Sephora’s first bricks-and-mortar store in the UK will open at Westfield White City in West London on 8 March 2023.
The new 6,000sqft retail space includes a dedicated beauty hub which offers beauty services and treatments.
Other additions include Sephora’s first Lip Bar and a Hot on Social corner, consisting of a curation of top trending products on social media.
The store is located on the same stretch of the shopping centre housing beauty retailers Lush, L’Occitane, Space NK, Boots and Rituals.
“This new store will showcase best-in-class beauty expertise and provide unique services to UK customers, including make-up, skin care, hair care, fragrance, body and personalised gifting,” said Sarah Boyd, UK Country Manager.
“We cannot wait to welcome our first customers.”
Makeup by Mario, GXVE by Gwen Stefani, ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr, Vegamour, Skinfix and Commodity will feature exclusively at the UK store.
Other brands such as Fenty Beauty, Drunk Elephant, ILIA, R.E.M. Beauty and Jo Malone will also be available.
Sephora continues to be a powerhouse retailer in the beauty arena, and was recently credited for being the driving force behind LVMH’s record-breaking year in 2022.
Sephora’s performance was highlighted for the company's Selective Retailing category, which saw revenues increase by 26% during the year.
This contributed to a 23% increase in revenues to €79.2bn and profits of €21.1bn for the luxury conglomerate in 2022.
A dedicated Beauty Hub will offer beauty services and treatments provided by on-site experts
Goliath vs Goliath
Analysis
By News Reporter, Alessandro Carrara
Sephora’s return to the UK in 2022 came after over six years of speculation and over 17 years after it exited the British market.
But what originally pushed the beauty retailer out of the UK beauty arena in 2005 was a fierce competition from rivals such as Boots.
In 2023, how will Sephora stack up against the established beauty players such as Space NK, who have had years to grow, navigate and understand the ever-changing UK market?
In an interview with Cosmetics Business, Caroline Hirons, one of the UK’s most influential women in beauty, currently considers Space NK to be “decades ahead” of Sephora.
This is thanks to its “robust” portfolio of over 70 stores, and the care expert claims that what Sephora are largely bringing is their reputation and name.
“They have to put the proof in the pudding,” said Hirons.
“You can't come over here and be like, you are welcome, we are bringing us to you.”
In November 2022, it was revealed Space NK would be the exclusive beauty retailer to stock Hirons new Skin Rocks brand.
“The UK, and the Irish in particular, are savvy beauty customers,” she continued.
“We know what you sell, where else we can get it and we have Space NK.”
Space NK also recently opened the largest store in its portfolio following an extensive refurbishment to its Westfield location in White City.
The store, however, is housed directly below Sephora’s upcoming retail space.
Where beauty consumers ultimately choose to shop for their products will be closely watched over the coming months.
