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Tag: Sephora

  • Third Sephora Hong Kong getting ready to be opened

    Third Sephora Hong Kong getting ready to be opened

    Located at the K11 Art Mall in Tsim Sha Tsui, the 265 square meter store will be Sephora’s first location in Kowloon, marking a new milestone in Sephora’s business expansion in the region.

    Due to open its doors in early January 2021, the new Sephora K11 Store will offer an unparalleled shopping experience with a comprehensive mix of 65 brands with numerous market most loved and exclusives such as Drunk Elephant, SUNDAY RILEY, Supergoop!, Mario Badescu, Pixi, First Aid Beauty, Cha Ling L’esprit du Thé, FRESH, and HERBIVORE BOTANICALS in Skincare; Fenty Beauty, tarte, Huda Beauty, IT Cosmetics, Benefit Cosmetics, and Urban Decay in Makeup; Olaplex, Briogeo, Ouai, Christophe Robin, KRISTIN ESS, IGK, and GHD in Haircare; as well as Maison Margiela and LOEWE in Fragrance. Last but not least, Sephora’s own brand Sephora Collection that covers the key categories.

    The new store will also offer testers and product display for some Online Exclusives including The Ordinary, Dr. Dennis Gross, Dear Dahlia and Natasha Moor.

    With an additional store in the market, Sephora will continue to expand its local beauty community through its exclusive Beauty Pass membership programme designed to offer the latest beauty news and special perks and offers to its members.

    Sephora is thrilled to the opening of its first store in Kowloon by indulging the local community with a unique and interesting beauty experience through a customized virtual game titled “SEPHORA SHAKE OFF” at their store front in K11 Art Mall. Kicking off on December 24th, “SEPHORA SHAKE OFF” presents numerous beauty perks and delights with a series of amazing prizes guaranteed to perk up everyone’s holiday spirit!

    To launch “SEPHORA SHAKE OFF” game, players simply need to scan a QR code with their smartphones and need to work their arm muscle by shaking their phones throughout it. Starting with a choice between a Day or Night look, the player(s) will be taken on a virtual shopping spree featuring some of Sephora’s best-selling items from its skincare, make-up and hair-care range with an objective to collect as many items as possible by shaking as fast as one can.

    Upon completion of the shopping spree, players will proceed to beautify a virtual avatar with their look of choice, again through shaking their phones in order to complete the look as fast as possible. The final beauty look will be revealed along with the resulting beauty ranking achieved, determining the player(s)’ prize ranging from Beauty Bae, Beauty Enthusiast, Beauty Expert, and to the top rank of Beauty Master. The various prizes consist of star products from top brands including Drunk Elephant, FRESH, Estée Lauder, Sephora Collection and many more.

    As an extension to the two existing Sephora stores in Hong Kong, the design of the new K11 store echoes the same sense of modernity and vibrant energy through its interior elements. An exclusive feature to the K11 store is the Beauty Shout-Out kiosk which is outfitted with a screen featuring key bestsellers and video submissions from the local Sephora Community which offers user-generated content and genuine recommendations of products and services available at Sephora. Also on showcase at the Beauty Shout-Out is a selection of the latest must-haves and testers for trials, as well as a magnetic wall for customers to create their own Sephora photo opportunity.

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  • Sephora lost $6 million in FY19, and Covid-19 has made it worse

    Sephora lost $6 million in FY19, and Covid-19 has made it worse

    Sephora has decided to close all North-American stores through April 3. In a statement, the brand states that corporate employees will be working from home, while retail employees will be compensated during their time off. “Following guidance from public health authorities, we understand that practicing social distancing and reducing dense public gatherings as much as possible is critically important at this time,” the company wrote. “This is truly a global effort that requires all of our participation.”

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  • Previous Starbucks executive taking over as Sephora CEO

    Previous Starbucks executive taking over as Sephora CEO

    LVMH has appointed ex Starbuck executive Martin Brok as president and CEO of Sephora. Brok will start his new role on Monday, succeeding Chris de la Puente. Chris will remain a member of the LVMH executive committee and “take on additional responsibilities at a later date.”

    Under Chris’ leadership, Sephora wholesales have tripled and achieved a strong omnichannel presence, according to the company.

    “The appointment of Martin Brok marks a new era for the company as a period of transformation begins for the beauty retail industry, in particular with the rise of online sales.”

    Brok had worked at Starbucks Corporation as president of Europe, the Middle East and Africa since 2016, after holding general management roles at Nike.

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  • 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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  • Sephora launched Tmall flagship store in China

    Sephora launched Tmall flagship store in China

    Sephora China has launched a flagship store on Alibaba’s B2C platform Tmall Global.

    The Sephora Tmall Global flagship features a selection of beauty brands including Fenty, perfume house Bon Parfumeur, and skincare brands like Farmacy and Dermalogica. The cross-border store also introduced a series of beauty lines’ China debut such as Natasha Denona and Sunday Riley.

    As part of the launch, the beauty retailer unveiled its first showroom presenting cross-border beauty products with “cloud shelves” in a physical Sephora store.

    “Through the synergy of online and offline channels, consumers can access overseas brands to fulfill their emerging and evolving needs,” said Benjamin Vuchot, president of Sephora Asia. “This initiative is very special to us, as we are celebrating the 15th anniversary of Sephora China this year.

    “The opening of the Sephora Tmall Global flagship store offers a great opportunity for Sephora to continue reinforcing its commitment to the China market, by catering to the Chinese consumer’s ever-changing trends and evolving needs to enhance their beauty power,” Vuchot said.

    The Sephora Tmall Global flagship houses 600 products from 25 overseas beauty brands in the country.

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  • Sephora suspends makeup services as precautionary measure

    Sephora suspends makeup services as precautionary measure

    French beauty giant Sephora has stopped offering custom makeovers in hundreds of stores across Asia-Pacific as a precautionary measure to protect customers and staff from the coronavirus.

    A company spokesperson said the service had been temporarily suspended and online bookings had been disabled across Asia, Australia, and New Zealand until further notice.

    “In view of the ongoing 2019 Novel Coronavirus situation, Sephora would like to reiterate that the health and wellbeing of their customers and cast members (beauty advisors) are of paramount importance,” the spokesperson said.

    Sephora has approximately 200 stores in the Asia-Pacific region, including in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and India, according to the retailer’s website.

    The news comes amid reports that more than 900 people in Mainland China have died from the coronavirus, surpassing the death toll from the 2012 SARS epidemic.

    But Sephora’s suspension of custom makeover services suggests the continued spread of the coronavirus could have far-reaching effects on a wider range of retailers.

  • Sephora launches giant flagship store at Fahrenheit88, Malaysia

    Sephora launches giant flagship store at Fahrenheit88, Malaysia

    Sephora Malaysia has launched a new flagship store at Fahrenheit88 shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, the French beauty brand’s largest outlet in Southeast Asia.

    Located in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Sephora Fahrenheit88 occupies a 17,000sqft area, featuring more than 10,000 products from 100 brands.

    “The opening of Sephora Fahrenheit88 is a testament to our ongoing effort to make Sephora the ultimate place for our beauty community and strengthen Sephora’s position as the world’s leading beauty retailer,” said Valerie Foong, GM at Sephora Malaysia. “This flagship is the largest beauty playground and will be the ultimate one-stop beauty destination in this market.”

    To celebrate the opening Sephora Malaysia has unveiled eight more premium brands to its local range, including Bobbi Brown, La Mer, SK-II, Sulwhasoo, Aerin, Maison Margiela, Dunk Elephant and Tatcha

    The Sephora Malaysia flagship features in-store interactive kiosks, pictured below, where customers can discover the latest promotions as well as services and events in store, flick through the Sephora buying guide and rewards boutique catalog, and play an interactive game.

    Sephora Fahrenheit88 also offers two special services: a breakthrough skin analysis app Skincredible and a facial and lip treatment Perk Treatment by Hydrafacial & Perk Lips.

    The Sephora store is also home to the brand’s first Beauty Loft in Southeast Asia, where Gold-level members of its rewards program can redeem their rewards and points as well as using in-house personal beauty-shopper services and exclusive product-engraving service.

    Besides the retail area, Sephora Fahrenheit88 dedicates a whole floor to Sephora University, a Sephora Lounge for events, and a photography studio for beauty-brand takeovers to engage with the customers, influencers and KOLs.

    The president of Sephora Asia, Benjamin Vuchot, said a driving force behind the Sephora Fahrenheit88 store was to make sure it truly represents what the Sephora brand stands for – the largest beauty community and a heart for Sephora Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia.

  • Sephora launches first WA pop-up inside David Jones

    Sephora launches first WA pop-up inside David Jones

    Beauty brand Sephora has launched its first location in Western Australia, housed within the David Jones in Claremont Quarter Shopping Centre, Perth.

    The pop-up will run until January, or until stock runs out, and will offer Christmas Gift collections that feature products from Huda Beauty, Becca Cosmetics and Fenty Beauty.

    Perth property group Hawaiian general manager of shopping centers Scott Greenwood said the pop-up will give Perth beauty fans the chance to get their hands on international cosmetic brands in time for Christmas.

    “We are proud we can assist our retailers offering international brands to Claremont Quarter shoppers,” Greenwood said.

    “The pop-up Sephora has arrived in David Jones just in time for people to start their Christmas Shopping.

    “It will also be warmly welcomed by those who love the Sephora brand but until now have only been able to access products online or interstate.”

    Sephora signed a strategic partnership with David Jones in 2018, which at the time resulted in the opening of a concept store in David Jones’ Bourke Street, Melbourne flagship.

    The launch of the pop-up continues this partnership, as well as Sephora’s expansion into new locations in Australia, has launched its first store in Rundle Mall, South Australia in October.

    Parent company LVMH recently revealed a solid third-quarter result, with all business groups and regions contributing to an 11 percent increase in revenue.

    Sephora itself continued to see strong organic growth, especially in Asia and the Middle East, and enjoyed rapid online revenue growth.

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  • K-beauty brands vow to defend against Sephora South Korea onslaught

    K-beauty brands vow to defend against Sephora South Korea onslaught

    South Korea’s big-name beauty retailers are prepared to defend their market share from the launch of Sephora South Korea, which debuts this week.

    The first Sephora South Korea store will open in Parnas Mall in the upscale district of Gangnam in southern Seoul this Thursday, the company said. Spread across 547sqft, the store will feature hundreds of cosmetics, skincare, body and fragrance brands, along with its own private-label range.

    Sephora, part of the French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH Group, has nearly 3000 stores worldwide. The company has begun an aggressive expansion program in Asia, opening stores in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and India.

    Sephora South Korea plans to open six stores and an official online store by the end of next year, along with 13 more nationwide by 2022.

    Sephora’s inroads come as the country is already full of Sephora-like stores, which are mostly operated by the country’s major conglomerates.

    Sales of beauty and drug products in the country came to US$4.74 billion last year, according to data compiled by Euromonitor International.

    Olive Young, run by retail conglomerate CJ Group, is considered a market leader with nearly 1100 outlets across the country. The stores feature hundreds of budget- and mid-range beauty-and-lifestyle products.

    Local retail giant Shinsegae also launched its first multi-brand beauty shop Chicor inside one of its department stores in December 2016, which houses not only luxury brands but also bargain cosmetics.

    The company currently has 22 such stores across the country and a flagship in Gangnam.

    The outlets also have a place where customers can try out makeup products for free and issues a credit card that offers discounts and other perks.

    “We were able to secure not only loyal but also potential customers by issuing a credit card that offers benefits, especially for those in their 20s and 30s who are hugely interested in beauty products and makeup,” said Lee Sung-hwan, a Shinsegae official.

    The company says it has issued 90,000 Chicor credits cards in about a year.

    Lotte Shopping Co, South Korea’s No. 2 retailer, also operates the drugstore LOHB, which sells mainly medical cosmetics. That chain opened a concept store in the Gangnam district last month that mainly targets customers in their 20s.

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  • Sephora shared launch dates for first SA store

    Sephora shared launch dates for first SA store

    Sephora will open its first store in South Australia on October 10.

    The beauty giant today revealed the launch date for its Rundle Mall store in Adelaide, and provided details about the opening day event.

    “We will be taking over the section of Rundle Mall outside of our new store to create what we like to call, the Sephora Street Party,” Beth Glancey, country GM for Sephora Australia & New Zealand, said in a statement.

    “There will be a huge stage, a live DJ, influencer appearances and Q&As, makeup stations and plenty of fun.”

    Sephora is rewarding the first customers in line with free products, with the first 100 receiving an Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette ($76), and the next 400 picking up the Anastasia Beverly Hills Sugar Palette ($74).

    The first 10 people in line will be invited to shop the store before it opens and receive $100 to spend.

    According to Glancey, the store will be unlike any other Sephora location in Australia, with a particular focus on services, including a Benefit “brow bar” and the first dedicated skincare studio in the country.

    Sephora’s services include make-up lessons as well as applications, with customers able to book in to receive a full makeover, while the Benefit “brow bar” allows customers to have their eyebrows, lips and chins styled, waxed, tinted, and tweezed.

    Sephora confirmed earlier this month that it was entering South Australia for the first time, generating a strong response from local customers on social media.

    “When we announced our Adelaide arrival two weeks ago we were met with such excitement by our clients. We had over 2,500 ‘likes’, 900 ‘comments’ and 75 ‘shares’ on Facebook and Instagram,” Glancey said.

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  • Sephora expanding to Australia next month

    Sephora expanding to Australia next month

    Beauty brand Sephora is opening its first store in South Australia next month in Adelaide’s Rundle Mall.

    According to Sephora Australia and New Zealand country manager Beth Glancey, a store in Adelaide has been long requested by its more fervent fans.

    “We have been eagerly waiting for the perfect location on Rundle Mall for some time now,” Glancey said.

    “We are excited that we are only weeks away from bringing the fun, dynamic and inspiring Sephora retail experience to our clients in Adelaide.”

    According to Glancey, the store will be unlike any other Sephora location in Australia, with a particular focus on Sephora Services, offering a benefit brow bar and Sephora’s first dedicated skincare studio in the country.

    Sephora’s services include make up lessons as well as applications, with customers able to book in to receive a full makeover, while the benefit brow bar allows customers to have their eyebrows, lips and chins styled, waxed, tinted, and tweezed.

    General manager of the Rundle Mall management authority Johanna Williams said the destination is thrilled to house the first South Australian Sephora store.

    “Sephora is a trailblazer in the international beauty world, known not only for its product range but for unique in-store experiences that are sure to be a hit with South Australian beauty fans,” Williams said.

    “We look forward to Sephora openings its doors in October.”

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  • Sephora Hong Kong after being away for 10-years

    Sephora Hong Kong after being away for 10-years

    Sephora Hong Kong returns after a 10-year absence today, opening a 4200sqft store at IFC mall.

    The LVMH-owned global beauty retailer promises shoppers 40 brands new or exclusive to Hong Kong, along with the new Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, also an LVMH subsidiary which is simultaneously being launched by DFS Group’s T Galleria stores today.

    “We believe the new Sephora Hong Kong will be the ultimate one-stop beauty destination in the region that consumers will find joy in exploring the countless products and services on offer,” said Benjamin Vuchot, Asia president at Sephora.

    “We are really proud of the exciting brand portfolio for our new store.”

    Sephora Hong Kong has confirmed plans to open eight stores in its return to brick-and-mortar retailing in the territory. A second store is under construction at Windsor House in Causeway Bay, scheduled to open prior to Christmas. Six more stores will follow over a three-year timeframe, their locations as yet not revealed.

    The new IFC mall store features new customer services, including Virtual Artist, a beauty app designed to offer customers an opportunity to try on and compare different products digitally.

    Vuchot believes the technology will engage customers in-store and create a unique omnichannel model dedicated to offering an “unparalleled shopping experience in-store and online through its upgraded e-commerce platform”.

    Among the brands making their Hong Kong debut today are Drunk Elephant, Sunday Riley, Huda Beauty, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and Fenty Beauty; and niche fragrance labels including Clean Reserve, Kayali, Bon Parfumeur and Maison Margiela.

    Sephora Hong Kong will also introduce new beauty and fragrance brands that are making their debut in the market such as Loewe, Tarte, IT Cosmetics and Jack Black.

    More brands will be added later in the year – both instore and online – to provide customers with “endless new discoveries” across different categories.

  • Sephora Hong Kong confirms September opening and promises new brands

    Sephora Hong Kong confirms September opening and promises new brands

    Sephora Hong Kong will open its new flagship store at IFC mall in “early September” the company announced yesterday.

    And the LVMH-owned beauty retailer has promised to launch more than 40 brands onto the Hong Kong market, “new and exclusive” to the territory. These include what the company describes as “cult beauty favourites” such as Drunk Elephant, Sunday Riley, Huda Beauty, Anastasia Beverly Hills and Fenty Beauty; and niche fragrance labels including Clean Reserve, Kayali, Bon Parfumeur and Maison Margiela.

    Sephora Hong Kong will also introduce new beauty and fragrance brands that are making their debut in the market such as Loewe, Tarte, IT Cosmetics and Jack Black.

    “We are really proud of the exciting brand portfolio for our new store,” said Benjamin Vuchot, Asia president at Sephora.

    “We believe the new Sephora Hong Kong will be the ultimate one-stop beauty destination in the region that consumers will find joy in exploring the countless products and services on offer.”

    Vuchot believes Sephora will offer the most extensive brand portfolio in the market, supported by a unique omni-channel model dedicated to offering an “unparalleled shopping experience in-store and online through its upgraded e-commerce platform”.

    More brands will be added later – both instore and online – to provide customers with “endless new discoveries” across different categories.

    Beyond the new brands, Sephora Hong Kong will also be launching new, innovative customer services, including Virtual Artist, a new beauty app designed to offer customers an opportunity to try on and compare different products digitally.

    Online bookings will be taken for a variety of personalised services at the Sephora Beauty Studio.

    On launch day, Sephora will offer a complimentary ferry ride between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central on the opening day. The first 300 customers to visit the new Sephora Hong Kong store will be given a goodie bag with a curated selection of Sephora products.

    Sephora Hong Kong has confirmed it will open eight stores in the territory, with the second planned for Windsor House in Causeway Bay in the fourth quarter of this year. Six more will follow over a two-year time frame, their locations not yet revealed.

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  • Large queues for Sephora store opening

    Large queues for Sephora store opening

    After much anticipation, Sephora’s first New Zealand store opened last weekend on Queen Street in Auckland, with hundreds of Kiwis lining up for the launch.

    Many would-be beauty-buyers camped out overnight to ensure they were the first into the store, which officially opened at 7am on Saturday, July 20.

    Sephora spent an estimated $5 million to fit out the store, which was announced in early May after months of speculation.

    The launch is part of a larger expansion into the Asia-Pacific region, which will see the make-up retailer set up shop in Hong Kong and Korea.

    “We believe that New Zealand will be a key market in building Sephora as the most loved beauty community in Asia, and the world,” said president of Sephora Asia Benjamin Vuchot.

    “This expansion to a new market will allow Sephora to continue to amplify global beauty trends locally, elevate what our clients expect of the in-store experience and bring fresh, digital touch points to the retail environment to create a virtual, client-centric cycle.”

    In the lead-up to launch, Sephora toured the country in a “Beauty Bus”, giving remote customers a chance to trial its products before the local offering officially went online.

    However, not everyone was pleased with the launch. The New Zealand Maori Council called for the Government to investigate the cosmetics company after they were “caught dumping hundreds and thousands of waste paper products embedded with cosmetic chemicals down the drains”.

    “And all, according to a spokesperson for Sephora New Zealand, with the permission of the Auckland Council,” New Zealand Maori Council executive director Matthew Tukaki said.

    “As Maori we consider ourselves as protectors of our whenua and our water ways and I will be damned if I am going to standby and allow Auckland City Council to grant a license for this company to dump their waste directly into our system.”

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  • Sephora Takashimaya reopens with a gold-member concierge service

    Sephora Takashimaya reopens with a gold-member concierge service

    Sephora Takashimaya has reopened after a two-month renovation with a concierge service for gold members.

    The beauty retailer’s new store has also elevated its in-store experience by integrating both technology and more of a human touch.

    Touted as “the store that spoils you”, the outlet offers Sephora Singapore’s newest brands and product lines. Jo Malone London, Aerin, Miller Harris and Loewe will be exclusively available at Sephora Takashimaya.

    A new fragrance discovery bar offers a curation of both niche and popular scents for perfume lovers.

    Personalised consultations are available at the six-seater beauty studio, using the retailer’s unique Skincredible app. Combining a survey and a skin scan, the consultation service curates product recommendations for shoppers.

    However, the biggest innovation a Gold Member Concierge service, for the top tier of Sephora Takashimaya’s loyalty program members (those who spend more than S$1500 annually).

    The personal-shopper experience can be booked online and begins the moment customers step into the store.

    The 60-minute session starts with a welcoming drink, hand towels and hand massage treatment, followed by free hair and makeup touch-ups, and an analysis of skin health. A guided shopping spree follows, before customers can skip checkout queues using a dedicated Gold members facility.

    The service ends with the customer’s shopping bags carried to their car.