2010s
Stellar growth
As The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (ELC) Travel Retail goes into a period of stellar growth, including reaching US$1 billion in net sales for the first time, we highlight the major acquisitions and events of this last decade.
2010
Committed to giving back, Olivier Bottrie (centre) and two other travel retail executives (Ed Brennan, then-DFS Chairman & CEO, above right; and Martin Moodie, Founder & Chairman of The Moodie Davitt Report, top left) co-found Hand in Hand for Haiti in 2010 in response to the devastating earthquake that struck the nation in January.
Hand in Hand for Haiti is a non-profit organisation that built and operates a school in Haiti. Today it provides education to 360 children focusing on the country’s youngest and neediest. It turns out to be the biggest fund-raiser in travel retail history, spearheaded by Bottrie and the whole-hearted support of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
2012
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (ELC) Travel Retail generates US$1 billion in net sales as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. From start-up to powerhouse, the journey continues.
Commenting on the division’s record-breaking performance, Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer (left) says: “Travel Retail again had fantastic double-digit growth, more than four times the rate of international air passenger traffic. And, for the first time, net sales topped US$1 billion. Net sales increases came from virtually every brand, and we gained 100 basis points of share in this channel.”
In the same year, ELC Travel Retail launches masculine skin care brand Lab Series.
2013
AERIN launches in The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Travel Retail. The luxury lifestyle brand reflects the effortless style of its founder, Aerin Lauder. It offers a curated collection of fragrances and beauty products, inspired by Lauder’s enduring love of flowers and artisanal discoveries from around the world. It has three beauty collections: Fragrance, Premier Fragrance and Rose Bath & Body.
2016
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (ELC) Travel Retail unveils luxury fragrance brand Kilian Paris. Founded by Kilian Hennessy in 2007, Kilian Paris offers a menu of olfactory fragrances within five olfactory families: The Fresh, The Narcotics, The Cellars, The Smokers and The Liquors.
Kilian Paris products include fragrances, candles and other accessories, as well as exclusive collections. Elements of the brand’s packaging such as perfume bottles and candle holders are refillable, which reflect Kilian’s philosophy that true luxury should not be disposable.
2017
Le Labo launches in The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Travel Retail channel. Founded in 2006 by fragrance industry veterans Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi, Le Labo provides a highly selective assortment of fragrance and sensory lifestyle products in minimalistic retail environments and on the brand’s website.
The Le Labo brand is known for its high-quality products and unique retail experiences which emphasise exceptional service, personalised products and exclusivity. Its product portfolio includes fragrances, body care products and candles, as well as limited-edition ‘City Exclusive’ scents, available only in certain boutiques by region.
2018
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Travel Retail bolsters its luxury and artisanal fragrance portfolio with the launch of Editions De Parfums Fréderic Malle. Frédéric Malle — grandson of Serge Hefler-Louiche who founded Parfums Christian Dior – launched Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle in 2000 based on a mission of returning to the fundamentals of haute parfumerie.
Frédéric Malle is a disruptive fragrance concept whereby the world’s greatest noses come together to compose exclusive, creative fragrances sold under each creator’s name.
Malle works with perfumers in the same way a literary editor works with authors, which is where the name ‘Editions de Parfums’ comes from. Each fragrance comes in packaging inspired by the covers of French publishing house Gallimard and signed by the perfumer who crafted it.
2019
2019 is a landmark year as The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (ELC) Travel Retail becomes the beauty market leader in the travel retail industry according to Generation Research.
Travel Retail serves as one of the company’s main growth drivers as ELC generates a +9% year-on-year increase in net sales to US$14.86 billion for the fiscal year. Estée Lauder, La Mer, Origins, Jo Malone London and Bobbi Brown all post double-digit growth in a boom year for the channel.
Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer, comments, “Our sales growth was led by excellent results from international markets, particularly in China and other emerging markets; the skincare category; the travel retail and online channels globally; our Estée Lauder brand and several luxury brands – all of which grew double digits.” Read more here.
With the commercial stars aligning, ELC acquires Have & Be Co. Ltd., the Seoul-based, global skin care company behind Dr. Jart+ and men’s grooming brand Do The Right Thing.
The deal marks the first time that the U.S. beauty giant has acquired an Asia-based skin care house.
