Bonika Blog

Free Tickets to the ISSE Show in Long Beach next month

2011-12-28T15:57:00.000-05:00

The PBS is giving away 5 complimentary tickets per school to their Long Beach International Salon and Spa Expo next month. If you are an instructor be sure to get your free tickets for the show. Form to get access code

Don't forget to come by the Bonika Shears booth and visit our class. Get more information on the largest hairshow on the west coast. http://www.bonika.com/isse.html

Videos on How to Care for Your Shears

2011-12-20T17:01:00.002-05:00

I just uploaded several videos to YouTube on how to care for your shears from cleaning and oiling to adjusting the various type screws and measuring the shears. Take a moment to view these videos.
http://www.bonika.com/care1.html

December Deals from Bonika Shears

2011-12-02T11:20:00.000-05:00

Limited quantities. Special ends December 31st. Bonika Shear distributors, ask us how you too can offer these deals to your customers. See http://www.bonika.com/ for details.

New Japanese Technology Clipper by BabylissPro Forfex

2011-11-28T15:35:00.000-05:00

I had to admit, I was not expecting to be impressed by a Forfex clipper. we all know there were problems in the past. However, this new J1 clipper from BablylissPro - Forfex did impress me. The DC motor has plenty of torque and the new technology they put together on the blades cuts through the hair fast and close. I have Sheila Tate putting them through their paces and plan to have them at the Bonika Reunion next month. They are on the website now.

The weight makes this clipper feel odd. Almost like the motor is missing. But the power seems to be there. For women barbers expecially who want a powerful clipper that is lightweight, I really recommend this one.

The only downside to this clipper is for clipper blade sharpeners. The blade is not condusive to resharpening, however for the consumer, BabylissPro claims the blades will stay sharper 60% longer. There are 2 speeds and 5 adjustments. This would be a great tool for those taking the class Barbering for the Cosmetologist at the Bonika Reunion next month.

Small Business Saturday - Special Offers from American Express

2011-11-14T17:01:00.000-05:00

American Express is promoting Small Business Saturday on Sautrday November 26. This is the second year. To take advantage of this register your American Express on line. Then use your registered card to shop in person or on a website like www.bonika.com or other participating small business on Saturday, November 26th. You’ll receive a $25 statement credit when you spend $25 or more at participating small businesses.

Bonika Shears is a certified small business. If you are a small business owner You can promote your small biz like we have with their free small business toolkit including $100 in Facebook ads. According to American Express “Eligible small business merchants are independently owned small businesses located in the United States that accept the American Express Card. Purchases made at large or national chain stores, at franchised business locations and at government agencies are not eligible. Prepaid, Corporate Cards and ExpressPay transactions are not eligible. Statement credits are generally issued within 5 business days after your qualifying purchase, but may take up to 2 billing cycles to post to your account.” Check with American Express for more details at Small Business Saturday

Bonika Shears announces their first “Bonika Shears Family Reunion”

2011-11-09T11:32:00.000-05:00

Bonika Shears announces their first “Bonika Shears Family Reunion” for education and networking among stylists who cut with Bonika Shears. The announced dates are January 8th & 9th in Duluth, GA , just northeast of Atlanta, GA.

Says Bonnie Megowan, founder of Bonika Shears, “The folks who use our shears have joked for years that they are part of our family. They call us mom and pop or auntie and uncle. It just seemed natural that we get everyone together for a group hug with a family reunion.”

The plans started out small with a selection of a date and a small hotel for the meeting. A handful of educators who were together at the Premiere Birmingham Show put together the idea for the format. Then the Family Reunion concept began to take on a life of its own. As of today’s date educators include
• Frances London Dubose, of South Carolina, called the make-over queen and the most published stylist in the US today. She will teach hands on classes in cutting.
• Dave Ray, of New York City, who has won almost every nationally, recognized beauty competition in the US and an official judge for manor competitions throughout the US. He will teach classes on color and business.
• Rhonda Brown of Ohio, lead educator for Conedco of Ohio. She will teach a foiling class.
• Nikita Smith of Illinois sought after educator presenting at major shows nationally and internationally. She will teach a hands-on cutting class.
• Sheila Tate of Georgia is the creator of “Cutting Cross Cultures.” She is both a cosmetologist and barber. She will teach a hands-on class called “Barbering for the Cosmetologist.”
• Fingaz of Ohio, television celebrity from Hair Battle Spectacular Season One
• Leah Watson of Maryland is perhaps one of the most educated cutters in the US. Her passion for cutting is evident in the styles that appear in print ads, cinema, television and commercials.
• Hosea Hicks of DC, educator, columnist and blogger
• Tomeka James of New Jersey, international educator and celebrity stylists specializing in wig making, weaving and cutting.
• Mags Kavanaugh of Florida, a trichologist with a degree from UCLA in Trichology and Cosmetic chemistry. She is one of the top nationally recognized experts in the industry of hair care with her website askmags.com.
• Naitcole Michele of Georgia is a top educator nationally appearing at hair shows throughout the US.
• Kathryn Pilczuk of Georgia is the “Ka” in Bonika. She is considered one of the first stylists who began cutting with Bonika Shears and is known for her ability to network and bring people together.

Additional educators continue to sign up for the educational network experience. There will be “look and learn” classes, hands-on classes, networking opportunities, vendor tables and more. Many of the events are free to stylists who own Bonika Shears. Details on the “Bonika Family Reunion” can be found at www.BonikaReunion.com.

Photos from the Sharpeners Jam

2011-08-03T14:32:00.002-04:00

Important Notice

2011-06-14T16:31:00.001-04:00

Our local phone lines will be down for a few days, so we are told. If you need to reach us by phone at Bonika Shears please call the toll free number of 1-888-290-3393.
Thanks

Just Received 200 Emails

2011-06-08T12:56:00.002-04:00

We just had over 200 emails show up in our inbox. We knew we had been missing emails, but could not determine how many. These emails are dated from March 15 to June 1. If you have emailed us during this time and never got a reply, your email is most likely one of these long delayed emails.

You may get some automatic responses when you email us in the future. This will help you rest assured that we received your email.

Anytime you think we are taking a long time in getting back to you on an email, please call, message us on Facebook or resend your email asking for a confirmation.

So now I start weeding through all these emails. None were spam or junk, all were from our current contact list. Go figure?? Is the mystery why they were randomly delayed, or why they showed up today?

Annoucment! Keratin Kutz! New collaboration with Silk2 at the Premiere Orlando Show

2011-05-31T15:31:00.008-04:00

Bonika Shears announces a new collaboration with Silk2 at this week-end's Premiere Orlando's Show. Look for our new Keratin Kutz banner at booth 5444.

What is this new partnership about? John Searles of Silk2 is a long-time friend and colleague of Bonika Shears. We were musing about the importance of good shears in making healthy beautiful hair more beautiful with a super hair cut and in like fashion; the importance of having beautiful, healthy hair to make a hair cut by our Bonika Shears look good. It's like Peanut Butter and Jelly, so much better together.

To test our theory we brought a friend of ours from church, Mandy Sevenston who has color and heat damaged, curly hair to Bernie Key, the artistic director for Silk2. Bernie applied the "Life Changing Hyper-Keratin Conditioning" to Mandy's hair and the results were spectacular. Even though she got just a trim with Bernie's Bonika Kaleidoscope Shears, her ends which had been frayed, now looked healthy.

Come by the booth 5444 at Premiere and check out this new Hyper-keratin and the detox used with Mandy's hair. We will have other models who will get haircuts with Frances London Dubose after receiving Silk2 conditioning treatment.

We need models for hair cuts and conditioning. Let us know if you can come to the show for a "Life Changing Experience!"

New Shear Holsters in Stock!

2011-05-24T14:24:00.002-04:00

Bonika has 16 different shear holsters, 4 of which are brand-new as of today! Most sell on the internet for $49.00 each. The design of most of our holsters make it easy to clean the hair out of the pockets and the sturdiness of the belts have improved greatly. We think you will like the selection of holsters we have for you.

We were not in Spain, but we WERE in Texas. Hola!

2011-05-09T19:35:00.003-04:00

If you were one of the lucky ones to get the spam email from Bonika about our “so called” emergency in Spain, let me assure you we were never in Spain and never in an emergency.

In spite of rumors to the contrary;

We were not attending Osama Ben Laden’s memorial service in Madrid

We were not sharpening swords of the matadors in Toledo.

We were not eating paella and lounging on the nude beaches in Barcelona.

We will accept dollars not euros for purchases.

Our bank account was not hacked, but it did cause some banking errors on our part due to the havoc.

And no, Jay, we did not bring you back any souvineers of Spanish Senoritas.

Yahoo was hacked and our entire contact list from our Yahoo email was stolen and inbox messages. Even our signature message was changed as well as our password. Then our entire email list was spammed about a bogus emergency in Spain. the hackers didn't even tell where to send the euros to to rescue us and changed the phone number on our email to some poor unsuspecting lady here in Atlanta who was also concerned about our welfare.

It created a lot of havoc for Mystie who fended off phone calls of our friends and family wanting to know how to exchange dollars for euros and rescue us. No business information was compromised or stolen although email addresses were taken. Sorry if you get extra spam, now. Yahoo is to blame.

However, we were in Dallas Texas for the Wolff sharpening seminar. We ran into two of our sharpeners out their. Robert L. came by in his new decked out van. ( I uploaded the photos to the van slideshow). Robert enjoyed his first full year sharpening last year. Even though he only works four days per week, he said he made more money than he did in any year he worked as an auto mechanic. I asked him if it was more fun, too and he laughingly agreed. “Oh, yeah!” he said.

We also saw Liza and Daniel from Plano. Those of you at last year’s Sharpeners Jam may remember them. They invited us to their home to meet their parents. Daniel has expanded into to knife sharpening as well as shears doing beautiful work right on his Scimech Flathone. He is sharpening for a sushi chef with rave reviews from both his stylist clients and his new restaurant clients. Daniel helped us out by posting our hacking dilemma on our facebook wall for us throughout the day today as we traveled home.

Both Daniel and Liza as well as Robert will be traveling to our Sharpeners Jam this year. I would love to bottle their enthusiasm into a spray and package that along with new machines when we sell them. If you are a sharpener or thinking of getting into the sharpening business, be sure and check out our Sharpeners Jam coming up in July at www.sharpenersjam.com

On another positive note. We drove through Tuscaloosa and were reassured our favorite restaurant, DreamLand Barbeque and their exquisite perfect ribs survived the tornadoes. Also, we talked to retired sharpener Ted Powell of Guin, AL (near Tuscaloosa) and were reassured that he was safe as well. He said he heard the tornado noises but just assumed it was Gene’s snoring from Atlanta that was making all the racket. He was unaware tornadoes were just ½ mile from his home until 24 hours later.

Carissa's Baby - Andrew Roper

2011-05-05T10:16:00.003-04:00

Those of you familiar with the Bonika Shears "Family" will know Carissa our office assistant who always had the giggly southern voice when answering our phone. Carissa has been out for some time due to her pregnancy and now has a beautiful baby boy named Andrew to share with the world. Hopefully Carissa will be back to help at the Sharpeners Jam in July and possibly some hair shows from time to time, but mostly she is busy with her two young ones these days. Congratulations to Carissa!

Sharpeners Jam Updates

2011-04-15T15:01:00.004-04:00

We have never had so many sign up so early for our Sharpeners Jam. Holiday Inn nearby has graciously extended discount rates to the sharpeners if the Country Inn and Suites Hotel fills up. (see www.sharpenersjam.com for details) We also selected a nearby buffet for Sunday night dinner with a large meeting room. The Sunday night buffet will be $19.00 each and includes tip, tax and beverage. The buffet is extensive and will have everything from lobster to bar-b-que ribs, sushi, fresh fruit, hibachi grill, pizza, shrimp, crab legs and too much to name. Gene and I ate there and really blew our diets.

Only a couple of spots left to reach the first 30 to sign up that will get the free DVD. After that we may have to dream up a consolation prize... hmmmmm. Attend free on Sunday and Monday. Oh, that's already free.

Don't forget to sign up for the classes. We don't have to run your credit card the day you sign up, but will need to if the class fills up and there is a waiting list. So don't delay to register for the workshops.

New Items in the Bonika.com Store

2011-04-08T16:38:00.003-04:00

I just posted some new items on the http://www.bonika.com/ website.

The scissor bracelets are back in stock and now come in 6 gorgeous colors and two sizes. Take a look at these. They are in stock and ready to ship! (Sharpeners and beauty supply stores, you can order these for your customers from our passworded wholesale website http://www.beautystoreworld.com/.)

Also, we are proud to provide you with trade secret books from expert colorist David Velasco. Learn more about haircolor from his incredible books. They will be dropped shipped direct from David, so be sure to allow extra time for shipping delivery. See them at this link.

Announcing the 14th Annual Sharpeners Jam

2011-03-28T17:00:00.003-04:00

July 23-25, 2011, Atlanta

Largest International Convention and Meeting of Scissor Sharpeners in the USA. Free event for sharpeners from all over the world to share their ideas. There is no charge to attend our two day meetings. However, there are charges for additional classes and entertainment. (see below)Location: Country Inn and Suites, Duluth, GA (just northeast of Atlanta)

FREE EVENTS

Saturday Night Meet and Greet in the Vendors Rooms Sunday Sharpeners Jam Session All sharpeners will share at least one idea that has helped their business. Caregories include sales, marketing, sharpening innovations, organization, increased efficiencies and more. Be prepared to share with the others. Vote for the best ideas. Prizes and awards for the top ideas! This is an all day event proceeded by a short Sunday Morning time of Praise and Worship. Read the ideas from last year's Jam

Monday Topical Speakers

Casper Kiser - T.E.A. Time with Casper (How to keep yourself out of hot water in sharpening by understanding the tension, edge and alignment of scissors) Casper Kiser is the floor plant manager of Oster Products, Jarden Industries in McMinnville, TN.

Harrelson Stanley – Modern Abrasive Technology Modern Japanese alloys present many challenges to today’s sharpener. Learn about hone line and edge creation on shears using Shapton’s technical approach and demonstrating live with a digital microscope. Harrelson is the president of HBS Enterprise, the master importer of Shapton for North America.

Jim O’Donnell – Making Money with Industrial Shears. Enlarge your income base by expanding your sharpening. Jim is the publisher at On The Edge Newsletter and is VP Marketing at Wolff Industries.

Workshops

TLC Sharpening: How to Sharpen Texturizers, Leftys and Curves Learn from Casper Kiser
Clipper Blade Sharpening Bob Schiessl from Nebraska Blades
Clipper Repair Jason Sturm from EdgePro
Knife Sharpening on a FlatHone Jason Sturm
Equipment Tune-up with Frank Davis of Davis Sharpening
Flathone Shear Sharpening Classes taught by Bonnie Megowan

Food and Entertainment

Qzar Laser Tag
Light lunch on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday

Group Dinner at a Local Restaurant Vendors The vendors will be available for your shopping pleasure during break times and before and after sessions throughout the week-end. Bonika bargain room will be set up and complete sharpening supplies and equipment from Bonika along with Bonika Shears. Other vendors include Nebraska Blades, EdgePro, Kenchii Shears, Kretzer Scissors, Hanako Shears, Lucky Hare Shears, Kudzu, Belson, Conair, Shapton Stones and more. See the website for the most updated list. There are some super JAM ONLY deals, so come prepared to shop.

First 30 who register get a their chocie of one of 5 Marketing DVD's

Certificates of completion included in all paid events.

http://www.sharpenersjam.com/

YouTube clip of Christina Carsillo at the Bronner Show

2011-03-15T17:30:00.001-04:00

Watch Christina Carsillo at the Bonika Shears booth at Bronner Brothers Winter show 2011

Change Maker - Derek J

2011-03-14T16:46:00.002-04:00

Change Maker

Take a look at Derek J's work in Modern Salon. We are really proud of Derek. If you check out page 82 of the January 2011 issue of Modern Salon you will see that the texturizing shears he is using is by Bonika. He is also using the Belson tools including the crimping iron and triple barrel waver that we sell on our website. Click on the Modern Salon link to see all his work and read about Derek J. Check out our photos of him on main stage at the New York IBS show last week.

Prize Wheel at the Bonika Shears Booth at Bronner Brothers Hair Show This Week-end

2011-02-16T12:38:00.004-05:00

Come by booth 826 at the Bronner Brothers Hair Show in Atlanta this week-end and win a free prize at our prize wheel when you purchase a Bonika shear. Prizes range from a free shear, to Shark tooth or Hot razor, dryers, irons and more. Tell us you saw this on the internet and spin the wheel twice! You choose which of the two prizes you want to keep.

Don't miss Frances London Dubose who will be cutting hair at the Bronner show for the first time. This is the internationally renowned stylist from Charleston you have been hearing about for years.

Sharpening by Jay Hunter at the booth with quantitiy discounts. Special BOGO specials on Bonika Shears. See the Bonika Shears gang!

Meet Lisa Johnson, Sharpener from Charleston, SC

2011-02-11T12:59:00.002-05:00

Lisa Johnson is the owner of Diamond Cut Sharpening, LLC in Moncks Corner, SC, just outside Charleston, SC. We wanted to feature Lisa this week because she distinguished herself at the International Salon and Spa Expo in Long Beach, CA sharpening shears for the stylists and platform artists who attended the show.

Although Lisa has only been sharpening for a short period of time her dedication to constant improvement, her innate abilities and her hard work ethic has brought about a successful business in a short period of time. She know sharpens for well known hair artists such as Frances London Dubose of Charleston, SC and Ray Parker of Hollywood, CA.

Lisa sells Bonika shears as well as combs, dryers and irons. She was trained by Bonnie Megowan with advanced training as well and uses the Scimech Scissor flathone, Twice as Sharp and the Extreme Cut equipment for sharpening. She sharpens beauty shears, barber scissors, industrial scissors, groomer scissors, knives and clipper blades.

Contact information if you are in the Charleston area and need sharpening is 843-509-7263

Announcing Shear Sharpening School in New Jersey

2011-02-09T12:25:00.001-05:00

Limit 4 students
Time and Date: Saturday March 5, 2011 9AM - 2PM
Location: Comfort Suites, 1200 Tonnelle Ave, North Bergen, NJ, 07047
Instructor: Bonnie Megowan and Gene Megowan
Appropiate for beginner and intermediate sharpener.
You will learn hands-on how to sharpen convex (Japanese style) beauty shears and bevel edge (barber style) shears.

Details at http://www.bonika.com/njschool.html

Now Casting for Hair Battle Spectacular

2011-01-27T14:14:00.001-05:00

Just got an email that the new season of Hair Battle Spectacular. Hope one of our Bonika Shears "Family" will participate and win.

Eyeworks USA and OXYGEN are currently looking for the nation’s TOP FANTASY/AVANT GARDE/EXTREME HAIR STYLISTS to star in SEASON TWO of “HAIR BATTLE SPECTACULAR”!

This is not your average hair competition… this is an EXTREME competition-based reality TELEVISION series from the producers of “BEAUTY AND THE GEEK” and “THE BIGGEST LOSER”!!

$100,000 CASH GRAND PRIZE

They are looking for MEGA-TALENTED, FANTASY, AVANT GARDE and/or RUNWAY HAIR ARTISTS with COMPETITIVE DRIVE and OVER-THE-TOP PERSONALITIES!!!!

Please email a recent photo of yourself, photos of your FANTASY/AVANT GARDE/EXTREME work, all contact info and a brief personal and professional bio ASAP to:
HAIRBATTLE@gmail.com

http://www.3ballproductions.com/
Must be a legal U.S. resident 18 years of age or older.

Testimonial about the Sharpening DVD's

2011-01-17T14:11:00.001-05:00

Hi Bonnie
Thank you for making the 6 cd set on sharpening with Casper Kiser. I was not sure what to expect but I found them professionally done and I have learnt a lot. As a result I will start to change some "bad" sharpening habits I have developed. I received the CD's late yesterday afternoon and have been glued to them ever since, the 5 hours went by quickly making me want more. There is not much available for me in the way of learning material here so I do appreciate the information you make available. I am positive this will help me grow my business. I know very little about alignment I am always interested in any information available.
Stan

If you are a sharpener and are interested in some of our sharpening DVD's please contact us.

Announcing California Shear Sharpening School

2011-01-15T15:20:00.003-05:00

Learn to Sharpen Shears with Bonnie Megowan of Bonika Shears

Scissor Sharpening School

9Am - 1PM,
January 28, 2011
Clarion Hotel South Bay 888 E. Dominguez St, Carson, CA Between LAX and Long Beach
Instructor: Bonnie Megowan and Gene MegowanAppropiate for beginner and intermediate sharpener.You will learn hands-on how to sharpen convex (Japanese style) beauty shears and bevel edge (barber style) shears.

Includes
Instruction on how to sharpen shears on a flathone type system
DVD "Sharpen Faster and Easier" a $59 value
Practice scissors
Certificate of school completion
Lifetime Membership in the International Scissor Sharpeners Association

You will need to bring:
Your sharpening equipment flathone style (if you do not have equipment it is available for purchase or you can arrange to borrow ours)
Problem scissors you may have encountered
Notepad, pen and a red Sharpie pen

This is an abbreviated class of the full one day class. Class size is limited to 4. Bring a companion to observe at no charge.This class is the day before the Long Beach International Salon and Spa Expo. If you would like to stop by and see us to shop, visit and get your questions answered there is no charge. Call us if you would like to make an appointment to see us while we are in California.

Call 1-888-290-3393 or email sales@bonika.com.Cost $300.00 plus shipping for the DVD to watch before the class.

See the website at http://www.bonika.com/sharpnshop.html for details or to register. Limited spaces. First come basis.

Meet EdgeMaster Mobile Sharpening

2011-01-12T16:06:00.006-05:00

I thought I would introduce you to some sharpeners around the country. This is John Blacker of EdgeMaster Mobile Sharpening. some of you looking at designing a simple sharpening website or looking for photos of mobile sharpening vans might want to go to his website http://edgemasterms.com/ and take a look. For those stylists in Skagit county of Washington State, check John out for all manner of sharpening. He is a warranty center in that area for Bonika Shears and has top training and equipment.

I've just uploaded John's picture to our http://www.findasharpener.com/ look-up on the http://www.bonika.shears/ website. This is a great place to look up sharpeners on the internet.