Skip to main content
BoF Logo

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

American Department Stores Have a Beauty Problem

No longer the primary destination for beauty discovery, US department stores could learn by emulating the strategies of international peers.
A collage of US department stores and their beauty halls.
US department stores face a stark reality: without immersive, locally tuned beauty experiences, legacy prestige alone won’t revive declining fortunes. (BoF Studio)

On Tuesday, the historic UK retailer

Please sign in to ensure you can read our agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice. Or get in touch at support@businessoffashion.com if you experience difficulties.

Further Reading

Saks’ Bankruptcy and the Future of Luxury Retail | The Debrief

Saks’ Chapter 11 filing listed $3.4 billion in debts, and the retailer is on its third CEO in two weeks. But the industry is cautiously optimistic about what’s coming next. BoF’s retail editor Cat Chen explains how we got here, who gets paid and what a credible turnaround must look like.

The Best of BoF 2025: An Omnichannel World

As retailers big and small fight on the global stage for share of the beauty market, brands are increasingly spreading themselves across channels — e-commerce, live selling and even AI platforms — to better meet customers where they are.

About the author
Rachael Griffiths
Rachael Griffiths

Rachael Griffiths is a Senior Editorial Associate at The Business of Beauty. She is based between St Helens and London, and covers beauty, wellness and industry news.

© 2026 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from Beauty
Analysis and advice on the fast-evolving beauty business.

What Stops Beauty Shoppers From Buying More

Beauty brands must rethink upselling with smarter value plays, from curated bundles to jumbo sizes and subscriptions, to keep their customers from switching to the competition.


Can Mikayla Nogueira Sell Fragrance, Too?

The beauty influencer is hoping her 20 million-strong following can cut through the category’s oversaturation with Only Sunshine, a tropical scent launched with indie brand Snif.


Ulta Beauty Joins TikTok Shop

Ulta Beauty becomes the first US specialty beauty retailer to launch on TikTok Shop, making the case for partnership rather than competition with the platform’s beauty e-commerce business.


view more
Latest News & Analysis
Unrivalled, world class journalism across fashion, luxury and beauty industries.

What Stops Beauty Shoppers From Buying More

Beauty brands must rethink upselling with smarter value plays, from curated bundles to jumbo sizes and subscriptions, to keep their customers from switching to the competition.


Who Won Fashion’s Red Carpet Season of Change

Sunday night’s Oscars concluded an awards season that fashion’s biggest labels used to show off their new creative game. BoF breaks down what we learned about brands’ celebrity strategies.


VIEW MORE
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CONNECT WITH US ON