Sephora Arrives in Mexico

Global retailer Sephora, owned by LVMH, opened its first store in Mexico. The inauguration, at the Antara Fashion Hall shopping center located in Mexico City, was held Oct. 21, 2011. A second Mexico City location opened in mid-November 2011, and both locations retail approximately 100 beauty and fragrance brands.

With plans to continue opening doors in the Latin American market, Sephora entered the Mexican market through a joint venture with the local Grupo Axo, signed in October 2010. Grupo Axo has more than 15 years of expertise in the strategic and commercial development of luxury brands in Mexico, and has worked to market LVMH’s Marc Jacobs, Benetton, Emporio Armani, Guess and Tommy Hilfiger brands, among others, in the region.

Avon Names President of Latin American Business Unit

Avon Products named former Unilever executive Fernando Acosta president of its Latin American business unit. Acosta was employed at Unilever for 19 years, and most recently held the position of senior vice president, Middle Americas, based in Colombia—overseeing Unilever’s personal care, home care, food and beverage units in nine South American countries. Acosta now reports to Charles Herington, former Avon vice president for Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, who was named head of Avon’s recently created developing markets unit.

Chanel Opens Doors in Argentina

With a brunch for beauty editors and celebrities, the first Chanel Boutique in Buenos Aires, Argentina, opened its doors Oct. 13, 2011.

The exclusive 70-square-meter store is positioned near the main entrance of high-end shopping center Galerias Pacifico, located on the main pedestrian mall in the heart of the Argentine capital. The area is known for attracting thousands of foreign visitors from Brazil, the U.S. and Europe looking for Argentine shopping sprees, making the location an attractive local for luxury brands. Galerias Pacifico is also home to MAC Cosmetics, La Mer and Bobbi Brown locations.

The Chanel Boutique features three fragrance bars for the “Les Exclusifs” feminine and masculine fragrance collections, as well as separate corners for the four annual makeup collections designed by Chanel makeup creative director Peter Philips, the Make Up Studio collections, and a more secluded space for private makeup and cosmetics consultations.

Hugo Boss Brings NYC to Buenos Aires for Fragrance Launch

On Nov. 10, 2011, Hugo Boss and its Argentine beauty distributor, Diffupar, hosted a “New York style” cocktail party for beauty editors and VIP guests in San Telmo (one of the most emblematic neighborhoods of Buenos Aires) to launch the latest Hugo Boss men’s fragrance: Different.

Fibella Moves to Paraguay

The Fibella beauty trade show celebrated its first Paraguay-based event. Previously held in Peru, the November event was organized by the Paraguayan Personal Hygiene Products Companies Chamber, CAEDHPA. In addition to a show floor featuring more than 25 beauty companies—including New Color, Ponds, Dove, Day’s and Être Belle—the event offered beauty seminars, workshops, fashion shows and business meetings. The 2011 show also hosted the launch of the Moschino Forever fragrance in Paraguay.

CANIPEC Raises Breast Cancer Awareness While Promoting Beauty Industry The Mexican National Cosmetics Products Industry Chamber (CANIPEC), which represents 70 companies that manage 85% of the beauty market in Mexico, launched a campaign to promote the importance of early detection of breast cancer, which is communicated through educational materials, the Internet, social networks and audiovisual ads. The chamber will host lectures on the topic at its affiliate companies in conjunction with its beauty lectures program, “Promoting the Beauty Culture.”

Cristina Kroll is a business journalist specializing in the beauty sector and living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has written for the main Argentine magazines related to the beauty business, and was a correspondent for French magazine Beauty Business News.

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