Editors' Top Reads: News from Superdrug, Nails.INC, Glow For It and more...
Here are some of this week’s news and features highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.beauty team.
Superdrug expands online marketplace with 60 fashion brands
The rise of the marketplace model in fashion (think NEXT, M&S and John Lewis) has more or less replaced the wholesale model for some brands and has given retailers the ability to attract a whole new customer base to its websites without the risk of buying in stock that may or may not sell.
What I didn't expect - but now I've seen it, I totally get it - is for a beauty retailer to launch fashion brands on its marketplace. That, however, is just what Superdrug has done. Having launched its online beauty marketplace in 2022, it is now offering customers the opportunity to pick up fashion from the likes of Wrangler, Regatta, Blue Vanilla, Sketchers, Nike and Crocs, alongside their makeup and skincare.
And why not? Superdrug has a very engaged shopper, who may not spend as much time browsing fashion as they do beauty - and here is the perfect chance to get fashion on their radar too. Its beauty marketplace is place of discovery, putting brands in front of customers that they may not otherwise see. In theory, the same could apply to fashion. It will be interesting to see how the fashion brand mix evolves and what the response is. But this is a bold move - and I rather like it.
Lauretta Roberts, Co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief
The Interview: Nails.INC founder Thea Green on innovation, staying ahead of trends and building customer loyalty
Former fashion editor Thea Green MBE founded Nails.INC in 1999, inspired by the speedy, efficient nail bars she discovered during her work trips to New York City - an experience she hadn’t encountered back in the UK. Yet even in the US, she noticed that these services lacked fashionable, high-quality nail products. Inspired by this opportunity, Green returned to the UK determined to fill the gap - and Nails.INC was born.
Since then, the British brand has become one of the UK's bestselling nail brands and grown into a global success. It is known for its innovative products and trend-focused approach. With a wide range of high-quality nail polishes, treatments, and accessories, the business strives to blend luxury with convenience, promising salon-quality results at home.
Green tells us about the defining moments in Nails.INC’s success, how the brand stays ahead of trends and continues to innovate in a rapidly evolving market, its approach to maintaining customer loyalty, and more.
Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.
Glow For It tops TikTok Shop: 6 figures in 16 hours
TikTok’s power to turn clicks into cash is no joke, and retailers embracing this are reaping the rewards. Glow For It - the brand behind the cult-favourite lash growth serum - pulled in six figures in just 16 hours during TikTok’s first-ever Live Showcase this week.
There's something to be said for TikTok's retail power. In a digital landscape where virality can feel fleeting, Glow For It has proven that a community-focused social strategy can lead to long-lasting results.
While Glow For It’s journey with TikTok began back in 2022, it’s clear this latest achievement marks a new peak in the brand’s social commerce evolution. The company was handpicked by TikTok to host its first-ever Showcase Live in Manchester - an invite-only opportunity requiring brands to meet strict GMV benchmarks. After hitting the six-figure benchmark, Glow For It claimed the title of #1 selling product on TikTok Shop for three consecutive days.
Chloé Burney, Senior News & Features Writer.
Tropic to train 20,000+ ambassadors in skin cancer detection and sun safety
Tropic Skincare has partnered with national skin cancer charity Skcin to raise awareness about sun safety and the early detection of skin cancer. Through this new collaboration, the brand is supporting its 20,000+ ambassadors to gain accredited training to empower them to recognise the early signs of skin cancer within their communities.
As part of this, Tropic is offering its ambassadors discounted access to Skcin’s MASCED programme - the UK’s first online melanoma and skin cancer education initiative designed specifically for professionals in the beauty and health industry. How brilliant!
And it doesn’t stop there - Tropic is also using its social media and marketing channels to educate its wider community, encouraging everyone to enjoy the sun safely this summer and beyond. It’s encouraging to see Tropic investing in such an important initiative.
Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.
