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Tag: Sephora

  • 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.

  • Sephora reveals final four cities on ‘Beauty Bus’ tour

    Sephora reveals final four cities on ‘Beauty Bus’ tour

    Sephora has announced Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton and Auckland as the final four cities to be visited by the retailer’s double-decker ‘Beauty Bus’ in July.

    The Beauty Bus will feature Sephora’s own products, as well as Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, tarte, Huda Beauty, Marc Jacobs Beauty on-board, but the products will not be available for purchase.

    “The Sephora Beauty Bus is all about the Sephora experience,” Sephora national artistry lead Alphie Sadsad said.

    “We have an online presence in New Zealand via our online store and app already, so this tour is all about letting our customers swatch, try and play with the products they’ve never seen in person.

    “Come in, try something new and then shop the full Sephora assortment online if you liked what you tried. It’s a whole new way of shopping, and we are excited for New Zealand to be the first to experience it.”

    Wrapped in Sephora’s white and black stripes, the 11-metre bus also offers custom-built makeup stations manned by Sephora makeup artists.

    The Beauty Bus is traveling around New Zealand next month in anticipation of the retailer’s first store in the country, set to open on Queen Street in Auckland in early July.

    The locations of the bus tour were chosen in the retailer’s ‘bring Sephora to your town’ competition, which encouraged Kiwis to vote for the chance to have the bus visit their town.

    While the brand has been tightlipped about its store launch, it is believed to be part of a larger push into the Asia market, which will also see stores opening in Korea and Hong Kong.

    Sephora Asia president Benjamin Vuchot has earlier said New Zealand will be a key market in building the Sephora brand in Asia.

    “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,” Vuchot said.

    Sephora Beauty Bus locations and dates:

    • Cathedral Square, Christchurch – 12 to 4 pm, 6 July
    • Northlands Mall, Christchurch – 12 to 4 pm, 7 July
    • Oldins Plaza, Wellington Waterfront – 12 to 4 pm, 10 and 11 July
    • Garden Place, Hamilton – 12 to 4 pm, 13 July
    • The Base, Hamilton – 12 to 4 pm, 14 July
    • Sylvia Park, Auckland – 12 to 4 pm, 17 July
    • The Viaduct, Auckland – 12 to 4 pm, 18 July
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  • Sephora New Zealand flagship opening in July

    Sephora New Zealand flagship opening in July

    Sephora has said its first New Zealand flagship store will be opened in July – though it stopped short of confirming an exact date.

    The beauty retailer revealed the detail on its social media channels on Wednesday morning, telling Kiwis to cancel their holiday plans in anticipation of the launch.

    Sephora has remained tight-lipped on details of the incoming Auckland store, although it is understood it will be located on Queen Street and is part of a larger push into Asia that will see Hong Kong and Korea added to the brand’s retail locations.

    Sephora managing director for Southeast Asia Alia Gogi also confirmed that the brand would be touring the New Zealand countryside by way of a ‘Beauty Bus’, giving Kiwis outside of Auckland an opportunity to interact with the brand.

    The bus will be touring across five cities including Auckland, though the other cities have not been decided.

    Sephora Asia president Benjamin Vuchot has earlier said New Zealand will be a key market in building the Sephora brand in Asia.

    “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,” Vuchot said.

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  • Sephora confirms Auckland Flagship Opening This Year

    Sephora confirms Auckland Flagship Opening This Year

    Beauty retailer Sephora has confirmed long-standing rumors of an Auckland flagship set to open on Queen Street in 2019. While the retailer launched a local online offering in 2015, the bricks-and-mortar location will be Sephora’s first in New Zealand and is part of a larger push into Asia that will see Hong Kong and Korea added to the brand’s retail locations.

    “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 the 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.”

    Prior to its official announcement earlier this week, Sephora posted a series of job ads on Seek in April, looking for assistant store managers, category coordinators, stockroom managers and supervisors to fill out the Auckland flagship.

    The positions all indicated that prospective employees would need to be available for a recruitment event between May 7 and 8, pointing to an opening in the near future.

    Sephora interim general manager of Australia and New Zealand Pedro Coutinho said the store would be a beauty destination “like no other.”

    “We are so excited to introduce our renowned service offering, a suite of the most sought after beauty brands from around the world and a fun place for our clients to experience and explore their own beauty journey,” Coutinho said.

    “The Sephora client is the future – our customers are ahead of the trends, up to date with the latest brands and they want new products, now. We’ve listened to what our online clients want from Sephora, and this new Auckland location will help us deliver it.”

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  • Sephora Hong Kong plans Eight More Store Openings

    Sephora Hong Kong plans Eight More Store Openings

    Sephora Hong Kong has confirmed not one, but eight stores in its return to brick-and-mortar retailing in the territory – but shoppers will have to wait until August for the first outlet to open.

    As previously reported, the LVMH-owned chain will open a 4200sqft store in IFC Mall after a 10-year absence from the city.

    In an announcement confirming its plans, Sephora Hong Kong says it will open a second store at Windsor House in Causeway Bay in the fourth quarter of this year and expand its online offer.  Six more stores will follow over a three-year timeframe, their locations as yet not revealed.

    In a statement, Benjamin Vuchot, president of Sephora Asia, said the company currently operates in 12 countries and during the next three years sees its retail presence expanding by almost 50 per cent across Asia.

    “Hong Kong, being strategically located in the Greater Bay Area, allows us to meet the growing demands from Hong Kong consumers, as well as tourists from Mainland China and Southeast Asia,” he said.

    “We believe that Hong Kong will be a key market … giving Sephora the opportunity to amplify global beauty trends locally, elevate the in-store retail experience and to bring in digital touch points within the brick-and-mortar format to create a virtuous customer centric cycle.”

    Sephora said the retail landscape in Hong Kong has changed significantly over the 10 years since Sephora last had a store there.

    “Conventional retail with a physical presence has proven higher chances of winning in a market with strong digital development. Moreover, the re-launch of Sephora brings to Hong Kong’s department store-focused retail landscape a much-needed prestige retail chain for an authentic omni-channel experience,” the statement said.

    Sephora Hong Kong plans to make beauty “more personalised, fun and interactive” upon its return, allowing customers “the freedom to experience products that work for them, learn tips and tricks, as well as to have access to unbiased beauty services from beauty advisors”.

    The company plans more than 40 brands of cosmetics exclusive to Sephora stores in the city, along with its own in-house label Sephora Collection. It has promised to include local Hong Kong brands in its offer as well, over time.

    Digital innovation will play an integral role in Sephora’s traditional retail experience, with vending machines to be located in stores to support the Beauty Pass loyalty program, an app powered by member insights to drive seamless customer service, a digital skincare consultation for immediate and accurate recommendations, and the opportunity to go online to book in-store makeovers.

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  • Sephora heads to Seoul, Korea

    Sephora heads to Seoul, Korea

    LVMH-owned cosmetics retailer Sephora will launch its first outlet in South Korea this October.

    The first Sephora South Korea retail space will take up 547sqft in Gangnam, featuring hundreds of brands as well as home-brand products under the Sephora label.

    “Sephora will contribute to expanding the local beauty market by proposing a new standard,” said Sephora Korea CEO Kim Dong-ju.

    The Sephora South Korea store will be the first of six planned to be trading by next year, along with an online store.

    Sephora operates more than 3000 outlets worldwide and has a strong presence in Asia. It also plans to make a return to Hong Kong soon, opening in space at IFC mall.

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  • Sephora opening New Zealand Flagship Store

    Sephora opening New Zealand Flagship Store

    Sephora is looking to fill a number of retail roles in Auckland, suggesting the beauty retailer is looking to open its first bricks-and-mortar store in New Zealand in the near future.

    Listings for assistant store manager, category coordinator, stockroom manager, supervisor, beauty and studio artists and retail assistants have been uploaded to job site Seek over the last month, claiming the retailer is opening its first New Zealand flagship store this year.

    The most recent listing notes that job seekers should be available and flexible to attend a recruitment event between May 7 and 8, pointing to a relatively quick opening window.

    The store will likely be located on Queen Street, Auckland, and is currently being fit out for the brand’s arrival. An internal elevator, lightning fixtures and elaborate signage are among the changes being made to the site.

    Sephora has been contacted for confirmation, but has not yet responded.

  • Sephora Hong Kong Reopening Soon

    Sephora Hong Kong Reopening Soon

    Makeup superstore Sephora has confirmed its widely anticipated return to Hong Kong in physical store form.

    The LVMH-owned cosmetics retailer will sublease a 4000sqft space in the Zara store at IFC Mall in Central, nine years after it closed its last store in the territory.

    Despite its physical absence in the market, Sephora Hong Kong has continued to sell products online to loyal customers.

    The last Sephora Hong Kong store traded for just two years in Mong Kok, closing in 2010. At the time, retail commentators said the brand failed due to poor store location, lacklustre marketing and high rents.

    Sephora is popular in Mainland China and has stores across Southeast Asia trading profitably, especially in Singapore and Malaysia.

    According to news reports in Chinese media, Sephora has subleased the space from Zara for HK$2 million (US$254,800) per month.