Welcome to the team!

Steven Soto is the newest member of the Andis clipper cutting educational team. Steven brings proven experience, solid technical skills, and a warm and engaging personality to the stage. Steven lives and works in central Florida and will support Andis’ educational programming on the east coast. Look for Steven at a show in your area soon. Listen for him in Spanish as well as English too, an added qualification that will be valuable to him, Andis and you!

Betcha' can't... Bet I can!

I have been sharing my idea for the fast and easy cutting of a bald fade on textured hair for quite some time. Just like my reverse blend classic taper, the idea is to cut the top first and taper/fade down the sides, avoiding the hard “fade point” line around the head. I have been claiming to be able to complete this cut in 7 minuets.

I guess that because I am the Andis expert, no one has questioned or challenged this claim… until yesterday. A group of barber students surrounded the Andis booth and asked if what they had heard was true? Can you really cut a bald fade on textured hair in 7 minuets? Of course I can was my reply. With that, one of the guys plops down in the chair and says, “lets go, cut me”.

I asked for a minute to get my tools set and get the client draped and ready. I grabbed my Andis Ceramic Advanced and off I went. About 9 minuets later I was done. The crowd agreed that I was allowed the extra two minuets as I was demonstrating and explaining and this slowed me a bit. I also offered up that since I am not cutting hair daily in a shop I am not in fighting trim and not capable of cutting at peak speed. I wonder how fast I could cut it with a little practice?

Vision Quest

My recent classes have had a renewed focus on visual issues when cutting. One reason for this has been the introduction of the HeadLight clipper and T-Light trimmer. My new mantra, and the tag line we are using to promote the tools, “you cannot cut what you cannot see” is true, easy to understand, and has really resonated with hair cutting professionals. The other area where this line has become more popular is in the use and application of the world famous Andis clipper combs. The white comb for dark hair and black comb for light hair schtick has been a staple of my classes since the day Andis offered the white comb for sale. The addition of the promotional line “you cannot cut what you cannot see” has made the tip more memorable and applicable. Sales of the two combs are at levels never seen before and show no sign of slowing. I cannot help but wonder if this is just another reminder of the aging graying baby boomer factor in American demographics. Hair cutters are grabbing anything that can help stave off the challenges of getting older. Remember, this is coming from a hair cutter who got bifocals a few years ago and is now the not-so-proud owner of trifocals. My lenses offer distance, reading and a custom hair cutting length from my eyes to a head of hair approximately 18 inches away. I cannot cut what I cannot see.

The World is Flat

I am about 1/3 of the way through a really important book. Thomas Freidman’s The World is Flat. This is a powerful look at the world in which we are living and how it is changing in amazing ways and at amazing speeds. If you want to get ahead, or even hope to keep up, keep your job or keep yourself relevant in the coming years this is a must read. My copy will not be back to the library for a while. You had better get your own.

Time to compete!

It is not too early to be planning for your entry into the Bronner Bros. show barbering competition coming up on Feb. 18, 2007 in Atlanta, GA. The World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta plays host to this big hair show event and the competition is a must see part of the weekend. Andis has been the sponsor of this event for several years. It is a great event for all who participate. Each contestant receives FREE Andis tools and equipment to use to compete and keep afterward. Bronner Bros. awards cash prizes to the top 3 place winners. It is a great place to showcase you talent and take your clipper cutting career to the next level. See you in Atlanta!

Ruby

A gem of a tool is now shipping out to a beauty supply distributor near you. The inferno red, Ruby, cord/cordless clipper trimmer is now available. This is Lola’s more sophisticated sister. Ruby features the same high performance motor and stainless steel precision blade of Lola with the addition of cord/cordless technology. Ruby offers a powerful combination that will release your creative freedom. Get yours today!

Andis Tattoos

I see them all the time. This one was offered up at a barber school last week in Chicago. I have NEVER seen a Wahl tattoo or an Oster tattoo… kinda says something, doesn’t it!

Blogs with photos

I have finally learned how to post images to my blog entries! This is a big step ahead for me and my command of technology. Be on the lookout for entries with accompanying photos…like this one.

Ask me!

I have a new column appearing in January in OTC Beauty Magazine. It will be a clipper, trimmer and other electrical tools Q&A column. If you have a question... I will need to have answers. Get those questions in to me through the Andis web site here or through OTC Beauty Magazine at suggestions@otcbeautymagazine.com I'm ready and waiting.

The Outlook

Heard an interesting tidbit on the ABC evening news the other day…fastest growing segment of the job market in the U.S. is in service sector jobs…jobs like hairstylist…can’t outsource ‘em to Pakistan…can’t do it with a computer…(except maybe to book the appointment)…this is good news for industry suppliers, for students in the schools and for our entire industry…everyone wants to be on a winning team…the professional beauty industry is winning big now and in the years to come…be sure to get your share.

Salon (truly ) International 2006

It is a hair show. That is both the good and the bad news… On the bad side it is quite surprising to travel to the other side of the world to find that stylists are stylists, hair is hair and not much is different. On the good side… there is not much different… our talents are universal. Our skills are valued and in-demand throughout the planet. The language of cutting hair has no one language.

Stylists from Spain, Rumania, Russia, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany and many other nations watched me share clipper cutting. They smiled and nodded just the same way that audiences in America do as I share my tips and tricks. They understood me completely even though some of them did not understand a single word. I guess the lesson here is… “Just shut up and cut”. Not a bad message… also, not the first time it has been sent to me !

Built to last

I saw the oldest known working clock in existence in Salisbury Cathedral dating back to 1392. Windsor castle is nearly 1,000 years old. The stuff around here from the 1700’s is considered recent and new. There is not a single thing in North America that is over 400 years old except maybe a redwood or two. How am I supposed to feel about all of my efforts focused on the creation and delivery of a service and product that is completely gone in 3 weeks? Haircuts just don’t last very long. I guess that is the secret. How much did they charge to carve the intricate stonework of Westminster Abbey? That is no $8 haircut!

The American Haircut

My family was standing in line for tickets to Windsor Castle. An official looking guy was moving along the line directing people to the next queue (that is a line to wait in). As he got closer I could hear the question he was asking to divide the line. Are you a British taxpayer? My guess is that as a British taxpayer you do not have to pay admission to the castle…you own it. As he got to us he was about to ask the question when he looked at me and my head and just stated “U.S. Military haircut”… “till number 6”. Apparently my fresh high-and-tight flattop has me clearly labeled as an American. Needless to say we were paying cash for tickets.

Pub Fare

On a few occasions, we hit a pub for a meal. I am a picky eater under the best of conditions…but I found a lot of good food while here. I’ve had my fill of fish and chips. I tried beef and ale crown pie (that is not beef by my standards), Mushy peas � baby food for adults, is just what the name describes. Order lemonade and you get very sweet 7Up. Chips are fries, crisps are chips. Ketchup has a whole lot more vinegar. Hamburgers taste more like buffalo than beef… a bit gamier, lean and tough, but that is how I like it. Lighting is poor. Air is smoky. Chairs are comfy…A great place to hang out for a while.

London Hair - Ladies

In ladies hair I have seen quite a range. I have seen some great, contemporary, asymmetric shapes. I have seen some bold shapes with very progressive color as well. There are lots of heads with lots of layers. There seems to be quite a bit more short-to-mid-length hair to be seen than we see at home. Most of the straight hair is shoulder length and shorter. Long hair is left to the curlies to display. The mood seems to be that if you have straight hair that can be cut into some great shapes, why waste it on just hanging there? There is a big lesson here for the fashion focused U.S.A. I get the feeling that we are not nearly as fashionable in the states as we would like to think we are. From the looks of hair, ladies hair in the U.S. is all about trying to be sure we all look the same. Here in London there seems to be real effort invested in making sure one looks a bit different.

London Hair - Men

Travel is always a great opportunity people watch. I can sit on a bench with a large Diet Coke and watch the world go by for hours. I am specifically checking out the hair here. I have a week until I will get up on stage in front of the London crowd. This is a big show and I need to show the world what a U.S. clipper cutter has to offer. I am trying to get a feel for what I see in hair trends. It is hard to see a distinct trend or trends. Generally the men’s hair is either a bit longer than what we see in the U.S. or just buzzed off. There is not much in between. There is lots of broken texture punched up with matte finish, chunky styling products. There are lots of messy looking interiors and very few cleanly tapered perimeters.

London Calling

I am off to The Salon show in London, U.K. It will be interesting to see how I do on the flight… 7 hours is a bit much for me to be expected to sit still… Denver is about the longest I can fly without getting major antsy… LAX is not easy for me… Heathrow will be a challenge.

Prowers County, CO

Do you know where this is? Ever heard of it? I know where it is… I’ve been there. Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colorado recently hosted a visit for a clipper cutting class. I was excited to visit there and to see a part of the U.S.A. that only clipper cutting… or maybe cattle ranching might have brought me to. I had dinner in a really modern looking Thai / Chinese restaurant. The food was great and the d�cor could have put this restaurant in any major city in the country. Just outside the restaurant window, on the chamber of commerce square, I got a very up close and personal look at a blade from a wind power generator. You have seen those wind farms along the hills outside of Vegas? There is a wind farm outside of Lamar and they put a blade in town as a local attraction and a promotion for the investment…way cool.

Now Premiering...

Florida is hot. Florida is humid. Florida is muggy. Florida is the site of the Premiere Beauty Show. Premiere is the hottest event on the American beauty show circuit. Andis had a very successful outing at the Premiere show this year. We had classrooms, stage presentations and Spanish language programming. The NEW HeadLight clipper, CeramicEdge blades and of course Lola were BIG hits with show attendees. Mark your calendat for next year…Premiere is moving to June.

Can you hear me now?

I got a new cell phone. Actually a Treo phone, organizer, web, computer, camera gizmo. Problem is I cannot figure out how to use it. The manual is an inch thick. It has 1,000 button. The built-in tutorial is not much help. If you do not hear from me for a while it is because I cannot figure out how to answer the phone. My last phone was just a phone. A clipper has only one switch with two positions, on and off. I am really good at those. This thing has at least three different ways to turn it on. This will be interesting. I will post a blog entry from my new phone as soon as I figure out how to do it. Don’t wait by the computer. It is likely to be a while.

From Beale Street to your town

Ellis Green of Memphis, TN has been selected as the recipient of the Andis Excellence in Clipper Cutting Education Award. The award was presented at the 2006 Andis educators seminar held in Racine, WI. this past weekend. Ellis continues to set an example to Andis educators and the entire beauty industry with his skill, dedication and commitment to the art of clipper cutting. Ellis shares his enthusiasm, humor and experience from the stage on weekends and in his shop throughout the week. Many have learned much from him and many more will continue to do so as he carries on his mission to spread the Andis message. Congrats to Ellis. Look for him at a show in your area soon.

Learn, Teach and Eat

They came. They learned. They taught. They ate. Selected members of the Andis educational team met in Racine, WI last weekend for the 2006 Andis educational seminar. The seminar focused on Andis’ upcoming domination of the world of detachable blade clippers and ceramic clipper blades. Andis now offers the world’s largest selection of detachable blade clippers and the team is now poised to take this message to the industry with knowledge and enthusiasm. Attendees were exposed to all of the latest industry information and education including a tour of Andis’ state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Racine, WI. Each attendee also presented programming to their peers focusing on areas of clipper cutting in which they specialize. Never before in the history of the [professional beauty industry has there been an educational team with this much depth, talent and experience. Of course, there was food. The highlight of the weekends dining was a visit to Prime Quarter Restaurant… a cook-your-own steak house. Huge BBQ grills dominate the large dining room and you select your own steaks from the fridge. Members of the Andis team had not experienced this dining phenomenon before and at first were taken aback at the prospect of “cooking my own dinner” in a restaurant. Once the tongs were out and the meat was on the fire primal instincts kicked in and a good time was had by all.

It's a snap

The Andis Head Light BGCL photo shoot was a fun experience. Andis educators Kenny Williams and Skipper did a great job in their roles of showing off this great new tool. I amazed myself. Melissa was a great model…good hair and open to anything. What she got blew us all away…I did not know I could do hair like that….Clippered in the back…lots of clipper cut texture throughout the top and sides….styled all funky and shattered…I’m not funky…but I can DO funky! Look for these images in an advertisement coming your way soon!

One step at a time...to first place

Andis educator Antonio McGill won first place in the barbering competition this weekend at the Bronner Brothers competition in Atlanta, GA. Those of us who know him were not surprised. His technical work is outstanding. His personal style and creativity are obvious. What is not so obvious is all of the hard work that went into this achievement. I first met Antonio 2 years ago when he placed third in the same event. The next time out he placed second. This time first place was his. Members of the judging panel told me that his model placed first in every one of the judges scoring. This was not just a win but a clear victory for Antonio and Andis. Look for Antonio on stage at an event in your area soon. Watch him and learn from one of the best.

You light up my life

The Bronner Brothers show in Atlanta Georgia was the sight of an amazing event in clipper cutting this weekend. We launched our new Head Light illuminating detachable blade clipper. Barbers and stylist were enthusiastically snapping them up at the Atlanta Barber and beauty booth on the show floor. You can’t cut what you can’t see. The New Andis Head Light is a bright idea that will put your talent in the spotlight. The competition stage where we debuted the tool was a sight to see. The competitors were gifted a new Andis Headlight detachable blade clipper and had to cut for the first 10 min. of the competition in darkness with only the light from the head Light to illuminate their work. It was the dance of the fireflies as the room was set ablaze to the flashing lights of the fast moving tools.

The Birthplace

We went on our family summer vacation road trip. From my last entry you know I love factory tours. We visited the Louisville Slugger factory in Kentucky…the birthplace of the modern baseball bat. We toured the Chevrolet Corvette assembly facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky…the home of the king of the American sports car. We attended a performance at the grand Ole Opry in Nashville…the mother church of country music. We stopped by Sun Records studio on Union street in Memphis…the birthplace of rock and roll. The highlight of the trip (for me), however was a short visit to Kenny’s Styles…The birthplace of clipper cutting education. Kenny Alsup is more than just an Andis educator…He is a living clipper cutting legend. Kenny is responsible for teaching an entire generation in our industry how to clipper cut… including me. He is a mentor, a friend, and the most entertaining clipper cutting educator in the industry. Everyone who has seen his presentations over the years has learned much. Kenny’s Styles is his shop. It is hallowed ground for those of us who know the man and the legend….what a thrill to go there and visit.

Industrial manufacturing magic

I was treated to a tour of the manufacturing facility, warehouse and distribution center of one of my large customers. They are one of the giants of our industry. Marianna Industries of Omaha, NE is an amazing place. I marveled at the inner workings of the factory as owner J.R. Cosentino explained all that goes into labeling bottles, filling and packing and the miracles of technology that happen every day. If you love watching the programs on the food network where they show how 10,000 Twinkies per hour are made and you are a part of our industry this place would blow your mind. Thank you for a really educational experience! I always enjoy sharing the Andis factory with our visitors, vendors, customers and guests…and like J.R. we do not show off the big secrets.

In The Audience

When I go to a show I am usually the one on the stage. I seldom have the opportunity to sit in on other presenters. I welcome the opportunity when it arises. Sometimes I am interested in the content, however, most of the time I am curious to learn from the style and presentation skills of the speaker. This past weekend offered up a great opportunity. I was sharing the stage with 3 others at a large chain salon event. Standard policy is that I always go on last…no one wants to go after me. Since there was one shared stage and I was last I was waitin’ in the wings all day. I watched a wonderful Paul Mitchell educator. Nick Ortega is a talented, funny and giving educator. I enjoyed the way he interacted with the audience. Dennis Margo from Regis Corporation was fun to listen to and shared some great information. Just before my segment I had the pleasure of watching Frank Peterson from Redken. This guy was a real treat. Much of his material was old hat to many of us who have found success in our industry, but the real b eauty was in his presentation style. Funny and engaging, voices and mannerisms, energy and emotion…his program had it all. I can learn a lot from a guy like this. I need to go to a hair show more often…as an attendee…and so do you!

Magic Numbers

Where are your magic numbers? I go looking for the magic numbers and many times they are missing…it is a big world out there. Can I find you? Not likely without the magic numbers…Many times I return from a trade show with a hand full of business cards from people I can help or want to help me. I sit down at my desk to do my follow-up and the magic numbers are missing. If I REALLY want to find you I can put forth the effort. If I have to work hard to find you how tough are you making it for your customers? Give me the magic numbers! I know you aren’t trying to build business across the country and around the globe but in today’s world your business card MUST have your area code and zip code. Those 8 numbers make all the difference.

Voice mail

I am not available to take your call right now…Please leave a message at the beep…We already know that! I recently read in Jeffrey Gitomer’s 12.5 Principles of Sales Success (highly recommended) that if you have this on your voice mail you are wasting a huge marketing opportunity…I have vowed not to let this opportunity slip away…I am getting great feedback from my new voice mail messages…Try a few for yourself…have a listen to mine for inspiration…I change the message every Sunday night. Sales are up..coincidence?...I think not!

Suggested Reading

Have you read any good books lately? I read a lot. I mostly read sales, business, biographical…non fiction titles. When I come across a really god one I like to pass it along. Our sales team was recently gifted a great little book called Jeffery Gitomer’s Little Red Book of Selling.. If you sell anything…And we all are selling something…this book CAN change your life, your sales, your income and your outlook. Give it a look.

Searching for a mascot

We need a replacement for our booth monkey mascot lost in NYC (see last posting). Applications are being accepted. Send photos of your poseable, bendable, mascot candidates to me at Andis expert@andisco.com. Better photos will include the mascot with an Andis clipper. I will pick a winner. You will be asked to send him to me for an Andis factory tour and training for the show. If we choose him/her for adoption you will get a FREE pass to visit him at the Andis booth at Premiere Orlando the last weekend in August. And FREE Andis gifts at the show. I will post some of the pictures here in the blog photo gallery.

Losing the booth monkey

We lost the booth monkey. He never made the trip home from IBS NY. I had found him in a geocache along the Des Plaines River trail just behind the Rosemont O’Hare convention center during the Midwest Beauty show. He was (is) a little rubber bendable, poseable monkey. We attached him to the rigging of the Andis booth for the duration of the Chicago show. We had a great show. We adopted him and brought him to New York. We lost him during teardown following the show. We will need a new mascot before it is time for the Premiere show in Orlando.

Buyers and Sellers III

So I went to get my weekly haircut. The waiting chairs were full and one of the barbers was out sick. I told Roy, my barber that I would be back later in the day. As I hit the door he said “I’ve got tools if you want to cut a few”. I declined and made my way to the car. As I got into the car my wife said “Why don’t you cut a few?”. “You’re kidding?” I said. She would read her book in a waiting chair while I did a few cuts. I walked back in and asked Roy “Which chair?”. Roy pointed to the last chair and said “Have at it”

I had a ball. I cleared the entire waiting room in about 30 minutes. I have not had that much fun cutting hair in a long time. One guy tipped me $5! Wow! A $5 tip. I forgot how cool it is for people to tell you how great you are and hand you money! I love cutting hair! This was the highlight of my month!

Back to school

My kids have been out of school just a week or so. Today is the first day of summer. I am shooting a back-to-school technical for a magazine today. Go figure. Happy Halloween and Thanksgiving too (it is on Thursday this year).

Buyers and Sellers II

I get my haircut every Thursday. Yes I have a bit of an obsession. I used to make fun of my dad. He got his haircut every 2 weeks on Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 P.M. He did this for 40 years. Like father, like son. He never looked like he needed a haircut. He never looked like he had gotten a haircut. It was and remains the ultimate demonstration of barbering as grooming…the regular, ritual, maintenance of a proper image. One day I woke up and I had become my dad…Not a bad thing.

Buyers and Sellers I

Do you sell clipper cutting? Do you want to sell MORE clipper cutting? Do you buy clipper cutting? Do you wear a clipper cut?..UH-OH…I feel a rant coming on…I have said it many times, live on stage…If you want to be a seller…you gotta be a buyer…A serious clipper cutter cannot build a works class clipper cutting clientele wearing a pony tail. In the words of famous Phillie’s pitcher Tug McGraw…”You gotta believe”. Wear your colors on your sleve…er…your head…Get a clipper cut!

Spare parts

I get emails all the time from haircutters who own and use very old Andis tools. They brag about how good the tools still are. Occasionally they are looking for a spare part. Andis does not have parts for many of the very oldest of out tools, many of which are still going strong. I always refer them to eBay. Have a look over there. You will see Andis tools from as far back as the 1930’s available for sale and good as new. Pick up an old one to use and a few extras for spares.

The Future is Coming

The Andis summer sales meeting was an eye opener into some of the tools of the future. In my position I get to see, touch and play with tools as they move through the design and development process. Every once in a while a concept, idea or project will slip under my radar. I think they deliberately hide a few things from me just because they enjoy watching my reaction when seeing something great for the first time. They did it to me again this meeting. Of course, I cannot tell you about the new stuff yet. I enjoy surprising you too!

School is in session

I always pay a visit to the Akron Barber College, a large barber school when I am in the neighborhood. This time, rather than cut and demo in a classroom I just used a chair on the floor and cut client traffic for the students to observe and ask questions. Felt like old times. Just me in a shop cutting hair…plus the 30 or so students watching. I get a great reception from a very eager audience in barber schools such as this one. Joe and Tim run a tight ship and I am glad to be able to call them not only good customers but also good friends. If you want a classic, rock solid barbering education there is no better school to attend. Stop in for a visit and sign up today! You KNOW there is an Andis clipper in your student kit here!

Skip the Entree

Have you ever had the white cheddar cheese mashed potatoes at the Cleveland Chop House on St. Clare St.? WOW! I have been thinking about this dinner since the last time I was in Cleveland. Ask for a small ramekin of the peppercorns that they use in the peppercorn crusting for the steaks…sprinkle these on the potatoes too…adds just the right amount of zing and crunch. This is culinary perfection. Oh, by the way…I was in Cleveland for a show…that went well too.

Taking the Pulse

As a salesperson it is a great opportunity to get out on the street once in a while and spend time with the people who earn their livings with your products. I spent the day visiting shops learning about what haircutters are doing with and thinking about our newest tools. This is always a lot of fun for me because it is where I come from…behind the chair…knee deep in hair clippings…with a full waiting room. It is amazing the reception I get when I walk in wearing an Andis polo shirt. I am surprised I can get back out alive with my box of samples. I could sell them all on the spot if I did not need them for the next stop.

Sorry closed on Tuesday

The Little League Museum on the grounds of the ball fields where the Little League world series is played is closed on the only day of the week when I would be in town with time to visit…not to worry…the gift shop is open EVERY day! That is why you visit a museum or attraction anyway…the gift shop…Little league goodies for my boys and a friends kid too! These fields look as nice as Wrigley.

Flat Irons anyone?

How many can we bring to a show? The answer appears to be “never enough”…no matter how many we bring in we always sell out. It should be interesting to see how much more headway we make in this HOT (sorry) tool category when we introduce all of our upcoming new items…the competition is heating up (sorry, I did it again, couldn’t resist).

Andis, MTV and Noise

The Barber Shop on MTV visits the Andis booth at IBS NY. What a lot of fun this was. This is a team of real barbers who use Andis tools every day to cut their clients and pay their bills. They have been turned into a hit show on MTV and were a huge piece of excitement for us to share on the Andis stage in the Andis booth. Signing autographs on posters and clipper boxes had ‘em lined up all the way down the aisle. This was the first time in Andis trade show history that show management asked US to turn down the sound! It is usually us complaining about the other vendors…what an honor!

7 Extra large pizzas and 8 liters of soda

That was the lunch order for the DVD shoot this afternoon. These were not models. Models do not eat anything but salad. These guys wolfed down a lot of pizza between haircuts. We shot 7 cuts for an upcoming dvd featuring a few of our newer tools. Look for the dvd�s to be available later this year as gift-with-purchase promos at shows on the fall schedule. Look for greast cutting tips and information on the DVDs.

Got any clipper classes?

There were 9 Andis clipper cutting classes offered in the United States today. I am not sure if that is a record, however, it felt like one. Lots of education from coast-to-coast.

Spanglish

My Spanish is not coming along fast enough�English is not getting the message across some of the time�It is a good thing that clipper cutting can be shared and learned with the sound off and an emphasis on the visual presentation. It is just that much more important that everyone has a front row seat so that they can see the heads.

Road Trip

Instead of going to the airport I went on a road trip this week. There have been so many shows in a row it was a relief to do a few distributor store classes in central IL this week and drive them. It is always fun to drive the Midwest in the spring and summer to keep an eye on the corn as it grows. Here in the Midwest we really know how to have fun, don�t we? I was thinking about a clipper for de-tasseling corn, battery operated, on along stick or handle so you can reach�we don�t make one of those�yet�

48 and counting

I was very excited to go to Omaha, NE for a meeting. Nebraska represents the 48th U.S. state that I have visited. I have not been avoiding Nebraska�there just has not been a good reason to go up until now. Cross Nebraska off the list.

Proud to be an Andis

I did not get to go because I was in St Louis but the Proud Lady show was a big success this year. We were concerned due to the change in location and the poor showing the past few years. We are glad to be mistaken. The classics, Improved master and T-Outliner were, as always, the buzz of the event. Kenny Williams, as always, was a great presentation on behalf of both Andis and his Silk and Classy barber college (810 Sibley boulevard, Dolton, IL 708.841.7942). If you want to learn to be a barber and get your barber license in IL, there in no better choice than Kenny�s barber school.

Get the broom�it is a sweep!

I flew through the Gateway arch and landed in St Louis, MO for a show. After show set-up I went for a walk down past the new Busch stadium. The Cardinals are in Chicago playing my Cubs in a 3 game series before their home opener here on Monday. The stadium is open today for a free open house for fans. I walked around the outside. As a TRUE Cub fan, I cannot go in�nice looking stadium�too much red�not enough blue�Andis had a great show in St Louis. Cubs had a great series in Chicago�Swept out the booth at the show�Swept the cards in 3 straight. Lola clipper/trimmer was a big seller at this event. 8th inning grand slam was a big hit in game 2�I sweep hair�Cubs sweep Cardinals�It�s all good!

Happy Birthday!

Melissa, Andis� rocking educator from the northeast had a birthday today�Happy birthday Melissa�.Melissa�s favorite clipper blade�The Andis CeramicEdge #1 blade. Melissa can work real magic with this fast cutting marvel of modern technology�.Her favorite clipper handpiece to drive that CeramicEdge #1�The New Andis BGRc�.Compact, light weight and upgradeable to cordless are some of the features Melissa loves.

Mastercard�Master the clipper possibilities

A great spot on the trade show floor - $1,000

The hottest tools in the industry that professionals are clamoring to buy - $89 each.

A classroom full of eager students at an event - $40 each.

A complete sell-out of the inventory in the trade show booth � PRICELESS!!

Makin' a Splash

Three cosmetology school programs in 2 days the future of our industry some of my favorite programming.

Here they grow

Three cosmetology school programs in 2 days the future of our industry some of my favorite programming.

Spring break

Three cosmetology school programs in 2 days the future of our industry some of my favorite programming.

Falling in love

Three cosmetology school programs in 2 days the future of our industry some of my favorite programming.

The Barnyard

Three cosmetology school programs in 2 days the future of our industry some of my favorite programming.

Students, students, students

Three cosmetology school programs in 2 days�the future of our industry�some of my favorite programming.

More unconventional education

Spent the day visiting distributor stores educating store managers and staffs in how to suggest, recommend and sell Andis tools�very different type of class�no hair cutting�lots of Q&A�hypothetical questions from real customer experiences�possibly one of the most important classes I get involved with�teach a clipper cutter how to clipper cut�they might purchase one clipper per year�teach a store clerk how to sell Andis clippers�they can sell one clipper per person per store per day all year long�moves the needle farther faster�not a bad use of a day.

Tired

Had an unexpected road trip�was supposed to fly from Atlanta to Florida for Monday classes�bad weather through the connecting flight city�rented a car and drove instead�farther than I thought it would be�very tired�still have to cut hair in front of a room full of stylists�I�ll sleep well tonight.

Competition

Once again I am in Atlanta, GA to represent Andis� sponsorship of the Bronner Bros. barbering competition�This time the event featured the new Ceramic Advanced clipper and our CeramicEdge blades�16 competitors�we had a run on the featured clipper after the event finished�sold �em all out of the booth�a great form of advertising and promotion for our tools and our support of our customers.

A different audience

I have been conducting training programs for the assembally line teams in the factory�a great way to share with them what happens to the tools they build after they leave the loading dock out back�helps them to have a sense of where they fit in the larger process of the entire company�they ask different questions from what we hear from haircutters at shows�all part of the big picture.

Please sit still

Today�s big project was a photo shoot for American Salon magazine�a step-by-step technical for an upcoming issue�.thanks to digital technology we can shoot these right in-house in my office�a great way to quickly and easily showcase a new tool�cannot beat FREE editorial exposure, but, as we all know�nothing is FREE.

Wood and Steel

The Aerial event in Minneapolis was a lot of fun. We debuted a tag team, dual manufacturer event in cooperation with Woody's grooming. Barry and I had a ball sharing and feeding off of each others humor and experience. The classes were well attended and the booth was a sell-out. Off to the Dells in march for the next Aerial distributor event.

ISSE

The first of the big shows of the year. We had a classroom off of the floor for the first time at this event. Very strong attendance. Wall to wall people. Lola rocked the event. Strong sales across the board and a great debut event for 2 new Andis educators. Tim Stansell was very well received and brings a wealth of information to our customers. Bradley Rehkop was very strong in his technical information and is eager to step up to bigger and better Andis things as the opportunities arise. We will be finding opportunities for both of them.

Superbowl XL

In Detroit for a few programs just days before the Superbowl. The whole town is hopping. Never seen so much staff at an airport before. A big barber school was the highlight of my visit. A great class with all of the students begging to keep the new tools I am showing and sharing. Lots of interest in the Ceramic Advanced. They love the color, the price, the blade speed...what's not to love?

Oh Canada!

2 days in western Canada for a pair of classes and hands-on workshops. Different tools, different prices...same fun ideas and interaction. There is so much interest and enthusiasm out there for our education and information. I just need to find a western Canada based educator to support the business so I don't have to go.

Back to School

2006 is looking to be a big school year for Andis and me. My first cosmetology school program and likely one of many this year. Schools are always a fun opportunity to tap into so much of the new energy entering our business every year. Students are fearless and eager to try new things like clipper cutting. Always a fun time.