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Tag: beauty

  • Amazon set to launch luxury stores

    Amazon set to launch luxury stores

    Amazon has launched an invitation-only luxury fashion and beauty brand portal called Luxury Stores, with Oscar de la Renta as its first partner.

    The company said more brands will launch at Luxury Stores in the coming weeks and seasons. For now, the platform is available only to US Prime members.

    Accessible via the Amazon app, the store features interactive technology allowing customers to have a 360-degree view of products. Featuring a “store-in-store” concept, Luxury Stores allows brands to set their own pricing, selection, inventory, and content.

    “We are always listening to and learning from our customers, and we are inspired by feedback from Prime members who want the ability to shop their favorite luxury brands in Amazon’s store,” said Christine Beauchamp, president of Amazon Fashion.

    “It’s still Day One, and we look forward to growing Luxury Stores, innovating on behalf of our customers, and opening a new door for designers all over the world to access existing and new luxury customers.”

    As the first brand to open a store in Luxury Stores, American fashion house Oscar de la Renta offers a range of ready-to-wear, accessories, and jewelry, including its Fall/Winter 2020  Collection. The brand and Amazon have also launched a video starring Cara Delevingne to promote the campaign.

    “We admire Amazon’s customer-centric focus and look forward to telling our brand’s story in compelling and engaging ways to even more customers through the Luxury Stores experience,” said Alex Bolen, CEO of Oscar de la Renta.

  • Bonjour to embrace digital technologies, live streaming used to battle profits

    Bonjour to embrace digital technologies, live streaming used to battle profits

    Bonjour, the Hong Kong-headquartered beauty retailer, says it plans to reduce its reliance on brick-and-mortar stores and focus on developing e-commerce and in-store digitalization.

    It will modify some of its existing stores adding technology that it anticipates will attract and engage customers and create a better shopping experience while also improving operational efficiency.

    The plans were revealed by the chairman and executive director Chen Jianwen along with the company’s results for the half-year to June 30, which included a loss attributable to shareholders of US$17.93 million on sales down 59.7 percent to $42.93 million. The decline was due to the borders being all but closed to foreigners due to the Covid-19 pandemic, including the ranks of mainlanders who traditionally head to the territory for shopping.

    Chen said the company has responded to the absence of tourist spending by diversifying its product portfolio to appeal more to local consumers.

    But the main focus moving forward is on transforming from a traditional retail model to New Retail, he said.

    “Digitalisation of the operating system and business model will help the group to better understand customers’ needs and wants and build a long-term relationship with the customers. Starting with training our frontline staff to broadcast product information online, the group will grasp the market opportunity and further develop the e-commerce platforms.”

    Already, frontline Bonjour staff are being trained in live-streaming skills to become influencers and interact with customers online.

    “At the same time, the group has also established its foothold at major online platforms spanning across 16 countries, including ShopShops, Tmall Global, Kaola.com, JD, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Haitao.com, as well as establishing a WeChat store to connect with VIP users,” said Chen.

    In stores, the company is embracing digital transformation, backed by a new retail innovation center with a broadcast studio and testing self-service equipment, planned for launch into physical stores soon.

    In the future, customers will be able to scan the QR code of a product to learn information before they make a purchase and self-service kiosks will be installed at physical stores so that customers can check out by themselves.

    “With the rise of augmented reality and virtual reality, the group will keep an open mind to embrace new technology that helps customers to virtually try the products on which to help them to explore the most suitable products,” said Chen.

    Meanwhile, Bonjour will continue to review its store network, closing underperforming outlets and negotiating rent discounts with landlords.

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  • The Body Shop Singapore introduces ‘Activist’ store

    The Body Shop Singapore introduces ‘Activist’ store

    Cosmetics & skincare retailer The Body Shop is launching an “activist workshop” store in Singapore at the Ion Orchard shopping center.

    Building on the brand’s reputation for being environmentally aware and natural, the store has been transformed into an interactive ‘activist workshop’ that encourages visitors to explore and recycle products.

    The store features sustainable fixtures of reclaimed wood and recycled plastics as well as low-energy-footprint zinc cladding and worktop surfaces made from material otherwise destined for landfills.

    Features exclusive to the outlet include a DIY gifting station, a cruelty-free fragrance collection, and a water station, as well as an ‘activist bay’ where visitors can take inspiration from the brand’s campaigns.

  • Christian Louboutin showcasting Hong Kong boutique

    Christian Louboutin showcasting Hong Kong boutique

    Christian Louboutin has opened a new boutique in Landmark Prince’s, at Hong Kong’s Central.

    Inspired by the brand’s first boutique in Galerie Vero Dodat, the store facade features red-tiled walls with “petroleum-blue ceramics” and a Christian Louboutin neon sign. The storefront also houses displaying areas behind large glass windows, showing the brand’s latest products.

    The boutique’s interior is decorated in two main colors – red and blue. At the heart of the store is a blue display podium, showcasing women’s footwear.

    Two large red sofas create a lounge for customers with a flower-painted backdrop designed by French artist Alexandre Poulaillon.

    Meanwhile, the men’s room features gold-stained elements together with brown and beige wallpapers, aimed at creating a masculine vibe.

    The boutique reflects the Maison’s signature visual elements while nodding to the designer’s “creativity and eclectic aesthetic,” the company said in a statement.

    The label’s new capsule collection of Cabaraparis is available only at the Landmark Prince’s boutique.

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  • LA’s NYX Cosmetics closing in Hong Kong

    LA’s NYX Cosmetics closing in Hong Kong

    In an ongoing winding down of its Asian operations L’Oreal-owned NYX Cosmetics has announced in a Facebook post the pending closures of its stores across Hong Kong and Macau.

    The move follows the brand’s Malaysian exit and was described as part of a “business strategy readjustment”

    The brand entered Hong Kong three years ago and currently has six retail stores: three flagships in Sha Tin, Mong Kok and Tuen Muen, and three counters in department stores.

    The company has not given a definite date of the closures, but it advised loyal customers to redeem their membership points before September 15.

    So far, NYX does not have an online e-commerce presence in Hong Kong and Macau and it is not ranged by local marketplaces.

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  • BE.YOU.TIFUL

    BE.YOU.TIFUL

    After months of staying home due to the Movement Control Order (MCO), Sunway Putra Mall bounced back with the most anticipated campaign “Be.YOU.Tiful”. Every woman deserves to feel confident and comfortable in her own skin but it’s time to pamper yourself with some beauty essentials to enhance your look! The campaign runs from 1st July – 31st July where shoppers stand a chance to win amazing beauty prizes worth up to RM30,000.

    With a minimum spending of RM100 in ONE (1) receipt, shoppers are entitled to play the Glam-Up Game – a motion game on the vending machine. Unique QR codes are given to shoppers at the Concierge Counter upon registration. Shoppers are required to scan the QR code at the vending machine to launch the game. It takes a little body movement to collect the points and they can walk home with amazing prizes.

    Beauty products, cash and discount vouchers from M.A.C, Inglot, The Body Shop, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Selectiv’ By Sasa, Watsons, Pink Parlour, A-Saloon+ and many more are up for grabs throughout the campaign.

    Apart from that, there are loads of great deals to choose from during the Weekly Star Buy. Every week, shoppers could look forward to shop till they drop with a wide selection of haircare, skincare and nail care products.

    Moreover, throughout the campaign period, the mall is also providing Order & Collect service where shoppers are able to order their beauty essentials from Caring Pharmacy, Himalaya, Inglot and The Face Shop and make payment online and Customer Care team will assist to deliver shoppers’ orders to their vehicles upon collection at the Main Entrance.

    In line with Your Safe Space, Our Safe Space initiative, the mall has introduced additional standard operating procedures (SOPs) to include social distancing officers (SDOs) – a team dedicated to carry out core duties including dispersing large crowds in the malls and in stores, spacing out long queues at tenants’ outlets according to the demarcations, taking visitor’s temperature at mall entrances, reminding customers and retailers to wear face masks and more to ensure both shoppers and retailers are practicing safe social distancing measures mapped out by the management.

  • Sephora Asia appoints Alia Gogi as its new president

    Sephora Asia appoints Alia Gogi as its new president

    Alia Gogi has been appointed as the new president of Sephora Asia, succeeding Benjamin Vuchot who will move to a new, yet-to-be-announced role with parent company LVMH.

    “Alia joined Sephora China as chief merchant nine years ago and has been key to transforming our SEA business,” said Chris de Lapuente, CEO of Sephora.

    “She brings to Sephora Asia a wealth of experience acquired from working at Sephora China and Sephora SEA, proven leadership skills, a true passion and intuition for prestige beauty products, as well as a tremendous hunger for driving the business above and beyond.”

    Alia Gogi joined Sephora China as a chief merchant in 2011 and has served as MD Southeast Asia since 2018. Sarah Boyd, currently Southeast Asia VP of markets, will take over Alia Gogi’s former role to oversee Sephora Southeast Asia.

    Under Benjamin Vuchot’s leadership, Sephora’s business has almost doubled in the region within three years, according to the company.

    “He leaves Sephora with the strongest Sephora Asia organization we ever had,” said de Lapuente.

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  • NYX shutting down all of its Malaysian stores

    NYX shutting down all of its Malaysian stores

    NYX Cosmetics is to close its retail operations in Malaysia after three years in the market. According to a report by Marketing-Interactive, the US cosmetics firm – a L’Oreal subsidiary – has permanently closed outlets in Suria KLCC, Sunway Pyramid, and Midvalley Megamall as of last month, three years after opening its flagship store at IOI City Mall Putrajaya. That outlet, as well as those in Fahrenheit 88 and Genting, will be shuttered by the end of this month.

    The NYX flagship featured interactive beauty bars and a digital community wall. It also displayed digital images and social media content throughout the store.

    “We sincerely thank you for all the love, energy, passion, and enthusiasm from our fierce beauty junkies community,” read the brand’s Facebook post announcing the departure from the Malaysian market. “There were many incredible moments with lots of glitters, color, and amazing makeup artistry.”

    The store will continue its e-commerce operations in the territory through to the end of September.

    However, the brand will not exit the market completely. It is understood it will still be available in Sephora stores and potentially other multi-brand channels.

  • Korean beauty giant opens 10th store in Australia

    Korean beauty giant opens 10th store in Australia

    Two years after first entering the Australian market, Innisfree has just opened its 10th store at Westfield Hurstville in southwest Sydney and says it will open two more stores in Westfield centers in Parramatta, NSW, and Burwood, Victoria, by August.

    The global beauty brand, which is owned by Amorepacific Group, the L’Oreal of South Korea, is known for its affordable skincare and makeup and environmental awareness. It claims to have collected and recycled over 15 million empty bottles since 2003 and planted over 79,000 of trees globally.

    Its steady expansion in Australia follows a strong response to its launch two years ago.

    “Australia has been a significant growth market for Innisfree and our customers have really adopted our naturally inspired products and our immersive retail experience,” Brian Jeong, GM of Innisfree Australia, said in a statement about the Westfield Hurstville launch this week.

    Company representatives have previously said the brand is committed to the Australian market for the long-term. Jeong said the brand will continue to review its growth strategy.

    Like many retailers in Australia, Innisfree closed its brick-and-mortar stores for the month of April amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It has since resumed normal trading hours with new safety measures in place, including a limit on the number of people in stores, floor markings to maintain 1.5-meter social distancing, hand sanitizer at the entrance and throughout stores and increased cleaning.

    “All of our staff are sanitizing and washing their hands before and after each interaction and are regularly trained in stores in hygiene and safety practices,” Jeong said.

    Testers are also available on request and are sanitized before and after use. This is a new measure; until two weeks ago, testers had been taken off the floor.

    While rent has become a divisive issue for many shopping center retailers, Jeong said Innisfree has strong relationships with its retail partners.

    “It’s a long road ahead with many uncertainties; maintaining our relationships with retail partners and ensuring our customers’ optimal experience is our key focus,” he said. Innisfree offers over 650 products across skincare, makeup, body care, hair care, home fragrances, and beauty tools ranging in price from $1 to $98.

    It has over 1750 stores globally in 15 countries with over 20 million customers worldwide and claims that one bottle of its best-selling Green Tea Seed Serum is sold every seven seconds.

    The brand has an office in Melbourne and a partnership with local online beauty leader, Adore Beauty. Sister brands, Amorepacific and Laneige, are also stocked at Mecca and Sephora.

    In February, Amorepacific Group posted annual revenue of 5.6 trillion South Korean won (A$6.8 billion) for FY19, KRW 2.1 trillion (A$2.6 billion) of which was generated internationally.

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  • Shiseido Beauty Square concept store starts in Tokyo

    Shiseido Beauty Square concept store starts in Tokyo

    Shiseido opens its new concept store Beauty Square in Tokyo’s Harajuku district today.

    Located on the first floor of the With Harajuku commercial complex, the 793sqm Shiseido Beauty Square will offer digital experience-based features and a salon, besides its cosmetics ranges.

    Shiseido describes the new retail space as “a spot offering experience and communication to discover, enjoy, and share beauty”.

    Beauty Square is divided into four zones – Go-live, Brand, Installation, and Salon.

    Located at the entrance, the Go-live Zone features a large LED display and signage showing live streaming, video programs, and promotional content.

    The Brand Zone ranges a variety of Shiseido products, covering makeup, skincare and hairstyling.  Brands on sale include IPSA, Cle de Peau Beaute, The Ginza, Shiseido Professional, Dolce＆Gabbana Beauty, Nars, BareMinerals, and Laura Mercier.

    A large 4×4 meter LED screen and moving headlights are installed at the Installation Zone which will host events, including digital content and pop-up stores.

    Colorful spheres and motifs “represent the diversity of beauty, constantly change in light and image in sync with body movement and time,” the company explains.

    Here, customers can experience virtual avatar content using Zepeto, an app developed by Naver which allows users to create 3D avatars. There are more than 15 million users of Zepeto in Japan, who at Shiseido Beauty Square can customize their avatars with their favorite makeup and fashion.

    In the Installation Zone, customers go through a virtual experience projecting their avatar character in the store’s special virtual space, taking pictures with friends and avatars of famous brand ambassadors.

    Zepeto actively launches various features and new content, starting from the virtual space, and will provide users with new experiences daily.

    The Salon Zone (above) offers personalized makeup and hairstyling with Shiseido’s beauty artists

    In addition to Beauty Square, the With Harajuku complex also houses a restaurant called Shiseido Parlour The Harajuku on the 8th floor and a beauty academy Sabfa on the second floor.

    Sabfa conducts training for beauty professionals who have a cosmetology license, but in the new stores, training will be expanded to those without a license as a means to nurture more leaders in the profession.

    The new Shiseido parlour restaurant overlooks the forest surrounding the Meiji Shrine. The interior was supervised by Kazuya Ura and the menu features a mixture of French and Japanese cuisine.

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  • Taiwan’s O’right makes Japanese start

    Taiwan’s O’right makes Japanese start

    Taiwanese beauty brand O’right is to make its debut in Japan this week. O’right’s first store will open in Isetan Shinjuku on June 10, followed by a second store in Yurakucho Marui the next day.

    “It shows the brand’s confidence in Japan’s path to economic recovery and its determination to establish a foothold in the Japanese beauty market,” the company said in a statement.

    The O’right Japan stores will feature a wide range of plant-based products, including the brand’s limited edition Caffeine Botanical Scalp Revitalizer. As the Tokyo 2021 Olympics Games’ key theme is sustainability, the zero-carbon beauty brand sees a timely opportunity to introduce its products in the Japanese market.

    During the openings, customers will be given gifts including high-quality hydrating hand sanitizer and exclusive discounts.

    Founded in 2006 as a hair-care brand, O’right has evolved into a “green-style” beauty brand, aiming to redefine the beauty market by introducing zero-carbon, sustainable products that “deliver on a promise of a greener tomorrow”.

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  • British beauty retailer Space NK closing China stores

    British beauty retailer Space NK closing China stores

    British multi-brand beauty retailer Space NK has closed its shops in China, just two years after its debut there.

    The retailer had opened stores in Chinese metropolitan cities Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing and Chengdu, with eight stores in total. Following the coronavirus pandemic which saw most of the nation’s shops closed in February, the company this week confirmed reports that all of its stores have subsequently been shuttered and staff laid off.

    Space NK has not revealed any immediate plans to list through online retail channels Tmall or JD, despite its investment in multi-channel retailing in other markets.

    CEO and former digital director of Space NK, Andy Lightfoot, told BW Confidential: “The simplification allows us to concentrate on our core business and operations while focusing investment on continuing to grow across all key markets, of which China remains one”.

    Space NK’s international expansion continues to look towards the US and Canada with an aggressive launch across the UK market.

  • Bonjour trims range, relocates stores as losses mount

    Bonjour trims range, relocates stores as losses mount

    Hong Kong cosmetics retailer Bonjour Holdings has delisted slow-moving products and trimmed its store network as it grapples with falling sales and mounting losses.

    The company has just released its results for last year, when sales fell by 18.7 percent, following a 7.3-per-cent decline in 2018. The company’s annual loss attributable to shareholders ballooned from HKD39.6 million (US$5.1 million) in 2018 to HKD129.6 million ($16.7 million) last year.

    Culling non-performing SKUs in stores, Bonjour Holdings shifted its focus to brands and products which are faster moving and/or have higher margins. Store layouts were changed to better display top-selling products and trendy lines to create an enhanced shopping experience.

    Bonjour ended the year with 37 stores in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou, two fewer than a year earlier. But within that figure, stores with weak sales performance were replaced by new ones in community districts as the company joined many local brands by shifting focus to locations frequented by locals rather than inbound visitors.

    The company is also open to short-term leases for street-front shops which would be more flexible during the unsettled economic times and with negotiable rents.

    In a stock-exchange filing, Bonjour Holdings said it was responding to a market disrupted by social unrest last year and now the coronavirus pandemic, by reducing its operating costs. Such measures include reducing store trading hours by reducing from two shifts to one, and requiring all staff to take at least five days of unpaid leave to reduce staff costs.

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  • Shiseido kicked off Baum retail brand

    Shiseido kicked off Baum retail brand

    Japanese cosmetics label Shiseido has released a new skincare brand, called Baum.

    In response to consumers placing greater importance on companies’ and brands’ attitudes toward social responsibility and environmental considerations, Baum focuses on sustainability. It features a range of 27 products to be released on May 30 via Shiseido’s Prestige business category.

    The products are formulated to support healthy skin regardless of age or gender, with a focus on three key characteristics found in trees – water storage, growth, and environmental defense. The brand is positioning itself as focusing on the “power of trees, gracefully harmonizing with environmental changes and living for hundreds of years”. It ascribes to a sense of coexistence with nature that it asserts has been “valued by Japanese people for centuries”.

    Production of the Baum range is particularly attentive to sustainability concerns, with the use of upcycled wood in product packaging; actively offering to refill products; using bio-based plastics and recycled glass and participating in forest conservation activities – with plans to plant and grow oak trees scheduled to begin next year.

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  • Estee Lauder declares strong growth across Asia

    Estee Lauder declares strong growth across Asia

    Estee Lauder has reported “strong double-digit sales growth” in nearly every Asia-Pacific market in the latest quarter.

    Globally, the company achieved sales of US4.62 billion in the three months to December 31, up by 15 percent year on year, but in Asia especially the cosmetics giant thrived.

    “Greater China delivered strong double-digit net sales growth,” the company said in a statement.

    “Growth accelerated on the mainland, reflecting, in part, an outstanding performance related to Singles Day and other events. Net sales in Hong Kong declined as a result of the ongoing events impacting key shopping areas.”

    The company said emerging markets in Southeast Asia also delivered strong growth.

    “Among developed markets, South Korea rose in double digits and both Japan and Australia grew solidly in constant currency.”

    Online sales more than doubled in the region.

    Estee Lauder reported net earnings of $557 million, down from $573 million last year.

    “We delivered superb results in our second quarter, leading to an excellent first half,” said Fabrizio Freda, president and CEO. “Our multiple engines of growth generated broad-based gains across all our regions and major categories, as our prestige brand portfolio was well received by global consumers during the Singles Day event and holiday season.

    “Our sales growth came from all facets of our business, including the Asia/Pacific region, the skincare and fragrance categories, the online and travel retail channels, and the Estee Lauder, La Mer and luxury fragrance brands. Our emerging markets continued to be vibrant and we made progress towards the stabilization of our North American business despite continued softness in the makeup category. Additionally, we completed the acquisition of the Korean-based Dr Jart+ brand at the end of the quarter, which strengthens our position in global skincare.”

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