I’ve had more than a few calls lately asking, “What exactly is the NIA?” inquiring readers are referring to the series of mysterious ads that have been running in NAILS featuring a large red logo and lots of exciting promises to educate, represent, and protect nail technicians.

NIA stands for Nail Industry Association. It is a professional association developed by NAILS Magazine and Bobit Publishing Company to represent nail technicians. NAILS has been serving the nail industry for 10 years and we consider the magazine an essential educational tool for professional nail technicians. As part of our commitment to the industry, we also sponsor tradeshows and publish the yearly Fact Book & Buyer’s Directory.

We feel an obligation to constantly explore new ways to serve technicians and the industry as a whole. In the magazine we address all the issues you face as a salon professional: learning new techniques, working safely with chemicals, and managing a small business. But there are also many challenges you face as a small businessperson and independent contractor: lack of employee benefits, unaffordable or unavailable medical insurance, no way to network with other nail technicians. It was to address these challenges that we decided to organize NIA.

NIA will be led by a five-member board of directors, all working professionals. NIA will introduce its board of directors and legislative agenda at the NAILS Magazine Show in Las Vegas on October 18-19.

The membership benefits of joining NIA are too numerous to list here, but two key benefits that will be included are a subscription to NAILS and professional liability coverage. That means NIA members are automatically covered if they are sued by a client.

I hope to see many of you at the Las Vegas show—to get acquainted with the board and to learn more about NIA. There’s a lot going on at the show, including a question-and-answer session with our own Dr. Orville Stone. Read the article on page 74 for more information about NIA or call (800)32-NAILS for a recorded announcement of all the benefits.

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