Sephora has revealed plans to open two new stores in the UK as part of the American beauty retailer’s latest expansion plans.
Despite the recent trend of store closures, the international brand is doubling down on the UK market after debuting with its London store last year.
Later this year, Sephora will establish locations at Silverburn Shopping Centre in Glasgow and St James Quarter in the capital, marking its first expansion into Scotland.
The brand stated that hoardings featuring its distinctive black-and-white striped design will soon appear at both sites, incorporating what it described as “a Scottish nod” to mark the occasion.
Sephora is opening two new stores in Scotland
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The Glasgow outlet will span 5,048 square feet of retail space, making it the larger of the two Scottish stores, while Edinburgh’s location will cover 4,961 square feet.
Scottish shoppers will gain access to several sought-after beauty labels for the first time on home turf, including rhode, Haus Labs, and Makeup by Mario, alongside products exclusive to Sephora UK.
The retailer, which was founded in Limoges, France in 1969, now operates more than 3,200 physical stores worldwide alongside its digital platforms.
Both Scottish locations will launch in tandem with new, smaller “boutique” format stores debuting in London this summer.
High streets have been hit by a wave of closures since the pandemic | PA
Sephora hopes to 20 more stores in the UK | PA
Sephora UK managing director Sarah Boyd expressed enthusiasm about the Scottish expansion, stating: “The Sephora UK team and I are thrilled to finally reveal that we’re bringing our ‘temples of beauty’ to not one, but two incredible Scottish cities this summer with fans crying out for a Scottish beauty playground.”
Ms Boyd acknowledged the wait Scottish customers have endured as the retailer expanded elsewhere across Britain.
“We know how eagerly our Scottish customers have waited while we expanded across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and we truly want to say thank you for your patience and loyalty,” she said.
The managing director added: “Now, Scotland, let’s get even more bonnie together.” Representatives from both shopping centres welcomed the announcement with enthusiasm.
The high street has been hit with store closures in recent months. | PA
Anne Ledgerwood, estate director at St James Quarter, described the store’s arrival as “a major moment for both St James Quarter and Edinburgh’s shopping scene”, noting that Sephora’s “immersive concept and curated brand offer” would provide customers with something genuinely new.
Silverburn general manager David Pierotti highlighted the significance for western Scotland, saying: “Sephora coming to Glasgow marks such a big moment for the city and the west of Scotland, and we are so pleased to be home to its largest store in the country.”
In its analysis of store closures in Britain, the Centre for Retail Research stated: “The growth of online retailing was faster in the UK than in any other country. The online share of retailing was 6.6 per cent in 2006. In 2013, it was 12.7 per cent and rose to 19.2 per cent in 2019, cutting the potential sales of many previously-viable retail stores.
“During the pandemic, online sales were boosted by the fact that many people feared going into stores, while most non-food stores were closed during lockdowns. By the first quarter of 2021, online sales achieved a sales share of more than 36 per cent every month, although it fell back to around 25 per cent by early 2023 – still 30 per cent higher than the 2019 outcome. Current results are around 27.1 per cent.”