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Editors' Top Reads: News from Sephora, Faace, Thérapie and more...

TheIndustry.beauty Team
19 July 2024

Here are some of this week’s news and features highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.beauty team.

Sephora

Sephora to open in Birmingham as it continues UK expansion

It seems like just yesterday when I heard the news that Sephora was coming back to the UK Market... a day that changed my life for the better. But, imagine telling myself that not only was Sephora coming back, but it coming back kicking. After opening its doors in Stratford Westfield, White City Westfield and later Manchester's Trafford Centre, the retailer announced its plans to continue expansion across the UK.

This week, Sephora's black and white stripes descended on the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham, along with an announcement of the store opening this winter. The new store will attempt to bring an "unparalleled" shopping experience to the heart of the Midlands taking on rivals Boots and The Perfume Shop who are already established in the mall.

This strategic move is certainly revered by customers, with Sephora's social media receiving an influx of requests and enthusiasm since the announcement. It's clear that beauty brick-and-mortar growth is continuing on the up.

Chloé Burney, Senior News & Features Writer.

Faace

Faace searches for buyer as founder announces plans to sell business

Faace founder Jasmine Wicks-Stephens took to social media this week to announce the sale of her skincare business. In a video posted on LinkedIn and Instagram, she candidly explained the reasoning behind her decision to sell the brand, encouraging her network to help her find a suitable buyer. It's not everyday you get a founder making an announcement like this - well, certainly not in such a public way - even Wicks-Stephens admitted her investors weren't overly keen on the idea, but I say good luck to her!

The move comes five years after the brand's launch in 2019, having experienced a number of achievements since then, from award wins and retail partnerships to a successful appearance on BBC's Dragon's Den, which saw Faace secure a triple investment from Steven Bartlett, Peter Jones and Touker Suleyman. While Wicks-Stephens appears to be in need of a well-deserved break, following "five years of working full-time hours for free", she is still keen to play a small role after its sale and hopes the new buyer, whoever that may be, will build on the brand's previous success. I'm certainly eager to find out who this will be!

Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.

Thérapie Clinic

Thérapie Clinic reveals expansion plans with 800 new jobs following collapse of Skin

Thérapie continues its rapid expansion this week with news that it plans to open 50 new clinics, creating 800 jobs, over the next few years. The announcement was made just a couple of days after its rival Skin, which had 70 clinics, collapsed suddenly leaving clients and suppliers blindsided.

The failure of Skin appears to have more to do with its inability to find sufficient investment, rather than any lack of demand in the market for the kind of services it offered. If consumers had been turning away from cosmetic procedures then Thérapie would be struggling too, and it isn't.

Where Thérapie has been smart is to use its size to buy supplies and technology keenly and offer good deals to consumers, while also being a very visible presence. While some customers complain that the appointments can sometimes feel rushed (I've been and I've never felt that), the practitioners are all of a high standard. What Thérapie also does well is keep on top of the latest advancements in tech and other treatments, so it offers solutions such as Emface and Polynucleotides alongside more traditional services such as Botox and filler.

I'm wishing it every success with its expansion, as I would rather see consumers use a service from a chain that has experience, good quality products and qualified practitioners. Yes, it's a chain, but that is no bad thing.

Lauretta Roberts, Co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.

Revieve

Trinny London bolsters customer experience with new AI skin service

Trinny London has launched a new AI-powered experience offering personalised recommendations to customers as it strengthens its digital-first approach to skincare.

Developed in partnership with Revieve and Google Cloud, the new digital advisor hopes to provide users with the insights needed to make informed decisions about their skincare. Using advanced AI to detect skin conditions and characteristics from selfies, combined with individual preferences, customers can receive tailored skincare suggestions and customised routines from the brand's range of products.

It comes as 71% of consumers expect personalised interactions, with more and more beauty brands introducing AI and AR-powered experiences to cater to this demand. In a highly-saturated and often confusing skincare market, personalised advice allows brands and retailers to make shopping much more targeted and easier for consumers - something I think, and many will agree, is very important.

Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.


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