Sephora
{{Short description|French cosmetics retailer}}
{{For|the insect genus|Sephora (bug)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Sephora SA
| logo = File:Sephora logo.svg
| logo_upright = 0.8
| image = Charles Scribner's Sons.jpg
| image_caption = Sephora's flagship store on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan
| image_size = 300px
| type = Subsidiary
| foundation = {{start date and age |1969}} in Limoges, France{{cite web|title=About Sephora|url=https://www.sephora.com/beauty/about-us}}
| founder = Dominique Mandonnaud
| key_people = Guillaume Motte (CEO)
| location = 41 Rue Ybry, 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
{{coord|47.141791|2.2598276|display=title,inline}}
| num_locations = 2,700 stores
| areas_served = 34 countries worldwide
| industry = Cosmetics
| revenue = {{increase}}Over US$10 billion (2019) (estimated){{cite web|title=B.C.15 Financials|date=28 January 2020 |url=https://www.lvmh.com/shareholders/agenda/2019-full-year-results}}
| parent = LVMH
| products = {{hlist|Cosmetics|skincare|fragrances|beauty products|haircare products}}
| homepage = [https://www.sephora.com sephora.com]
}}
Sephora is a French multinational retailer of personal care and beauty products, offering nearly 340 brands{{cite news|last1=Wood Rudolph|first1=Heather|title=Interview Insider: How to Get Hired at Sephora|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/career/interviews/a36704/interview-insider-sephora-career-jobs/|access-date=24 July 2015|work=Cosmopolitan|date=19 February 2015}} alongside its own private label, the Sephora Collection. Its product range includes cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, nail color, beauty tools, body products, and hair care items.
The company was founded in Limoges, France in 1969{{Cite book |last=Tungate |first=Mark |title=Branded Beauty: How Marketing Changed the Way We Look |publisher=Kogan Page |year=2011 |isbn=9780749461812 |pages=188}} and is currently based in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.{{Cite web |last=Parsons |first=Sarah |date=2017-11-27 |title=A sneak peek inside Sephora's new international head office |url=https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/news/article_page/A_sneak_peek_inside_Sephoras_new_international_head_office/136661 |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=Cosmetics Business |language=en}} Since 1996,{{cite news |last=Loeb |first=Walter |title=Sephora: Department Stores Cannot Stop Its Global Growth |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2013/04/18/sephora-department-stores-cannot-stop-its-global-growth/ |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=Forbes}}{{cite web |author=Born, Pete |date=24 October 2013 |title=Calvin McDonald Named CEO of Sephora Americas |url=http://www.wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/people/calvin-mcdonald-named-ceo-of-sephora-americas-7247060?src=nl/newsAlert/20131024-7 |access-date=24 October 2013 |work=Women's Wear Daily}} Sephora has been owned by the luxury conglomerate LVMH.
File:A_Sephora_retail_store_at_The_Summit_mall_in_Birmingham,_Alabama.jpg, Birmingham, Alabama]]
History
File:Crowd @ Passage du Havre @ Paris (34214305381).jpg, Paris]]
Sephora was first launched in Paris in August 1970. It is named after the biblical figure Zipporah (French: Séphora), wife of Moses.{{Cite web |date=2015-03-10 |title=La saga Sephora - L'Express Styles |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/styles/beaute/la-saga-sephora_885103.html |access-date=2024-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310224816/https://www.lexpress.fr/styles/beaute/la-saga-sephora_885103.html |archive-date=10 March 2015 }}
In 1993, Dominique Mandonnaud acquired Sephora and merged it with his own perfume chain under the Sephora brand. Mandonnaud is credited with designing and executing Sephora's "assisted self-service" sales experience, which distinguished itself from standard retail models for cosmetics by encouraging its primarily female customer base to test products in retail locations before purchasing them.{{cite web|title=Sephora Holdings S.A. – Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Sephora Holdings S.A. |url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/73/Sephora-Holdings-S-A.html|website=References for Business|access-date=16 February 2016}}{{cite web|title=The Sephora Saga|url=http://www.sephora-me.com/en/sephora-saga/pid21.html|access-date=16 February 2016}}
Mandonnaud continued to expand the Sephora brand through the 1990s, opening its flagship store in Champs Élysées in 1997. In July 1997, Mandonnaud and his partners sold Sephora to LVMH, which expanded the stores globally and bolstered the chain's products to include beauty and cosmetic products. Sephora extended its operations to the Middle East markets in 2007 and has opened over 44 stores in UAE and KSA, as well as an e-commerce store.{{Cite news|url=http://emirateswoman.com/online-shopping-uae-get-lot-better/|title=Online Shopping In The UAE Is About To Get A Lot Better...|date=27 October 2016|work=Emirates Woman|access-date=26 October 2016|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/beauty/news/sephora-reveals-the-best-selling-beauty-products-in-the-middle-east|title=Sephora Reveal The Best-Selling Beauty Products In The Middle East|date=17 August 2017|work=Harpers Bazaar Arabia|access-date=17 August 2017|language=en-US}} It continues to extend its partnership with exclusive brands in the region.
In October 2023, Artemis Patrick was appointed President of Sephora North America, with the expectation that she would assume the role of CEO upon the retirement of her predecessor, Jean-André Rougeot. {{cite web|url=https://cew.org/beauty_news/artemis-patrick-named-first-female-president-of-sephora-north-america-primed-for-ceo-spot/|title=Artemis Patrick Named First Female President of Sephora North America, Primed for CEO Spot|work=Cosmetic Executive Women|access-date=27 November 2024}}
In April 2024, Patrick was announced as president and chief executive officer of Sephora North America. She is the first female CEO of Sephora North America. {{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelleykohan/2024/03/25/sephoras-trailblazing-ceo-a-new-era-of-female-leadership/?sh=5f263d54107b|title= Sephora's Trailblazing CEO: A New Era Of Female Leadership|work=Forbes|access-date=27 November 2024}}
Sephora opened its first United States store in New York City in 1998, its first Canadian store in Toronto in 2004, and the first Australian Sephora store in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.sephora.com/about-us |title=About Sephora |publisher=Sephora |access-date=23 March 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/listings/beauty/sephora06/ |title=Sephora |work=New York |access-date=24 October 2011}} Its North American headquarters is located in New York City, with corporate offices in San Francisco and Montréal. Sephora currently operates over 430 stores across North America.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sephora.com/about-us|title=About Us {{!}} Sephora|website=sephora.com|language=en|access-date=26 November 2018}}
File:Sephora in Union Station 2022.jpg, Ontario]]
On 26 August 2016, Sephora opened its 400th location in North America on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. The store was the city's new flagship location.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-michigan-ave-sephora-opening-0827-biz-20160826-story.html|title=Sephora's Magnificent Mile store has new, high-tech look|work=Chicago Tribune|date=26 August 2016 }}
On 31 March, 2017, Sephora opened its largest retail location in North America near Herald Square in New York City. The store is approximately 11,380 square feet and features over 13,000 products. It is one of six Sephora TIP Workshop locations, with interactive services and tools, in North America; the others include San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Santa Clara Valley, and Toronto.{{Cite news|url=http://www.allure.com/story/shopping-tips-for-largest-sephora-store-united-states|title=10 Hacks for Shopping the Largest Sephora in the United States|last=Panych|first=Sophia|work=Allure|access-date=19 June 2017|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/beauty-features/experience-matters-sephora-goes-bigger-on-34th-street-10856012/|title=Experience Matters: Sephora Goes Bigger on 34th Street|last=Strugatz|first=Rachel|date=3 April 2017|work=WWD|access-date=19 June 2017|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.glamour.com/story/sephora-new-york-city-34th-street|title=Sephora Just Opened Its Biggest Store Ever, and It's Truly Insane|last=Zoldan|first=Rachel Jacoby|work=Glamour|access-date=19 June 2017|language=en}}
On 19 November, 2018, Sephora signed a long-term lease at Thor Equities’ Town Square Metepec, a new retail and entertainment center in Mexico totaling 1.7 million square feet.{{Cite news|url=https://www.propertyfundsworld.com/2018/11/19/270640/sephora-signs-lease-thor-equities%E2%80%99-town-square-metepec-mexico|title=Sephora signs lease at Thor Equities' Town Square Metepec in Mexico|work=propertyfundsworld|access-date=4 December 2018|language=en}}
In April 2019, R&B singer SZA accused the store of racial profiling. On May 23, 2019, Sephora announced they would be closing all locations on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, to hold diversity training for its staff.Hollie Silverman, [https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/03/business/sephora-diversity-training/index.html "SZA accusation prompts Sephora to close all locations Wednesday for diversity training"], CNN, June 3rd, 2019 However, the staff training was a part of their "We Belong To Something Beautiful Campaign" and not the accusations from the singer.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} The planning and training for this campaign began in late 2019.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}
On July 26, 2021, Sephora agreed with Palamon Capital Partners the purchase of Feelunique.com,{{cite news|first1=Samantha|last1=Conti|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/sephora-poised-to-buy-britains-feeluniquecom-report/ar-AAMiiHN|title=Sephora Poised to Buy Britain's Feelunique.com: Report|date=July 18, 2021|journal=MSN}}{{Cite web |title=Sephora finalise l'acquisition de Feelunique |url=https://fr.fashionnetwork.com/news/Sephora-finalise-l-acquisition-de-feelunique,1339007.html |access-date=10 July 2024 |website=Fashion Network}} a UK online retailer of prestige beauty goods founded in 2005, with 1.3 million active customers from 120 countries and more than 35,000 products from over 800 brands.{{cite web|url=https://ecommercenews.eu/sephora-acquires-feelunique/|title=Sephora Acquires Feelunique|date=July 26, 2021}} It had been acquired from Palamon Capital Partners for £26 million in 2012.{{cite web|first1=Sahar|last1=Nazir|url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2021/07/sephora-puts-132m-takeover-bid-on-feelunique-as-it-eyes-uk-market/|title=Sephora Agrees £132m Takeover Bid For Feelunique As It Eyes UK market|date=July 18, 2021|access-date=August 8, 2021}} The price was rumored to be £132 million.{{cite web|url=https://beautymatter.com/articles/sephora-confirms-purchase-of-online-beauty-retailer-feelunique|title=Sephora Confirms Purchase of Online Beauty Eetailer Feelunique|date=July 26, 2021}}
In July 2024, Sephora introduced a summer-themed pop-up in partnership with body care brand Sol de Janeiro.{{Cite web |title=Sephora teams up with Sol de Janeiro on UK summer pop-up |url=https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/sephora-partners-with-sol-de-janeiro-on-pop-up |access-date=10 July 2024 |website=Cosmetics Business}}
Operations
Sephora launched its online store in the U.S. in 1999 and in Canada in 2003. The Canadian head office was opened in February 2007 by Marie-Christine Marchives, a former Sephora U.S. and Sephora France employee. Marie-Christine Marchives returned to France in July 2010 to become the general manager of Sephora France. She was replaced in Canada by Klaus Ryum-Larsen. Sephora currently operates over 2,300 stores in 33 countries worldwide,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/302536/as-ulta-looks-prettier-sephora-sharpens-tech-edge.html|title=As Ulta Looks Prettier, Sephora Sharpens Tech Edge|website=mediapost.com|language=en|access-date=19 June 2017}} generating over an estimated $4 billion in revenue as of 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.sephora.com/contentStore/mediaContentTemplate.jsp?mediaId=10800104 |title=Sephora.com: About Us |publisher=Sephora |access-date=17 August 2012}} As of September 2013, the Sephora at Champs Élysées in Paris, France, attracts over six million people a year.{{cite news|last=MASIDLOVER|first=NADYA|title=Paris Casts A Shadow Over Hours at Sephora|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB40001424052702303983904579093212255489586|work=The Wall Street Journal}} Afterpay and Sephora partnered to offer its customers the flexibility to pay in four installments on July 13, 2022.{{Cite web |last= |title=Afterpay and Sephora Partner to Make Prestige Beauty Accessible to More Customers – Sephora Newsroom |date=12 July 2022 |url=https://newsroom.sephora.com/afterpay-and-sephora-partner-to-make-prestige-beauty/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |language=en-US}}
Sephora Canada opened its 100th store in Canada in November 2022.{{Cite web |last=Sephora |title=Sephora Canada marks milestone 100th store opening in Winnipeg, Manitoba with $100,000 donation to Native Women's Association of Canada and celebrations from coast-to-coast |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/sephora-canada-marks-milestone-100th-store-opening-in-winnipeg-manitoba-with-100-000-donation-to-native-women-s-association-of-canada-and-celebrations-from-coast-to-coast-874838485.html |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=www.newswire.ca |language=en}}
In 2024, Sephora confirmed the opening of its fourth UK store at Newcastle upon Tyne's Eldon Square Shopping Centre.{{Cite web |title=Sephora chooses Newcastle for fourth UK store |url=https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/sephora-chooses-newcastle-for-fourth-uk-store |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Cosmetics Business}}
=Brands=
Sephora features a variety of beauty products from more than 300 brands, including Tatcha, {{Cite web|url = http://www.sephora.com/tatcha|title = TATCHA Skin Care|access-date = 14 September 2014|publisher = Sephora }} Huda Beauty, and Bobbi Brown.{{Cite news|url=https://hellogiggles.com/beauty/makeup/kat-von-d-beauty-is-launching-a-new-program-with-sephora-that-will-allow-you-to-snag-new-products-before-they-hit-stores/|title=Kat Von D Beauty is launching a new program with Sephora that will allow you to snag new products before they hit stores|date=3 January 2017|work=HelloGiggles|access-date=27 September 2017|language=en-US}} Sephora also features its own make-up, skincare, beauty tools and accessories under the brand name Sephora Collection. Packaging for the line previously featured the company's elongated flame logo in standard black print. The new logo features the updated "Sephora Quality, Really Good Price" logo with the $ sign.
In 2013, the company included fragrance collections from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, known as Elizabeth and James, essential oil fragrances Vanilla Crush and Jewel by Coto Beauty Cosmetics, and a makeup line with Marc Jacobs.{{cite magazine|title=Beauty Boom: Is Sephora Becoming High Fashion's Next Target? |url=https://style.time.com/2013/01/09/beauty-boom-is-sephora-becoming-high-fashions-next-target/|magazine=Time | date=9 January 2013}} In June 2020, Maddie Ziegler's imagination collection collaborated with Morphe, launched in Sephora Canada.{{cite web |date=2020-06-22 |title=Morphe x Maddie Ziegler The Imagination Collection {{!}} NEW & Exclusive Launch 2020 |
url=https://www.makeupmuddle.com/morphe-x-maddie-ziegler-the-imagination-collection/ |access-date=2022-03-21 |language=en-US}} In 2023, Sephora became the first retailer of feminine hygiene and cosmetic product Luna Daily in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://uk.fashionnetwork.com/news/Luna-daily-enters-the-u-s-secures-3-7-million-investment,1501118.html|title=Luna Daily enters the U.S., secures $3.7 million investment|publisher=fashionnetwork.com|access-date=26 December 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/fundraising/intimate-female-care-brand-luna-daily-raises-3m-as-it-launches-into-the-us/677787.article|title=FUNDRAISINGIntimate female care brand Luna Daily raises £3m as it launches into the US|publisher=The Grocer|access-date=26 December 2023}} On February 28, 2025, Sephora has expanded their selection of limited K-beauty brands by adding Biodance to their shelves. The brand's viral sheet masks and toner pads are now available in store, while an addition ten skus are now available to purchase online.{{Cite web |last=Spruch-Feiner |first=Sara |date=2025-01-24 |title=Glossy Pop Newsletter: In 2025, Sephora goes big on K-Beauty — again |url=https://www.glossy.co/pop/in-2025-sephora-goes-big-on-k-beauty-again/#:~:text=Aestura%20isn't%20the%20only,launched%20at%20Sephora%20in%20October. |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Glossy |language=en}}
= Sephora inside JCPenney =
In October 2006, Sephora began opening stores inside JCPenney. Sephora inside JCPenney features some of the same makeup, skincare, and fragrance brands as well as its own product line found in stand alone stores nationwide. Sephora inside JCPenney stores are much smaller than a normal store, usually 1,500 sq ft in size.{{cite web|title=About Us {{!}} Sephora |url= http://www.sephora.com/about-us |website=Sephora |access-date=27 January 2016}} As of 2017, there were more than 600 Sephora locations in JCPenney stores across the US.{{cite web |work=Sephora|title=Sephora inside jcp |url= http://www.sephora.com/sephora-inside-jcpenney}} That same year, JC Penney announced the closing of 138 stores nationwide, several of which house a Sephora in JCPenney store.{{cite web|last1=Wahba|first1=Phil|title=J.C. Penney Is Closing These 138 Stores This Spring|url=http://fortune.com/2017/03/17/jcpenney-stores-closing/|website=Fortune}} As of 2025, the JCPenney and Sephora collaboration has come to an end. In 2020, the two companies did not renew their contract resulting in the debut of JCPenney Beauty and the new collaboration of Sephora with Kohl’s. {{Cite web |last=Silberstein |first=Nicole |date=2022-09-21 |title=As Partnership with Sephora Winds Down, JCPenney Plans Mass Rollout of Inclusive Beauty Experience |url=https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/retail-store-design/in-store-innovation/jcpenney-beauty-nationwide-600-stores-inclusive-sephora#:~:text=As%20Partnership%20with%20Sephora%20Winds,flagship%20partner%20of%20the%20experience. |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Retail TouchPoints |language=en-US}}
=Sephora inside Kohl's=
In December 2020, Sephora announced that it would begin opening Sephora stores inside Kohl's locations. The announcement included plans to launch Sephora at 850 Kohl's stores by 2023.{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Lauren |title=Sephora will open mini shops inside 850 Kohl's stores by 2023, as retailer bets big on beauty |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/01/kohls-to-open-850-sephora-beauty-shops-in-its-stores-by-2023.html |website=CNBC |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=1 December 2020}} The first four Sephora inside Kohl's locations opened on August 6, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Tyko|first=Kelly|title=Sephora at Kohl's locations are opening. See which stores are getting a makeover and when.|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2021/08/06/sephora-at-kohls-first-beauty-stores-open-more-coming-fall/5501236001/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}} By 2023, Sephora at Kohl’s has surpassed $1.4 billion in sales and sales projection for 2025 is more than $2 billion. In summer 2024, Sephora at Kohl's will be adding approximately 140 small-format shops in 40 states, bringing the total number of shops to more than 1,000.{{Cite web|title=Sephora at Kohl's Surpasses $1.4 Billion in Sales, More than 100 New Shops to Open This Year|url=https://corporate.kohls.com/news/archive-/2024/march/sephora-at-kohl-s-surpasses--1-4-billion-in-sales--more-than-100|access-date=2024-06-04|website=kohls.com|language=en-US}}
=Subscription service=
In August 2015, it was announced that Sephora would launch a subscription service: Play! By Sephora. The monthly subscription service offers boxes containing sample size products for a monthly fee.{{cite web|last1=Novellino|first1=Teresa|title=Birchbox is about to meet a French foe: Sephora|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2015/08/13/birchbox-is-about-to-meet-a-french-foe-sephora.html|publisher=Biz Journals|access-date=14 August 2015}} Boston, Columbus, and Cincinnati were the only three cities to test the initial service launch in September 2015. The service was launched throughout the US in 2016.{{cite web|last1=Malamut|first1=Melissa|title=Boston Is One of Three Test Cities for the New Sephora Box|date=10 August 2015 |url=http://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/2015/08/10/sephora-box-play-boston/|publisher=Boston|access-date=14 August 2015}}
For $10 USD billed monthly, each month’s box is a collectable bag that changes each month with five deluxe skincare, makeup, or haircare samples. Each box includes a selection of products based on answers provided by the customer in PLAY! profile.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sephora.com/product/play-subscription-P396286?icid2=play_leftnav_subscribe_link|title=Sign up for Play! By Sephora - Monthly Beauty Subscription Box|website=sephora.com|language=en|access-date=26 February 2018}}
Sephora terminated PLAY! in April 2020, replacing it with Sephora Luxe. Like Play!, Luxe gives the opportunity to sample products, but Luxe is ordered monthly and is not a subscription service.
= Sephora UAE, BAHRAIN AND KSA =
Sephora UAE and KSA are regional subdivisions of Sephora. The Middle East head office was opened in February 2006 by Pierre Fayard. Since 2007, over 30 separate Sephora stores have opened across the Middle East region (UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait). Sephora UAE and KSA provide make up and skincare products from notable brands such as Christian Dior and Laura Mercier{{Cite news|url=https://www.sephora.ae/en/about-us|title=About Us {{!}} Sephora UAE|work=Sephora|access-date=4 August 2018|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sephora.ae/en/brands|title=Buy Brands Online {{!}} Sephora UAE|website=Sephora|language=en|access-date=4 August 2018}} in a high tech contemporary retail environment.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2point0concepts.com/projects/sephora/|title=SEPHORA – 2point0 Concepts|website=2point0concepts.com|language=en-US|access-date=4 August 2018}} Sephora’s first Middle East store opened at Seef Mall in Bahrain on 7 January 2007 followed by Festival City, UAE on 1 March 2007 with a further 30 stores opening across the region since. The Sephora store in the Dubai Mall opened in December 2008 and is now{{when|date=September 2022}} ranked as the company’s number one store worldwide. In 2007, the late Sephora CEO, Jacques Levy expressed a desire to have 100 stores open across the region by 2010. A year later the international financial crisis derailed these ambitions. Levy stepped down in 2011 and died a year later.{{Cite news|url=http://gulfbusiness.com/sephora-expands-middle-east-presence-new-stores-gcc/|title=Sephora expands in Middle East with new stores across GCC |date=13 July 2016| magazine=Gulf Business |access-date=4 August 2018|language=en-US}} Despite this early setback Sephora have opened more than 30 more stores and introduced online shopping to the region in November 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://emirateswoman.com/online-shopping-uae-get-lot-better/|title=Sephora's Coming: Online Shopping In UAE Is About To Get Better|date=27 October 2016|work=Emirates Woman|access-date=4 August 2018|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.expatwoman.com/ewmoda/beauty/you-can-now-shop-sephora-online-uae|title=You Can Now Shop SEPHORA Online In The UAE!|date=9 November 2016|work=ewmoda|access-date=4 August 2018|language=en}} In December 2017, Sephora opened Gifts Beauty Park, the world's first beauty theme park, in Dubai.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insydodubai.com/featured/sephora-uae-gifts-beauty-park-city-walk-dubai/|title=Sephora UAE Launched Gifts Beauty Park at City Walk Dubai {{!}} insydo|website=insydodubai.com|language=en-US|access-date=4 August 2018}} The pop-up store featured fairground and makeup themed games and invited shoppers to sit down with professional Sephora makeup artists to experience the products. In March 2018, Guillaume Motte was announced as the new president of Sephora Europe and Middle East.{{Cite news|url=https://www.epcnews.eu/2018/01/11/guillaume-motte-to-become-president-of-sephora-europe-and-middle-east/|title=Guillaume Motte to become President of Sephora Europe and Middle East|date=11 January 2018|work=EPCnews - European Perfumery and Cosmetics NEWS|access-date=4 August 2018|language=en-US}}
==Products ==
Sephora's Middle East stores stock international products alongside local brands such as Shiffa Dubai Skin Care and Huda Beauty.{{Cite news|url=https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/business-blogging/huda-beauty-huda-kattan-blog-makeup-cosmetics|title=Inside Huda Kattan's Blog-to-Brand Beauty Empire|date=14 December 2016|work=The Business of Fashion|access-date=4 August 2018|language=en-GB}} According to Forbes, Huda Beauty, founded by Dubai based blogger and business woman Huda Kattan, was the top selling cosmetic brand across Sephora Middle East, in 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2018/07/11/huda-kattan-huda-beauty-billion-influencer/#2cac27e16120|title=How Huda Kattan Built A Billion-Dollar Cosmetics Brand With 26 Million Followers|last=Sorvino|first=Chloe|work=Forbes|access-date=4 August 2018|language=en}}
Acquisitions
In 2000, Sephora.com purchased the assets of Eve.com for "high six-figures".{{cite news|last=Miles|first=Stephanie|title=Sephora.com Buys Assets of Defunct E-Tailer Eve.com|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB9736194156228736|work=The Wall Street Journal}}
Lawsuits
On November 18, 2014, four customers filed a class action lawsuit against Sephora.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lawsuit-sephora/sephora-discriminated-against-asian-customers-lawsuit-claims-idUSKCN0J31Z020141119|title=Sephora discriminated against Asian customers, lawsuit claims|date=19 November 2014|work=Reuters|access-date=27 September 2017}} The suit alleges that Sephora engaged in racial discrimination by wrongfully deactivating the customer rewards accounts of Asian customers under the pretense that these customers were buying products from Sephora in bulk and reselling them.{{cite web|title=Civil Complaint|url=http://www.pacermonitor.com/view/RQBYIZQ/Xiao_et_al_v_Sephora_USA_Inc_et_al__nysdce-14-09181__0001.0.pdf|website=PacerMonitor|access-date=30 October 2015}}{{cite web|title=Sephora Class Action Lawsuit|url=http://www.sephoraclassaction.com/|website=Sephora Class Action Lawsuit|access-date=4 February 2016}} Sephora identified accounts to deactivate by looking at email domains from @qq.com (owned by Tencent), @126.com, or @163.com (both owned by NetEase).{{Cite web|date=2017-02-21|title=COURT-AUTHORIZED NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT|url=https://community.sephora.com/t5/Customer-Support/COURT-AUTHORIZED-NOTICE-OF-SETTLEMENT/m-p/2705944#M101984|access-date=2020-06-24|website=Sephora Community|language=en}}
See also
References
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Category:Companies based in San Francisco
Category:Cosmetics companies of France
Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1970
Category:Retail companies established in 1997
Category:French companies established in 1970