Giorgio Armani to expand cosmetics

Giorgio Armani Cosmetics is expecting a major double-digit increase in sales this year, its managing director Renaud de Lesquen stated. Same-store sales will also see a double-digit increase, he says. The makeup brand will double its number of doors next year, he adds, from 95 currently.

"We want to control everything we are starting to look a bit wider and look at propositions from other retailers." The expansion for next year will notably include 20 further doors in the US and 50 upscale perfumeries in Italy, de Lesquen says. He explains that while the brand's focus has been on specialty or upscale department store doors, it is now widening its reach to include certain perfumeries.

The brand will open a store-in-store in Paris, France's Le Bon Marché department store on December 5. The 40m2 Beauty Walk has a runway-like feature with a screen showing Armani fashion, with the brand's products on show to one side, and makeup stations to the other. Previously, only the brand's fragrances were available at the store. Armani fragrances are available in some 20,000 points-of-sale worldwide.