After London debut, Sephora to open in Manchester next year by popular request

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
December 14, 2023

LVMH’s premium beauty chain Sephora will be expanding further in the UK in 2024 after its successful debut this year. 

Citing the “resounding success” of its stores in London’s two Westfield malls “and demand from beauty enthusiasts across the region”, Sephora is to open its third UK store at the Trafford Centre in Manchester next summer. 

Under the tagline ‘Manchester, you called it’, Sephora UK said the choice is a result of it having “witnessed an astounding influx of requests and enthusiasm from [its] dedicated beauty community through extensive engagement on the brand’s social media platforms”.

And it added that “the data speaks volumes, with Manchester emerging as the top city requested by their passionate followers”.

The forthcoming Sephora location will boast an expansive 500 sq m (5,400 sq ft) of sales floor space, “providing an immersive and unparalleled shopping experience for beauty enthusiasts in the North”. 

Exclusive brands that will be available include Glossier, Makeup by Mario, GXVE by Gwen Stefani and Haus Labs by Lady Gaga, plus its own Sephora Collection.

“This grand opening will represent Sephora's commitment to bringing the best in beauty to diverse communities across the country, recognising the pivotal role that major regional cities like Manchester play in shaping and influencing the beauty industry landscape”, the retailer said. 

It's all very different from the LVMH-owned company’s arrival in the UK a couple of decades ago when it opened a physical store in the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent but closed it down and exited the market altogether in 2005.

This time round, it tested the UK waters by buying local beauty webstore Feelunique and converting it to Sephora last year. This was followed by its opening at Westfield London in the spring and the more recent Westfield debut at Stratford city, both of which have gone well.