Cosmetic Industry Buyers and Suppliers (CIBS) hosted its October Luncheon on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at Manhattan Manor at Rosie O’Grady’s, in New York City. The sold-out event brought together a packed room of professionals eager to connect, learn, and celebrate what makes the beauty industry thrive: strong relationships.

The featured speaker was Allan Hafkin, founder of Open Highway Global and former SVP of Global Package Development at Estée Lauder. With decades of experience across global beauty brands, Hafkin delivered a powerful and personal talk on the core ingredients of successful customer-supplier relationships—trust, communication, empathy, and mutual respect.

Drawing from his own career journey, he emphasized that behind every company are people, and it’s the human connections that drive innovation and resilience in the beauty industry. His reflections resonated deeply with attendees, reminding everyone of the value of partnership and the importance of listening, adapting, and staying open to change.

The luncheon was generously sponsored by Jaguar Freight, known as “The Freight Architects,” who support health and beauty brands in moving goods confidently and efficiently across global markets. Tim Rodriguez, Director of Strategic Relations, shared Jaguar’s commitment to enabling brand growth through smart logistics and clear communication.

In addition to the keynote, CIBS recognized this year’s scholarship recipients:

• Mia Berninger, a senior at FIT, who’s pursuing a career in branding and packaging design.
• Lauren Salus, a junior at Rutgers, who’s seeking internship opportunities in the cosmetic industry.

These scholarships reflect CIBS’s continued investment in developing future leaders within the beauty and packaging community.

Upcoming Events

CIBS Members-Only Luncheon

Date: November 19, 2025

Location: Planet Hollywood, NYC

Details: $125 includes steak lunch and 3-hour open bar.

CIBS Holiday Cocktail Party

Date: December 11, 2025

Location: Indoor rooftop, Edison Hotel, NYC

Details: Bring your customers and colleagues for an evening of celebration and networking to close out the year.

Join CIBS in celebrating the power of connection in the cosmetics industry. Each of the organization’s events is an opportunity to learn, grow, and build relationships that last.

For more information, please visit www.cibsonline.com.

Photo: (L-R) Sebba Aquetrani, Lauren Salus, Christina Yu, Mia Berninger, Boris Schaefer, Allan Hafkin, Tim Rodriguez.