The Future of Beauty Retail : Influencer - Driven Experiences and Pop-up Shops
As per a McKinsey report, the beauty industry is showing an upward trajectory across categories, be it skincare, haircare, makeup and fragrance. The market is expected to reach $580 billion by 2027. Another interesting aspect of this report is that it highlights the role of beauty influencers and how they have shaped the market for the self care enthusiast of this generation. At the same time, given the potential of the beauty segment , the competition will likely get intense, with the emergence of several beauty brands and beauty influencers launching their own brands in the market.
With the emergence of new beauty brands in the market everyday ,the beauty industry marketing is going to get quite busy. The future of beauty retail will be driven by influencers' experiences and pop-up shops with special attention to personalization of products and growing need to create products that are sustainable and ethically sourced.
The beauty marketing trends will also see the rise of AI and and machine learning which will allow customers to get tailored skincare and makeup recommendations based on individual skin types, concerns, and preferences. Customization of beauty products will become more accessible.
If we look at the key marketing trends for beauty brands in 2023, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies will play a more significant role in the beauty industry marketing. Customers will use AR to try on makeup virtually, and VR might be used for immersive virtual shopping experiences. This tech integration will bridge the gap between online and offline beauty retail.
This brings us to the discussion of how influencer experience + pop up shops will drive sales and appeal of beauty industry marketing -
Influencer-driven Experiences in Beauty Influencer Marketing Campaigns
Influencer-driven experiences in beauty industry marketing are effective because they leverage the influencer's authenticity, expertise, and relationship with their audience. When executed thoughtfully, these experiences can create genuine connections, drive product awareness, and ultimately lead to increased sales for beauty brands.
# 1 Product Awareness & Unboxing
Influencers are often the first to get their hands on new beauty products that are launched in the market. This has become an integral part of personal care industry trends that has dominated the beauty industry marketing. Brands send them pre-launch packages or invite them to exclusive events to unbox and showcase the products to their followers. This creates awareness about the brand and works wonders for new beauty labels in the market.
# 2 Beauty and Make -up Tutorials
Whether it is a paid partnership or organic content, beauty and make-up tutorials are a great way to demonstrate the use of a product to the audiences on the internet. Viewers can follow along, which helps demystify the application process and encourages product purchase.
# 3 Live Streaming and Q&A Sessions
Live streaming on platforms like Instagram or YouTube allows influencers to engage with their audience in real time. Brands can collaborate with influencers for live Q&A sessions, where viewers can ask questions about specific products or skincare routines. This real-time interaction builds trust and credibility.
# 4 Collaborative Product Development
This is a big leap in the personal care industry trends, where credible beauty influencers collaborate and co-create beauty products with beauty brands. For example, most recently, American beauty brand Mob Beauty collaborated with instagram and Tiktok influencer Rose Siard to co-create eyeshadow, balm and colour palette.
When an influencer co-creates a makeup product with a brand, it lends authenticity and credibility to the product. Followers are more likely to trust and be interested in a product that has the influencer's personal touch.
Role of Pop-up shops in Beauty industry marketing
Before going forward with the discussion about the role of pop-up shops in the beauty industry, let us first understand what is a pop up shop?
A pop-up shop is a temporary retail space or store that is established for a short period, typically ranging from a few days to several months. Pop-up shops can be set up in a variety of locations, including high-traffic areas in urban centers, malls, event venues, or even mobile setups like trucks or shipping containers. The location is often chosen strategically to reach a specific target audience.
Many beauty brands open pop-up shops for a specific purpose. This could be to offer experiential feel to the customer or to sell limited edition releases. These shops can also be set-up to test new markets or gain customer insight.
Pop-up shops have become a popular beauty marketing trend for both established brands and emerging startups to create a buzz, increase brand visibility, and drive sales. Often, social media influencers from the beauty industry become the promoters of such pop-up stores. By lending name to them, influencers offer following leverage to the brands -
# 1 Offers Experiential Retail
Brands can arrange visits of popular beauty influencers to the pop-up stores to offer unique and immersive and instagram-worthy experiences to their potential customers. It offers beauty brands an opportunity to connect with customers on a deeper level, by allowing influencers to share make-up tips and tricks of the audience present at the store. Customers can touch, feel and experience products in an interactive way.
# 2 Helps in Community Building Exercise
Pop-up shops can serve as a physical space for building a community of loyal customers. Brands may host events, workshops, and meet-and-greets with influencers, fostering a sense of belonging among their customer base. It can be effective tools for community building because they provide brands with a platform to engage directly with their target audience in a personal and meaningful
# 3 Form Ideal Ground for Data Collection
Pop-up shops can also serve as data collection points. Brands can gather valuable insights into customer preferences and behaviors, helping them refine their product offerings, influencer marketing strategies and so on.
Conclusion
Beauty Marketing Trends- An Integration of Online and Offline Experience
Beauty industry marketing will increasingly blur the lines between online and offline shopping. Customers will be able to seamlessly transition from watching an influencer's tutorial video online to trying out the recommended products in a nearby pop-up shop.
Integration with e-commerce platforms will make it easier for customers to purchase products they discover through influencer content or in pop-up shops, fostering a holistic shopping experience.
In conclusion, influencer-driven experiences and pop-up shops are poised to shape the future of beauty retail by offering immersive, personalized, and engaging experiences to customers. These strategies will help beauty brands stay relevant, build stronger customer relationships, drive successful influencer marketing campaigns and adapt to evolving consumer preferences in the new age.
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