Sephora: Women By Nature Are Impulsive Shoppers

03.16.2012 By Cristina Roşca

Sephora Marinopoulos, the company with Greek and French shareholders which owns and operates multibrand cosmetics chain Sephora, estimates a sales growth of 10% at the most after last year sales performed much better.

"Last year we grew beyond expectations. (...) Most of our clients are women and women are more impulsive. I could say they were less inclined to save last year," says Roxana Rasu, who has been running the local operations of the store chain for around two years, and who has over a decade's experience in the field.

She did not wish to reveal the 2011 turnover but says the growth rate was above 10%. This means the company's turnover exceeded EUR25 million, after Sephora posted EUR23 million in turnover in 2010.

On the Romanian market Sephora owns 24 stores in ten cities, 11 of which in Bucharest.
Three of the chain's stores were opened in 2012, in Iulius Mall Timisoara, Maritimo Constanta and Galleria Mall Arad.

"We have prepared at least three openings for this year. The first one will be in Palas Iasi this spring," Roxana Rasu says, without providing details on the other two openings.

(English version by Daniela Stoican)