Editors' Top Reads: News from Estée Lauder, Diptyque, L'Oréal and more...
Here are some of this week’s news and features highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.beauty team.
Estée Lauder reshuffles leadership team as it slashes up to 7,000 jobs
The Estée Lauder Companies announced a new organisational structure and executive team, as it more than doubles job cuts to as many as 7,000 worldwide as part of a cost-saving overhaul.
The US-based company plans to increase job losses from 3,000 to between 5,800 and 7,000 as it braces for tariff increases amid fears of a global trade war sparked by US President Donald Trump. The jobs are set to go by the end of June next year.
As part of the new overhaul, Estée Lauder has reshuffled its executive leadership team to drive forward the company's new strategic plan, including consolidating its existing regional organisation into four geographic clusters to "drive greater synergies and efficiencies, as well as strengthen its agility to better capitalise on consumer trends and innovation faster".
It came amid a new strategic plan to restore sustainable growth and recover profit after sales dropped in the golden quarter. The company saw net sales decline to $4 billion in the second quarter ending 31 December, compared to $4.2 billion the previous year.
Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.
Jacquemus enters 'beauty chapter', signing exclusive deal with L'Oréal
Despite years of struggling to pronounce the brand 'Jacquemus', I have always had a penchant for its sleek yet whimsical designs. It burst on the scene with the right concoction of style, price point and marketability. Have you seen its fashion shows? Jacquemus whisks editors from across the globe to unique locations such as runways passing through picturesque fields of lavender or wheat. Now there's a recipe for a viral moment.
Despite tapping into success for its fashion output, Jacquemus' founder Simon Porte Jacquemus has dreamt about branching out into beauty ever since the brand's inception. He said: "Perfume and beauty have always been part of my vision for the brand".
Back in 2021, Jacquemus planned to partner with Puig on a beauty venture. At the time, Puig acquired a 10% stake in the company, but the plan was aborted, with Jacquemus later repurchasing the stake. Finally, this week, the luxury fashion brand revealed it has inked a new long-term, exclusive beauty partnership with L’Oréal Group. The beauty giant has also invested in the luxury fashion brand, "supporting its independent development".
Simon Porte Jacquemus said: "Fifteen years ago, I began dreaming of and creating Jacquemus, with perfume and beauty always part of my vision for the brand.
"Today, I am proud to continue shaping this dream with the leading beauty group, L’Oréal. I’m excited to see what the future holds for us."
Chloé Burney, Senior News & Features Writer.
Diptyque lands in Canary Wharf as it continues store expansion
This store opening caught my eye this week. It's not just because luxury French fragrance brand Diptyque is steadily increasing its retail footprint in the UK (which it is) but because of where this store is located.
Recent openings from Diptyque have included stores in high footfall shopper/tourist areas such as Covent Garden and Bond Street, where last year it opened its exquisite and epic "Maison". If you haven't been to that, you must go!
Its latest opening though is in Canary Wharf, in the heart of London's finance district. It must be banking (pardon the pun) on the shifting working practices that have occurred as a result of many businesses (including the big banks) ordering their staff back to the office. Many retailers too have been requiring their HQ staff to return to their desks at least for several set days a week and, as business conditions remain challenging, we can expect this trend to continue.
We can therefore expect smart brands to be factoring this in to their retail store strategies and selecting their new locations accordingly. Whether their stores will be as stunning as Diptyque's always are is another matter entirely.
Lauretta Roberts, Co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.
Bloom and Blossom continues expansion with nationwide launch at Boots
What was I slathering on my hands before Bloom and Blossom entered my life? Where would I be without the Hands Up hand cream or the Booty Gains body moisturiser? Or the Wonder Worker intensive balm, which is basically a prettier Weleda Skinfood? If you don't know Bloom and Blossom, get to know. And thankfully, that just became much easier with its recent launch at everyone's favourite chemist.
Bloom and Blossom was founded in 2010 by sisters-in-law Christina Moss and Julia Yule. They started the brand with a focus on natural, effective skincare for mothers and babies, later expanding into wellness and body care products. The brand is already stocked by the likes of Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Debenhams, NEXT and Oliver Bonas.
Yule and Moss said: "We have built our brand as we have grown as women, championing body confidence and disrupting the bodycare market across all the key life stages from pregnancy to menopause, performance bodycare to wellness and sleep.
"Our launch into Boots is a pivotal moment for the brand and a real 'pinch me' moment for us personally."
Katie Ross, Content Marketing & Events Executive.
