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  • Estee Lauder Seals the Deal: Full Ownership of India’s Luxury Beauty Brand, Forest Essentials

    Estee Lauder Seals the Deal: Full Ownership of India’s Luxury Beauty Brand, Forest Essentials

    Estee Lauder, a renowned global manufacturer and marketer of skincare, makeup, and beauty products, has acquired the remaining shares of the luxury Indian beauty brand, Forest Essentials. This move finalizes an 18-year partnership between the two entities, pending regulatory approval.

    Increase in Commitment and Position

    Stéphane de La Faverie, the president and CEO of Estee Lauder, emphasized that this acquisition underscores the company’s commitment to enhancing the growth of Forest Essentials. It also solidifies its standing in India’s high-end beauty market. De La Faverie expressed deep admiration for the vision and perseverance needed to create a brand of Forest Essentials’ stature. The shared objective is to further solidify the brand’s leadership domestically, while prudently introducing it to a global market.

    A Brand Rooted in Tradition

    Forest Essentials, established in 2000 by Mira Kulkarni, draws its inspiration from Ayurveda. This age-old Indian wellness system, with a history spanning approximately 3000 years, concentrates on creating harmony between the mind, body, and spirit. Forest Essentials has successfully transformed these traditional rituals into contemporary formulations and immersive retail experiences, placing Ayurveda in the luxury beauty segment. Today, Forest Essentials is a leading brand with about 200 stores spread across India.

    Future Direction

    Despite the acquisition, Forest Essentials will retain its headquarters in New Delhi under the leadership of Mira Kulkarni and her son, Samrath Bedi, who is the executive director. The brand will continue its operations in India, including infusing research and development with Ayurveda principles, sourcing botanicals locally, and manufacturing in-house.

    The collaboration with Estee Lauder will allow Forest Essentials to tap into the latter’s worldwide brand-building capabilities, distribution network, and operational proficiency. This will foster long-term growth while preserving the brand’s heritage.

    Kulkarni expressed that the next phase of the company’s evolution will concentrate on international expansion while preserving its Indian roots. She reiterated that Ayurveda is not simply a belief system, but a refined combination of science, ritual, and holistic wellbeing. She added that this new phase signifies both continuity and growth.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the significance of Estee Lauder’s acquisition of Forest Essentials?
    This acquisition reinforces Estee Lauder’s commitment to the growth of Forest Essentials and strengthens its position in the Indian luxury beauty market.

    What impact will the acquisition have on the operations of Forest Essentials?
    Forest Essentials will remain headquartered in New Delhi and continue its operations in India. It will also leverage Estee Lauder’s global brand-building capabilities, distribution network, and operational expertise to support long-term growth.

    What will be the focus of Forest Essentials’ next stage of development?
    Forest Essentials will focus on international expansion while maintaining its Indian roots and preserving the brand’s heritage.

  • Estée Lauder Dives into Latin America’s Fragrance Scene with Strategic Investment in Mexican Brand, Xinú

    Estée Lauder Dives into Latin America’s Fragrance Scene with Strategic Investment in Mexican Brand, Xinú

    Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder has recently invested in a minority share of the Mexican perfume label Xinú. This move represents Estée Lauder’s first venture into the Latin American market.

    The investment strategy was executed through New Incubation Ventures (NIV), Estée Lauder’s unit focused on early-stage investments and incubation. NIV is dedicated to financially backing and fostering up-and-coming beauty brands.

    Mexico: A Hub of Fragrance Innovation

    Stéphane de La Faverie, the President and CEO of Estée Lauder, has lauded Mexico as a vibrant center of perfume innovation. He believes that the country represents a unique melding of craftsmanship and cultural pertinence. In his view, Xinú is the embodiment of this ethos, as they redefine contemporary luxury through authenticity, artistry, and captivating narratives.

    Xinú presents itself as a brand inspired by the abundant and exotic richness of the American continent. It synthesizes elements of fragrance, design, and storytelling, and is highly regarded for its commitment to sustainable design. Xinú also prides itself on its sensorial retail environments and product offerings.

    Investment Reflects Commitment to Region

    De La Faverie expressed that this investment underlines Estée Lauder’s firm belief in the region’s exceptional talent. Moreover, it demonstrates their ongoing commitment to nurturing emerging brands that will shape the future of the fragrance and beauty sectors.

    Questions & Answers

    Why has Estée Lauder invested in Xinú?
    Estée Lauder’s investment in Xinú reflects the company’s belief in the region’s exceptional talent and its commitment to nurturing emerging brands that will shape the future of the fragrance and beauty sectors.

    What does Xinú represent according to Estée Lauder’s CEO?
    According to Estée Lauder’s CEO, Xinú is a brand that embodies the spirit of Mexican innovation in fragrance, redefining contemporary luxury through authenticity, artistry, and captivating narratives.

    How does Xinú distinguish itself in the perfume market?
    Xinú sets itself apart in the perfume industry through its inspiration from the abundant richness of the American continent, its synthesis of fragrance, design, and storytelling, its commitment to sustainable design, and its sensorial retail environments.

  • Esteé Lauder’s Visionary Leader Leonard A. Lauder Dies At 92: A Legacy Of Transformation And Philanthropy

    Esteé Lauder’s Visionary Leader Leonard A. Lauder Dies At 92: A Legacy Of Transformation And Philanthropy

    The former chairman of Esteé Lauder, Leonard A Lauder, has sadly passed away at the age of 92.

    Loss of a Visionary

    Lauder’s death leaves a significant void in the company and the wider industry. His son, Gary M Lauder, who is also a member of the Esteé Lauder board of directors, expressed his sorrow at the loss. He emphasized the immeasurable impact of Lauder’s life, the significant contributions he made to the company, and the values of integrity, curiosity, and philanthropy that he instilled in the Esteé Lauder family. His presence will be sorely missed.

    A Tenacious Leader

    Lauder, the elder son of Esteé and Joseph H Lauder, joined the family business more than six decades ago. Armed with vision and tenacity, he played an instrumental role in the company’s transformation. Under his leadership, Esteé Lauder evolved from a single brand in the U.S. market to a global cosmetics giant boasting multiple illustrious brands.

    Before his tenure as chairman, Lauder held several leadership positions within the company, including serving as the president and CEO of Esteé Lauder from 1972 to 1999.

    Brand Expansion and Acquisitions

    Lauder was also instrumental in initiating the launch of various brands such as Aramis, Clinique, and Lab Series. His strategic vision extended to the company’s acquisition strategy, leading to the inclusion of prestigious brands like Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone London, La Mer, and Mac under the Esteé Lauder umbrella.

    Stephane de La Faverie, current president and CEO of Esteé Lauder, recognized Lauder as an industry icon and pioneer who inspired employees and garnered respect worldwide for his visionary leadership.

    Philanthropy and Beyond

    Beyond his business ventures, Lauder dedicated his efforts to various fields, including medical research, particularly in the areas of cancer and Alzheimer’s, public education, art, foreign policy, and philanthropy. His varied contributions earned him several prestigious awards and accolades.

    Questions & Answers

    What role did Leonard A Lauder play in Esteé Lauder’s growth?
    Leonard A Lauder was instrumental in transforming Esteé Lauder from a single-brand company into a multi-brand cosmetics powerhouse with a global presence.

    What were some of the brands that Leonard A Lauder introduced?
    He initiated the launch of several brands, including Aramis, Clinique, and Lab Series, and contributed to the company’s acquisition of Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone London, La Mer, and Mac.

    What contributions did Leonard A Lauder make outside of his business ventures?
    Lauder was heavily involved in various philanthropic activities, including cancer and Alzheimer’s research, public education, art, foreign policy, and philanthropy, earning him several prestigious awards.

  • Estee Lauder appoints Lisa Sequino as new president of makeup brand cluster

    Estee Lauder appoints Lisa Sequino as new president of makeup brand cluster

    Esteé Lauder has welcomed Lisa Sequino into a new leadership role as the President of its makeup brand cluster, part of the company’s initiative to enhance innovation. Sequino’s mission will be to bolster consumer recruitment efforts and increase localized relevance within the brand.

    Esteé Lauder’s executive vice president and chief brand officer, Jane Hertzmark Hudis, described Sequino’s distinct blend of strategic and abstract thinking, entrepreneurial spirit and operational efficiency as the perfect fit for the role. Hudis believes Sequino is ideally equipped to lead the makeup cluster’s progress and growth trajectory.

    Prior to her appointment, Sequino held the position of Senior Vice President and General Manager of Esteé Lauder in North America. In this capacity, she spearheaded the brand’s flagship store’s go-to-market strategy. Sequino subsequently assumed the position of Senior Vice President of brands in the same region.

    In this latest role, Sequino directed a diverse brand portfolio, supervising skincare, makeup, and fragrance. She was also entrusted with the responsibility of harmonizing brand synergies across various channels and categories in North America.

    Questions & Answers

    What is Lisa Sequino’s new role at Esteé Lauder?
    Lisa Sequino has been appointed as the new President of Esteé Lauder’s makeup brand cluster.

    What are the objectives of Sequino’s role?
    Sequino will aim to expand consumer recruitment and boost local relevance for Esteé Lauder’s brands.

    What are Sequino’s previous roles within Esteé Lauder?
    Sequino served as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Esteé Lauder in North America, as well as the Senior Vice President of brands in the same region.

  • Estée Lauder Leverages Custom AI to Streamline Retail Data Management

    Estée Lauder Leverages Custom AI to Streamline Retail Data Management

    Estee Lauder Partners with Microsoft to Launch Innovative AI Insights Tool

    New Collaboration Set to Revolutionize Data Analysis and Consumer Insights

    The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) has officially announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft to develop ConsumerIQ, an advanced AI-driven tool that aims to transform how the company analyzes consumer and market data. This collaboration, leveraging the power of Microsoft Copilot Studio and Azure OpenAI Service, is designed to enhance decision-making processes across ELC’s global operations.

    Streamlining Data Access

    ConsumerIQ serves as an internal intelligence hub, integrating various types of data—from spreadsheets to presentations—into one centralized platform. This innovative tool utilizes natural language processing and generative AI to deliver real-time insights, enabling ELC employees to access crucial information swiftly. By cutting analysis time from weeks to mere minutes, ConsumerIQ facilitates quicker innovation and more agile marketing strategies.

    Acknowledging Innovation and Change

    In a notable recognition of this initiative, Microsoft has included ELC in its inaugural Agents of Change list, honoring organizations that harness cutting-edge AI technology to catalyze transformation. This accolade underscores ELC’s commitment to embracing technological advancements to enhance its operations and better meet consumer demands.

    ELC’s Expansive Reach

    With nearly 25 brands operating in over 150 countries, ELC generates substantial volumes of consumer data daily. The implementation of ConsumerIQ not only streamlines data analysis but also supports rapid development cycles, allowing the company to stay ahead in a competitive retail landscape.

    Implications for the Retail Sector

    As ConsumerIQ rolls out, its potential impact on the retail sector could be significant. With heightened efficiency in data analysis, ELC stands to refine its marketing strategies and product offerings in tune with evolving consumer trends. This partnership not only sets a precedent for other brands looking to leverage AI in their operations but also highlights the importance of innovation in navigating today’s dynamic retail environment.

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  • Estée Lauder And DFS Create Beauty Digital First With #BEAUTYALLNIGHT Campaign

    Estée Lauder And DFS Create Beauty Digital First With #BEAUTYALLNIGHT Campaign

    DFS and Estée Lauder are transforming fans into influencers with the launch of the exclusive #BeautyAllNight campaign this May. Inspired by the popularity of online beauty tutorials, DFS partnered with Estée Lauder to create the perfect #BeautyAllNight look whether you stay in or go out. From May 1 – 31, customers can discover the best of beauty at DFS locations worldwide with a DFS exclusive Love of Night set and the launch of latest Pure Color Love lipstick shades.

    The campaign creative follows three travelers visiting New York, Venice and Hong Kong as they unpack and apply their beauty travel essentials, snapping selfies and sharing their look on social media. To bring the #BeautyAllNight look to life for fans, followers of DFS’ WeChat channel can place themselves in the campaign and share their #BeautyAllNight look with friends on social media. In a beauty digital first, the dedicated WeChat page leverages facial recognition technology that allows the user to choose whether they would like the “staying in” or “going out” look. Fans can then select products from the DFS exclusive Love of Night set or Pure Color Love lipsticks to virtually try-on and share their #BeautyAllNight selfie on their WeChat Moments.

    “Today’s beauty shopper wants to see, test and share her next beauty look before even stepping into the store to purchase. She crowdsources everything, from where she should shop to what are the must-have products, often trusting peer-to-peer recommendations above all else,” said Ariel Gentzbourger, Senior Vice President Beauty, Fragrances and Wellbeing. “We’re proud to partner with Estée Lauder to harness the power of the social network and deliver this beauty digital first on WeChat with our #BeautyAllNight campaign. We’re confident that through this innovative online approach we’ll drive awareness and engagement of these beauty essentials in store with the growing Millennial segment.”

    To build excitement in store, DFS kicked off the campaign with an event at T Galleria Beauty by DFS, Causeway Bay in Hong Kong on May 4. The event centered around a #BeautyAllNight pop-up featuring an interactive photo booth, a skincare animation featuring the Advanced Night Repair Collection and a “Wall of Kisses” highlighting the latest Pure Color Love lipstick shades. In addition to Hong Kong, customers can discover dedicated #BeautyAllNight pop-ups at T Galleria by DFS, Hawaii and T Galleria by DFS, Macau, Studio City.

    Throughout the campaign, customers can enjoy 30 percent savings versus individual purchase when they buy the DFS exclusive Love of Night set featuring fan favorites including Advanced Night Repair (50ml), Advanced Night Repair Eye Gel (15ml), Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum (15ml), Advanced Night Repair 7ml Deluxe Sample, Resilience Lift Night Cream 5ml Deluxe Sample and Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age-Correcting Eye Cream 5ml Deluxe Sample.

    Discover the #BeautyAllNight campaign and DFS exclusive Love of Night set at the below locations:

    T Galleria by DFS, Hong Kong, Canton Road

    T Galleria by DFS, Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui East

    T Galleria Beauty by DFS, Hong Kong, Causeway Bay

    T Galleria by DFS, Macau, City of Dreams

    T Galleria by DFS, Macau, Shoppes at Four Seasons

    T Galleria by DFS, Macau, Studio City

    T Galleria by DFS, Hawaii

    T Fondaco dei Tedeschi by DFS

    DFS, Los Angeles International Airport

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  • Lauder starts its own Korean Wave with Dr. Jart+

    Lauder starts its own Korean Wave with Dr. Jart+

    Estée Lauder Companies has tied up a deal to buy an interest in Have & Be Co, the South Korean company behind skincare brands Dr. Jart+ and men’s-focused Do The Right Thing for an undisclosed amount. The deal is expected to close in December.

    Dr. Jart+ is a Seoul-based, skincare brand first launched online by ChinWook Lee in 2005 which has a particular appeal for millennials, a target for ELC. It has pioneered the proliferation of BB creams across the globe and, today, its BB line is a consumer favourite.

    The brand claims to fuse dermatological science and art – hence its name which is derived from ‘Doctor Joins Art’. It is sold in many countries, but primarily in Asia and the US via department stores, speciality stores as well as e-commerce channels including LVMH’s Sephora.

    Korean beauty brands have been performing extremely well in the domestic and duty free and travel retail channels in the country for a number of years – in many cases much better than products from international houses. Just recently Chanel pulled out of the DF&TR market at Incheon Airport, signalling a likely market shift.

    STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

    Fabrizio Freda, President and CEO of ELC says: “This investment gives our company a strategic opportunity to develop a partnership with one of Korea’s most promising high-growth skincare brands.

    “ChinWook Lee and his team have built a successful and exciting brand that is at the forefront of the rapidly-expanding Korean beauty wave. We are pleased to partner with Mr Lee and we look forward to building long-term, strategic relationship with the entire Dr. Jart+ team.”

    ChinWook Lee, Founder and CEO of Have & Be Co, adds: “As the Korean beauty wave continues to flourish globally, we are excited about the additional opportunities, support and guidance that The Estée Lauder Companies will bring to our brands. This is a tremendous moment for the Dr. Jart+ team and for the continued growth of Korean beauty.”

    ELC’s investment also includes an interest in Do The Right Thing (DTRT), a men’s-focused brand fusing Korean cosmetics with a New York style. Founded in 2012, DTRT’s line of cleansers, lotions, moisturisers and serums are sold in Korea through various channels and in the US through Sephora and BirchboxMan.

    “Global consumers look to Korea as a trendsetting market in beauty, and the Dr. Jart+ brand is part of the reason why,” says William P. Lauder, ELC’s Executive Chairman.

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