Coca-Cola Seeks To Burnish Brand Presence Online July 27, 2020: 12:00 AM EST The company is determined to take advantage of the tidal wave of online shopping during the pandemic crisis by spending big on top-quality content (i.e., photos, videos, product descriptions); prioritizing package options appropriate for online buying; boosting investment in eye-catching digital imagery; partnering with e-grocers and retailers to heighten in-app visibility; optimizing content for search engines; and testing new digitally-enabled fulfillment models. In the food service arena, the company is working with restaurants and third-party aggregators to ensure its beverages are prominently displayed on digital menus and in combos for mobile delivery of groceries and prepared meals. “Last but not least, the Coca-Cola Company is looking to trigger impulse purchases on digital path to purchase.”[Image Credit: © The Coca-Cola Company] Grace Ong , "How Coca-Cola plans to kick up its 'virtual aisle' presence", Marketing Interactive, July 27, 2020, © Lighthouse Independent Media

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Student App Could Be The “Bakery Of The Future” March 29, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Two Case Western Reserve University students believe they have come up with the “bakery of the future,” essentially an app and website that promises delivery of baked goods produced by local home bakers and small bakeries. Available only on campus now, when the semester ends the service (PastryNow.com) will expand to include the downtown area of the city of Cleveland. Customers can use the app or website to order catering, subscriptions, or individual orders. A Facebook page urges customers to "try out [their] new Breakfast Anywhere subscription available at pastrynow.com for only $5 for the next 2 weeks."[Image Credit: © PastryNow Limited] Anne Nickoloff, "Student-founded pastry app launched", cleveland.com, March 29, 2019, © Advance Ohio

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La Roche-Posay Showcases Its Skin pH Wearable Sensor January 25, 2019: 12:00 AM EST L’Oréal is showcasing the prototype of its new skin innovation, My Skin Track pH by La Roche-Posay, at CES 2019. It is a wearable sensor, with a companion app, which measures the skin’s pH levels to generate personalized product regimens. It received a CES 2019 Innovation Award in the Wearable Technology Products category. The skin’s pH balance can lead to skin inflammation and can cause conditions like eczema and atopic dermatitis. The sensor captures trace volumes of sweat from the pores and can generate an accurate reading within a quarter of an hour. It was developed in partnership with Epicore Biosystems. The technology continues the work of L’Oréal and La Roche-Posay in developing tech for skin health, following the personal UV sensor, My Skin Track UV by La Roche-Posay. My Skin Track pH will be launched this year via select La Roche-Posay dermatologists in the US, but the plan is to market the product direct-to-consumer.[Image Credit: © L'Oreal group] "L’Oréal unveils prototype of first-ever wearable microfluidic sensor to measure skin pH levels", L’Oréal, January 25, 2019, © L’Oréal Group

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Facebook Tries To Counter Claims That Brands Are Moving Away To Other Ad Platforms January 9, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Facebook is fighting claims that brands are tiring of the social media platform. It commissioned an Ipsos study that describes how “digitally native vertical brands” and direct-to-consumer brands are using Facebook to engage with consumers and grow sales. The survey found that three in four US businesses that use Facebook posted higher sales growth than non-DNVBs, and also that over two-thirds reported “rapid or consistent revenue growth.” Despite such evidence, some commentators expect brands to distance themselves from Facebook and Instagram because investment in these platforms is inefficient. Some brands are now allocating a greater share of their budgets to programmatic, Snapchat and YouTube. Nik Sharma, head of DTC at VaynerMedia, says that direct-response marketing by D2C and DNVB marketers relies on being able to tell the best story.[Image Credit: © PhotoMIX-Company @ Pixabay.com] Ann-Marie Alcántara, "Facebook Commissions Study to Say Facebook Is a Great Tool for Challenger Brands", Adweek, January 09, 2019, © Adweek

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Olay Presents A Range Of Beauty Tech At CES 2019 January 9, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Procter & Gamble’s Olay brand has unveiled a range of innovations at CES 2019, including three updates to its Olay Skin Advisor platform. It is also debuting Olay Labs, a service for personalized software and beauty regimens, and the Olay FaceNavi Smart Wand for diagnostic skin applications. The three Skin Advisor updates, currently rolling out in the US, are: Olay Future You Simulation, for visualizing how the user’s skin and face might look in the future under different assumptions; Olay Whips Simulator, to virtually try on products from the Whips line; and Skin Decoder, a camera attachment for a phone that provides a high-resolution image for diagnosing and tracking skin over time. Olay Labs combines machine learning and human expertise to develop a four-week regime, and the Smart Wand uses electromagnetic technology to send data on the skin to an app, which assesses appropriate ingredients to use on the user’s skin.[Image Credit: © Procter & Gamble] Camilla Rydzek, "Olay launches series of personalized beauty tech innovations at CES 2019", The Current Daily, January 09, 2019, © TheCurrent

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Coty Builds On Its Digital Push With An AR Mirror For Wella Salons January 7, 2019: 12:00 AM EST Beauty company Coty, Inc. has launched an augmented reality mirror for its Wella Professionals salons, allowing customers to “try on” various hair colors and shades. A facial recognition feature enables the consultant to retrieve images of how the customer previously looked. The innovation builds on the company’s drive in digital technology, which includes a virtual reality experience for its fragrances, an AR partnership between Clairol and Snapchat, VR applications for CoverGirl, and a blended reality mirror for its Bourjois boutique in Paris. The new Wella mirror was developed alongside CareOS, a tech company in the health and beauty space. The mirror can capture a 360-degree video for the customer to see the look from all angles. The company plans to develop a version for phones and tablets, for salons without the space or funds for the mirror.[Image Credit: © Coty Inc.] Emma Sandler, "Coty launches AR smart mirror for hair color", Glossy, January 07, 2019, © Digiday Media

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The Honey Pot Company Founder Reveals How She Aims To Build The Brand Through Multi-Channel December 28, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Beatrice Feliu-Espada, founder of The Honey Pot Company, aims to alter how women shop for feminine care products, and says they are not luxuries but a human right. The products are sold online, direct-to-consumer, and in Target and Whole Foods, as well as on Amazon. She says that important elements include product assortment and innovation. The products are all-natural, free from chemicals, sulfates, parabens and carcinogens, but contain herbs, essential oils and nutraceuticals. The range includes pads and tampons, as well as washes and wipes, sprays and lubricants. Coming soon is a CBD-infused pain salve for menstrual cramps. Other key elements are brand awareness and diversified distribution. In an interview with Forbes, Feliu-Espada said that consumers are becoming smarter and understand better how the products they consume affect their bodies. She also believes that multi-channel is the right approach, but says that she wants the company to become big and believes that means meeting the customers wherever they shop. [Image Credit: © THE HONEY POT CO] Shani Syphrett, "How This Feminine Care Entrepreneur And Advocate Tackles Multichannel Retail", Forbes, December 28, 2018, © Forbes Media LLC

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Coty Trials VR Fragrance Experience With A Retail Partner In Buenos Aires December 18, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Coty Inc. has unveiled a virtual reality fragrance experience in partnership with retailer Julieraque in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The store’s visitors are invited to don a VR headset to virtually “pick up” seven scented stones, each of which activates a short video on a fragrance concept associated with the scent. The VR experience is just one of a number of digital innovations Coty is introducing, including a voice assistant tool for Clairol and stations at Covergirl’s New York flagship store powered by augmented reality and artificial intelligence. Other premium fragrance brands are also trying out technology as a way to address a slowing market: the premium fragrance category is expected to grow 13 percent in the 2017-22 period, down from 16 percent in the 2012-17 period, according to Euromonitor International forecasts. Coty plans to take the VR experience to other markets and to customize it for specific brands.[Image Credit: © Coty Inc.] Emma Sandler, "Coty Inc. launches VR experience for its perfume portfolio", Glossy.co, December 18, 2018, © Digiday Media

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Coca-Cola Closes Aggressive Acquisition Year With Series A Investment In POS Connectivity Firm December 17, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Coca-Cola took the lead in a $10 million Series A investment round in Hayward, Calif.-based restaurant tech company Omnivore, developer of a universal point-of-sale connectivity platform. Other investors were Performance Food Group and Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik. Omnivore promotes an "end-to-end suite of solutions" to help optimize the digital restaurant experience, such as online ordering, paying at the table, third-party delivery, kiosk/digital menus and analytics. The financing will be used to accelerate current development and growth of proprietary Omnivore products that minimize friction for restaurant brands, third-party technologies, and POS companies, according to a news release. Eric Mandel, "Coca-Cola backs restaurant tech company", Atlanta Business Chronicle, December 17, 2018, © American City Business Journals

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Shopify Aims To Offer A One-Stop Shop For D2C Brands December 13, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Shopify, the e-commerce platform underpinning thousands of direct-to-consumer sites, is projecting 2018 sales of over $1 billion. It continues to develop its marketing services and aims to be a one-stop shop. It is moving into paid media, launching a service that enables merchants to run and track campaigns on Google and Facebook. It offers an alternative for brands wary of relying on Amazon, but it cannot currently match the traffic generated by Amazon, which also can handle the merchants’ warehousing and shipping needs. Shopify has developed a point-of-sale platform that enables it to extend its relationship with any brands that are seeking to open physical outlets.[Image Credit: © Shopify Inc.] Lauren Johnson, "Shopify wants to become the 'back office' for direct-to-consumer brands' ad budgets and marketing", Business Insider, December 13, 2018, © Insider Inc

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New Beauty App Connects Customers And Top Stylists For Home And Workplace Appointments December 10, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Salon iQ, a salon booking system, is partnering with bgX for the London launch of the new bgX app, aimed at arranging for top salon stylists to visit customers’ homes or workplaces, in association with Uber. bgX says it’s the first beauty tech company globally to offer an 'on demand' automated platform for customers and top stylists to connect. [Image Credit: © BG Technologies DMCC] "Best in Beauty Tech Combine Forces - Beauty Services App bgX Confirms Partnership With Salon iQ", PR Newswire , December 10, 2018, © PR Newswire Europe Limited

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Coty Launches At-Home Color Action For Google Home December 8, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Coty has launched ‘Clairol Color Expert’, which it claims is the first hair color at-home Action for Google Assistant on Google Home. It can guide users throughout the hair coloring process, from identifying the best shade through applying and reapplying the color. Previous beauty tech from Coty includes a collaboration with Holition for a blended reality Magic Mirror at the Bourjois outlet in Paris. The latest innovation was built by Coty’s in-house digital agency, and Voice tech developer Voxly Digital.[Image Credit: © Coty Inc.] Muchaneta Kapfunde, "Beauty Tech Recruits Voice In Coty x Google Home Collab", Fashnerd, December 08, 2018, © The 10Napel Group

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Digital Brands Are Shaping The Physical Retail Of The Future November 29, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Physical retail is fighting back, although with more than a tinge of e-commerce about it. Digital innovation is being used by brick-and-mortar stores to attract customers, partly because the direct-to-consumer e-commerce startups are opening physical stores. Brandless and Glossier have opened pop-up stores, and Glossier now has a New York flagship outlet. Traditional retailers are bringing D2C startups into their stores: for example, Harry’s Razors in Target and Birchbox in Walgreen’s. Other retailers are using a range of digital initiatives. Macy’s is rolling out a ‘store within a store’ in several locations, branded as Facebook and showcasing best-sellers on Instagram. Digitally-native brands have also been using their online experience to bring new approaches to physical retail, such as online fulfillment to minimize in-store inventory and real estate space.[Image Credit: © Brandless, Inc.] Andrew Lipsman, "How Digitally Native Brands Will Shape Brick-and-Mortar Retail in 2019", eMarketer , November 29, 2018, © eMarketer Inc

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Foreo Continues Its Expansion In Travel Retail November 29, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Beauty tech company Foreo has grown quickly within travel retail over the last two years, reaching over 200 outlets in over 20 countries. One of its innovations is the UFO ‘smart mask’. Although Asia is currently its main geographic region, it will focus on other regions next year, especially Europe, North America and Latin America. South Korea is a very important duty free market for the Swedish brand, with distribution in all of the top Korean travel retailers. The 20th and latest Korean opening was the recent launch at Hyundai Duty Free in Seoul’s Gangnam area. [Image Credit: © FOREO] Kevin Rozario, "Foreo marks 20 locations in South Korean duty free and readies for global expansion in 2019", The Moodie Davitt Report , November 29, 2018, © The Moodie Davitt Report

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Collaboration Develops AI-Based Age Predictor For Personalized Skin Care November 28, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Haut.ai, an artificial intelligence company, and Incscillio Medicine have teamed up to explore how skin ages and to develop an accurate predictor of chronological age. The PhotoAgeClock uses artificial intelligence to look at visual biomarkers of age, to predict age within an average of 2.3 years. Skin around eyes is the best biomarker for assessing age, and the data can be used for personalized medical and skin treatment to slow the aging process. The research was published in the journal Aging.[Image Credit: © Haut.AI] Jessica Miley, "This AI can Accurately Predict Your Age And Help You Look Younger", Interesting Engineering, November 28, 2018, © Interesting Engineering

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Costa Coffee Uses Barclays’ Wearable Chip Technology In Its “Clever Cup” November 28, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Retail coffee chain Costa Coffee is launching the U.K.'s first reusable coffee cup equipped with contactless payment technology. The “Clever Cup,” launched in partnerhip with Barclaycard, will be available in Costa Coffee stores as part of a relaunch of Costa's reusable range to encourage customers to avoid single-use takeaway cups. The new cup is powered by Barclaycard's bPay technology, a contactless payment technology that tracks user spending using the dedicated bPay app or online. The contactless element is detachable for ease of washing. According to Barclays, its wearable chip technology allows almost any accessory to be transformed into a smart payment device.[Image Credit: © Costa] Tim Maytom, "Costa Coffee and Barclaycard team up for contactless 'Clever Cup'", Mobile Marketing, November 28, 2018, © Mobile Marketing

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Oral Care Brand quip Is Going Omnichannel, Closed $40 Million Funding Round November 27, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Oral care subscription startup quip has announced venture funding of $40 million, supported by its debut in Target, bringing its total funding to date to more than $60 million. The brand has sold over a million of its electric toothbrushes via its direct-to-consumer site in the three years since its launch, and added nationwide distribution in Target in October 2018. It has also acquired Afora, a New York dental care membership plan, in order to offer a less expensive alternative to dental insurance. The acquisition was made by quip Labs, a venture arm for new oral care opportunities. quip’s co-founder and CEO, Simon Enever, said the brand has been working closely with its dental professional network to provide patients with full access to dental products and services in a simpler and more enjoyable way. quip is also looking at other ways to grow subscribers, such as the launch of “Practice program”, in which providers can join quip’s free network to offer quip products and subscription services as a way of attracting new patients. [Image Credit: © Quip NYC Inc.] "quip Raises $40M to Support Upcoming Consumer Product and Professional Service Launches", Business Wire , November 27, 2018, © Business Wire, Inc.

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Meitu And Secoo Team Up To Grow The Beauty App November 24, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Meitu, a company offering a range of image and video apps, including for the beauty industry, has agreed a strategic partnership with Secoo, a luxury online marketplace in China. Secoo TryTry will control various aspects of the Meitu’s beauty app, including promotions, sales and customer service, as well as supply chain operations. The Meitu app uses facial recognition and machine learning, together with an artificial intelligence skin testing platform. The two partners aim to establish a platform for consumers, merchants and services. The deal is an extension of an previous arrangement between the two.[Image Credit: © Secoo] Marcus Lawrence, "Secoo partners with Meitu for new beauty app", Business Chief, November 24, 2018, © Business Chief Asia

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AI And Other Tech Are Finding Homes In Beauty Brands And Retailers November 23, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Beauty brands are embracing artificial intelligence in order to better appeal to consumers. Clinique is launching a free app called Clinical Reality, which recommends products on the basis of user selfies and answers to a questionnaire. The app is scheduled to be launched at the start of 2019, and will later in the year also include a virtual try-on feature. The app follows other similar platforms, such as that sold by ModiFace. L’Oréal acquired ModiFace earlier this year, Shiseido acquired US startup MatchCo last year, and Neutrogena unveiled its Skin360 skin scanning device almost a year ago. Beauty tech is also emerging in physical stores, with Sephora installing 3D augmented reality mirrors from ModiFace. The trend addresses research findings from Deloitte that by 2025 one third of women will buy personalized products[Image Credit: © kinkate from Pexels.com] Jeanette Settembre, "How artificial intelligence will boost these beauty brands’ bottom line", MarketWatch , November 23, 2018, © MarketWatch, Inc.

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A Facebook Chatbot Is Driving Traffic And Sales For Wander Beauty November 21, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Wander Beauty says that half of its sales are via its e-commerce site, with mobile the main driver. The high-end brand is expanding its online communication with consumers by using a Facebook chatbot. It asks customers six questions and the answers are used for product recommendations chosen by a customer service team. In the four months since it was launched, 17 percent of customers engaged with the chatbot and bought something, well above the industry average. Around 70 percent of its e-commerce traffic is coming from mobile and the chatbot within Facebook Messenger is helping to promote dialog between the brand and customers on the move. [Image Credit: © WANDER BEAUTY LLC] Emma Sandler, "How Wander Beauty is using a chatbot to increase sales", Glossy, November 21, 2018, © Digiday Media.

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COVERGIRL Unveils Its Flagship Store In New York’s Times Square November 19, 2018: 12:00 AM EST The end of November saw the opening of the COVERGIRL TIMES SQUARE flagship store, the brand’s first permanent outlet. It’s on two levels and offers shoppers a virtual greeter, called Olivia, who can give beauty advice or direct you to a product you want. There are also Holition augmented reality stations for virtually try-ons, a customization station for customers to personalize products, and a makeup and advisory service from COVERGIRL BFFs (Brow Friends Forever). [Image Credit: © Coty Inc] "COVERGIRL Opens Times Square Flagship Store", BUSINESS WIRE , November 19, 2018, © BUSINESS WIRE INC

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HiMirror Introduces AI Tool For Use in Shops And Salons November 16, 2018: 12:00 AM EST HiMirror is to launch two new interactive AI-based mirrors for retail use in January 2019. Enterprise Lite and Enterprise Pro evaluate the user’s skin care requirements to help beauty consultants in stores and salons recommend skin care products and regime. Users will be able to see if their skin has changed from a previous visit. They can also be customized for different product lines. The mirrors are being trialed by Marionnaud, a retailer in France.[Image Credit: © Cal-Comp Big Data, Inc] Becky Bargh , "HiMirror prepares to launch new interactive mirrors with AI for retailers", Cosmetics Business, November 16, 2018, © HPCi Media

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Nars Cosmetics Is Seeking To Capture Consumer Data And Use More Beauty Tech In 2019 November 15, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Shiseido brand Nars Cosmetics is trying to balance the needs of those looking for human interaction in beauty shopping and others that like the speed and convenience of direct-to-consumer e-commerce. ‘Clienteling’ is a key focus, and it wants its sales associates and makeup artists to collect consumer data when they speak to them, and encourage them to use the data to make the experience more personal for the shopper. The brand sees 2019 as a big tech year for the company, with trials of virtual try-ons and artificial intelligence applications, such as for skin tone data. [Image Credit: © NARS Cosmetics] Adriana Lee , "Nars’ Lord Talks Beauty Tech, Makeup Artists and More", Women’s Wear Daily, November 15, 2018, © Penske Media Corporation

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New Subscription Platform Brings Squarespace Closer To One-Stop E-Commerce Offering November 15, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Squarespace was launched around 15 years ago as a web hosting service. It now offers a subscription platform to its Commerce Advanced clients. Within five days of the launch, around 400 of its merchant clients had started using it, with beauty one of the top categories for adoption. Lauren Napier Beauty in the UK is one of the brands. It launched LaurenNapier.com on Squarespace in 2014, but focused on selling through third-party retailers, including Net-a-porter.com and Harvey Nichols. In the last few months, it has started to sell DTC. The brand sells facial wipes, a product suited to a subscription offering. [Image Credit: © Squarespace, Inc.] Priya Rao, "Squarespace caters to DTC brands with new subscription feature", Glossy, November 15, 2018, © Digiday Media

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Perfect Corp. Founder Talks About YouCam And Its Place In Beauty 3.0 November 14, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Founder and CEO of Perfect Corp., Alice Chang, spoke at the CEW Connected Consumer Conference about ‘Beauty 3.0’, the company’s name for what it sees as the future of beauty. It will, she says, combine more personalized and proactive tech involving human touch characteristics, artificial intelligence and augmented reality. The result will be an extremely accurate virtual try-on experience. Perfect Corp. and its YouCam apps are now used by some 200 beauty brands and 700 million users. The company also encourages users to try YouCam’s set of virtual apps, free of charge, to enable them to test their features.[Image Credit: © Perfect Corp] "YouCam Introduces ‘Beauty 3.0’, Redefining AI & AR Innovation to Create a Personalized, Proactive Consumer Beauty Journey", Business Wire, November 14, 2018, © Business Wire, Inc.

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L’Oréal Introduces The My Skin Track UV Device From La Roche-Posay November 14, 2018: 12:00 AM EST L’Oréal has announced the launch of La Roche-Posay My Skin Track UV, a battery-free wearable device to track the skin’s exposure to UV. It’s available in the US on apple.com and in some Apple Stores. The device was unveiled earlier this year at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show and includes a companion app that also measures environmental factors such as pollution, pollen and humidity. The sensor is powered by the user’s smartphone. And clips on to clothing or other accessories. It costs $59.95.[Image Credit: © La Roche-Posay] "L'Oréal Launches La Roche-Posay My Skin Track UV--The First Battery-Free Wearable Sun Safety Sensor--In The U.S.", PRNewswire , November 14, 2018, © PR Newswire Association LLC

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Ulta Has Been Investing In Tech To Deliver Deeper Personalization November 8, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Beauty retailer Ulta Beauty is investing in personalization. It has invested in Iterate, a digital workflow company, and Spruce, an online booking platform. It has also acquired QM Scientific and GlamST, two companies to support its augmented reality and artificial intelligence efforts. Ulta said that it may acquire more companies but doesn’t see M&A as a big part of its strategy. As well as personalization, Ulta is also keen to increase the number of digitally native brands it sells, and it aims to better segment and target consumers. Its personalization plans will be supported by the 30 million members of loyalty program, who contribute 95 percent of its sales. [Image Credit: © Ulta Beauty, Inc.] Allison Collins , "Ulta Beauty Makes First Acquisitions, Hones Personalization Experience", Women’s Wear Daily, November 08, 2018, © Penske Media Corporation

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Sephora And Google Partner To Bring The Home Hub To Beauty Consumers November 7, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Google and Sephora have teamed up to bring Sephora’s YouTube content and Google Assistant together on the recently-launched Google Home Hub voice device, which forms part of Google’s voice assistant range, along with Home and Home Mini. It will compete directly with the Echo Show, Amazon’s screen device and Smart Display from Lenovo. Sephora customers will be encouraged to use the Home Hub to find beauty tutorials via voice. Google is responding to the growth in searches for beauty-related videos on YouTube. The collaboration marks the first formal partnership between the two. The Home Hub is available on Sephora.com and will also be sold in 10 flagship stores around the US.[Image Credit: © Google LLC] Emma Sandler, "Google dives deeper into beauty with Sephora and Home Hub partnership", Glossy, November 07, 2018, © Digiday Media

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Retailers Are Increasingly Adopting AR Innovation From The Tech Companies November 5, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Large retailers are embracing the use of digital technology like virtual and augmented reality to improve their service to beauty consumers. In the US, Target is leveraging AR in its Target Beauty Studio through the YouCam Makeup app from Perfect Corp. Other large retailers in beauty and other categories, like fashion, are also adopting high-tech, including smart mirrors and AR displays. This interest from retailers is being match by innovation from tech companies. Facebook is reportedly developing AR glasses and Microsoft has already launched HoloLens. Google, Apple and Lyft are apparently working on AR platforms too. Next generation AR might not need screens to display images: “spatial computing” could allow images superimposed on the real world.[Image Credit: © Microsoft] "Digital Spaces As Virtual Makeup Studios, Augmented Reality Style", PYMNTS, November 05, 2018, © What’s Next Media and Analytics

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‘No Middleman’ Launched To Provide A Curated Showroom For CPG Brands October 30, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Selected direct-to-consumer CPG brands now have a searchable online directory, at NoMiddleman.com, from the The No Middleman Project. Brands selected for inclusion also receive a profile on the site. The aim is to provide consumers with curated assistance to help them find consumer brands across hundreds of categories. There is no fee for the brands included on the site, which is also offers an online showroom for the brands, with prospective shoppers directed to the brand’s site for the purchase transaction. [Image Credit: © A Mark Cuban Company] "The No Middleman Project Launches Innovative "Everything Showroom" for Direct to Consumer Products", PRWEB, October 30, 2018, © Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC

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Avon Launches Personalized Beauty App in South Africa and UK October 29, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Avon has launched its Personalized Beauty App, a tool to help Representatives offer a more personalized service. The analysis device predicts the customers skincare requirements and assesses their most appropriate shade of make-up, based on a questionnaire and skin tone measurement feature. The app is currently available in the UK and South Africa, and the company claims it has received strong positive feedback. Further development is focusing on making it available across different mobile platforms. [Image Credit: © Avon Products, Inc.] "Avon Launches Personalised Beauty App", Avon Company, October 29, 2018, © Avon Products, Inc.

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Madison Reed Continues To Innovate For The Digital World October 25, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Visitors to Madison-Reed.com are now able to “try-on” over 40 of the brand’s hair color products via their device’s camera or by uploading a selfie. The new feature has been developed in collaboration with Perfect Corp., which has developed the YouCam app. It represents YouCam Makeup’s debut within a direct-to-consumer website. The brand has been at the forefront of digital innovation, with the first chatbot analysis of a selfie to recommend color matches and its smartphone voice-controlled app that helps women follow application instructions without having to touch the device. [Image Credit: © Madison Reed, Inc.] "Madison Reed Unveils "Try On" Tool, Enabling Customers to Experience 40+ Shades of Hair Color for a Virtual Makeover", PRNewswire , October 25, 2018, © PR Newswire Association LLC

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CK Hutchison And Meitu Partner To Provide Magic Mirrors In Watson’s Stores October 24, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Meitu and CK Hutchison, the parent company of retailer Watsons, are teaming up to create a new business model based on social media, to improve interaction with millennial consumers, both online and offline. The alliance matches Meitu’s artificial intelligence expertise and technology with CK Hutchison’s retail experience. Watsons Hong Kong will use Meitu’s smart mirror, the ‘Magic Mirror’, to enable consumers to virtually try beauty products on, choosing from some 600 make-up options. It will also provide recommendations from beauty advisors and should be available in around 30 stores by the middle of next year. Watsons China will use Meitu’s social media platform to send personalized messages and recommendations by analyzing changes users typically make to their photos. [Image Credit: © CK Hutchison Holdings Limited] Amanda Lim , "CK Hutchison and Meitu target millennials by integrating social media into retail", Cosmetics Design Asia, October 24, 2018, © William Reed Business Media Ltd

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Symrise and IBM Collaborate To Develop The Philyra AI Perfume Platform October 24, 2018: 12:00 AM EST A partnership between fragrance company Symrise and IBM is using machine-learning artificial intelligence to emulate the work of a perfumer. “Philyra” is an AI platform for scents that can be used in products for household and personal use, as well as in fine fragrances. The result has been two new perfumes to be launched in Brazil in mid-2019 by O Boticário, a beauty company. Philyra has the potential to disrupt the fragrance industry. It can analyze millions of bits of data, including taste, demographics and personality, and match them with ingredients. A single fragrance could take up to five years to develop and launch; the O Boticário scents took less than five months, although generating the initial fragrance might take Philyra just a minute or two. Symrise wants to roll out the technology to its master perfumers located around the world.[Image Credit: © Symrise] Emma Sandler, "Artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize the fragrance industry", Glossy, October 24, 2018, © Digiday Media

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Stores Offer Subscription Services And Recurring Shipments To Attract And Create Loyal Male Customers October 11, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Several DTC stores targeted at men have developed subscription and recurring delivery services that allow them to customize and update their preferences. True Sons, which delivers at-home hair dyeing products, lets users set delivery frequency, MeUndies, a $16 per month subscription plan for underwear, allows customers to skip a month whenever they want, and Frank & Oak’s monthly clothing subscription service, Style Plan, allows consumers to return free of charge all selected products for a ‘styling fee’.[Image Credit: © MODASUITE Inc.] "How Brands Like Frank & Oak Create Recurring Subscription Services To Increase Convenience For Male Consumers", PSFK, October 11, 2018, © PSFK LLC

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Big Data And AI Helping Beauty Brands Identify Opportunities, Develop New Products October 5, 2018: 12:00 AM EST AI is being used to help companies spot unserved opportunities through analyzing online data such as searches, reviews and purchase patterns. Alibaba’s Tmall Innovation Centre helped L'Oréal China as it developed a male beauty line for the Chinese market, while A.S. Watson, which has 14,400 stores in 24 markets worldwide worked with Unilever to launch TRESemmé hair care in China Some smaller brands are using AI to developed personalized products and services.  Indian brand, Freewill, uses information about an individual’s hair to create personalized hair products, factoring in data such as city and weather. While Singapore-based Alcheme uses AI to analyze a customer’s selfie to assess skin conditions and select and create personalized skin care products.[Image Credit: © Tmall.com] Amanda Lim , "Data is power: Indie beauty brands get personal with big data", Cosmetics Design Asia, October 05, 2018, © William Reed Business Media Ltd

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Chanel South Korea Launches Online Platform For Cosmetics October 5, 2018: 12:00 AM EST In South Korea, Chanel launched an online platform for its cosmetic products and service with a wrapping service and select deliver day option to encourage gifting. Separately, and in an attempt to attract young customers, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, Chanel Korea launched a Coco Game Center pop-up store which features game that feature the Chanel logo.[Image Credit: © Chanel, Inc.] Song Seung-hyun, "Chanel Korea starts online platform for cosmetics", The Investor, October 05, 2018, © Herald Corporation

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Survey Shows Convenience A Key Reason For The Growing Popularity of Direct-To-Consumer Brands October 4, 2018: 12:00 AM EST A survey by Diffusion and YouGov discovered several reasons for the growing popularity of DTC brands among consumers, with convenience being the primary motivation. 27% said buying DTC brands is more convenient than going to a store, with older consumers finding convenience more important than millennials (26% versus 17%). The survey found that DTC brands fell short with personalization, customer service, and limited use of organic or eco-friendly ingredients. Still, DTC looks set for continued growth, with 81% of US internet users indicating they’d buy at least one DTC item in the next five years.[Image Credit: © YouGov PLC.] Krista Garcia, "Where Direct-to-Consumer Brands Are Winning Consumer Confidence", eMarketer , October 04, 2018, © eMarketer Inc

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Raya Khanin Highlights How Brands Use AI and Genomics To Improve Beauty Personalization October 3, 2018: 12:00 AM EST In an interview, industry expert Raya Khanin, and the founder of personalized beauty company LifeNome, explained talked about how artificial intelligence and genomics, augmented by environmental and lifestyle factors, are being used to create personalized beauty products that best meet a customer’s specific skin requirements identified in their genetic profile. She provided a number of examples of how beauty brands are employing a range of new techniques to enhance personalization. FOREO LUNA recently launched fofo, a cleansing device with skin sensors to generate data that are analyzed by AI to create personalized skincare advice. [Image Credit: © LifeNome Inc] Lucy Whitehouse, "‘The future of beauty is personalised’: Genomics and AI in bespoke beauty", CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com, October 03, 2018, © William Reed Business Media Ltd

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Beauty Brands Are Using Salon Tech For Personalization To Help Combat Online Competition October 2, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Beauty brands are using technology to help professionals offer clients a degree of personalization they can’t get online, and to encourage consumers to buy their products. Scanners and apps, working with data and artificial intelligence, can evaluate a customer’s precise hair or skin needs and recommend the best product for them. Schwarzkopf’s Professional SalonLab comprises a set of tools and devices that generate and evaluate data on the client’s hair, allow clients to try on products using augmented reality, and then produce personalized haircare product blends in the salon. The service is expected to be available in salons next year. Elemis SkinLab analyzes a client’s facial skin and helps the therapist recommend products and skincare regimes. Although these tools require the intervention of a professional, other devices, such as Neutrogena’s Skin360 app and SkinScanner tool works with a user’s phone for home use. The Beauty Genome Project by Proven, a skincare product company, uses a different approach to personalization, analyzing millions of customer reviews on 100,000 products to create what it claims is the largest skincare database in the world. Personalization in beauty looks set to continue its advance, with some companies already offering DNA analysis for product recommendations.[Image Credit: © Henkel] Duncan Jefferies, "Perfectly personalised: beauty products that match your needs exactly", The Guardian, October 02, 2018, © Guardian News and Media Limited

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Beauty Brands Unveil Smart Concept Stores In China To Attract Tech-Savvy Consumers October 2, 2018: 12:00 AM EST SK-II and Sephora both unveiled smart concept stores in Shanghai to attract younger Chinese beauty consumers who prefer an engaging experience that can be shared on social media. The Japanese brand's "Future X" Smart Store uses facial recognition technology and artificial intelligence, working with JD.com that provided technological support. Separately, Sephora partnered with Meitu to create a concept store equipped with interactive e-commerce walls and virtual make-up artists. Emil Lanne of the marketing agency Huge that helped develop the SK-II stores cites the importance of having more colors and beautiful settings in building smart stores to attract younger shoppers. Both brands also use social media influencers to promote their stores.[Image Credit: © Procter & Gamble] Yiling Pan, "In China, Beauty Brands Turn to High-Tech Toys to Plug Their Wares", Jing Daily, October 02, 2018, © Herlar, LLC

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Benefit Cosmetics Launches New Augmented Reality Tool That Greatly Increased Conversion Rate September 29, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Benefit Cosmetics launched a browser-based augmented reality tool called Brow Try-On, now live in 40 markets, which caused an 80 percent increase in conversion rate. This performance echoes a 2016 study by Poshly and Perfect365 which found that 78% of millennial women would be more inclined to purchase makeup online if they could first virtually try it on. Vice president of global digital, Cindy Shen, claims that previous augmented reality tools produced poor results which prompted the company to collaborate with facial mapping technology expert Modiface. Brows play a key role in the Benefit brand – it claims to be the #1 brow brand globally - and the company is expected to achieve $600 million in sales of brow products and services in 2018. More than one million visitors have tried the tool, which can create different brow styles on customers' faces via a live 3D option.[Image Credit: © Benefit Cosmetics LLC] "Benefit Cosmetics Boosts Conversion Rate with Launch of Virtual Makeover Tool", Blush Digital, September 29, 2018, © Blush Digital Co.

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Cosmetics Companies in China Use Technological Innovations To Attract Young Consumers September 27, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Brands are working with retailers in China to devise novel ways to engage consumers. Korean cosmetics brand, Innisfree, partnered with Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba to establish a store in Hangzhou where consumers can use Tmall’s AR-powered Magic Mirror to virtually apply makeup.  Startup 17Beauty established 12 “beauty boxes” in Beijing and Shanghai placed at busy locations. Consumers enter the self-service booth by scanning a QR code with a mobile app and once inside can get personalized makeup recommendations generated by a facial recognition system. Each booth contains a range of beauty products as well as some limited-edition makeup kits to attract new shoppers.[Image Credit: © Sephora Inc] Jessica Rapp, "Beauty tech", J. Walter Thompson Intelligence, September 27, 2018, © J. Walter Thompson U.S.A., LLC

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New Technologies Are Boosting Online Beauty Sales, Sometimes Bringing Disruption September 27, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Key catalysts accelerating the growth of online beauty include increasing use of artificial intelligence, smaller beauty brands' adoption of direct-to-consumer marketing, and richer online content such as instructional video. Coty launched an AI-powered Fragrance Finder at the Boots website in the UK. It uses a 7-step questionnaire then suggests fragrance products to shoppers. Falling costs mean brands with $10-$15 million in sales can now offer DDTC experiences that compare well with major brands, leveling the playing field.  And richer and educational content is engaging consumers. CEO of beauty retailer FeelUnique, Joël Palix, says the growth of online video content accelerated the shift of beauty to digital channels Online has room to grow strongly. Euromonitor estimates that just 1 in 9 dollars US shoppers spend on beauty products is transacted online, substantially less than other categories. [Image Credit: © Coty Inc.] Deborah Weinswig, "Beauty Is Finally Heading Online: Five Ways New Technologies Support The Growth Of Beauty E-Commerce", Forbes, September 27, 2018, © Forbes Media LLC

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Beauty Tech Startup Wow How Integrates Gaming Technology Into Beauty App To Aide Color Choice September 26, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Wow How launched an app technology based on virtual and augmented reality that aims to offer women a higher level of personalization for color cosmetics applications. The advantages of the technology include real-time functionality and a Virtual MUA (Makeup Academy) function that has the ability to recognize facial features. Wow How CEO, Gaynor Matthews, claims that the app addresses a gap in the market, providing a tool that can help women save time when choosing the color of their cosmetics. Another important feature of the app is its check and correct function that is enhanced by a split screen 3D view.[Image Credit: © WOW HOW Ltd] Simon Pitman, "Wow How incorporates gaming technology into a beauty app", CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com, September 26, 2018, © William Reed Business Media Ltd

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Sephora Unveils A New And Interactive Concept Store in China September 22, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Sephora opened a new concept store in Shanghai on September 21, 2018 that encourages customers to explore its popular beauty products using interactive technologies like Discovery Tables and Magic Mirrors. SEPHORA Asia president Benjamin Vuchot states that the store offers an excellent customer service that combines the Sephora website with the in-store experience creating an unprecedented omni-channel experience. The store also uses the photo editing app, Meitu, alongside its interactive Ecommerce Walls and Virtual Artist technologies. Sephora is known for using disruptive ideas and technologies to promote creativity and diversity across its stores worldwide since its establishment in Paris in 1969.  [Image Credit: © Sephora, Inc.] Li Xiaohua, "SEPHORA Asian new concept store opens in Shanghai", China.org.cn, September 22, 2018, © China.org.cn

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Skin Care Start-up Opu Labs To Use its Own Cryptocurrency To Pay For Images Of Consumers’ Faces September 19, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Opu Labs has created its own cryptocurrency, Opucoin, that it will use it to reward users who upload images of their face. The company will use AI to analyze the images for skin conditions and to be able to recommend appropriate treatments and to link consumers with dermatologists and personal beauty brands. This is part of an effort to build a database of facial images and personal data that the company can use to hone its AI and as a base to sell products and services. Founder Mark Bookman claims consumers are losing faith in advertisements for beauty products and would value an objective assessment to guide their choice. However, a reviewer of the AI-driven analysis found it to be inaccurate and the company acknowledges it remains a work in progress.[Image Credit: © Opu Labs, Inc] Leah Prinzivalli, "Cryptocurrency Is Coming For The Beauty Industry", Fashionista, September 19, 2018, © Breaking Media, Inc.

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Perfect365 Allows Users To Earn Kin Cryptocurrency When Using App September 19, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Perfect365 has announced its integration of Kin, the cryptocurrency for consumer apps, allowing the company to become the only augmented reality beauty platform to offer built-in ways to transact using the cryptocurrency. Users of the Perfect365 app will be able to earn Kin within the app and use it to buy premium Perfect365 features. According to Perfect365, the move also aims to encourage women to use cryptocurrencies.[Image Credit: © Perfect365] "Perfect365 to Integrate Kin and Bring Cryptocurrency to Beauty Enthusiasts", Business Wire , September 19, 2018, © Business Wire, Inc.

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Select AI Innovations Show How It Could Transform Selection Of Skincare And Beauty Products September 19, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Advances in artificial intelligence are impacting the way beauty industry provides services to its customers and various examples show how this is playing out. One industry-changing example comes from skincare company Proven, which developed an assessment system that selects and then delivers a ‘totally personalized’ skincare product. Another innovation comes from startup Function of Beauty, which offers customized shampoos and conditioners based on customer information gathered using big data and machine learning. Last, a mobile app called Mira, which is still in the beta phase, uses artificial intelligence to recommend beauty influencers and products that are specifically suited for customers.[Image Credit: © Proven] Camay Abraham, "Six AI innovations that could change skincare and beauty", Dazed, September 19, 2018, © DazedDigital.com

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Macy’s Announces New Technologies For Better Customer Experience And Partnership With Facebook September 17, 2018: 12:00 AM EST Macy’s revealed it is integrating new features, including virtual reality and augmented reality, to improve the experience of consumers shopping for furniture and beauty products. Also, the company said it will join forces with Facebook to bring almost 150 ecommerce brands to the retail chain’s The Market @ Macy’s retail platform. According to the retailer, the partnership will offer participating small businesses and ecommerce brands to take advantage of a Macy’s store environment during the holidays. During the Code Commerce On-Location Event in New York City, Macy’s will highlight several technologies, including virtual and augmented reality furniture shopping, augmented reality for beauty, beauty playground, and radio-frequency identification.[Image Credit: © macys.com] "Macy’s, Inc. Improves Customer Journey With Enhanced In-Store Technology Experiences", Business Wire, September 17, 2018, © Business Wire, Inc.

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