Sweet Squared To Cease Partnership with Light Elegance Following Launch of DIY Training Kit
Sweet Squared has announced that it will no longer stock the Light Elegance brand following brand decisions in distribution by Light Elegance in North America. The conclusion of the longstanding partnership follows the launch of The Nail Hub x Light Elegance - DIY Level 1 Student Kit which includes a Light Elegance starter kit.
Sweet Squared became the sole UK distributor for the US gel brand Light Elegance in early 2019. Light Elegance manufactures a wide range of UV/LED coloured gels as well as acrylic products and manicure tools and accessories.
The Nail Hub has launched a DIY Level 1 Student Kit on pre-order from £50.00, with an option to purchase the mini dot lamp or the full size dot lamp for an additional fee with the kit, within the kit, intended for consumers who are looking to learn to apply gel products, buyers can find:
Light Elegance QD Base Coat
Light Elegance P+ Gel Polish in red shade (Red Lips or similar)
Light Elegance P+ Top Coat
Light Elegance Cuticle Pusher
Light Elegance Cuticle Oil
Light Elegance Q&Lu Spa Lotion 2oz
Light Elegance Perfect Files (5 count)
Light Elegance Lint-Free Nail Wipes
Light Elegance Gel Cleanser 2oz
Light Elegance Nail Forms (10 count)
On 09 February 2023, Sweet Squared has made the following statement across their social media:
“Sweet Squared was founded to elevate and serve the professional with Love & respect. And we have stayed true to that promise for more than 16 years.
We enjoy working with the people and the brands who share our mission and who also exist to elevate and support the pro…
Like many, we were surprised to discover, through social media, that Light Elegance intended to support the selling of professional-only gel products to consumers throughout North America. We were also surprised ot discover that consumers would be able to purchase these products at teh same price that nail professionals pay. We sought immediate clarification of this new direction for Light Elegance and we have now received confirmation this is indeed the case.
Our values and priorities have diverged from the team at Light Elegance. After several years of paternship and significant investment building the LE brand in the UK and Ireland, we have taken the decision to resign the line on the basis this situation is unacceptable for both Sweet Squared and for our valued nail professional customers.
Effective immediately we will no longer support, promote, or educate Light Elegance in the UK and Ireland. For Light Elegance customers, please note that (while supplies last) we will be offering sgnificant discounts on all Light Elegance products to assist you through this transition.”
PBL Magazine has reached out to the Nail Hub for comment but has not received a reply. Light Elegance has provided a statement to the PBL Magazine team which goes as follows:
“We are here to provide an update to everyone and clarification of some of the statements that have appeared on social media, and it is important to us that everyone is informed of the facts by us.
Over the past few years, Light Elegance and Sweet Squared have developed a wonderful relationship. Many of us in both organizations have become great friends and share an immense respect for each other. From a purely business standpoint, the goals of the companies have grown apart, however, and Light Elegance and Sweet Squared will no longer be partners in providing LE education or products for the UK and Ireland.
We wish each other best of success, and both Light Elegance and Sweet Squared will continue to support the nail professional in the UK and Ireland and do our best to support the nail industry we love. Sweet Squared will continue to provide quality products from other brands and sell through their remaining LE inventory, and Light Elegance will provide LE products to the UK (at least for the short term) at lightelegance.com.
This is a change that neither party anticipated or has welcomed, but at the end of the day, this is the best move for both parties to continue supporting the nail professional as they see fit. The future of the nail industry and the nail professional are bright, and we continue to support the nail professional and the industry we love in the best ways we know how. This means continuing to provide HEMA monomer free products to those that are certified and properly educated as we combat growing numbers of allergies resulting from the use of products containing high concentrations of sensitizing ingredients.
This decision is the result of a difference in opinion on P+ education and our support of The Nail Hub’s P+ education beta program. The Nail Hub’s program is extremely robust and covers anatomy, physiology, diseases, disorders and P+ application as well as a wealth of other information needed for safe and successful gel polish application. This program is more involved, in-depth and complete than professional certifications for gel polish application in most countries other than the US which requires a state-issued license to perform services for money.
Neither Light Elegance HQ or any of its distributors are selling to uncertified consumers, period.
A couple of clarifications on The Nail Hub’s beta education program:
The education that is being provided is for P⁺ ONLY and provides more detailed application information and instruction as well as anatomy, physiology and chemistry to the student. The student would then be able to purchase only the LE P⁺ and not the entire line of LE. The education being provided is to be conducted and completed before being able to purchase the P⁺ products other than a very small starter kit that is used during instruction.
The quality education and training that is being conducted via The Nail Hub would qualify the student to be a Level 1 professional nail technician in the UK.
The prices for the students of this program who are not licensed professional nail technicians is higher than the pricing that is offered to professional nail technicians licensed in the USA. “
Light Elegance has created a new instagram page for Light Elegance UK setting out the next steps for Light Elegance customers; Light Elegance customers can continue purchasing products from Sweet Squared while stock lasts, order directly from Light Elegance HQ and await details of new UK distribution.