Cosmetic and Beauty Supply Stores NAICS 456120

Nov 11, 2025 - The Body Shop Returns to US Market

• The Body Shop, a popular British beauty business that operated storefronts in the US, returned to US sales in October 2025 through a dedicated US website and an Amazon storefront, according to a report in Retail Dive. The brand will offer bath, body, skin care, and hair care products and expects to expand into fragrances, with a focus on the company's "purpose-led" and "cruelty-free" mission against product testing on animals. The Body Shop was bought by a group of investors in 2024, out of UK administration. The Body Shop's US stores operated from 1988 to 2024, before ceasing operations after the US arm filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2024. The company said the new US presence is part of its plans to rebuild its international presence.
• The Retail Trade Industry is one of 11 industries reporting growth in October's Services ISM Report on Business. Executives in the Retail Trade industry reported increases in business activity, new orders, employment, prices paid for materials and services, and order backlogs, along with decreases in new export orders, imports, and inventories in October. Additional industries reporting growth during the period were Accommodation & Food Services; Wholesale Trade; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Health Care & Social Assistance; Utilities; Transportation & Warehousing; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Information; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; and Educational Services. Six industries reported contraction during the period, including Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Management of Companies & Support Services; Finance & Insurance; Public Administration; Construction; and Other Services. Overall, economic activity in the services sector expanded in October, with the Services PMI registering 52.4%.

• Mass market beauty sales were up by 4% in the first half of 2025 year over year, outpacing prestige beauty sales, which grew 2%, according to a recent Circana report in Retail Dive. Mass market fragrance revenues increased 17%, the segment’s fastest growing category, in dollar sales during the period, while prestige fragrance rose 6%. Larissa Jensen, Circana’s beauty industry adviser, noted in a statement that the results “are indicative of a consumer who is focused on efficacy and elevated value.” Less than 15% of consumers believe that higher prices signify a better quality product. She said the mass and prestige beauty markets are converging, with premium-priced brands in mass retail and value-priced prestige brands outperforming their counterparts.
• Ulta and Target recently announced the end of their partnership, concluding the shop-in-shop experience for shoppers when the agreement ends in August 2026, according to CNBC. Since 2021, Ulta Beauty at Target had offered shoppers an expanded beauty selection in 1,000-square-foot spaces in more than 600 Target locations, about a third of its stores. When the partnership was launched, Target touted the Ulta partnership as a way to drive store traffic. Ulta is the largest specialty beauty retailer in the US, with 1,500 stores. Similar partnerships are continuing, with Sephora’s in-shop locations found in more than 1,000 Kohl’s locations. Industry experts said staffing might have been an issue, with the Kohl’s Sephora shops staffed by Sephora-trained sales associates, while Ulta’s Target shops did not have dedicated associates.