Cosmetics

Digital cosmetics
Instagram shopper, photo Peter Kalonji

Revlon’s most dazzling cheek blush cannot conceal its reddening debt

Revlon is blushingly close to bankcruptcy according to the WSJ. It’s a salutary tale of a legacy cosmetics business with somewhat jaded brands that’s failed to adjust fast enough to a new paradigm: selling to the Instagram consumer. Amongst Revlon’s core portfolio of brands it’s noticeable that neither Elizabeth Arden nor Elizabeth Taylor are no …

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Photo Rachel Cheng

Facing strong headwinds, Shiseido offloads three business to private equity – at a significant loss.

Shiseido is one of the oldest cosmetic companies in the world. Listed on the Tokyo stock exchange it has over 33,000 employees and sales of US$8.6b. However last year Shiseido produced a loss, a sharp contrast to the previous 4 years. The reason: higher than expected sales and general expenses. The company has always had …

Facing strong headwinds, Shiseido offloads three business to private equity – at a significant loss. Read More »

Apps like Yuka, Fooducate and ToxFox are the new-age sages of the grocery aisle

As anyone who’s done segmentation studies knows, not all shoppers or consumers are the same. Marketeers love to cluster shoppers into groups based on demographics, lifestyle, shopping habits and of course spend. It’s a fundamental part of segmentation (and I have done a fair few of these studies!) The rise of apps like Yuka, Fooducate …

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Photo Myriam Zilles

Self-health and Covid boost vitamin market, but careful the regulators are ready to pounce

Ten years ago wellness and preventative health were niche but today in the US over 83% of households use vitamins, minerals or supplements (VMS). Many other developed markets are close behind. Down under most Aussies pop VMS in some shape or form. Globally VMS is worth over $140b; and it grew strongly last year as …

Self-health and Covid boost vitamin market, but careful the regulators are ready to pounce Read More »

Korean beauty Cosmax
Photo Freestocks

The secret to Korean beauty is known only to Cosmax

For those who live in Asia-Pacific, it’ll be no surprise to learn that Korea is the world’s second largest beauty exporter. Sales exceeded $6.1b in 2020, larger than Japan or the US. The country has industry leader France (exports $8.9b) in its sights. Korea’s beauty industry is helped by its proximity to China which last …

The secret to Korean beauty is known only to Cosmax Read More »