Nail Polish Business Booms In Weak Economy-英语课

时间：2019-02-18 作者：英语课 分类：英语新闻

英语课

While many U.S. businesses are suffering in the weak economy, one industry has been picking up speed. Women are now spending more money on their nails. They are getting more daring - straying from the basic shades of red and painting blues 1, greens and even animal prints on their nails. Those in the business of nails and nail color are profiting from the trend.

In a factory north of Los Angeles, glass bottles are filled, boxed and then shipped to more than 100 countries around the world. This is the home of OPI, a company that produces nail polish for women from the United States to Asia, from the Middle East to Latin America.

Suzi Weiss-Fishmann is executive vice-president and artistic 2 director. She says women are getting more adventurous 3 with their nails.

“You can really be kind of that conservative professional and wear blues and greens and any color and dark shades year round," she said.

Many women in the U.S. are experimenting with nail art.

“I was blown away by the nail art that I saw. I couldn’t believe it," said customer Judy Gabor.

Judy Gabor plans on getting glitter on her nails at Marie Nails, a salon 4 where many nail artists are trained in Japan. Marie Ueno has salons 5 in Japan and the U.S. She says nail art has been popular in Japan for a decade. It became trendy in the U.S. over the last few years.

“American people like impact, impact design," she said.

Impact design is the specialty 6 of The Naja. She creates 3-D nails using unconventional objects, like hair extensions, paper clips and even staples 7. The Naja has decorated the nails of stars like Lady Gaga. She says celebrities 8 made nail art mainstream 9.

“Nail art is really for every woman. It’s like the new lipstick 10. Everyone is using their nails as their accessory," said The Naja.

The obsession 11 with decorated nails has become big business.

“I actually have made more money than I ever have the entire time of the recession," she said.

Business is also booming at OPI.

“It’s tremendous. I mean our sales have been double digit 12 growth for the past five years," said Suzi Weiss-Fishmann.

Many consumers say when money is tight, it's much easier to spend $5 to $10 on nail polish than on something more expensive.

“If you’re trying to get a new outfit 13 or a new accessory or something, it’s probably going to be more expensive but you can just spice up your look with the nail polish thing, with these things, for a way cheaper price," said Kathryn O’Sullivan.

Kathryn O’Sullivan and her friend Samantha Berendt are college students. They decorate their nails at home with a variety of inexpensive colors and do-it-yourself nail art sold at stores.

“More and more people are doing it. I like it. I think it’s more fun," said Berendt.

Industry experts say nail laquer is the fastest growing product in cosmetics 14 because it's an affordable 15 indulgence when times are tough.

1 blues

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

2 artistic

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

3 adventurous

adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的　

I was filled with envy at their adventurous lifestyle.我很羨慕他们敢于冒险的生活方式。
He was predestined to lead an adventurous life.他注定要过冒险的生活。

4 salon

n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室

Do you go to the hairdresser or beauty salon more than twice a week?你每周去美容院或美容沙龙多过两次吗？
You can hear a lot of dirt at a salon.你在沙龙上会听到很多流言蜚语。

5 salons

n.（营业性质的）店( salon的名词复数 )；厅；沙龙（旧时在上流社会女主人家的例行聚会或聚会场所）；（大宅中的）客厅