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The Steady Growth of the Hair Replacement Industry
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| SpuggyHilton |
In the vast, suburban expanse of Trenton, New Jersey, one of the largest industries thrives quietly inside unmarked warehouses, walled estates and hidden factories. The region is home to most of America's hair replacement industry - wigs, implants, regrowth medication, even the old-fashioned comb over.
Though many parts of the U.S. economy have suffered, the past five years have been good for the industry, as new computer technologies have opened the doors to hundreds of millions of potential customers around the world.
The hair replacement industry doesn't follow the same ups and downs that other businesses do, said Steve Kemar publisher of Wig News, the trade paper of the wig industry. It still grows every year in terms of sale volume.
Although the valley is home to some of the biggest names in the fashion business, the north side of the Trenton also hosts some less famous names in the industry – Wig Technologies, Advanced Hair Studio, WigTec, and dozens of other companies churning out wigs and other hair replacements.
Twenty years ago, you had people sneaking into those little clinics. That's all changed with technology, said Bill Day, president of Wig Technologies. We've gone from a market of hundreds of thousands to hundreds of millions. Sales from human hair-based wigs produced by Wig Technologies alone grossed $1 billion in retail sales last year, he said.
A 1998 study by Forrester Research in Cambridge, Mass., estimated that the industry generates $10 billion a year. But in a business in which few companies are public and new providers continually appear, it's difficult to come up with a dollar figure for the industry, said Michael Goodman, a hair industry analyst at the Yankee Group in Boston. But it is a very profitable business and pretty recession-proof.
Sales and rentals of toupees produced by American companies was a $4 billion business last year, Goodman said, based on a survey of thousands of stores and overall sales figures from the Hair Replacement association.
That growth has produced dozens of large and small valley factories producing hundreds of new wigs each year and created a star-making machinery much like the old Hollywood studios. Wig models like Steve Agter the reigning star of toupee advertising, have big-dollar contracts with filmmakers who promote them on websites, movie display boxes and public appearances.
But wig makers and wig models aren't the only ones making money. Mainstream department stores that offer wigs are cashing in, too, but like to keep their involvement low-profile.
Bravo! |
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| jdat |
Is this a sales pitch, a random sharing of knowledge, or some study of the economics of the hair replacement industry?
Is hair replacement going to become the next big contender in the geopolitical fight for certain specific products like oil? |
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| Phil raa |
| it's all about progressive techno-industrial uplifting hair re growth. |
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| jdat |
| quote: | Originally posted by Phil raa
it's all about progressive techno-industrial uplifting hair re growth. |
My hair peaks big time with that stuff! Best roll ever :p |
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| ::TranceVanDyk:: |
who gives a flying ???  |
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| SpuggyHilton |
| quote: | Originally posted by jdat
Is this a sales pitch, a random sharing of knowledge, or some study of the economics of the hair replacement industry?
Is hair replacement going to become the next big contender in the geopolitical fight for certain specific products like oil? |
Perhaps I should have explained myself further.
I suffer from a rare condition whereby I cannot grow hair; I won’t go into specific details but be certain it is not pleasant. Because of this I have been forced to wear wigs from a young age.
Angered at what I saw a lack of understanding towards Wiggies (the term by which wig wearers are known) I decided to become one of an increasingly growing group people who pick wig industry journalism as their profession and to raise awareness in the mainstream meadia of the plight of Wiggies.
I have unfortunately found out that there is a certain opinion amongst the ‘old boys’ of wigurnalism that it is best not to ‘rock the boat’ and seek equal rights and recognition for wiggies. These people did not represent my views nor those of the majority of wiggies, so I felt obliged to set up my own independent paper….
From October the Wig Industry Journal will be available monthly to order from all good newsagents in the UK.
This article is the first from my new paper and I must admit I was using Tranceaddict as a sort of testing ground. Opinions are appreciated. |
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| ::TranceVanDyk:: |
| you're an idiot and should be banned. |
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| SpuggyHilton |
| quote: | Originally posted by ::TranceVanDyk::
who gives a flying ??? |
| quote: | Originally posted by ::TranceVanDyk::
you're an idiot and should be banned. |
This is exactly the kind of narrow minded attitude I thought had been left behind in the dark days for wigs of the 1970s, I certainly did not expect this from a member of Tranceaddict.com. |
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| ::TranceVanDyk:: |
| quote: | Originally posted by SpuggyHilton
This is exactly the kind of narrow minded attitude I thought had been left behind in the dark days for wigs of the 1970s, I certainly did not expect this from a member of Tranceaddict.com. |
ok here goes, im thinking your already a member of the forums playing a VERY funny joke, or a spammer. someone help me out, or ill need a wig too.
TiT's ARE NOT IN |
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| *~*Angelblue*~* |
sorry man but i think you picked the wrong site to "test" on. my suggestion is either talk about some dance music or get the out
have a nice day :) |
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| Sunsnail |
| quote: | Originally posted by SpuggyHilton
I certainly did not expect this from a member of Tranceaddict.com. |
HA
HA
:disbelief |
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| SpuggyHilton |
| quote: | Originally posted by *~*Angelblue*~*
sorry man but i think you picked the wrong site to "test" on. my suggestion is either talk about some dance music or get the out
have a nice day :) |
I have already posted about my love of dance music in 'Music Discussion' I posted this in 'Chill Out Room - General discussion area... talk about what's on your mind'.
Even more on topic, I will soon be posting my article on the problems Wiggies have in dance nightclubs, but until then I would appreciate constructive feedback on my article.
Thank You. |
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