What Does America’s Shrinking Middle Class Mean For The Beauty Industry?

In journalist Fareed Zakaria’s book, “Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World,” The Washington Post columnist and host of CNN show “GPS” muses over the ways COVID-19 has forever changed the world, from people’s relationship to work and technology...

What Beauty Brands Think Of Shifts In Retail Business Models

In this edition of Beauty Independent’s ongoing series posing questions to beauty entrepreneurs, we ask 14 retailer and brand founders and executives: Many retailers are moving away from traditional wholesale business models to consignment, revenue-share and other arrangements...

What It Takes To Win At Beauty Retail Now

To say that 2020 was hard on brick-and-mortar beauty retail is an understatement.  Even Ulta Beauty, a longtime Wall Street darling, saw its sales dip 16.8% last fiscal year to $6.2 billion. Smaller chains, mom-and-pop stores...

The Tricky (And Costly) Question Of Whether To Handle PR And Marketing In-House Or Outsource

In this edition of Beauty Independent’s ongoing series posing questions relevant to beauty entrepreneurs, we ask 36 brand founders and executives: How do you market and advertise your products? Do you work with a public relations agency or...

What’s Behind The Sexual Wellness Retail Revolution?

In 2021, sex stuff has become mainstream. Consumers can buy lube at Nordstrom, vibrators at Holt Renfrew and arousal oils at Urban Outfitters rather than having to patronize sex shops for intimate goods....

The Many, Many, Many Strategic Shifts That Got Beauty Brands Through The Pandemic So Far

With the United States crossing a year since the first lockdowns were imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 530,000 lives in the country and 2.62 million globally, we decided to check...