Bluemercury
 | |
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Cosmetics & Beauty |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder |
Marla Malcolm Beck Barry J. Beck |
| Headquarters | Georgetown, Washington, DC |
Number of locations | 100 in U.S., in addition to an online store |
| Parent | Macy's Inc. |
| Website | http://www.bluemercury.com |
Bluemercury, Inc. (stylized as bluemercury) is an American luxury beauty retailer and spa founded by Marla Malcolm Beck and Barry J. Beck in 1999.[1] The couple opened their first store in Georgetown, Washington, DC and the chain has expanded to over 100 locations throughout the United States with plans to open another 40 locations by year end 2017.[2] Bluemercury was acquired by Macy’s in 2015 for $210 million in cash.[3]
History
Marla Malcolm Beck and her husband, Barry J. Beck, founded Bluemercury in 1999.[4] They serve as CEO and COO of the company, respectively. They came up with the concept for Bluemercury, a friendly neighborhood store with expertly trained staff, to provide an alternative to the more impersonal department store sales models.[5]
In 1999, Bluemercury concept began as a website, raising more than $1million in venture capital in its first week but within months morphed into a brick-and-mortar operation when Barry Beck purchased cosmetics retailer EFX’s two stores in Georgetown and Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. and renamed them Bluemercury.[6] After it opened as a Georgetown beauty shop, Bluemercury expanded locally, then nationally. In 2015, Bluemercury yielded more than $100 million in annual sales.[7]
In addition to offering prestige brands including La Mer, Chanel, Jo Malone, Kiehl’s, Darphin, and Nars, the company has its own line of products called M-61 and Lune + Aster.[8] M-61 skincare was developed by the brand in 2012.[9] It is the first highly technical, natural cosmeceutical brand free of parabens, dyes, sulfates and animal testing, and was picked up by the Home Shopping Network in February 2015.[10] Lune+Aster, the 28-item vitamin-packed, vegan-friendly cosmetics line was created by the brand in 2015, and is designed for quick, easy applications.[11]
Bluemercury’s onsite spas perform 100,000 treatments annually with services ranging from oxygen facials, glycolic peels, waxing and microdermabrasion.[12]
In February 2015, Bluemercury was acquired by Macy's for $210 million in cash.[13] Marla remains Chief Executive Officer and Barry Beck the Chief Operating Officer, with their headquarters in Washington, DC.[14]
Bluemercury opened its 100th store in Savannah, Georgia in July 2016.[15]
Founders
Marla Malcolm Beck is the CEO of Bluemercury and leads the company’s merchandising, marketing, planning and store operations teams.[16]
After majoring in economics at University of California-Berkeley and receiving her M.B.A from Harvard Business School, Beck, a consultant for McKinsey & Company at the time, decided to create a beauty business with her husband.[17][18]
Barry J. Beck is the Chief Operating Officer of Bluemercury and oversees all aspects of Bluemercury’s operations including real estate, finance, and e-commerce.[19] Mr. Beck received his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University, and met Marla when she was Vice President of acquisitions for a Washington-based private-equity firm interested in buying his company.[20] Barry developed the original store retail model after the acquisition and launch of the first Bluemercury store.[21]
Brands and Services Offered
Bluemercury carries a wide variety of prestige makeup, skincare and fragrance brands, as well as M-61 Laboratories, a skincare line developed by the brand in 2012 and Lune+Aster, a cosmetics line developed by the brand in 2015.[22]
Each store houses a full-service spa with treatment rooms and a selection of services ranging from oxygen facials, microdermabrasion, glycolic peels, and waxing services.[23]
Store Locations
Bluemercury is cited as the fastest growing beauty and spa business in the country.[24] The chain opened its 100th store on July 8, 2016 and plans to open twenty more in 2016[25]
Bluemercury stores are located in upscale shopping districts and suburban hubs across the country.[26] In addition to their self-standing retail locations, Macy’s plans to integrate Bluemercury products into its beauty departments and open Bluemercury shops inside Macy’s stores.[27]
In Popular Culture
Bluemercury stores have been featured in a variety of movies and television shows including Bravo’s Odd Mom Out and Paul Blart: Mall Cop.
References
- ↑ , [Forbes]
- ↑ , [The Washington Post]
- ↑ , [The Wall Street Journal]
- ↑ . {SF Gate}
- ↑ , [The Washington Post]
- ↑ , [The Washington Post]
- ↑ , [The Washington Business Jorunal]
- ↑ , [Bluemercury]
- ↑ , [Capitol File]
- ↑ , [The Washington Business Journal
- ↑ , [Philly Magazine]
- ↑ , [Houstonia Magazine]
- ↑ , [The Washingtonian Post]
- ↑ , [The Washington Post]
- ↑ , [American Spa]
- ↑ , [The Georgetowner]
- ↑ , [Vanity Fair Magazine]
- ↑ , [The New York Times]
- ↑ , [Town & Country Magazine]
- ↑ , [The Georgetowner]
- ↑ , [Business Wire]
- ↑ , [W Magazine]
- ↑ [, [LA Racked
- ↑ , [Forbes]
- ↑ , [NY Post]
- ↑ , [Bucks Local News]
- ↑ , [Macy's Inc.]