November 17, 2015, to November 24, 2015
Norell New York launched the Norell New York, a remastered version of the original Norell fragrance created by fashion designer Norman Norell. International Flavors & Fragrances perfumer Celine Barel remastered the fragrance, while remaining faithful to the green floral signature of the original Norell. Described by the company as having 200 jasmine petals in each bottle, Norell New York is available as an eau de parfum, body cream, body oil, and a $1,500 version that comes in a limited-edition bottle designed by French crystal house Baccarat.
Consumers in China, Japan, and South Korea have different concerns and issues as far as skin care is concerned. For example, consumers in China are focused on the preventative treatment of skin ageing, while Korean consumers are more reactionary, treating damage as it appears. In Japan, consumers tend to “work alongside” with the ageing process.
Estee Lauder launched its digital store in Malaysia. Designed by creative agency, the website esteelauder.com.my provides users an online venue for interacting with the brand, personalized service, and up-to-date content. Also, the website seeks to interact with women, providing them with a seamless collection of editorial content, product reviews, and social media updates.
November 10, 2015, to November 17, 2015
Kanebo Cosmetics launched Twany Glow, a skincare line designed for women in their 60’s. Accounting for 17 percent of the female population in Japan and 40 percent of the total cosmetics-using population of women aged 15 to 89 years, women in their 60’s are an important market segment for the company. They also have higher per capita spending, with money spent on “cultural activities, leisure, and social entertainment” higher than those of women in younger age groups.
Haircare brand Hairstory launched the New Wash line of detergent-free hair cleaning products. Created by Bumble and bumble founder Michael Gordon, the product line includes New Wash, Hairstory Dressed Up, and Hair Balm. Known for his campaign against using shampoos in washing hair, Gordon said his detergent-free products wash the hair without stripping or drying it out.
Estee Lauder launched its online store for the Malaysia market. In addition to providing local consumers access to their favorite Estee Lauder skincare and makeup products, the website features an intuitive and personalized shopping experience online. Also, the company aims to develop a digital community for consumers and fans of beauty products. To help promote the online store’s opening, Estee Lauder is offering giveaways and discounts to shoppers.
October 27, 2015, to November 10, 2015
Karity is using online selling to grow its color cosmetics business. By adopting an online commerce platform, the startup seeks to use digital technology for its direct-to-consumer selling strategy. Like other startups in the beauty market, Karity aims to grow organically while keeping its advertising costs at a minimum and rely instead on word-of-mouth advertising. Also, Karity plans to launch a try-at-home program, which will allow customers to try its makeup and return the product if they do not want to keep it, for free.
Unilever was ranked number 2 in the Beauty Packaging’s 2015 Top 20 Companies list. With total corporate sales of $58.8 billion and beauty sales of $21.5 billion in 2014, Unilever is expanding its prestige skincare business by acquiring Dermalogica, Murad, Kate Somerville, and Ren brands. Sales of personal care products grew 3.5 percent in 2014, compared with the 7.3 percent growth in 2013. Personal care accounted for 37 percent of the company’s total sales for the period.
Shiseido reported consolidated net sales grew 12.6 percent year on year to ¥411.9 billion in the first two quarters of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015. Sales in the company’s home market, Japan, rose 12.2 percent to ¥193.7 billion, driven by proactive measures adopted by Shiseido to “capture growing inbound demand.” Global business sales rose 13 percent to ¥218.2 billion. Operating income grew 36.2 percent to ¥14.9 billion, driven by the increase in earnings due to growth in net sales and improved cost efficiencies. Also, ordinary income rose 31.6 percent to ¥15.2 billion.
October 20, 2015, to October 27, 2015
L’Oreal said it has expanded its support for the Make In India campaign in the country. Operating in India for 20 years already, L’Oreal has built two factories in Pune and Baddi in Himachal Pradesh, according L’Oreal India managing director Jean-Christophe Letellier. As much as 90 percent of the company’s products for the local market are manufactured by Indian facilities, the executive said. Having allocated Rs 1,000 crore for the period 2011 to 2016, L’Oreal plans to expand its research and development capabilities, go-to-market, and distribution network in the country.
Luxury goods company LVMH reported group revenue fell 7 percent in the quarter ending September 30, 2015, compared with the 9 percent increase in the previous three-month period. In reported terms, revenue rose 16 percent in the third quarter, due to a slightly lower positive impact from a weaker euro. By region, the company saw sales decline 8 percent in Asia-Pacific, excluding Japan, which saw organic growth expand 24 percent during the period. In the previous quarter, Japan posted a 34 percent growth. Europe grew 12 percent, lower than the 14 percent recorded in the previous quarter, while the United States rose 12 percent. Shares in LVMH dropped 3.2 percent to close at €161.25 or $183.35 on the Paris Stock Exchange.
L’Oreal aims to promote sustainable consumption and raise awareness about sustainability by expanding sustainable innovation and operations within its business, according to the company’s head of external affairs for the UK and Ireland, Katy Gandon. She said, the company’s sustainability initiatives serve to highlight the company’s scientific heritage, being founded by a scientist more than 100 years ago. L’Oreal launched the #changethenumbers campaign to highlight perceptions of women in science, which at the same time aims to challenge the public’s misconceptions about what or who makes a successful scientist.
October 13, 2015, to October 20, 2015
Beauty subscription service company Birchbox said it will start selling its own makeup line. After making a name for itself by selling samples of established beauty brands and in a move to defend itself from beauty companies’ launch of their own subscription services, Birchbox is launching the LOC, or Love of Color, line of cosmetics products, including sets of lipstick and eye shadow. Developed by the company’s in-house team, two collections will be released each year, Birchbox said.
Nivea launched #standfirm, a marketing campaign in Australia and New Zealand for its Q10 Firming Body Lotion. As part of the campaign, the brand released a video featuring lettering artist Georgia Hill and her mother Judy. Described as touching and matter of fact, the video highlights the issue of ageism and how it affects women.
Avon Products Inc. saw the price of shares of its stock fell as much as 6.8 percent following Canaccord Genuity’s assertion that the cosmetics company’s prospects as a takeover target are likely overestimated. Since rejecting Coty Inc.’s takeover bid in 2012, Avon has been seen as a likely target for acquisition by other cosmetics companies. Avon’s decline is fueled by consumers’ growing dislike for door-to-door cosmetics purchases, the company’s main business model, according to market observers.
October 06, 2015, to October 13, 2015
South Korea’s AmorePacific, with a market capitalization of about $25 billion, is the world’s 14th largest cosmetics company. In 2014, the company reported its revenue rose 20 percent to $4 billion, compared with 2013. Tracing its origin from the current chairman Suh Kyung-bae’s grandmother, who concocted natural beauty products at her kitchen, AmorePacific was Forbes magazine’s 28th most innovative company for 2015. Other factors that differentiate AmorePacific from other South Korean companies include Suh’s emphasis on transparency and his company’s significant capabilities in terms of innovation and developing new products.
Perfume fragrance artist Peter de Cupere partnered with chocolatier Patrick Mertens to develop the Cocoa 5 Senses chocolate-flavored scent. Introduced at the Milan Expo 2015, the scent takes three weeks to manufacture, using the best cocoa beans. Made using a secret process, the perfume comes in a bottle designed by de Cupere based on a 2011 drawing of a cocoa bean.
France-based perfume company Fragonard launched its first flagship perfume museum in Paris. Renovated for two years, the former theater building highlights the history and techniques used in the creation of perfume. Agnes Costa Webster, great-granddaughter of Fragonard founder Jean-Francois Costa, created the museum’s showcase by appropriating some of the family’s collections of art objects, antique distilleries, and old perfume-making tools.
September 29, 2015, to October 06, 2015
Estee Lauder launched a marketing campaign for its Double Wear Makeup To Go Liquid Compact cosmetics product. Featuring fashion model Kendall Jenner, the campaign includes the short film “Party Zombies.” Aimed at millennial consumers, the film makes fun of people’s dependency on and link to smartphones and other mobile devices.
Beiersdorf plans to launch the Nivea Eau de Toilette, a fragrance based on the company’s Nivea skin care cream. To be launched at the end of October 2015 in Germany and later in Austria, the personal fragrance will come in a white bottle that evokes an open tin of Nivea cream. With a retail price of €24, the fragrance will be sold exclusively at Nivea-owned stores, spas, and online.
Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido created its Global Travel Retail marketing team. To be based in Singapore, the GTR team will work with the company’s Group Vision 2020, highlighting the company’s emphasis on travel retail as part of its efforts to grow its business. Global Shiseido Travel Retail marketing director Elisabeth Jouguelet-Aparicio heads the team. She will report directly to Group Travel Retail president Philippe Lesne.
September 22, 2015, to September 29, 2015
Nude by Nature was ranked as the 10th-largest cosmetics brand in Australia, a market dominated by global brands, such as Maybelline and Revlon, according to Roy Morgan Research. Data from the market research firm revealed about 6.3 million Australian women purchase make-up products in an average period of six months. Nude by Nature products were purchased by 314,000 women during the period covered by the study. Other best-selling Australian cosmetics brands include Napoleon, which was bought by 262,000 women; Natio, bought by 255,000 women; and Nutrimetics, purchased by 209,000 women.
Beauty retailer Sephora launched its Play! by Sephora cosmetics subscription service on a limited basis in Boston, Cincinnati, and Columbus markets. With a monthly subscription fee of $10, the service is expected to be launched across the United States in 2016. Some industry analysts are predicting Sephora’s entry into the subscription market poses a strong competition to segment leader Birchbox, which has 1 million subscribers in six countries.
Unilever Bangladesh Limited launched the TRESemme brand of haircare products in the country. Highlights of the launch party included an introduction by the company’s brand building director Zaved Akhtar, a performance by the band Nemesis, and a presentation by formers Miss Universe, Sushmita Sen.
September 15, 2015, to September 22, 2015
Procter & Gamble Co. announced senior executive Martin Riant’s retirement after more than 35 years with the company. One of the candidates considered for the company’s latest CEO succession, the UK-born Riant oversaw one of P&G’s best performing divisions. Riant has been group president of P&G’s global baby, feminine, and family care business, which accounts for more than 25 percent of the company’s total sales and profit.
India-based personal care company Godrej Consumer Goods Ltd. acquired the remaining 40 percent of Chilean haircare and color cosmetics company Cosmetica Nacional. Godrej, which has been making acquisitions in the international market, has 6.5 billion rupees, or $98 million, in investment in Latin America’s personal care market. Its investments include Megasari and Tura in Indonesia and Issue Group and Argencos in Argentina.
L’Oreal France appointed Herve Navellou as general manager for the home market. As part of the company’s efforts to improve governance of its businesses in the French beauty market, it created the L’Oreal France General Management team. Included in Navellou’s responsibilities as general manager are the duties of general manager of the company’s Consumer Products Division in the country.
July 21, 2015, to September 15, 2015
Kao Corporation said it will launch its new prestige cosmetics brand, SOFINA iP, on November 13, 2015, in Tokyo, Japan. Pre-launch events will include the brand's debut at the Try&Enjoy Shop located in the company's SOFINA Beauty Power Station in Tokyo's Ginza retail district. Kao's SOFINA brand will include skincare essence and a beauty drink.
Sweden’s cosmetics company Oriflame launched its Love Nature range of skincare products specifically for the India market. According to the company, the product range highlights its efforts to improve its portfolio by combining nature and science. Developed for Indian skin types, the products feature local favorite ingredients, such as Neem, Tea Tree, Wild Rose, and Aloe Vera.
Johnson & Johnson plans to invest an additional $100 million to more than double the production capacity of its planned manufacturing facility near Hyderabad in Telangana. With an original investment of $85 million, the Kothur facility is expected to become the company’s largest manufacturing location in India. It is expected to produce 18,000 tons of baby care, personal care, and skincare products. As part of the proposed expansion, the facility, which features energy efficiency, water conservation, and other sustainability features, will add new product lines.