneurial success stories like these.”
About the PROFIT 500
For 29 years, the PROFIT 500 has been Canada’s most respectable and influential ranking of entrepreneurial achievement. Developed by PROFIT and now published in Maclean’s magazine and at CanadianBusiness.com, the PROFIT 500 ranks Canadian companies on five-year revenue growth. For more information on the ranking visit PROFIT500.com or CanadianBusiness.com.
About Canadian Business
Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-serving and most-trusted business publication in the country. It is the country’s premier media brand for executives and senior business leaders. It fuels the success of Canada’s business elite with a focus on the things that matter most: leadership, innovation, business strategy and management tactics. Learn more at CanadianBusiness.com.
About Backstage Commerce Inc. is a Canadian based importer and manufacturer of professional hair beauty products, operating in global markets. Always striving to be first to market with differentiating innovative solutions, BSC sources the most cutting edge answers from suppliers ahead of the curve. Reaching out to over a million stylists in North America alone through a network of established distributers, BSC’s team boasts collectively over 65 years of experience in the professional beauty industry, thus appreciating the creativity and artistry of their end user, the stylist, to better serve them and their needs.
BSC INC. gets kids friendly with latest New Jersey based partners Little Green
Posted on Jul 14, 2017
We are pleased to announce that BSC Inc will now be joining the Kids Personal Care market with new partners Little Green – a line of personal care products designed for kids and babies.
Little Green is a family-owned company based in New Jersey. They developed a collection of haircare and skin care products meticulously formulated for the hyper sensitive skin of babies and children, all made in the USA.
“I was determined to create a collection of products that lived up to its’ claims Safe. Gentle. Pure. Hypoallergenic formulas, No Allergens, No Parabens, No Sulfates; Clinically & Dermatologist Tested”.
-Carmen DePasquale, founder of Little Green
A team that respects children and the environment they will grow up in. As Little Green’s exclusive Canadian importers, we look forward to bringing these great products to families around the country.
To know more about Little Green, visit the links below:
http://www.littlegreencares.com
BSC INC. partners with Netherland’s latest line for Gents only – The Barberstation
Posted on Jul 14, 2017
We are excited to announce that BSC Inc will officially be the exclusive North American importer of Barberstation, an edgy grooming line for men.
Barberstation opened their first barbershop in Nijmegen, Holland in 2013. They have since grown to become the biggest old school barbershop in Holland; now managing 3 barbershops, a Barber Academy and a full grooming products line. The brand was recently awarded the Kapper Keten Best Barber/Hairdressers Chain Company of the Netherlands, an award that demonstrates the appreciation of both the industry and the Dutch consumers of their eclectic style.
“Being an old school barbershop means that we master the craftmanship to create perfect classic haircuts, like the pompadour, the executive contour, the slickback, flattop, cuts like that. We only do classic haircuts that have survived the ravages of time, we don’t do trendy fashion haircuts. We do our own thing and we do it damn well if I may say so! We are not into fashion but we are into style and class, with a little raw rock ‘n roll edge. A style for real gentlemen and guys with attitude.”
– Jean van Rossum, founder of Barberstation
We are confident that their intricate craftsmanship and inspired vision will speak to many North American men, and are looking forward to a great partnership.
Get to know the Barberstation team by following the links below:
Y.S. PARK: The man behind the brand
Posted on Dec 21, 2016
Stylists worldwide are already familiar with the innovations of the Y. S. PARK brand of tools and accessories. As the first choice tool among stage artists like Guy Tang, Ted Gibson, Kevin Mancuso, Nathaniel Hawkins, Christian Mark, Michael Silva, as well as multiple celebrity stylists, Y. S. PARK tools are designed with the stylist’s technique and comfort in mind in order to maximize results.
Most brushes and combs on the market are typically designed as intermediaries between the stylist and the client, but Mr. Park looks at combs and brushes as being just as important, if not MORE important, than electricals and liquids. Brushes and combs are the most used tools in salons, and yet typically have the least amount of time invested in their design.
Rather than complain about the problem, Mr. Young Soo Park decided to do something about it. Speaking to Mr. Park about his tools is akin to speaking to a scientist or engineer about their latest discovery and/or development. Here is my much-anticipated interview with this true innovator and legend in the Hair & Beauty industry.
What made you decide you wanted to be a hairdresser?
Ever since I was young, I always had an interest in design and designing. Nothing was off-limits. I wanted to re-design everything around me. This led me to designing hair, as it allowed me to exercise the most amount of creativity.
So what inspired you to create the Y.S. PARK brand we know and love today?
As a stylist, I spent all of my time in salons, working to perfect my craft. As time went on, I started to contemplate methods to improve my process by making it faster, simpler, and more precise. Using these 3 targets as inspiration, I began to design tools that helped me both demonstrate AND improve my skills, all while saving my time, and the valuable time of my clients. This was the beginning of what is now known as “Y.S.PARK Professional”.
Tell us why is Y.S.PARK Professional is so different than all other comb, brush and accessory brands available in the market today?
Other brands of hairdresser’s tools are often conceived by marketer or brand designer that has never actually studied hairdressing. All Y.S.PARK products are designed by me! …a hairdresser! This was the starting point to achieve the innovations that Y.S.PARK is now known for. With other brands, when designer is not a hairdresser, so many products are often based on older products already in the market, which are now becoming obsolete. The main problem is that these designers will never end up using the tools themselves, as they are not stylists or colorists themselves. These tools are designed with how they “think” the tool is to be used. So I decided to start from scratch and re-design tools to meet my needs as a stylist. I basically created tools that I needed for myself. As a starting point, I would think about the style I was looking to achieve, then engineer a tool that would be perfect to create that hair style.
How do you feel knowing that your products have become favorites among top stylists and colorists around the world?
I am happy to know that top stylists and colorists around the world are thinking the same way as me. They never regret spending more money for my products, as they always achieve the desired result. I am proud and grateful that I can share the value of my products with them.
I have noticed at trade shows that your products have a “cult following” (“cult following” means that the popularity and success of the products happens because one stylist told another). Did you ever imagine that you would reach this level of acceptance and success in the hair and beauty industry?
Yes, actually. I was thinking about that when I created my first combs (YS-339 and YS-101). This is what led me to the 2 different Y.S.PARK trademark designs: the Y.S.PARK “holes” and the “short second tooth”. When on stage, we have often heard stage artists refer to my products as “the comb with the holes”, as it was easy to remember because of the quality, and simple to identify because of the design. Back in the day when this started to happen, I was still working in my salon every day, so I was not investing much time in sales of my products. This level of brand recognition really helped the brand tremendously in those early days. I even had trouble securing distribution at the time because distributors didn’t want to take on the risk of carrying new comb designs that “seemed defective or broken” (the shortened 2nd tooth, for example). They even asked me to “fill in the holes”, and “lengthen the second tooth”! (He laughed hard at this suggestion). But I stuck with it, and now everyone knows that the “combs with the holes” is the Y.S.PARK comb.
Along with your combs, brushes and accessories, you have also engineered a completely unique set of tools used to re-train stylists and colorists in terms of how the understand the head shape, and everything related to the art of hairdressing. They are the HEAD FIT RULERS, and are unlike anything anyone had ever seen before! Why, how and when did you develop these revolutionary techniques and tools? Please tell us the story how this happened!
Starting in 1990, I began exporting my product to the USA and other countries abroad. I also started to attend international competitions and communicate my message and designs with various schools worldwide. I recognised that there are no joint international standards and foundations for all hairdressers. I wanted to create a common thread among stylists worldwide, and since I was a creative stylist and product engineer, I created the Y.S.PARK ‘Head Fit Rulers’ using hi-tech design software, with which I engineered my ‘3D Head Map’.
When did you develop your educational platform to go along with these techniques and tools?
Since 2000, I started to use my Educational System in my own Y.S. PARK Academy in Tokyo, teaching all the staff at my salons. I have yet to officially launch the program worldwide, so I am currently launching it one country at a time. The next country on my list is Canada. Eventually, we will open our International Academy, inviting stylists, colorists, and teachers worldwide to learn these new techniques.
Where have these techniques been taught so far?
I have taught the ‘Head Fit Rulers’ techniques and ‘3D Head Map’ in Japan, USA, Korea, China, Germany and Russia.
I understand you will now be offering your first set of classes in Canada at the Toronto ABA in March of 2017. You must be excited to be able to spread your knowledge for the first time to Canadian Stylists and Colorists? How did that come to be?
I used to work in a salon in Vancouver in 1979. After that I had visited Canada often, and I know that Canadian stylists are very talented, but rarely saw them compete in international scholastic platforms. It seems to always be stylists and colorists from schools in Paris, London and NY that “seemed” to be stronger schools in the world. This supported my concept to create a joint international standard; fair for all. I wanted Canadian stylists to have access to the same level of education as these other countries, and really show off their skills; I know first-hand how particularly dedicated Canadians are to their crafts. I am definitely excited to make Canada my next stop as now we have great support with our exclusive Canadian importer, Backstage Commerce Inc., as well as our new Ontario distributor, Venus beauty Supplies. On top of offering the products, both are very focused on education; which is very important to me.
Do you have any new products that are going to be released soon? We would love a sneak peek!
At the moment I am working on few new products. However to release each product takes me minimum 6 years as I test each tool in my own salons until I feel they are perfect. It has been said that mastery takes 10,000 hours to achieve, and I believe in that principle. I believe it’s worth it.
For the first time ever in Canada, Mr. Park will be teaching his innovative techniques to a limited audience at the 2017 Toronto ABA on March 26th & 27th, proudly hosted by Venus Beauty Supply.
For more information or tickets (limited), please contact:
Liz Cabral-Hinks, Education & Events Manager: cell 1-519-212-2213, email: liz@venusbeauty.com
LAKME USA Modern Salon Spotlight
Posted on Dec 01, 2016
Lakme BioArgan collection featured in Salon Magazine!
Check out why this 3-piece collection of Organic Argan Oil professional hair care products is the new leader in Argan-based products.
http://www.modernsalon.com/product/77131/the-bio-argan-collection-by-lakeme
SACHET KSTY. TOP-TEN STYLE-CARE BALM 10
Posted on Nov 29, 2016
Backstage Commerce Inc. Ranks No. 50 on the 2016 PROFIT 500
Posted on Sep 19, 2016
Montreal (September 15, 2016) Canadian Business and PROFIT today ranked Backstage Commerce Inc. No. 50 on the 28th annual PROFIT 500, the definitive ranking of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies. Published in the October issue of Canadian Business and at PROFITguide.com, the PROFIT 500 ranks Canadian businesses by their five-year revenue growth.
Backstage Commerce Inc. made the 2016 PROFIT 500 list with five-year revenue growth of 1,655%.
“Companies become a part of the PROFIT 500 through innovative thinking, smart strategy and sheer grit,” says James Cowan, Editor-in-chief of PROFIT and Canadian Business. “These firms demonstrate what Canadian entrepreneurs can achieve, both at home and across the globe.”
BSC is honoured to be on the PROFIT 500 ranking for the third consecutive year,” says CEO Jonathan Morello. “This achievement reflects the strength of our products and the dedication of our team.”
Backstage Commerce Inc. entered the Profit Hot 50 list in 2013 as Canada’s #20 Top New Growth Companies. Two years later, it was ranked #3 as the fastest growing company in Quebec by PROFIT guide in 2015. Reaching out to over a million stylists in North America alone through a network of established distributers, BSC’s team boasts collectively over 65 years of experience in the professional beauty industry, thus appreciating the creativity and artistry of their end user, the stylist, to better serve them and their needs.
About PROFIT and PROFITguide.com
PROFIT: Your Guide to Business Success is Canada’s preeminent media brand dedicated to the management issues and opportunities facing small and mid-sized businesses. For 34 years, Canadian entrepreneurs across a vast array of economic sectors have remained loyal to PROFIT because it’s a timely and reliable source of actionable information that helps them achieve business success and get the recognition they deserve for generating positive economic and social change. Visit PROFIT online at PROFITguide.com.
About Canadian Business
Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-serving, best-selling and most-trusted business publication in the country. With a total brand readership of more than 1.1 million, it is the country’s premier media brand for executives and senior business leaders. It fuels the success of Canada’s business elite with a focus on the things that matter most: leadership, innovation, business strategy and management tactics. We provide concrete examples of business achievement, thought-provoking analysis and compelling storytelling, all in an elegant package with bold graphics and great photography. Canadian Business—what leadership looks like.
About Backstage Commerce Inc. is a Canadian based importer and manufacturer of professional hair beauty products, operating in global markets. Always striving to be first to market with differentiating innovative solutions, BSC sources the most cutting edge answers from suppliers ahead of the curve.
Media Contact
Andrea Donato, adonato@bscinc.co, 514-381-5555 x 107
Frank Dicintio wins award using HT Extensions
Posted on Jul 13, 2016
http://backstagecommerce.ca/images/news/7236478216859rqtuwye.jpg
It is a proud moment for all of us at Backstage Commerce Inc. to announce that multi award winning stylist Frank Dicintio has won the Hair Extensions Artist of the Year Award at the 2013 edition of the Contessa Awards ceremony using HT Extensions. While accepting the award, Frank thanked HT Extensions and all the staff members at BSC Inc.
Congratulations Frank and we wish you all success in the future!
