Retailing

Department store beauty retail at Saks 5th Avenue gets digital update

Department store beauty retail gets a digital update

By Deanna Utroske

Saks Fifth Avenue is rethinking its beauty retail and services concepts and opening new digital salons / spas / makeup counters in partnership with renowned hair colorist Joel Warren. The Salon Project will roll out in stores over the next two years.

Specialty stores tap into digital for growth

Specialty stores tap into digital for growth

By Simon Pitman

Specialty stores such as Sephora and Ulta have been ruling the beauty retail channel in the US in recent years, and a new report by Kline Group shows that digital technology is boosting their growth.

NARS entry into China market provokes backlash

NARS entry into China market leads to backlash

By Simon Pitman

Edgy color cosmetics brand NARS has seen a backlash following the announcement that it will enter the China market, where product safety testing on animal is still mandatory.

Indie Beauty Profile Lea Anne Christine Fulton L.A. Christine

Indie Beauty Profile

Lea Anne Christine Fulton, L.A. Christine

By …as told to Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Lea Anne Christine Fulton, founder of L.A. Christine, talks about her brand’s version of multi-channel retail, which spans pop-ups and direct TV, and she describes how her Finish heritage infuses everything about the brand,...

Estée Lauder year-end and Q4 results show a lift in sales

Estée Lauder year-end and Q4 results show a lift in sales

By Deanna Utroske

Late last week the beauty and fragrance manufacturer announced its most recent financial results, with sales up in all categories, makeup performing best, and a net sales increase across the region—in Canada, the States, and Latin America.

Walmart chemical watch list: formaldehyde, phthalate, paraben

Walmart announces chemical watch list

By Deanna Utroske

This month the retailer asked suppliers to change product labeling and eventually reformulate to remove eight ingredients of concern. While the focus is on household goods for now, proponents of ‘clean beauty’ see it as a step in the right direction.  

Commercial real estate industry sees a big opportunity in cosmetics

Commercial real estate industry sees a big opportunity in cosmetics

By Deanna Utroske

This week, that industry’s news coverage highlights the success of standalone beauty shops like Sephora and Ulta but also points to the increase in foot traffic that the right personal care and cosmetic brands and services bring into drug and big-box...

H20 Plus relaunches in a big way

H20 Plus relaunches in a big way

By Deanna Utroske

The skin care company’s new identity isn’t a simple brand refresh, H2O+ Beauty CEO Joy Chen has changed distribution models, formulations, packaging, company headquarters, and more to revitalize the unprofitable business.

How specialty retailers are shaping the new color cosmetic landscape

Special Newsletter - Colour Cosmetics

How specialty retailers are shaping the new color cosmetic landscape

By Simon Pitman

In both the US and worldwide the run away success of Sephora is serving to boost newer, fresher and independent color cosmetics that are bringing a new dynamic to the category. But can those brands keep up with the fast pace of change?

Shoppers Drug Mart launches beauty ecommerce site

Shoppers Drug Mart launches beauty ecommerce site

By Deanna Utroske

Late last week the retailer opened beautyBOUTIQUE.ca as an online shopping site, getting in on a mass-market trend that’s moving similar companies into closer competition with specialized beauty and personal care retailers.

Retail Trend: Digital beauty brands opening storefront shops

Retail Trend: Digital beauty brands opening storefront shops

By Deanna Utroske

Cosmetics brands and ecommerce generalists that launched as pure play digital ventures are shifting to omni-channel commerce, and a new report from global market research firm Kline looks into the phenomenon.  

CVC to acquire Europe’s biggest perfume chain

CVC to acquire Europe’s biggest perfume chain

By Andrew MCDOUGALL

German perfume retailer Douglas is to be acquired by private equity firm CVC Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount just days after announcing plans for an initial public offering (IPO).

E-commerce accounts for only 10% of beauty sales

E-commerce accounts for only 10% of beauty sales

By Deanna Utroske

That according to Donna Barson, senior associate with market research consultancy Kline Group, who spoke with Cosmetics Design about the opportunities for cosmetics and personal care brands in this space.

At mass fragrance, a missed market opportunity?

At mass fragrance, a missed market opportunity?

By Deanna Utroske

Consumers shopping for fragrance in department stores have a much different experience than those in drug stores. But one industry veteran has a notion to change that, using tech and common sense to inspire perfume purchases in the drug store.

Nivea’s new anti-ageing boutique targets older women

Nivea’s new anti-ageing boutique targets older women

By Lucy Whitehouse

Beauty brand Nivea have recently launched a new ‘immersive’ retail space, dubbed Face Facts Boutique,  with which the brand hopes to attract a larger consumer base of women aged 40 – 60.

DS Healthcare opens first retail store

DS Healthcare opens first retail store

US-based personal care products developer DS Healthcare has announced it is set to open its first high street retail store, as part of a larger globally focussed brand strategy.

Is Ulta on a downward spiral as reports claim?

Is Ulta on a downward spiral as reports claim?

By Michelle Yeomans

Some of the largest U.S. brands have been falling on hard times of late and rumours have been circulating that beauty retailer Ulta Salon is suffering most of all. Here, Cosmetics Design takes a look into the matter.