Hammerson’s Post

I was invited to the opening of Sephora in the Bullring last week Thursday. I shuddered at the taught of the amount of people stampeding to get free goodies. In hindsight, maybe in my younger days, I would have jumped at the chance. The company has been trending in the media, so I decided to do a little deep dive. Sephora’s UK Expansion: A Masterclass in Change Management Sephora has made waves in the UK beauty market once again with its highly anticipated Birmingham store opening. The event drew massive crowds, highlighting not just the brand’s enduring appeal but also its ability to execute change and transformation on a grand scale. This isn’t just about launching another store; it’s about orchestrating a seamless change strategy that resonates with consumers and aligns with organisational goals. Here’s what we can learn: 💄 Understanding Market Dynamics: The overwhelming response in Birmingham is a testament to Sephora’s strategic research and its ability to meet UK consumers where they are focusing on inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation. 💡 Cultural and Operational Alignment: Entering a new market at this scale requires internal transformation. Teams across regions likely adapted to align product offerings, messaging, and operations with the UK’s unique demands. 🌍 Digital and Physical Synergy: Sephora’s re-entry strategy masterfully blended online buzz with offline impact. By first establishing its e-commerce presence and now drawing huge crowds to its physical stores, Sephora exemplifies how to marry digital transformation with experiential retail. 🚀 Creating Momentum: The Birmingham opening wasn’t just a launch it was an event generating excitement that reverberates across the UK market. Building this momentum requires both short-term wins and a clear long-term vision. Sephora’s UK journey reminds us that successful transformation isn’t about just making changes it’s about making the right changes, at the right time, for the right audience. What do you think about Sephora’s strategy? How can brands leverage change management to expand successfully into new markets? #ChangeManagement #BusinessTransformation #Sephora #Leadership https://lnkd.in/emRemC3t

SEPHORA TALES FROM THE CRYPT. EP 9. PARTNERSHIP IS A 2 WAY STREET. Principles. Are you prepared to stand up for them? Even if there is short-term pain. Partnership. In order to work it has to be a win-win. Otherwise it feels like going the wrong way down a 1- way street. In the early days SEPHORA desperately needed ‘dept store’ brands (read L'Oréal, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.) to attract, well, dept store (read Macy's, Nordstrom) customers. To say the brands were reluctant is an understatement. More like they were highly resistant to our overtures. We succeeded in getting an important one to ‘try us’ (name withheld to protect the guilty). Roughly a dozen stores. After a few months we had a honcho meeting- their execs and ours. Felt like the OK corral. Good news- results were off the charts. Make that great news. They came in prepared to add more stores. Even better news. Looking at the list of their store adds there was only one problem- there were zero mall stores. Only street locations. They were tip-toeing around the dept stores. No malls-no conflict. This was a major problem for me and my concept of partnership. I said “I will give you a list of mall stores. Pick one. Any one. ONE! And we have a deal.” Cupla weeks later they came back and said…No. No mall stores. At which point we asked them to leave. Sephora. Altogether. As painful as that was we simply could not live with 100-0 partnership. 95/5 we’d tolerate. 100-0 no. They didn’t really believe it, but within 2-3 months they were gone. It cost us $. But the lesson for our teams was priceless. We are not helpless. We believe in winning together. And we practice it. These kinds of decisions ultimately define who you are as a leader. Being true to hugely important principles in the face of adversity is perhaps the ultimate test. You are your principles. Or you are not. There is no inbetween. #partnershipistwo #youareyourprinciples 

Retail Today / Retail Renaissance: The business of “BEAUTY”, now exceeding $500 Billion Dollars in sales! One of the retail leaders in this sector SEPHORA. #beauty #sephora Sephora the French Beauty Retailer owned by LVMH, international world leader in luxury brands. Luxury Group LVMH had a fantastic record setting 2023, $86 Billion in sales. #LMVH Sephora has been driving some of that growth and success, with almost 3,000 stores, estimated sales of $18 Billion, a +25% sales increase in 2023! #sales They also have developed relationships with JCP and Kohl’s for their store-in-store concept. #jcpenney #kohls The beauty industry is estimated to reach $600 Billion in the next few years. I have attached an article that provides the insights for this opportunity. #opportunity #retail #retailtrends #retailstrategy #retailexperience #shoppingexperience #stores #ecommerce #brandexperience #brickandmortar #beautyindustry #beautybusiness #beautyproducts #TopRetailExperts

SEPHORA continues to amaze me with their bold UK expansion since launching, and it’s clear why they’ve become one of the most exciting #brands on the planet. Their decision to invest in brick-and-mortar stores, like their upcoming location at Liverpool ONE in spring 2025, speaks volumes about their commitment to not only digital but also physical retail—a trend I love to see in an era that’s constantly shifting towards #online. This new store in Liverpool will bring an incredible lineup of exclusive beauty brands: from MAKEUP BY MARIO to Haus Labs By Lady Gaga, Rare Beauty, Glossier, Inc., and so many more. It’s not just about the products either—it’s about the full in-store experience, with expert beauty advisors and services that allow customers to immerse themselves in the Sephora magic, from quick treatments to full glam makeovers. What excites me most is the energy SEPHORA brings, particularly to cities like Liverpool. They don’t just open stores—they create an experience that aligns with the heartbeat of the city. This store will be a destination, a place where beauty enthusiasts and newcomers alike can connect, explore, and feel inspired. It’s refreshing to see brands like Sephora embracing physical retail in such an impactful way, at a time when many question its relevance. For me, this is what retail should be—immersive, exciting, and genuinely customer-centric. Do you think brick-and-mortar stores still have a place in the future of retail? What other brands are getting it right? Sarah Boyd Pauline DOLLE-LABBE

Thank you Inside Retail US for sharing my view on SEPHORA South Korea exit. Great job on the article Nicole Kirichanskaya! As the Program Chair for the MS in Global Business at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School I share with the students how important it is for companies to study the market before entry to determine the probability for success. Sephora is so well adopted in other countries and failed in South Korea for reasons that may have been avoidable. #pepperdine #insideretailus #pgbs #womeninbusiness #koreanskincare #pepperdinebusinessschool

LVMH Announces Departure of Sephora and Selective Retailing Head Chris de Lapuente Amid Executive Reshuffle THE WHAT?  LVMH has announced that Chris de Lapuente, head of its selective retailing division, will be stepping down from his role on October 31 to retire. THE DETAILS De Lapuente, who has been with the luxury group since 2011 as CEO of Sephora, played a crucial role in the division’s success, which includes the Parisian department stores Le Bon Marché and La Samaritaine, as well as DFS, the luxury travel retailer. THE WHY?  As #LVMH faces a softer luxury market post-pandemic, this transition is part of a broader executive shake-up following the earlier departure of Antonio Belloni. Stephane Bianchi, who succeeded Belloni as deputy CEO, will oversee the heads of Sephora, DFS, and Le Bon Marché moving forward. Source:- https://lnkd.in/gvar6R9J #latestnews #latestarticle #trendingnews #trend #topnews #todaysnews

SEPHORA, the global beauty retail giant known for stocking brands such as Dyson, TATCHA and Urban Decay Cosmetics, has so far made a triumphant return to the UK market! 🎉 Leaving behind the challenges of the past, Sephora is embracing the current positive momentum across the beauty sector and seeing the results! 💷 Recent sales figures in the UK have surpassed expectations by a staggering 300%, solidifying SEPHORA's UK comeback story. Now, with the recent announcement of its strategic expansion into Northern territories, including the unveiling of a planned flagship store in Newcastle (Manchester will open it's doors this summer), SEPHORA's presence in the UK is more exciting than ever! 🚀 LVMH owned SEPHORA's decision to expand northward underscores its commitment to meeting consumer demands and diversifying its presence beyond London. Sarah Boyd, Managing Director of Sephora UK, has emphasised the significance of listening to consumer preferences, ensuring that every step aligns with the desires of beauty 💄 enthusiasts nationwide. The newly announced store in Newcastle's Eldon Square marks a positive boost for the development and region, solidifying Eldon Square's position as a premier destination in Newcastle city center and cements the city's growing allure for global retailers, promising job creation and economic growth. 💼 As SEPHORA continues its expansion journey in the UK, the future of beauty retail is certainly looking bright! ☀ #SephoraUK #BeautySector #BeautyRetail #ConsumerInsights #UKExpansion

The boundaries between digital and physical spaces are becoming increasingly blurred, and Fenty Beauty is at the forefront this SZN. To launch its Fenty Holiday collection, the brand has teased a digitally conceived bodega, the FENTY FRESH MARKET. Marketed as being 'Open 24/7', it seamlessly links to Fenty Beauty's own online presence, as well as it's partnerships with SEPHORA and Ulta Beauty. For me this innovative approach highlights how brands are really beginning to think physically when crafting their overarching narratives. But the big question remains: will we be able to 'checkout' this concept in real life anytime soon? Given the brand's recent pop-up space at Selfridges Corner Shop, it most definitely could be on the shopping list. What brands have caught your attention with how they are 'Reinventing Retail'? #BrandExperience #BrandActivation #RetailInnovation #FentyBeauty IPOS IGNITE Shop Drop Daily

❓❓❓What’s the latest news in beauty business? Bloomberg: Chris de Lapuente, the head of LVMH’s selective retailing division which includes Sephora, will retire on October 31. Beauty media: Bath & Body Works retail president Julie Rosen will step down on October 22, and the position will be eliminated. Analysts predict calming down of KOL-created beauty brands which are in fact, desperate to go offline. You will see them on taxis, trolleybuses, billboards .. and maybe one day 👀 in physical retail. It’s a bit rainy for them now, outside of their comfort digital zone. #beauty #brand #strategy #online #offline

Sephora: A History of Innovation in Beauty 💞 The story of Sephora is one of innovation in the beauty world. Here is a summary: ✨ 1969: Founded under the name "Shop 8" in Limoges, France. Dominique Mandonnaud wanted to offer a new concept where customers could freely test products, which was rare at the time. ✨ 1970: Opening of the first Sephora store in Paris. ✨ 1979: Launch of the first self-service Sephora store. ✨ 1993: Acquisition of Sephora by Dominique Mandonnaud, who merged the company with his own chain of perfumeries. ✨ 1996: Integration of Sephora into the LVMH luxury group. ✨ 1997: Opening of the Champs-Élysées store in Paris, a landmark event with 1500 m² dedicated to beauty. ✨ 1999: Launch of the Sephora website in the United States, which quickly became the largest Sephora store in North America. Since then, Sephora has continued to expand internationally, offering a wide range of products from renowned brands and its own brand, Sephora Collection. The company also focuses on digital innovation to offer an optimal customer experience. Sephora in Numbers: ✨ Global Presence: 35 countries Over 2,700 stores 46,000 employees (including 39,000 in stores) ✨ Sales Breakdown: North America: 50% Europe: 30% Asia: 20% ✨ Other Key Figures: 78,000 product references 390 million in-store visits each year 25 million active customers worldwide Sephora's goal is to reach a turnover of 20 billion euros. To achieve this goal, Sephora innovates in each of its stores, both in terms of its loyalty program and its services. But that's not all, in-store advertising is a subject in its own right for the group. LEDECA is proud to support Sephora on several continents with our partners, through its Flagship stores as well as its city center stores. SEPHORA makes beauty in the general sense a non-negotiable subject! A leitmotif that we find ourselves in without difficulty! We are proud to present some of its achievements! #LEDECA #ALWAYSBRIGHT