// Sephora’s return to London is performing “300% better than expected”, says boss
// LVMH’s selective retailing division boss Christopher de Lapuente said the retailer was off to a “fabulous start”
Sephora owner LVMH’s selective retailing division boss has said its new London flagship had exceeded the group’s expectation by more than 300%.
Christopher de Lapuente said the outlet’s sales performance was “300% better than expected within the first eight weeks” of opening.
“We’re off to a fabulous start,” he told an audience at the World Retail Congress in Barcelona.
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“The opening day we had 5,000 people queuing outside the store. I was there, and some people started queueing at midnight. And there were no Sales.
“It was 5,000 people wanting to enjoy the Sephora experience and it’s the power of the brand.
“They came to discover Sephora, the products, the assortment, which is part of the magic.”
The beauty retailer returned to the UK in March after a 17-year absence which saw seven-hour long queues of fans lining up to get a glimpse of the new Westfield London store.
“I think people love the brand. We’ve worked hard at building the Sephora brand, building a community,” Lapuente said on the success of the launch.
He added that people in London had “discovered Sephora at some stage in the US or France”.
“So that’s what you see, people want to discover and come and see the brand and the new products and services.”
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