The beauty giant's second-quarter performance reflects global momentum in specialty retail and online channels and accelerating growth in China in particular. Analysts previously expressed concerns that increased distribution away from department stores could dilute Lauder's prestige positioning, but the firm consistently has defended the shift as essential to its future with younger consumers.
The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.'s expanded distribution strategy – increasingly targeting specialty retail and e-commerce opportunities – appears to be paying off in spades, voiding concerns raised by investors about possible brand dilution.
The beauty giant's fiscal 2018 second-quarter sales increased 14% in constant currency terms, 17% reported, to reach $3.74bn, according to its Feb. 2 release.
Retailer Ulta Beauty, Inc. reports net sales in the fiscal first quarter beat consensus estimates, rising 4.5% to $2.85bn, as the company sees benefits of its recently announced ‘Beauty Unleashed’ initiative.
E.l.f. Beauty, Inc. has agreed to acquire celebrity and model Hailey Bieber’s rhode lifestyle beauty brand for $1bn, the firm reported during a 28 May fiscal fourth quarter earnings call, during which it also announced plans to raise product prices to ‘partially’ mitigate the impact of tariffs.
Shiseido’s Drunk Elephant premium skin care range – acquired in 2019 – and its NARS brand dragged sales in the Americas region down almost 20% in the first quarter, the firm reported in a 12 May earnings presentation.
New York-based International Flavors & Fragrance, Inc. has shifted procurement to alternative supply sources and is balancing production across its global network in response to US tariffs, though company executives say ingredients for discretionary products face risk.
