Feelunique hits the streets: first offline France store opens
The flagship outlet is situated in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, and comprises of a perfume shop, a beauty parlour and a hair salon. The company has also opened branches in the suburbs of Boulogne-Billancourt and Neuilly-sur-Seine.
Feelunique’s focus on France suggests the company is responding to French consumers’ appetite for online retailers, and attempting to convert this into physical purchasing too.
The company already operates three physical stores in the Channel Islands: two in Jersey and one in Guernsey.
Strengthening presence
This launch follows the acquisition a year ago of the upmarket French perfume chain, Parfumeries Rive Droite, and the retail space that the perfume chain held in Paris.
The brand held four sites in the city, and at the time Feelunique voiced its intent to open stores in each of them: indeed, it has been reported that the company will open its fourth retail outlet in the near future in Paris.
Joel Palix, chief executive of Feelunique, has reportedly described France as already a key market for the business and it is now looking to build on the success.
He told Retail Week: “As an acquisition Parfumeries Rive Droite delivers the perfect combination of small number of stores in primary locations, exclusive French stockists of a strong selection of premium and niche brands, an experienced management team and gives us a real opportunity to further localise our business.”
French favour e-commerce for beauty
A recent report found that 58% of French women surveyed say they purchase beauty products digitally, with skin care leading the trend.
Seven out of ten women surveyed by CCM Benchmark who buy cosmetics online say they go for facial care products - creams, washes and cleansers - and more than 60% use the web to buy makeup and body care products. Hair care was the fourth most popular segment for online purchases.
