Ouch: Prestige Fragrance Sales Drop So Far in Holiday 2016

Fragrance is having a tough time so far in holiday 2016.
Fragrance is having a tough time so far in holiday 2016.

Prestige fragrance has been a bright spot in the perfume market in recent years. However, according to new data from NPD, prestige fragrance sales for the 2016 holidays are down.

The NPD Holiday Shopping Bag 2016 Weekly Report blames the drop on "post-election distraction" and notes that second week holiday sales were down 8% year-over-year.

Fragrance dollar sale declines were somewhat mitigated by increases in the average amount spent per item.

“The increased competition from both brick and click coming earlier in the holiday season has retailers jockeying for position in the consumer’s spending plan, and we can see how those efforts are playing out,” said chief industry analyst, Marshal Cohen. “Retailers are front-loading the season with promotions, creating a shift in spending cadence and making year-over-year growth more challenging."

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