Retail roundup: Next x The Body Shop; Douglas; Revieve x Google Cloud & more
Next: considering bailing out The Body Shop
The UK high-street fashion retail group Next is said to be considering acquiring parts of The Body Shop after the retailer’s UK operation was placed into administration earlier this month.
According to Sky News, Next has contacted administrators at FRP Advisory, which is leading the process, to show an interest in acquiring any assets it may sell.
The owner of The Body Shop Aurelius recently filed for administration of its UK business as it prepares to restructure. Last week the retailer began closing stores and making redundancies.
Meanwhile, UK department store John Lewis has also just announced that it will cut 200 jobs.
Revieve x Google Cloud partner on AI tech initiative
Beauty tech provider Revieve has teamed up with Google Cloud to use its Vertex AI in a personalised makeup beauty retail programme called Match My Look, which allows users to upload any look for analysis.
CEO at Revieve, Sampo Parkkinen stated that the launch was “a significant step in our ongoing partnership with Google Cloud” and that through the collaboration, the pair were “able to leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance our offerings and better serve our customers in the beauty industry.”
Google Cloud’s global director of retail and consumer strategy, Paul Tepfenhart added that the partnership was “a great example of using technology to innovate and enhance consumer experiences, setting new standards in personalised beauty shopping.”
Douglas: prepping for growth
CVC-owned German beauty retailer Douglas is said to be considering a relisting on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and plans to open 200 new brick-and-mortar stores by late 2025/early 2026, as well as revamp 400 of its current stores.
In its financial results announcement in mid-February, the beauty retailer shared that it had seen an exceptionally strong Christmas trading period. Between October – December 2023, its net group sales had increased by 8% on a reported basis, reaching around €1.56bn in like-for-like sales.
Douglas also shared that it saw continued growth in omnichannel sales; store sales up 6.7%; and e-com sales up 10.7%.
Meanwhile for its full 2022/23 financial year, the business generated €4.1bn in sales, up by 12% on the previous year. The company said its goal is to reach €5bn sales by 2026.
Tesco trialling a menopause-friendly beauty section
The UK-based supermarket Tesco is trialling a new menopause-friendly section in selected stores, designed to help customers find dedicated products to help manage their symptoms and highlight other items that are safe to use when menopausal.
The supermarket has joined awareness collective GenM, which flags up products with an ‘M-tick’, a symbol to signpost menopause-friendly products.
The trial, which is running in in 189 UK stores until mid-March, is set to highlight menopause-friendly skin care and supplements from brands such as Nivea, Olay, and Simple.
The retailer now also has a permanent dedicated menopause filter under the ‘health and beauty’ section of its ecommerce site, which includes more than 450 products that were chosen based on in-depth research on what consumer going through menopause need.
Category director for health, beauty and wellness at Tesco, Tom Lye, said that Tesco was “committed to transforming the shopping experience for those going through the menopause and working with Gen-M is the next step in supporting our customers and colleagues.”
flacon implements AI-fuelled logistics
German beauty e-tailer flaconi has teamed up with AI-driven fulfilment automation business GreyOrange Inc to improve its warehouse operations and distribution efficiency.
The duo said that this partnership sets a new standard for customer service in the beauty industry, while highlighting the power of artificial intelligence to transform logistics.
Boots puts more focus on hair care
The UK health and beauty retailer Boots is continuing to invest in its hair care offering following success in this category in 2023, as many beauty consumers put increased focus on hair care routines.
A raft of new products and brands including Curlsmith, Function of Beauty and DIZZIAK have joined both its ecommerce and bricks-and-mortar store lineup.
The newly updated offering is also supported by a haircare hub that includes expert education, advice and inspiration.
