Shifting Consumer Focus in Beauty Showing Through Retail Evolution

Consumer tastes and lifestyles are constantly changing and causing retailers to continuously refine their stores, merchandising and ways to engage and keep customers. Through the educational session “The Retail Evolution: What’s New in Stores?,” Cosmoprof North America is excited to bring some of the most innovative chain retailers to the event to share with attendees what their newest initiatives are in order to engage consumers and keep them coming back. This session will focus on what’s new on the horizon of beauty retailing and new challenges and opportunities facing the beauty retail landscape, and it will be moderated by Andrea Nagel, vice president of content for CEW/CEW Beauty Insider.

“The Retail Evolution: What’s New in Stores?” session, which will be held on Monday, July 14, 2014 from 1 pm to 2:30 pm, will include speakers:

  • Marcia Gaynor, DMM of prestige beauty for Walgreens—Gaynor graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in buying and merchandising, and she has managed a variety of merchandise categories but has focused her career in cosmetics and beauty. Currently, Gaynor is the DMM of prestige beauty for Walgreens, which also includes the Duane Reade chain. She pioneered Duane Reade's innovative Look Boutique prestige beauty department, and under her leadership the Look Boutique concept has changed the way the industry looks at beauty. This is evident by the fact that after the merger of Duane Reade into Walgreens, the Look Boutique has been integrated into Walgreens’ stores across the country where the demographics meet criteria.
  • Nicky Kinnaird, founder of Space NK—Kinnaird graduated from Reading University in 1985 and worked as a chartered surveyor for the property company Debenham, Tewson & Chinnocks, specializing in retail agency. From there, she joined Retail Plan Ltd. and quickly built a reputation in retail that sent her around the globe on assignments and eventually led to the creation of her own retail venture: Space NK. Twenty-one years later, Space NK is established as one of the most iconic sources of the world’s best beauty brands. There are currently 63 Space NK stores throughout the U.K. and 22 Space NK stores in the U.S,. which include freestanding stores and boutiques within Bloomingdale’s in California and stretching from Boston down to Florida. Along the way, Kinnaird has received industry recognition for her achievements, including being awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to the cosmetic industry) and honorary doctorates from Queens University Belfast and the University of Ulster.
  • Richard Parrott, president of Ricky's NYC—Parrott brings a fresh perspective to the beauty business at Ricky’s NYC, a chain of 29 retail stores located in New York and South Beach that specialize in professional hair care products, skin care, makeup, and seasonal merchandise and accessories. Parrott is responsible for the successful launch of several new initiatives at Ricky’s, including the RickyHome line of products in collaboration with Nest Fragrances, and the much-anticipated Manic Panic Color Asylum salon. Part of Parrott’s marketing strategy is to partner with other New York institutions. These associations help drive brand awareness in an organic and appropriate light.
  • Shannon West, vice president of beauty with Costco Wholesale Corporation—West has been with Costco Wholesale Corporation for 30 years. A veteran retailer, her career began in the warehouse part-time while going to the University of Washington, and she worked her way up to VP/GMM. As a membership-only warehouse club, Costco) is widely known for its vast selection of merchandise, and the health and beauty category is a big opportunity for all retailers. Currently as the vice president and general merchandise manager, West will share insights on where the retailer sees the opportunities in the health and beauty category.
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