Every December the crème de la crème of beauty gathers in the Rainbow Room at 30 Rockefeller Center for a breakfast honoring the year’s stars. Amid snow flurries and egg white fritattas, more than 150 brand, retailer, public relations and industry experts celebrated the 2018 award winners, selected by WWD’s beauty editor team. Hosted by WWD’s Executive Editor, Beauty, Jenny B. Fine, one of the morning’s biggest kudos went to Ulta Beauty, which was awarded the first ever Pete Born Impact Award—named after the legendary beauty journalist and longtime WWD Executive Editor, Beauty. Accepted by the retailer’s Dave Kimbell, Chief Merchandising Officer, Ulta Beauty is lauded for being one of the fastest growing retailers in any category, increasing comp store sales double digits every year since 2015. In Dave’s acceptance speech, in which he acknowledged Ulta Beauty’s Mary Dillon, CEO; Tara Simon, SVP Merchandising Prestige; and Monica Arnaudo, SVP Merchandising, Dave reiterated a key message from the company’s recent advertising, in that consumers don’t come to Ulta Beauty to get beautiful, they already are beautiful. Here, the brands, companies and executives honored yesterday morning.
Pete Born Impact Award
Ulta Beauty
Brand of the Year, Prestige
Benefit Cosmetics
Brand of the Year, Mass
Olay
Newsmaker of the Year
Debra Perelman
Product of the Year, Prestige Makeup
Shiseido Makeup
Product of the Year, Mass Makeup
Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio
Product of the Year, Prestige Hair
Hair Rituel by Sisley Paris
Product of the Year, Mass Hair
Tresemmé Compressed Micro Mist
Product of the Year, Prestige Skin Care
Fenty Beauty
Product of the Year, Mass Skin Care
C&C by Clean & Clear
Product of the Year, Fragrance
KKW Fragrance
Disruptor of the Year
Moj Mahdara, CEO, Beautycon
Founders Award
Vicky Tsai, Tatcha
Corporate Social Responsibility
Beautycounter
Retailer of the Year
CVS
Influencer of the Year
Jackie Aina
Newcomer of the Year
Billie
Collab of the Year
Dove X Dunkin’
E-Tailer of the Year
Cult Beauty
Merchandiser of the Year
Christina Hennington
Brand Builder of the Year
Stéphane De La Faverie
Indie of the Year
Huda Beauty
Brand Builder of the Year
Ukonwa Ojo The
Wellness Award
The Detox Market
Launch of the Year, Specialty
Seed Phytonutrients
Launch of the Year, Luxury
Westman Atelier
Digital Innovator of the Year
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna
Transformational Deal of the Year
L’Oréal’s Acquisition of Modiface