Target, Ulta To Make ‘Prestige Beauty’ More Accessible With Shop-In-Shops

In a move that increases the accessibility of “prestige beauty,” Ulta Beauty at Target “shop-in-shops” are set to launch in more than 100 Target stores throughout the country and online in August.

Target and Ulta Beauty are anticipating that these “shop-in-shops” will arrive in 800 Target stores nationwide in the years to come, according to a Wednesday (July 21) announcement.

“Ulta Beauty at Target is unmatched in the industry, bringing guests the opportunity to discover new prestige brands while they shop Target’s incredible beauty assortment,” Christina Hennington, EVP and chief growth officer at Target, said in the announcement.

Urban Decay, MAC Cosmetics, Drybar and Clinique are some of the prestige brands included in the Ulta Beauty at Target collection.

“As the retail and beauty industries continue to evolve, we take pride in being leaders that continually redefine and elevate guest experiences. Ulta Beauty at Target reflects our commitment to drive the industry forward and keep our guests meaningfully engaged,” Ulta Beauty COO Kecia Steelman said in the announcement.

Future locations for Ulta Beauty at Target are slated for Target stores in Texas, New York, Illinois and California, among other states.

Customers who buy from Ulta Beauty at Target “will benefit from rewards from both Target Circle and Ultamate Rewards,” according to the announcement.

The news comes as Ulta Beauty, which has roughly 1,300 stores, reported that its net sales increased by approximately 65 percent to $1.9 billion in Q1 fiscal 2021. Ulta said the net sales increase was primarily due to favorable impact domestically from improved consumer confidence, government stimulus payments and the easing of pandemic restrictions.

“As increasing consumer confidence, the relaxation of restrictions and a desire for newness drive increased engagement with the beauty category, our differentiated model, combined with our ongoing efforts to create meaningful guest connections, position us well to lead through the category recovery,” Ulta Beauty President Dave Kimbell said in an announcement in May.