Jenni Baden HowardA Shopify outage which lasted several hours on Cyber Monday affected key back-end online functions for merchants. “Between roughly 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ET, thousands of merchants temporarily lost access to Shopify’s admin functions—including inventory tracking, POS systems and order management — though consumer-facing storefronts stayed live,” reports Global Cosmetics News.
In other breaking news, The Estée Lauder Companies has announced that it has spent an estimated $1.14 billion on restructuring the business, as part of its Profit Recovery and Growth Plan (PGRP). According to Beauty Packaging, “all parts of the PRGP are expected to be approved by the end of fiscal 2026 and “substantially completed” by the end of fiscal 2027.” Also in financial updates, LVMH’s Luxury Ventures Fund has made a minority investment in BDK Parfums, the fragrance company. “This is the first time BDK Parfums has opened its capital to an external investor,” reports Cosmetics Business.
Here at CEW, we spotlight NielsenIQ (NIQ)’s 2025 holiday season forecast, which promises positive growth for beauty and personal care. NIQ predicts that fragrance will lead the way, for the third consecutive year, with consumers investing an average of $89 each, and making scent the top gift of choice. Among other standout categories, according to NIQ, are lip color and K-Beauty.
Equity Studio and Makers Mindset have partnered to create an inaugural grant for five emerging beauty and wellness brands, who will each receive a $10,000 equity-free grant, plus mentorship. “The $50,000 Makers Mindset x The Equity Studio Grant was founded by investors Anna Sweeting and Nancy Twine and is aimed at budding consumer brands across beauty, health and wellness,” reports WWD.
On the other side of the pond, Dyson is opening its first festive pop-up in Covent Garden, London, with stylists on hand to give personalized advice and styling sessions, bookable online. The event, called Crafted and Gifted by You, will showcase Dyson’s award-winning hair tools, and runs from 11–21 December. Meanwhile, in beauty news closer to home, Aquaphor has been announced as the Official Skincare Partner of UConn Basketball. “The three-year partnership underscores the growing convergence of beauty, wellness and sports,” according to Happi. “Aquaphor will integrate directly into athletes’ recovery routines and Name, Image and Likeness-driven digital storytelling.”
Read more about these and other news stories by clicking on the links below.
Shopify Outage Impacts Cyber Monday. “The disruption came as Adobe projected US$14.2bn in U.S. Cyber Monday spending and online sales continued to outpace in-store traffic,” reports Global Cosmetics News. (GLOBAL COSMETICS NEWS)
ELC Announces Profit Recovery and Growth Plan Spend. “These charges include transition and transformation support, process design, and costs to support the global project management office for this initiative,” said ELC in a financial statement. “These actions will also result in employee severance through a net reduction in workforce and contract termination charges.” (BEAUTY PACKAGING)
Equity Studio X Makers Mindset Award Launched. “(Anna) Sweeting is founder of The Equity Studio, which invests in and offers strategic support to emerging beauty, wellness and lifestyle brands, while Twine is the woman behind Makers Mindset, a platform that offers aspiring founders with business tools, knowledge and a community of like-minded people,” reports WWD. (WWD)
NIQ Predicts Holiday’s Brightest Beauty Stars. Fragrance is leading the way, but K-Beauty is proving to be an up and coming powerhouse, currently valued at $2.1 billion and outpacing skin care growth, overall. (CEW)
LVMH Invests In BDK Parfums. “This investment aims to support BDK Parfums’ international development and promote its olfactory and creative universe, while preserving the exceptional quality of its fragrances,” BDK Parfums shared on LinkedIn. (COSMETICS BUSINESS)
Dyson Pops Up In Covent Garden’s Piazza. “Those purchasing a tool can pre-book a complimentary 45-minute dry styling session with a Dyson stylist, making the experience not just a shopping trip, but a beauty moment in its own right,” reports The Arcadia Online. (THE ARCADIA ONLINE)
Aquaphor Named Official Skincare Partner Of UConn Basketball. “Together, Aquaphor and UConn will build a new model for athlete-centered partnerships, integrating emotional well-being, physical care and performance,” reports Happi. (HAPPI)
