TOP NOTES
ON SALES: France’s Groupe Clarins and Swiss flavors and fragrances group Givaudan have reported first-quarter sales for 2001.
Groupe Clarins announced consolidated sales of $187.3 million for the first three months of 2001, up 3.1 percent over the same period last year. At comparable rates of exchange the figure would have represented an increase of 1.6 percent. All dollar figures are converted at current exchange rates.
Sales for the Clarins brand were down 5.3 percent compared to last year to $113.5 million on a comparable basis. The group said in a statement that the relocation in January of its industrial site from Pontoise to a new site in Amiens and related production problems hurt sales growth. Sales for Thierry Mugler were up 2.8 percent to $34.15 million. Azzaro’s sales were up 17 percent to $17.6 million. Sales for the group’s fragrance distribution business, which includes the U.S. distribution rights for Hugo Boss and Giorgio fragrances, were up 37.1 percent to $22.08 million.
Meanwhile, Givaudan’s first-quarter sales were up 5 percent to $364.3 million. The firm said that in local currencies the increase over last year would have been 6.4 percent. The group said in a statement that sales in the Asia Pacific region showed a double-digit increase while its performance in the U.S. was slightly below that of the comparable period in 2000. It added that its business in Europe outpaced the market.
FRESH NEWS: The Boston-based beauty firm Fresh is opening its third New York location at 388 Bleecker Street around July 15. The West Village shop is on the same stretch where Marc Jacobs will open a boutique for his signature women’s collection.
SPRINGTIME IN ITALY: April’s been a busy month for Milan’s Beauty Gallery. The company, which has bought Italian beauty firm Samusa, signed a fragrance licensing deal with Italian men’s wear label Palzileri, and hired Patrick Pace, formerly export director of Trussardi fragrances, to oversee its international division. Samusa, a three year-old company with annual sales of $1.25 million, is distributed in 400 Italian perfumeries and in limited doors in Portugal, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Arab markets. Its treatment, color cosmetics and sun care products are targeted to a mid-level consumer, with lipsticks retailing for about $11 (all figures are calculated on the current exchange).”We’re really looking to increase distribution, and we’re going to consolidate all of our current projects before going ahead with new ones,” said Beauty Gallery ceo and founder Luciano Abbati, who launched his company last year. “We’re hoping to close 2001 with $5 million in sales.” Currently, Beauty Gallery produces and distributes the thermal water and mud-based treatment line Sorgente Mezzatorre, and distributes fragrances for four Spanish designer labels: Armand Basi, Angel Schlesser, Jesus del Pozo and Roberto Verino. It also holds the fragrance license for Italian designer Marina Spadafora, and will be launching her first scent next fall. The Palzileri men’s scent, Abbati said, will be rolling out for spring 2002.
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BOBBI’S FRESH AIR: Bobbi Brown wants to make kids see stars — the kind in the sky, that is. Beginning in May, she’s donating net proceeds from the online and Bergdorf Goodman sales of her newest lip product, Brown Lip Gloss, to the Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit agency that treats children from low-income families to free summer vacations in the country.
The color, inspired by her Brown Lip Color, one of the 10 colors with which she launched Bobbi Brown Cosmetics 10 years ago, retails for $18.
COLOMER TAPS SMITH: Dennis E. Smith has been named senior vice president, sales and marketing, ethnic products group for Colomer USA. Smith will be responsible for the group’s marketing team for hair care in both consumer and professional outlets. Prior to joining Colomer, maker of African Pride, Creme of Nature and All Ways Realistic, Smith was vice president of retail sales at Soft Sheen, a division of L’Oreal.
JO GOES L.A.: British perfumer Jo Malone and her husband and business partner Gary Willcox glowed like newlyweds at a garden luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge on April 11. Malone’s visit to formally open her in-store boutique at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills was part of a five-city tour that also included San Francisco, Chicago and Houston and wraps up in New York next week.
SNITZ TO AVEDA: Valerie Snitz has been named manager of new media for Aveda. Formerly in the interactive enterprise division at American Express, Snitz will be responsible for strategizing and executing Aveda’s Web site, as well as spearheading relationship marketing efforts with Aveda customers through the site. She reports to Daria Myers, Aveda’s senior vice president of global marketing.
NICE HAIR: Eve Reid, the hair accessories guru known for blending luxurious items onto headbands and ponytail holders, is entering Sephora stores nationwide. Sephora will feature 25 different styles of Eve Reid’s creations made from materials such as Swarovski crystals, Italian leather, Tokyo tortoise and 14-karat gold and silver electroplate metals. Prices range from $8.15 for a jersey scrunchie to $45.25 for a rhinestone headband.
HALEV TO IFF: International Flavors & Fragrances has named Joanne Halev as senior sales account executive. Before joining IFF, she was the corporate beauty director of Conde Nast Publications. In her new post, Halev will be responsible for handling key customer accounts.
TYLER’S CLINIQUE TURN: She may just be the most famous face to don a Clinique lab coat, but actress Liv Tyler, who plays a Clinique consultant in the new movie One Night at McCool’s, wasn’t content to leave it at that. She has teamed up with the company to create Liv’s Jewel, a scarlet red lipstick based on the lipcolor that her character, Jewel Valentine, wears. Liv’s Jewel is available exclusively on clinique.com and all proceeds will be donated to Tyler’s favorite charity, Prevent Child Abuse New York.