Beauty has been a key focus for Shoppers Stop since its inception in 1991. This was evident from the large beauty spread that greets customers when they walk into any Shoppers Stop across the country showcasing some of the biggest brands from across the globe like Dior, Nars, Clarins, Armani, Prada, YSL (Yves Saint Laurent), Estée Lauder, M.a.c Clinique, Bobbi Brown and Too Faced -all the premium brands that otherwise operate only in a boutique environment.
Today, about 18% (₹262 crore) of Shoppers Stop's overall business comes from beauty across formats, out of which approx. 42% comes from fragrance, followed by makeup and skincare. And the company wants to take beauty contribution to 20% and then 25% in three years, Biju Kassim, who took over reins of the chain's beauty business as President - beauty in January 2022, told IMAGES Retail. Onboarding Kassim was one of the first steps in the Mumbai-based listed retailer's plan to recalibrate its beauty strategy post-Covid in the face of intensifying competition from new-age companies and new players in the segment.
The retail company, which recently celebrated the milestone of 10 million customers on the country's longest-running loyalty programmeFirst Citizen-pivoted from being a department store-only company to being an operator of speciality beauty stores named SS Beauty and a distributor of international beauty brands in February 2022. These were in addition to boutiques it was running for Estée Lauder, M.a.c Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone and Too faced through its partnership with Estée Lauder Companies.
In an exclusive interview, Kassim speaks about the company's strategy for its beauty business, its plans across channels and its ambitions to supply to every beauty retailer in the country. Edited excerpts...
Why did Shoppers Stop decide to venture into the distribution of beauty brands?
Esta historia es de la edición June 2024 de Images Retail.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 2024 de Images Retail.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
McDonald's The Maharaja Mac Of Transit Retail
While McDonald’s serves as a great example of successfully Indianising a global brand, it is also an insightful case study in strategically making transit retail work
Founders, Market are Key for D2C Investors
Investors and brands across the retail landscape are the crucial factors considered when raising funds
Powering Consumption Growth India's Home and Household Market Report
The report from Deloitte India projects that India’s home and household market is witnessing strong demand, particularly in tier 2 and tier 3 cities that are emerging as growth hubs
Tech Infra Readiness Among Top Challenges in GenAI implementation
Tech infrastructure readiness is one of the top three challenges organisations in the technology, media, and telecom (TMT) sector face when implementing Generative AI (GenAI) solutions, a report stated.
Amazon India Introduces AI Chatbot Rufus Ahead of Festive Sale event
E -commerce major Amazon India launched a new generative AIpowered conversational shopping assistant, Rufus, ahead of the start of its festive sale event.
'Fusion of Art and Commerce Helps Virtuous Retail Create Culturally Rich Shopping Environments'
Sumi Gupta, board member of VR South Asia, who spearheads all things art and culture at the group, talks about the unique approach of curating art festivals in retail spaces to foster a deep community connection and drive commerce
Jumboking's Travel Retail Journey
About 95% of Jumboking's outlets are positioned at busy transit hubs benefiting from the high foot traffic these places enjoy
What's Driving the Success of Electronics on Q-commerce
Electronics are among the hottest selling items on q-commerce. Here's what's driving the trend and why the collaboration is a win-win for all stakeholders
Measuring the Influencer Effect
Influencer marketing has become a core part of every brand's marketing. But does it really benefit brands?
Mid-range Smartphone Users Lead in Premium Product Engagement
The study, conducted by Bobble AI’s Market Intelligence division, delves into the online shopping behaviour of smartphone users
