The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
PARIS, France — L'Oréal SA is setting itself up to capitalise on the forgotten half of China's cosmetics market: men.
L'Oréal China, an arm of the Paris-based beauty company, is teaming with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s Tmall to focus on China's male-grooming industry, according to a statement Friday. The maker of Maybelline this week launched a flagship store on the internet platform for House99, the brand founded by soccer star David Beckham to sell high-end face cream, pomade and beard oil. The two companies are also co-hosting a pop-up store in Hangzhou, where Alibaba is based.
Cosmetics makers and other consumer companies have been targeting Chinese women over the past few years, pursuing an increasingly affluent and savvy middle class that’s ready to spend on beauty and luxury. At the same time, they’re discovering huge potential among the country’s males.
Online sales of men’s grooming products have increased by more than 50 percent in each of the past two years, and 62 percent of males between the ages of 15 and 50 said they used male-specific facial-skin-care products last year, according to a white paper developed by Tmall and L’Oreal.
By Daniela Wei; editors: K. Oanh Ha, John Lauerman, John J. Edwards III.
As in-person retail continues to recover, store owners and marketers are working hard to press the main advantage analogue shopping has over digital: its appeal to all the senses.
What had once been a nimble, innovative company, became slow-moving and cautious causing it to miss out on what is now a strong beauty market because it retreated precisely when rivals went all in.
According to an email viewed by The Business of Beauty, the company will be on hiatus while it establishes a sustainable path to return as a new company.
The surfing legend, a vocal opponent of chemical-based sun protection, is launching his own line of natural skincare products this week.