Sales of prestige beauty products in the US declined by 6 percent in 2009, according to market research company NPD Group.
…NPD noted that all the US prestige categories experienced dollar declines, with the biggest decline being in fragrances, followed by prestige make-up and skincare.
— From US market for prestige beauty products suffered in 2009 at Cosmetics Design. Sales in mass market fragrances also declined last year.
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I’m not surprised, given the economy and saturation point in the market that sales haven’t gone down more.
BTW, did anyone read the news that Serge is discontinuing four scents? Perfume Shrine mentioned the four: Chypre Rouge, Miel de Bois, Douce Amere, and Clair de Musc. Shame, I really liked Douce Amere but I’ve done enough stocking up already. I have to stop sometime……
I heard that on Twitter. I’ll miss Douce Amere, but probably have enough to last me.
My fragrance spending surely didn’t go down last year…
No, and I’ve switched over from drugstore skincare to Origins, so not cheap there either… but I guess I can’t make up for the millions who finally realized they were spending what they didn’t have.
Nor mine! But also bear in mind that this only measures spending in mainstream stores, not niche boutiques.
I’d think my paying FULL PRICE for a bottle of Attrape-Coeur, transferred in to my local Saks no less, would have moved the markets for sure. I know my husband acted as if it did! :0
I know I’ve been doing my part to stimulate the economy.
this morning as the CEO went out the door he said to me, “I’m off to earn the perfume money!” oooo, it just makes me all shivery when he talks that way!!
Daisy`s hubby needs to have a convince-ing talk w/ yours!
May I ask what location of Saks had your Guerlain??
I think my spending was actually up quite a bit more last year than the two years prior, though I didn’t fair too badly all things considered. This quarter however, I’ll be doing all I can to contribute to niche/boutique sales for sure. Most everything else I use (skin care etc.) is drug or department store so the odd “free” bottle here and there doesn’t hurt too much.
And oh no to Clair de Musc being discontinued. I just sampled it and was torn between it and Daim Blond as my first SL full bottle purchase. The CEO is a lover of musks and liked it very much as well, so I might have to squeeze it in somewhere. It is lovely stuff. But I suppose the new Eau de Serge might be similar enough, so perhaps that’s why CdM’s getting dropped from the line.
I don’t know. Clair de Musc was a surprise. Miel de Bois was not
I think Clair de Musc is for sale at some of the online discounters. (Beauty Encounter? Parfum 1?) It’s not *much* of a discount, as I recall, but with one of those 15% or 20% off deals, it might be worth it. I’d thought about buying it, and now I’m thinking I might *need* to.
I love Clair de Musc and had no idea it was being discontinued!!! Now I’m going to have to decide if a back up bottle is needed.
Miel de Bois—ok, I’m sure there’s people who love it, but it actually made me gag……and that’s not easy to do!
Do let me know if you find any particularly good deals, Daisy. The more I’ve thought on it, the more I think I’d like to have at least one bottle. It’s such a pretty, airy thing as musks go…
Well, I’m only nine months into my perfume obsession and I have certainly done my part for “prestige” perfumes. I’m also working hard to keep Bobbi Brown and the Lipstick Queen in business, too.
Good for you!
I guess I should step up and do my part, it’s been ages since I bought a full bottle and I’ve got my eye on some Chanel…
Mustn’t let Chanel go under, LOL…
I’ve noticed more and more discounted prestige skin care and cosmetic lines making their way to beauty encounter, allcosmeticswholesale and other online discounters. I’m a cosmetic/skin care junkie (happily incurable) and finding it cheaper and cheaper to stock up on my fave name brands. I ordered my favorite Chanel powder for $33; normally $50.
And Sephora is rolling out more and more discounted promotions on prestige lines … I’ve been scooping up some serious deals (Nars eyeshadow $9, etc.). And I’ve been finding lines that are normally never discounted (Trish McEvoy) are also appearing on discount sites.
I think we’re going to see a permanent change in how prestige companies distribute their products – selling directly to discounters (like beauty encounter) and possibly even models like Gilt Groupe that are steamrolling their department-store competition.
My daughter loves Nars and Smashbox. I’ve only tried the blush – you know the one. Anyway, they had a really nice palette at Ulta over the holidays. Part of the proceeds went to charity (St. Jude’s or the Children’s Miracle Network?) and it was under $60. It has a couple dozen eyeshadows, several brow colour/waxes, eyeliners, two blushes, a bronzer, a face powder, and probably some lip colours. A great way to try a range of high end products for a reasonable amount of money. I also like the kits at Sephora that have deluxe samples of a range of products.
Good, hope we continue to see more sale prices!