From October 26 to 27, the second SEPHORiA Sephora Beauty Festival was held at the Dream Center in Shanghai’s West Bund. This year, following stops in Atlanta and Paris, Shanghai became the third global destination for Sephora’s beauty festival.
Xia Ding, the newly appointed General Manager of Sephora Greater China, made her debut at a public Sephora event. She remarked, “The grand return of the second SEPHORiA Sephora Beauty Festival has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm from Chinese consumers, showcasing Sephora’s strong influence in leading trends and building an inclusive, diverse beauty community.”
Image Above: Xia Ding, General Manager of Sephora Greater China, inaugurates the 2024 SEPHORiA Sephora Beauty Festival.
In April this year, Sephora, the global high-end beauty retailer under LVMH Group, appointed Ding as General Manager of Sephora Greater China. Based in Shanghai, she oversees Sephora’s omnichannel business across the Chinese Mainland and the Hong Kong SAR, covering nearly 350 stores in over 100 cities, along with two major e-commerce platforms and a comprehensive digital ecosystem.
As one of the key revenue and profit drivers for LVMH, following Louis Vuitton and Dior, Sephora has continued to experience robust growth in the premium beauty market despite challenges in China’s beauty consumption market, where growth has slowed for many luxury and beauty companies.
According to LVMH’s H1 2024 financial report, Sephora’s specialty retail division saw an 8% year-over-year increase in sales revenue and a 7% rise in recurring operating profit on an organic basis. Sephora achieved remarkable growth and continued to gain market share globally.
Recently, beauty giant Coty reached an exclusive retail strategic partnership with Sephora China for the high-end fragrance line of the Marc Jacobs brand.
At this year’s beauty festival, Lizzy Chen, Executive Vice President of Coty Asia-Pacific, said, “Our exclusive partnership with Sephora is significant for Marc Jacobs Fragrances. With Marc Jacobs’ exceptional brand reputation and Coty’s innovation in high-end fragrance technology and expertise, Marc Jacobs Fragrances will unlock growth potential in the Chinese market. Sephora’s strong, extensive retail network, consumer experience, and deep consumer insights will provide a solid foundation for the future of Marc Jacobs Fragrances while reinforcing Coty’s position in China’s high-end fragrance sector.”
Sephora was founded in Limoges, France, in 1969 and joined global luxury giant LVMH in 1997, consistently redefining the traditional model of luxury beauty retail.
As Sephora’s signature annual beauty event, SEPHORiA Beauty Festival, themed “Beauty Funhouse,” featured a lively party atmosphere with 50 top international brands, emerging niche labels, domestic beauty brands, 21 masterclasses, and a variety of interactive experiences. The two-day event attracted over 4,000 beauty enthusiasts.
Image Above: Natasha Denona, founder of the American professional makeup brand NATASHA DENONA, demonstrates a signature eye makeup look.
Image Above: Attendees enjoy the Sephora Beauty Festival, experiencing the brand’s allure and exclusive services.
This year’s beauty festival departed from traditional fashion event formats, injecting diverse fashion vitality into an exceptional experience.
The West Bund Dream Center, a waterfront site once steeped in Shanghai’s history, has been revitalized into a multi-functional public space that leads in cultural and artistic trends.
Sephora China specially selected this location, featuring a “Funhouse” theme with beauty parades tailored to seasonal trends. Sparkling Girls, Red Lip Queen, Mr. Photogenic, and the Funhouse Band created a rich, playful sensory experience. Various brand booths seamlessly integrated digital and interactive elements like the “Funhouse Four Scenes” and “Funhouse Puff Bay.” During the two public days of the Sephora Beauty Festival, a steady stream of participants and enthusiastic reviews highlighted the event’s success.
Following Shanghai, Sephora Beauty Festival will make its debut in Rio de Janeiro (November 1-3) and Dubai (November 6-8).
| Image Credit: Sephora
| Editor: LeZhi
