Editors' Top Reads: News from Fenty Hair, John Lewis, Leighton Denny and more...
Here are some of this week’s news and features highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.beauty team.
Fenty Hair is launching exclusively at Selfridges in the UK
Ever since Selfridges opened its new and improved beauty halls, it seems as though its scored brand after brand. From REFY and Benefit to The Ordinary, and more, the most sought-after beauty brands just keep popping up in the London department store's hallowed halls. Now, the retailer has become the exclusive distributor of Fenty Hair in the UK - what a score. In celebration, Selfridges is hosting... you guessed it, another pop-up.
The pop-up space, which will be at Selfridges ‘Corner Shop’ until 28 September, offers shoppers opportunities to get their hair styled, shop exclusive new product launches, and get their hands on Fenty freebies. Meanwhile, the space oozes American over-the-topness in the best way possible. The 'Heaven Hair Salon' is reminiscent of a 1960s salon doused in pastel hues and retro styling stations.
Here, Selfridges customers can experience an immersive journey of product discovery, trials, and styling. In addition to the full Fenty Hair range, bestsellers from Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin are on offer, as well as the new Fenty Eau de Parfum.
Needless to say, with a slew of pop-ups in the work at Selfridges, it seems beauty brands can't get enough of physical retail. I wonder who will be popping up next...
Chloé Burney, Senior News & Features Writer.
In depth: What to expect from Lookfantastic's first concept store and why it has selected Altrincham as the location
Online beauty retailer Lookfantastic will open its first store in Altrincham later this month, bringing a new "customer-centric and experiential" retail experience to the north of England.
The UK high street is known for its fierce competition in the beauty sector, so what can we expect from this entry? Here's an in-depth look at Lookfantastic and the location of its first concept store, with exclusive commentary from the beauty retailer, as well as industry experts and analysts to gauge their opinions on its brick-and-mortar debut and what it might mean for beauty in the UK.
Read the full feature to find out more.
Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.
The Interview: Manicure maestro and industry pioneer Leighton Denny
Leighton Denny's Expert Nails brand is about to turn 20. When a brand has been around for this long, it's easy to forget how pioneering it has been. Manicure maestro and entrepreneur Leighton Denny has blazed a trail through our market and continues to do so.
A former forklift truck driver and school drop-out, Denny was inspired to open a nail salon (when there were very few in this country) after a trip to the US. He went on to launch his own brand, bringing the ethos of skincare into nailcare and was one of the first brand founders to appreciate the power of TV selling.
I had the privilege of interviewing Denny this week during which he recounted his story, explained his approach to brand building and new product development, and offered his advice to others who want to try to emulate his extraordinary entrepreneurial journey (it hasn't all been plain sailing!). He's an inspiration and, by the way, if you don't own one of his Crystal Nail Files, what are you sitting here reading this for? Go order one now...
Lauretta Roberts, Co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.
Why is John Lewis bringing back its ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ pledge and how will it work?
John Lewis has announced the return of its "Never Knowingly Undersold" price pledge from Monday, two years after abandoning it as the department store reaffirms its commitment to quality products, brilliant service and competitive prices.
As part of this, the British business will price match its products in-store and online to those across 25 major retailers, including Marks & Spencer, NEXT, Boots, Amazon, Fenwick, Selfridges, Flannels, and more. This was just one of a number of plans announced during a press conference yesterday, which our very own Contributing Editor, Tom Bottomley, attended to find out more. He takes an in depth look at why is John Lewis bringing back its ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ pledge and how it will work.
An interesting read, as it's no secret that things haven't been going great for John Lewis. It has been attempting to win back customers after a challenging few years that has seen it cut jobs and close several stores, and finally returned to a profit earlier this year, but much is still needed to be done. So, the decision by John Lewis' new boss Peter Ruis to reinstate the price pledge, alongside a number of other plans, signals a change of direction from his predecessor and I wish him the best of luck!
Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.