In Review 2023: Store openings, refurbs and pop-ups
2023 has seen a variety of store openings across the beauty industry, from nationwide retail expansions to UK store debuts.
As we approach 2024, TheIndustry.beauty has highlighted the top store openings, refurbs and expansions of 2023, as well as some of the beauty pop-ups from the past year.
New stores, refurbs and expansions
Space NK opens 'biggest store yet' at Westfield London
Space NK opened a newly upsized store at Westfield London, marking the retailer's largest store to date. Spanning 2,500 sq ft, the store - which opened in January - focuses on "customer needs".
Sephora makes grand UK return as Westfield London store opens
Sephora opened its new store at Westfield London, marking the retailer's bricks-and-mortar return to the UK market. The 6,000+ sq ft space showcases an "exceptional assortment of products and personal services, as well as next generation retail design features".
Boots revamps Westfield London beauty hall
Boots UK has unveiled its revamped beauty hall at Westfield London, strengthening its offer and customer experience to compete with the Sephora store. It was described as a "new hotspot for beauty lovers" and formed part of the retailer's "on-going beauty reinvention journey".
Youth To The People opens in East London
Youth To The People opened the doors to its first-ever store in London. Nearly a decade after launching their brand, co-founders and cousins Greg Gonzalez and Joe Cloye crossed the Atlantic to open the store at Spitalfields Market in East London.
Aēsop taps into Canary Wharf history for new store
Aēsop expanded its footprint in London with a new store at Cabot Place Mall in Canary Wharf. The store is inspired by the site’s nineteenth and twentieth century history as "one of the busiest docks in the world", as well as its contemporary significance as a hub for London’s banking and financial services.
Superdrug opens largest store in North-West
Superdrug opened a new store at Manchester’s Trafford Centre, strengthening its commitment to investment in the region. The 8,095 sq ft store offers customers access to the latest health and beauty products, including the retailer's growing own-brand range.
New clean beauty concept store opens in Mayfair
Beauty Edit Mayfair, a new shopping destination that focuses on clean beauty, opened in London. Located at 33 Berkeley Street in Mayfair, the new concept store prioritises sustainable beauty brands, encouraging customers to reduce their environmental impact.
Lush opens first hair salon in Brighton
Lush opened its first hair salon in Brighton, with a mission to "revolutionise the hair industry". Located at Trafalgar Street, the Lush Hair Lab offers a holistic approach to hairdressing and barbering, using natural hair colouring and reducing salon waste.
Kama Ayurveda opened first standalone store in London
Indian beauty brand Kama Ayurveda opened its first-ever brick-and-mortar location in the UK at 207 Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill, just weeks after expanding outside its homeland of India.
Lush returns to Covent Garden with new store opening
Lush opened a new store in London's Covent Garden. The opening marked return of Lush to Covent Garden, having previously operated a store in this location between 1998-2013.
Sculpted by Aimee opens first London flagship
Makeup and skincare brand Sculpted by Aimee opened a new flagship at Carnaby in London, marking its first store in England. Designed over two floors spanning 884 sq ft, the first floor hosts a retail space fitted with soft pink hues and accents of the brand’s signature rose gold.
Sephora lands at Westfield Stratford
Sephora opened its new store at Westfield Stratford, marking the retailer's second location in the UK. The store’s façade is wrapped in Sephora's iconic black and white stripes, whilst the "ultra modern" interior follows the distinctive codes of its first store with soft geometric shapes, ambient lighting and textured finishes.
Creed brings its world-renowned fragrances to Covent Garden
Creed opened a permanent boutique in London’s Covent Garden. The 365 sq ft flagship boasts a new store design concept and marks the fragrance brand's third standalone boutique in the UK.
The Fragrance Shop opens new experiential flagship in London
The Fragrance Shop opened a flagship on London's Oxford Street, just in time for Black Friday and the festive season. It aims to "set a new standard in fragrance retail", with interactive stations and innovative features creating "a sensory journey that transcends traditional shopping".
The first ‘Boots Beauty’ concept store gives rivals a run for their money
Boots opened its first ‘Boots Beauty’ concept store at Battersea Power Station in London. The space showcases the best of beauty at Boots, with 250 brands across skincare, makeup, bodycare, haircare and fragrance.
Scotland's biggest Lush store opens in Glasgow
Lush opened a experiential flagship in Glasgow, marking the brand's biggest-ever store in Scotland. Located on Buchanan Street, the 20,000 sq ft store spans five floors and features a variety of "new and exciting" concepts.
Highlight pop-ups
Benefit Cosmetics opens pop-up to celebrate new Pore Care category
Benefit Cosmetics opened a pop-up in London's Covent Garden to celebrate the launch of its Pore Care category. Running from 18-31 March, the space offered a "sensorial playground area" for visitors to try new products, win prizes and access advice from experts.
Dermalogica opens pop-up on John Lewis' Oxford Street rooftop
Professional skincare brand Dermalogica opened its largest pop-up to date on the rooftop of John Lewis Oxford Street, offering a bespoke educational and immersive experience to consumers in London.
Lush opens pop-up inspired by Wes Anderson's Asteroid City
Lush opened a five-week pop-up in London's Soho, celebrating Wes Anderson’s new film Asteroid City. The space featured a pastel-coloured cafe inspired by the filmmaker’s iconic style, as well as various photo opportunities and a new four-piece bath and body collection.
Tatcha opens London pop-up in celebration of new bodycare range
US-based beauty brand Tatcha celebrated the launch of its bodycare range with an immersive pop-up in London's Covent Garden. Thee pop-up, hosted in partnership with Space NK, offered visitors the opportunity to "reignite their connection with the natural world through Tatcha’s bodycare ritual".
Elemis opens 'Cleansing Lab' pop-up in London
British skincare brand Elemis launched a pop-up in London's Covent Garden, celebrating 10 years of its bestselling Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm. The Elemis Cleansing Lab hosted a range of immersive experiences, including a Scent Distillation Station, Balm Booth and Research Area.
NYX brings Barbie beach house to Covent Garden
NYX Professional Makeup served up a slice of beach paradise with its Barbie-themed pop-up in London's Covent Garden. The pop-up promoted its limited-edition Barbie the Movie collection in partnership with Warner Bros.
CeraVe opens first-ever UK pop-up in Covent Garden
CeraVe opened its first-ever UK pop-up, launching a Back to School-themed space in London's Covent Garden. The immersive pop-up championed the brand’s US heritage, alongside its medical-first approach to skincare and the role CeraVe plays in achieving healthy skin.
Battersea Power Station opens 1950s beauty pop-up
Battersea Power Station hosted a 1950s-inspired hair and beauty pop-up as part of its one-year opening anniversary celebrations. The 'Power Parlour' transported visitors back to the 1950s, when the second half of the Grade II* listed Power Station was complete, through mid-century interiors and unique hair and beauty makeovers.
Pai Skincare opens first pop-up at Westfield London
Pai Skincare opened its first pop-up at Westfield London as it looked to drive brand awareness and conversation around sensitive skin. As part of this, the Pai Skin Confidence Bar offered complimentary 1-2-1 consultations to assess areas that could be causing potential skin irritation.
In Pictures: Harry Styles' Pleasing debuts fragrances at Selfridges
Harry Styles' beauty brand Pleasing landed at The Selfridges Corner Shop in London to celebrate the launch of its debut fragrance range. The pop-up was centred around two ways for customers to sample and learn about the three fragrances: a vintage-style beauty counter and a trio of ticket booths.
Jo Malone London opens gingerbread house pop-up at Battersea Power Station
Jo Malone London opened a festive pop-up at Battersea Power Station as it sponsors the destination's ice skating experience for the second year running. Open until 8 January 2024, visitors can also take a spin around the rink with 360-degree views of a 30ft Christmas tree, decorated with the British fragrance brand's classic cream and black boxes upon its boughs.
Lookfantastic opens first festive pop-up in London
Lookfantastic hosted its first-ever Christmas pop-up in London, creating the "ultimate destination" for beauty enthusiasts this festive season. The 'House of Beauty' offered an interactive and immersive beauty experience that showcased the online retailer's 2023 Christmas Gift Guide.
