Skip to main content

Korean Beauty Brands: Overcoming COVID-19 Challenges



In the face of economic retaliation from China and the disruptive effects of COVID-19, many Korean cosmetic and beauty stores experienced severe crises. As customers increasingly shifted from in-store shopping to online purchases, these businesses faced considerable challenges. However, several beauty brands are making a comeback, demonstrating resilience amid these unprecedented challenges.


The Downfall and Revival of Major Korean Beauty Brands


Etude House, a leading brand under AmorePacific, has witnessed a substantial dip in profits since the onslaught of the crisis. However, these challenges have compelled the brand to devise new strategies, including reducing the number of physical stores, to mitigate losses.

On the other hand, Able C&C's Missha, the pioneering offline beauty store in Korea, has made a remarkable turnaround this year, hinting at a promising future. With multi-brand strategies and digital transformation at its core, Missha aims to return to full surplus by the end of the year.

Skin Food, a domestic cosmetics and beauty shop, also made an impressive comeback, posting a surplus for the first time in nine years.
Sale's graph of Skinfood 2022


However, not all beauty stores have been successful in their recovery attempts. Tonymoly, a popular cosmetics and beauty store known for its unique packaging, continues to grapple with losses.


Strategies for Turnaround: Targeting Smaller Chinese Cities and Dualizing Products


To enhance sales and turnaround, industry professionals recommend focusing on smaller Chinese cities as a part of the market strategy. This is due to the 'Guochao' trend, a movement that encourages the purchase of Chinese-made products.

Additionally, dualizing products for online and offline stores is gaining traction. As cosmetics stores face declining popularity due to their predictability, offering different products online and offline can provide a fresh shopping experience for customers.

SEO Optimized Meta Description: "Discover the resilience of Korean beauty brands amid COVID-19 and economic challenges, their strategies for revival, and the future of the Korean beauty industry."

SEO Optimized Meta Tags: "Korean Beauty Brands, COVID-19 Impact, Economic Challenges, Revival Strategies, Missha, Etude House, Skin Food, Tonymoly, Guochao Trend, Online Shopping, Offline Shopping"


Sources

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Modamoda's Dye Shampoo: Banned but Eyeing Market Return

Defining Modamoda Shampoo Modamoda Shampoo, launched in Korea in 2021, was designed to naturally dye your hair through regular washing. The product's creator, Modamoda's CEO, was inspired by how bananas darken over time.  The shampoo promised to avoid harmful dye ingredients such as PPDA, 5-diamine, and toluene sulfate. Instead, it was marketed as a 'self-coloring' shampoo, offering a fresh approach to hair color. Modamoda's Success Story In just five months, Modamoda generated domestic sales of 32 billion won and international sales of 28 billion won, becoming a sensation. The product's popularity even prompted criticism from rival companies, who accused Modamoda of exaggerated advertising.  In March 2022, the company made an agreement with Target to sell their product in about 1900 stores across the U.S. Their success was further confirmed when they topped the Cosmoprof North America Awards 2022, standing out amongst 1,170 hair brands. The Hurdle: THB Ingredie...

The Modamoda Journey: From Safety Controversies to Reinvention

The Meteoric Rise and Subsequent Setback of Modamoda Launched in Korea in 2021, Modamoda Shampoo revolutionized the haircare market with its "self-coloring" formula, achieving billions in both domestic and international sales. But its rapid ascent was interrupted by safety concerns over 1-2-4-THB (1-2-4-trihydroxybenzene), an ingredient restricted by the European Union and scrutinized by food and drug administrations in both Korea and the U.S. due to its potential genotoxic effects. Emerging from the THB Controversy: A Reformulated Approach To navigate the murky waters of regulation, Modamoda returned to the lab. The company designed a new formula excluding THB, focusing on safer ingredients like 'Black Change Complex EX' and 'Polyphenols.' This new formula went through stringent safety verification and even secured an 'Excellent' rating from the German Dermatest.  Yet, the new formula has ignited fresh debates, as it includes 'Black 401,' a sy...

Helena Rubinstein: Unveiling the Life and Legacy of a Cosmetics Pioneer

Helena Rubinstein (1872-1965) was more than just a name in the world of beauty; she was a trailblazer who revolutionized the cosmetics industry.  From her modest beginnings in Poland to her reign as a global beauty titan, Rubinstein's journey remains an inspiration. Through her brand, Rubinstein pushed boundaries, championing the idea that beauty could be a powerful tool for women's empowerment. From Humble Beginnings to the Cosmetics Throne Helena Rubinstein was born in 1872 in Krakow, Poland. Leaving her homeland at a young age, she initially moved to Australia, where her career in the cosmetics industry began. Rubinstein noticed the harsh effects of the Australian sun on the skin and developed a cream to protect and moisturize it. This innovation led to the launch of Helena Rubinstein's first product, Valaze, a face cream formulated with herbs from the Carpathian Mountains. The success of Valaze was pivotal in Rubinstein's career, propelling her into the global cosme...