Despite international tourism woes led to by the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of L’Oréal’s journey retail division has been optimistic, largely due to its efficiency in APAC – particularly in Hainan.“The basis for magnificence consumption is strong in Travel Retail China, and we’re experiencing sturdy dynamic in all three classes – skincare, make-up, and fragrances,” mentioned Emmanuel Goulin, Managing Director at L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific.Among the three classes, the agency mentioned the demand for skincare continues to be a driving power in phrases of growth.“Skin care is off to an excellent begin this yr and continues to be buoyant, significantly for premium anti-ageing and couture skincare,” mentioned Goulin.The power of the skincare class can be attributed to the agency’s strong portfolio of profitable brands.“We have a really sturdy place in skincare amongst Chinese travellers, and it’s pushed by brands similar to Lancôme, L’Oréal Paris, Kiehl’s, Helena Rubinstein and Biotherm which have lengthy been driving shopper loyalty. Skinceuticals and La Roche Posay, that are completely aligned with the well being aspirations of travellers, additionally registered extraordinarily effectively and have nonetheless a powerful potential of growth,” mentioned Goulin.While skincare might proceed to lead, the agency additionally sees growth potential in different classes as effectively, similar to perfume. “The perfume class presents a fantastic alternative of growth in the medium and long run. Giorgio Armani and Yves Saint Laurent are performing extraordinarily effectively with their respective feminine blockbusters, Sì Passione and Libre… We have additionally launched new brands similar to Maison Margiela, which is having a really promising begin in Hainan,” mentioned Goulin.He emphasised that the agency sees immense potential for all magnificence classes and will make investments accordingly.“Our plan stays to supply magnificence for all travellers and to make investments on all classes, leveraging on our highly effective model portfolio from essentially the most accessible to essentially the most luxurious, and from dermo-cosmetics to hair care.”With extra give attention to Hainan in the close to future, the corporate will be investing extra into the market.“With our 10 years of expertise in Hainan, the plan is to additional broaden our model portfolio in this strategic area,” mentioned Goulin.He added that among its many brands, the corporate will quickly be launching Valentino Beauty in Hainan.“We are very excited to quickly launch Valentino Beauty in Travel Retail Asia Pacific. The assortment creates a novel bond between couture trend and wonder, which resonates effectively with Chinese travellers’ development for premiumisation; they’re searching for magnificence merchandise with greater efficiency and superior product high quality.”L’Oréal inked a take care of Valentino in 2018 for a long-term license settlement for the creation, improvement and distribution of tremendous fragrances and luxurious magnificence below the style label.“Valentino Beauty additionally celebrates self-expression placing emphasis on range and inclusion, aligning completely with what Chinese customers are searching for right now. The couture make-up will open to all genders, ages and cultures, and we glance ahead to making a significant dialogue with Chinese travellers quickly,” mentioned Goulin.Sustainability on the forefrontWith consciousness of environmental points turning into a big situation for travellers. Sustainability is more and more on the coronary heart of the agency’s improvements in journey retail.The firm not too long ago showcased its newest sustainability and know-how ideas on the inaugural Hainan version of China International Consumer Product Expo (CICPE).“The first version of the Hainan Expo underlies the necessary message in constructing Hainan into a global tourism and consumption centre; L’Oréal’s participation demonstrates our dedication to additional develop enterprise in this strategic area and supply unique magnificence experiences to travellers,” mentioned Goulin.During the event, the agency highlighted one among its newest sustainability-focused initiatives, Biotherm x Coco Capitán, a collaboration to elevate consciousness of how local weather change is threatening the well being of phytoplankton residing in our oceans.The collaboration took a tech-driven strategy with an immersive 360-degree room to educate guests on ocean preservation in an ‘interactive and significant manner’.“We will be that includes a 360° Biotherm x Coco Capitán immersive room to present a purposeful journey for guests to elevate consciousness of how local weather change is affecting the Blue Lung – our world’s oceans. Visitors will get to study Biotherm’s longstanding sustainability dedication and have interaction with every dedication by an interactive display screen,” mentioned Goulin.In addition to the showcase, the corporate partnered with One Planet Foundation to sort out marine litter on Hainan’s Wuzhizhou Island, which occurred three weeks prior to the expo.Furthermore, the agency’s 500m² occasion pavilion was constructed consciously with ecologically produced and authorized supplies in addition to reused fixtures from earlier occasions in Hainan.Goulin mentioned it was essential for the corporate to place eco-friendly design on the centre of its improvements for the way forward for its enterprise in addition to the planet.“We consider at L’Oréal that the fantastic thing about the longer term will be extra sustainable, fuelled by innovation, and powered by tech – and we introduced this to life at our purpose-driven pavilion… With our dimension in journey retail, I’m satisfied that the whole lot we do can have a significant influence.”
