Beauty Sales Through Alternate Channels Post a 21% Gain as U.S. Consumers Flock to the Internet and Television to Buy Cosmetics and Skin Care, According to Newly-released Kline Report

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sales of cosmetics and toiletries through alternate channels have exploded, growing by nearly $1 billion since 2005, according to the latest Beauty Retailing USA 2010 report by worldwide consulting and research firm Kline & Company. More double-digit growth is expected as consumers are increasingly drawn to the convenience of at-home shopping to meet their beauty needs.

Posting a stellar 25.4% growth from 2005 to 2010, e-commerce sales are leading the way, followed by home shopping networks like QVC and HSN posting a CAGR of nearly 20%. Similarly, infomercials for brands such as Hydroxatone, ProActive, and Sheer Cover, bolstered by industry veteran Guthy-Renker and its multi-media celebrity-endorsement approach to marketing, have seen sales grow over 17%.

"Consumers are spending more time at home, either by virtue of unemployment, telecommuting, or merely a desire to save money by not going out so much," observes Karen Doskow, Consumer Products Industry Manager at Kline. "Instead of running out to the store to buy their beauty products, they're watching home shopping channels and infomercials to get the latest on new products. They're scouring through websites like dermstore.com to get information on high-end facial treatment products with unique benefits."

Consequently, brand marketers are exploring new tactics to build online buzz. Daily deal sites, such as Groupon, LivingSocial, and so-called "flash sale" sites such as HauteLook, Rue La La and Gilt Group, are fueling e-commerce sales by creating awareness and enticing interest about new products or services by offering one-time discounts in order to encourage trial use.

Doskow also notes that the bricks-and-mortar front is far from lagging: "Beauty has become the new revenue sweetheart in the traditionally slow-growing drug store channel as pharmacies reinvigorate their beauty offerings to lure customers with a more upscale, specialty-store look. For example, Walgreens' acquisition of Duane Reed and its high-end Look boutiques is expected to promote growth for both the chain and the channel. Meanwhile, CVS, Rite Aid, and others have begun offering new and improved customer loyalty programs and expanding shelf space for their beauty merchandise."

Furthermore, Kline's study reveals that as brands increasingly look to leverage mobile and e-commerce to create seamless and ubiquitous purchase options for their customers, single-channel marketing is being rendered less and less viable.

"We expect a great deal of cross-channel promotion that will drive solid growth over the next five years," predicts Doskow. "The Internet and mobile technologies are empowering consumers to be even more aggressive in their product and price comparisons and driving marketers to deliver value-based products to meet these demands."

In its ninth edition, Kline's Beauty Retailing USA 2010: Channel Analysis and Opportunities offers an in-depth look at the challenging cosmetics and toiletries retail environment, highlighting how market dynamics are influencing product sales and consumers' shopping behavior. The report covers 27 product categories across six purchase channels and 20 sub-channels, features detailed profiles of the leading retailers in each channel and includes access to Kline's exclusive interactive database.

About Kline

Kline is a worldwide consulting and research firm dedicated to providing the kind of insight and knowledge that helps companies find a clear path to success. The firm has served the management consulting and market research needs of organizations in the chemicals, materials, energy, life sciences, and consumer products industries for over 50 years. For more information, visit www.KlineGroup.com.

For more information, contact:
Vera Sandarova
Marketing Communications
+420-222-316-282
[email protected]

SOURCE Kline & Company