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Brian Stollmeyer, CEO of Premier Events
Caribbean and founder of Bridal Beauty and
Healthy Living (BBH) exposition
 Bridal, Beauty and Beyond exposition,
soon to be I Am Woman (March, 2010),
will offer women a myriad of opportunities
to source the right vendors, get their
beauty tips, and be healthy inside and
out. CEO, Brian Stollmeyer explains.
CB: When did you become interested in
the bridal and beauty industry?
Brian: Having launched the building show,
BITS, we researched other industries which
involved a relatively large number of people
who were in need of additional knowledge
and we found three major ones: Automobiles,
I.T. and Beauty. We experimented with
a show for each of them (AutoEx, BizTech
and BBH) and found that the latter was the
most deserving of our attention.
CB: When was the first bridal exposition
held? Did it meet your expectations as
well as the expectations of those who attended?
Brian: We held the first “bridal” expo in
2005. It was not nearly as large as BBH was
this year but it showed us that there was a
definite need for a well-organized event for
the industry that would bring many buyers
and sellers together under one roof.
CB: Do you feel that the bridal/beauty
industry is growing in Trinidad?
Brian: There is no doubt that the bridal/
beauty industry is growing, rapidly. We have
seen it from the increase in the number of
visitors and exhibitors at our exposition each
year. But we have become fairly close to
some of the major players and they are now
adopting – and in some cases surpassing – international
standards. This was not the norm
when we began.
CB: What are some of the favourite attractions
at the exposition?
Brian: Apart from new exhibitors, the ones
who return always update their products and
services. This year we had displays of fruit
carvings around the stage, between scenes of
typical African and Hindu weddings. Nirmala
Thompson decorated the stage magnificently
and Ecliff Elie’s superb El Hombre de la
Hora 2009 collection on Saturday set the tone
for the other fashion shows which followed
at regular intervals throughout the event. Seduccion
Latina’s lingerie show caused quite a
stir amongst the gentlemen visitors as you
might imagine; but the stage was busy with
wedding singers, African and tassa drummers
and various competitions with wonderful
prizes – for example free trips to Antigua,
Barbados and St. Lucia courtesy LIAT. We
even had a moko-jumbie bride and groom
couple on stilts to welcome our visitors!
CB: Do you have a chance to walk the
floor and get a sense of what people are
most interested in?
Brian: I walk the floor constantly, interacting
with exhibitors and in all honesty, apart
from the over-riding requirements of brides to-
be, the people who visit are looking for an
assortment of ideas. The booths from Barbados,
Antigua, St. Lucia, Tobago and LIAT
received a steady stream of visitors who
were not only looking for honeymoon destinations,
but for holiday options as well. A
lot of people seemed to be interested in your
Caribbean Belle magazine as well, so that must
give you an idea of the cross-section that are
attracted to the exposition.
CB: What was the response from exhibitors
who took part this year? Has the recession
affected turnout in any way?
Brian: Thankfully, most sensible companies
realize that cutting their advertising and promotion
budgets when there is a recession, is a
recipe for disaster. They need to get a bigger
share of the shrinking pie and must get out
there and fight for it, or go under. So we were
fortunate to attract more exhibitors than last
year and we increased our own advertising so
we also got more visitors this year.
CB: What do you have in store for next
year?
Brian: Next year will be something else! Nirmala
Thompson is brimming with ideas and
my (all-female) staff members are already
excited. Ecliff ’s designs were amazing, but
even before his fashion show had ended he
began telling me what big new ideas he has
for 2010! As you know, we will be working
closely with Caribbean Belle in the future, so
the sky is the limit.
CB: What would be some of the new attractions?
Brian: Apart from what has already been
mentioned, the whole basis of the show will
be broadened next year. Whilst we will retain
the emphasis on brides, beauty and health, we
have incorporated the name I AM WOMAN to lead the charge in making it the show for
women in the region. Woman power to the
fore! Don’t miss it …
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