How I started in beauty: Lucy McPhail, Beauty Buying & Merchandising Director at Harvey Nichols

Lucy McPhail joined Harvey Nichols as Beauty Buying & Merchandising Director in June last year, bringing a wealth of experience from senior roles at Threads Styling, Liberty and Harrods, as well as serving as a Strategic Consultant for Space NK.

In this interview with TheIndustry.beauty, McPhail reflects on her career journey, the lessons she has learnt along the way, what she enjoys most about her current role, and her ambitions for the future as she continues to shape the retailer's beauty offering.

Have you always had an interest in beauty? Why does it appeal to you and why did you want to work within it?

I began my buying career in fashion over twenty years ago, but beauty has always been my true passion. While others invested in designer fashion, I was fascinated by beauty products, brands, and the emotional connection they create. From the confidence a great product can inspire to the memories evoked by a familiar fragrance, beauty has always felt uniquely personal to me.

When an opportunity arose to move from womenswear into beauty buying, it felt like a natural progression. It was a chance to combine my commercial expertise with an industry I genuinely loved.

Tell us about your first job in beauty. What drew you to the role, and what was the experience like?

My first beauty role was at Harrods, and I knew immediately I had found the right industry. The role gave me exposure to world-class brands, visionary founders, and exceptional product innovation. It was an inspiring environment that broadened my perspective on luxury beauty and its global potential.

What were the most valuable skills or lessons you gained from that first experience?

The most important lesson was that beauty is a relationship-driven business. Success is built on trust, whether you're partnering with an emerging founder or a global beauty group. Understanding the investment, ambition, and passion behind every brand has shaped the way I lead partnerships and make commercial decisions.

Earlier this year, Harvey Nichols opened a new wellness destination at its Knightsbridge flagship, bringing together fitness, beauty treatments, nutrition and athleisure retail in a single space.

What do you most enjoy about your current role?

I enjoy shaping the strategic direction of beauty at Harvey Nichols and creating an offer that feels distinctive, relevant, and exciting. While convenience has become a key driver in the market, our focus is on discovery, curation, and an exceptional customer experience.

I’m passionate about identifying new opportunities, bringing innovative brands to market, and creating reasons for customers to keep exploring. There’s nothing more rewarding than introducing customers to something unexpected and seeing it resonate.

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?

Be patient and trust your judgement. Not every challenge requires an immediate response. Taking time to reflect often leads to better decisions, stronger relationships, and greater resilience. Passion and dedication are essential, but perspective is equally important.

What does the next chapter of your career look like and how are you hoping to grow from here?

I’m excited by opportunities to continue driving innovation, building meaningful partnerships, and shaping the future of beauty retail. Bringing brands such as Violet Grey to the UK demonstrated what’s possible when vision and collaboration align.

I look forward to continuing to challenge convention, champion great brands, and explore new opportunities for growth and impact.

Has there been a person you’ve always admired and why?

The industry is full of exceptional people, so it’s difficult to single out just one person. I’m fortunate to work with many early-stage brands across different categories, and I can often tell which ones are going to shine.

I often say there’s a formula for building a great beauty brand, but the final ingredient is always a sprinkle of magic - something that genuinely resonates with customers. More often than not, that magic comes from the founder or the team behind the product, and being able to recognise that potential early is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.