Sephora when was established

In , Sephora company history reports that it launched a brand of its own name. The Sephora brand included bath and body products. In , Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessey purchased the chain. Mandonnaud retired right around the time of his 50th birthday. Since that time, the Sephora brand has branched out into 30 countries across the globe. Sephora reports that they opened their first store in the United States in New York city in Today, there are more than stand-alone stores in the United States.

Many of the stand-alone stores in the U. In addition to the company's impressive number of stores, Sephora now offers its products for sale on its website. According to the company, the U. While online customers cannot benefit from the company's in-store sampling program, the convenience of shopping online is a draw for many. Additionally, the online store may have brands and products that local stores do not.

With the comprehensive return policy, shopping is mostly worry-free. We Are Sephora reports that in , the company started its Beauty Insider program. This program allows customers to earn points as they buy. As points build, customers become eligible for small gifts. Following the success of its online presence with Canadian consumers, Sephora reports that it launched its first Canadian store in Toronto in Like their U. However, because Mandonnaud himself prepared to retire from the company's direction, the group instead opted to find a buyer for the company.

Almost immediately, the company more than doubled its number of stores, through the acquisition of the Marie Jeanne-Godard chain. That chain, rebranded under the Sephora name, added 75 stores and more than FRF million in revenues, boosting Sephora's control of the French perfume market to 18 percent. By the end of , Sephora's sales had already topped the FRF 2 billion.

Sephora turned to the international market, opening its first flagship store in New York City in The company then began to target expansion into the European market. Italy became one of the company's first targets, and it began buying up a number of smaller chains in that country. The company's acquisitions in Italy included Kharys in , the store Laguna chain in , and Boidi, a chain of 19 perfume stores in By , Sephora operated more than stores in Italy, including its Milan flagship location, opened that year.

Not all of Sephora's international expansion efforts proved successful--the company struggled to impose itself in both the United Kingdom and Spain. By , the company had decided to exit the former altogether. In Spain, Sephora decided instead to team up with that country's major department store group, El Corte Ingles, in order to boost its presence.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the company built up a national network of more than stores. The company also entered a number of other markets, such as Japan in , and Portugal and Greece in By the end of that year, Sephora had been transformed into an international giant with more than stores.

Sephora's rapid growth had come at a price, however, as the company slipped into losses at the turn of the century. The company was forced to slow the pace of its new store openings, even as it entered a number of new markets, including the Czech Republic in At the same time, the company was forced to abandon its efforts to break into the Japanese markets, where its seven stores had met with relative indifference from consumers.

By then, rumors had begun to circulate that LVMH intended to sell its flagging perfume retailer. Levy, backed by European managing director Natalie Bader-Michel, initiated a revamping of the Sephora concept. Part of the group's revitalization effort centered on introducing an extensive line of private label products under the Sephora brand name. Featuring discounted prices, the Sephora brand quickly distinguished itself for its innovative products, such as the launch of makeup specially developed for use on the leg.

In , the company also launched its own anti-wrinkle cream, StriVectin-SD, which became a huge international best seller. That product was followed by the launch in of a full line of Sephora skin care items. As part of the continued effort to boost Sephora's sales, the company also rolled out an increasing range of in-store services, including hair styling centers and specialized service counters with monikers such as the Nail Bar, the Brow Bar, the Smile Bar, and the like.

Sephora has invested heavily in its website, which contains educational videos that teach customers how to use different products. The brand also has a popular loyalty program and a monthly subscription box that allows women to discover new products at home. In , Sephora started rolling out small format boutiques that offer a more intimate shopping experience in neighborhoods.

These will exist alongside its larger format stores in malls. The prestige retailer announced its Clean Beauty category, a curated collection of products formulated without sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde, and other potentially harmful chemical ingredients. There are more than 50 brand partners and 2, products in North America featuring the Clean at Sephora seal. AWS Deloitte Genpact. Events Innovation Festival.

Follow us:. In principle, Sephora does not grant any rights to third parties to operate its store concept and to use the Sephora trademark.

However, you can find our current career opportunities on our website. Be vigilant if you are solicited by pretended Sephora representatives proposing to join a Sephora franchise network and asking to pay a commitment fee.

You are facing a fraudulent proposal. In such circumstances, we invite you to contact us at sj sephora.